I needed a couple of sets of spark plug wires, especially since one of them came apart changing the plugs on the red yesterday, so I called up Hiley Mazda Hurst Parts dept. to see if they had them in stock. Mindful of this older thread http://forums.dfwmiata.com/showthread.php?t=8377
I confirmed once again that they do, in fact, match competitor pricing.
Printed a copy of Mazda South's parts page listing the plug wire set for $34.06 http://www.mazdastuff.com/product.cfm?ProductID=239
and headed over to Hiley.
The parts guy remembered my call, and I gave him the copy, since it has the Mazda Part # on it. That's when the bellyaching began. First, he could only give me 10% off (of their $54.00 price) Then he decided he let me have them for Mazda South's price of $45.55. I pointed out that was the suggested retail price and that the internet price was $34.06. Then he started on about how that couldn't be right, they must pad shipping, that's below the cost they (Hiley) sells to other dealers, he can't match that price...ad nausem. I asked if Jason Hiley was there to back up his earlier posts about customer service on the dfwmiata forum. Naturally he was not available.
Only when I started to leave and said I'd just order them from mazdastuff today and have them tomorrow did he go ahead and match the price, as agreed on the phone before I ever headed out that way, although still complaining, "when Jason Hiley wants to know why the parts department numbers are down at the end of the month..."
I doubt my discounted plug wire purchase today has much to do with any revenue decline at Hiley's parts department. But if everybody experiences this kind of crap when they walk through those doors, it can certainly sour the well of customer goodwill and repeat business.