Pennzoil Synchromesh, where to buy?

A recap...

Patrick wrote: I phoned my local Lordco (East 2nd, Vancouver) and asked about the availability of GM Synchromesh. Not only did they not have any in stock, but the guy maintained that no Lordco location would have it and that it could not be ordered in. Hmmmm....

Patrick wrote: What I eventually found out when talking to a more helpful guy at the Douglas Road location of Lordco is that the GM # for the Synchromesh fluid in their stores is 89021808, not 12345349 which is actually still shown on their own parts website for $7.23 The price for the stuff with the new number, with our club discount is $10.27 He had none in stock, but he informed me that according to his computer, the Vancouver store which I had just talked to a few minutes earlier (and was told by them that no Lordco locations carry GM Synchromesh fluid) has eight on the shelf.

Patrick wrote: I'll pay a visit to the Vancouver location and find out once and for all what's on their shelf.

Patrick wrote: I just returned from there. I have a hilarious story to tell of the experience (it's priceless!), but I want to work on the car right now.

Okay, now that we're up to speed...

I went to the East 2^nd Lordco location in Vancouver today. As I walked towards the counter guy (who I’ll refer to as CG from now on), I observed just to his right a shelving unit full of lubricants which extended away from him towards me. I noticed containers of Pennzoil Synchromesh as I continued to walk towards the counter (which I didn’t want as Lordco charges more for Pennzoil than for GM Synchromesh).

At first I didn’t know if he was the same guy as I had talked to on the phone a couple days ago, but it didn’t take long to determine that yes, it was the same guy.

Me: I’d like to buy some GM Synchromesh transmission fluid.

Without saying anything CG comes out from behind the counter and walks up to the containers of Pennzoil Synchromesh and starts studying one of the bottles.

Me: I want the GM Synchromesh fluid.

CG: That’s what this is.

Me: No, that’s the Pennzoil version. I want GM Synchromesh fluid.

CG: This is all we have.

Me: No, you have the GM stuff as well.

CG: This is all we have.

Me: No it isn’t. You have eight bottles of GM Synchromesh fluid in this store.

CG: We don’t carry any products here that have anything to do with GM.

Me: You have eight bottles of GM Synchromesh fluid in this store.

CG: I’m telling you we don’t carry any GM products here.

At this point I produce a piece of paper with the GM part number written on it.

Me: Try looking up this number.

CG: What’s that?

Me: It’s the GM part number of their Synchromesh fluid.

CG: We don’t have it.

Me: Just try looking it up.

CG: Just because you have a part number doesn’t mean we have it.

Me: Just look it up. It might say AC Delco on the container, but it has a GM part number.

He finally takes the piece of paper with the part number written on it and returns to his computer terminal where he had been standing when I came in. I now notice that there are a bunch of different types of AC Delco lubricant containers right beside him on the shelf. He punches in the part number and then there’s dead silence as he stands there motionless staring at something on the screen. Bingo!

CG: Ummm... we have it.

Me: Yeah, it’s probably right there beside you on the shelf.

He looks over and I can tell that he’s not really looking very hard for them. And then I spot the containers of GM Synchromesh.

Me: They’re right there.

CG: Where?

Me: Two feet in front of you directly in front of your face. It says Synchromesh on the shelf right below them.

CG: Did you want eight of them?

Me: No, that’s how many you have in the store. I’d like three of them.

He steps forward and proceeds to count the containers of GM Synchromesh tranny fluid. There were eight of them. He grabs three and puts them on the counter.

Me: I’d also like to get an exhaust hanger.

CG: You got a part number for that as well?

Me: No, but I can show it to you in your parts book.

CG: What car is it for?

Me: That doesn’t matter. It’s a universal hanger. I can show it to you in your parts book.

I show him the exhaust hanger in his parts book. I knew it would be in there because I’ve done this same routine a couple times at this very store. After showing him the exhaust hanger in the parts book, he looks up the part number on his computer terminal.

CG: Yeah, we got them. How many you want?

Me: One.

He takes off to go get the exhaust hanger. He’s gone for one minute, for two minutes, for three minutes... He finally returns, empty handed.

CG: We have them listed, but I can’t find them.

Me: Why am I not surprised?

Okay okay, I didn’t say that very last line , but I swear everything else is as close to what was said as can be humanly possible to recall. I wish my exchange with CG had been filmed!

So I got the GM Synchromesh transmission fluid from Lordco after all, and it’s in my tranny!