Best Buy broke trim around radio...help!

[Swaygazer]

Hi everyone!

I've been in love with Geo Metros since my mom purchased her first one in 1991 and have made a point of taking good care of my own 1990 model. It truly is my baby.

Because I'm unfamiliar with car audio installation I took my Geo to Best Buy to have a new stereo installed to replace the old original AM/FM unit. My first warning should have been that the guy seemed a bit confused by how the panel was put together, especially the chunky black trim that surrounds the stereo, heating controls, etc. I asked him if it was a problem, but he reassured me that everything would be alright and he would call me 45 minutes later when he was finished setting everything up.

Well...apparently all was not well. I got a call from the Best Buy guy and he didn't sound too great. According to him the instructions in the computer system at the store were incorrect and he wound up smashing that black chunky trim into several pieces trying to figure out how to get it off. I was beyond upset. At some point I would have thought he'd think "Wait a minute...something's not right here..." and call me to report that there was a problem. But alas...

The tech told me that I could either have a discount on the work he'd done or get the part that he'd broken replaced. Obviously I preferred that the part be replaced. He told me that they would call me when they found the part.

Now there's one thing I'm unsure of; whether or not that particular part is even made anymore. I've been scouring the internet for it but have only seen one used one on eBay that has the appropriate openings on it. Is this something that they will even be able to fix, or should I start looking around and hope for the best?

[Chris Adams]

Got any pick-a-part or similar wrecking yards in your area?
You could nab a used one, clean it up and get the guy to discount about 50-60 bucks for the damage.
A pick a part will get 1-2 bucks for an entry fee, then you must locate and pull the part, if they have one.
With 3 close yards here I would estimate a 30% chance of finding the part. If you live in a city you could probably get one for about 2-6 bucks plus entry fee.
But you have to figure it will take several hours of your time at a minimum.




The plastic surrounds get hard with age, and trust me, Best Buy doesn't get very good installers.
Everything I'm doing with Metro's is on the 95 up models right now.
I would send you one as I have several radio surrounds just hanging but I recall the 94 back is quite different.
Best of luck.

[Swaygazer]

Originally Posted by Chris Adams

Got any pick-a-part or similar wrecking yards in your area?
You could nab a used one, clean it up and get the guy to discount about 50-60 bucks for the damage.
A pick a part will get 1-2 bucks for an entry fee, then you must locate and pull the part, if they have one.
With 3 close yards here I would estimate a 30% chance of finding the part. If you live in a city you could probably get one for about 2-6 bucks plus entry fee.
But you have to figure it will take several hours of your time at a minimum.




The plastic surrounds get hard with age, and trust me, Best Buy doesn't get very good installers.
Everything I'm doing with Metro's is on the 95 up models right now.
I would send you one as I have several radio surrounds just hanging but I recall the 94 back is quite different.
Best of luck.

I eventually did have some luck finding what looks to be the exact part in an online GM parts catalog:

GM Part Catalog - Genuine GM Parts and GM Accessories for Chevrolet, Buick, Pontiac, GMC, Hummer, and Cadillac Cars, Trucks, and SUV's

The part numbered "11" in the picture is the item that he broke.

It was a great relief seeing that that part is still made, and if the store has trouble locating the part I know where to direct them. I might just wind up getting a few other parts to rejuvenate the old girl, especially the door handles. They seem to have oxidized over time....something which seems to be common at least with the early year models.

Thank you very much for your prompt response. I appreciate it very much and will definitely look around for pick-a-part places nearby for any future problems I might have. I had no idea that the prices were so reasonable. A couple bucks and a bit of my time? Sounds good to me!

[Chris Adams]

Glad you found it. The part will be about 17 years old as they don't still make them, but all parts runs have extras made. That's what new old stock (NOS) parts are all about.
Should look good and work fine.

On Pick-a-Parts also called Pull-a-Parts, Ecology yards, etc. they are the best deal on these cars imaginable.
I see low mileage Metro's regularly. Got my seats for my 95 out of a 2001 with 52k miles on it. Hit lightly. All the parts were perfect. The car should never have been scrapped. But then, there's a 98 wit 80k, garaged, perfect, we've been pulling parts from also.

Prices vary from place to place, but 1-2 bucks is usual entrance fee. For that you get to wander around with your tools. GREAT for getting screws, interior scraps like door handles, pull bars, you know the little stuff that everyone's car needs. The1-2 buck admission fee is to cover all the tiny stuff they expect you to put in your pockets...
Prices at some are marked on a sign. Example Headliners 9.99, or Bumper covers (the plastic part you see as the bumper) 29.99. One of my local places charges 6.00 for any steel rim and tire. Got a set for a friend the other day, still had the stubble on the tires, four tires with rims, 24.00.
Other places negotiate every price either before or after you pull it.
Those can be a pain, but then, I've got some killer deals at them.

Hard to beat and an interesting way to spend a couple hours just snooping around junk cars.
You get a lot of respect for Metros when you see a dozen or so with250-400k miles on them in the yard... With broken fenders or smashed fronts. These car were running and in accidents with that kind of miles on them.
Amazing cars.

[Johnny Mullet]

Mine was busted in two when I got my 1998 model, but I installed an aftermarket stereo kit and it hides the look of the broken piece.