Autozone
 

Ever have a bad experience with Autozone? without detailing, I sure have, please respond!

Yes, I have too! I was pulling my engine and needed bolts to fit my new engine stand (the bolts that go into the engine) and went to three different autozone's to find these bolts. The first guy at the first one didn't even look, and said they didn't carry them at any autozone stores, the second autozone I went to said they don't carry them, but can order them, and the third autozone had them and the guy knew exactly what size and strength bolt I needed. He said they are a common item and that the other two guys were idiots.

I don't think Autozone holds the patent on "I don't give a damn" type employees. Most are there just for the paycheck, yet you'll sometimes find those that really try to help. Parts counter people seem to be a different breed of people here in my area, especially at the dealers.

A couple of years ago, I needed brake pads for my old '86 van. They kept giving me the wrong pads at one store. I then went to another, and the guy behind the counter took the time to open some other boxes of pads and we found this particular '86 van used pads listed for an '85.

I spent more time running back and forth to the first store than it took to install the pads. The second store gets my business now, because he took the extra effort.

Kragen, Shucks, Checker gets my business all the time. Don't ever let auto zone check your battery or alternator.

Wow what a coincedence, I was going to post this in blue oval lounge, but i will post it here:

MY friend and I were in need of some spark plugs for his 347, we just put it together, after replacing head gaskets, and installing an msd distributor, well we asked the counter lady, (A woman about in her 30's with tattoos) for some autolite plugs for a 5.0 mustang, and she replies "who makes mustang again" :confused: :confused: MY GOD!! what is this world coming to?


We then said forget about that, check for a distributor o-ring for a FORD mustang, she said they didnt carry stuff like that, we just looked at eachother and left, went across the street to advance and got everything we needed, including the o-ring.

What i dont understand is my friend with the mustang can tear down and rebuild motors.....and he applied at that autozone, and he never even received a phone call??? but they have a woman like this working there....wtf:confused: next time im gonna ask for a radiator for a 72 beetle:D

LOL:D :D ...coupe5ho that would be some funny shi# if you did that!! I remember a time i called them and asked for a price on a set of brake pads for my 88lx...well a lady picked up the phone and said " pads for a mustang" and i said "yes" she then said is that front wheel drive or rear wheel rive" then i just said WOW and hung the phone up!! could not believe it
:eek:

Many months ago I was interviewed by the manager of our local Autozone. He had this gorgeous TA WS6 convertible...but he knew NOTHING about cars. Part of the Autozone hiring process is to ask questions about automotive systems. I was explaining about an automatic transmission, and I asked how detailed he wanted me to be...he said something like, "You lost me at torque converter". And I said, "Do you want me to repeat myself?"


His reply: "Oh, no, I heard you, but I don't know much about that kind of thing."


:rolleyes:


Funny, though...the parts counter people seem pretty decent. But the guy at Lappens knows my car. As soon as I walk in and he sees me...he knows what car I need parts for. ;)

Autozone blows...
 

I had a manager tell me that a plug wire cannot fail and cause the insulation to burn up (turn white). He told me that in 20 years working there he has never seen it. "So it isn't possible?" I asked. "Well, you probably installed it wrong". I asked him if he was an electrical engineer. He just looked at me with a blank stare. I left the faulty wire on his counter for him to study and walked out the door.

Wow I guess things here in MA are a little different. This one guy at the autozone here has owned a few mustangs in the past and really knows his stuff! Right now he is working on a old Nova, and that thing is sweet! I have never had a problem from autozone, execpt the manager who looks like Mr. Magoo, who doesn't know a damn thing. I guess autozone felt bad for him, cause when a local hardware store went under he lost he job after something like 20 years of service.

I have had problems with Pep Boys, and Advanced autoparts. Just some clueless people who have very bad customer relations.

Pep Boys...
 

Don't get me started on Pep Girls....

VatoZone as we call 'em down here. Most of the guys/gals who work there don't know jack from turd. And don't even think about high performance parts through them or anything they have to order. I simply use them if I know exactly what I need and if they have it in stock. They are less expensive than many other places for simple stuff.

--nathan

Yeah, like many of you, I could sit here for an hour typing all of the stories from Autozone. I've also had issues with other places, but not nearly as many as autozone. I also would like to add that it depends on the individual store. Some zone's I've been to are great. They have knowledgable people that work there. Then again the other 3/4 of them are horrible. When I was in AZ, it made it even worse because you had to find somebody who had a clue about cars, and also spoke english! I remember one time my wife went there to get Dexcool antifreeze for your truck. The idiot that worked there told her there was no such thing. He treated her like she was an idiot and she had no business in an auto parts store. She told me about it when I got home from work and she told me the guy's name, and I went into the store and asked for the dexcool from the SAME employee. He got extremely sarcastic and says "where do you people hear about this stuff. There's no such thing!" I immediately went back to the aisle where it was (had checked to make sure it was there before I talked to him), picked it up shoved it in his face and told him to read the *$&#$*%* bottle. It says DEXCOOL. I saw Tim, who was the manager, start walking over to us and I just yelled at him from across the store "Tim, why don't you guys employ some people who have a clue?!" Then I explained to him why I was pissed and how this guy treated my wife. This guy was just an idiot. The problem is, that most of the people that work at that particular autozone are the same way.
Dave

I think the problem everyone encounters at these 'discount' auto parts stores (I mostly avoid them except when they have a great sale or I'm desperate) stems - in part - from the simple fact that they keep prices low partly by paying employess just above minimum wage and they get what they pay for. Not much, obviously.

People keep coming back and putting up with the poor service because the prices are fairly low (although I can buy Autolite plugs at Wal Mart - with no idiot clerk to deal with - just pick 'em off the rack).

Cars are complex, there are tens of thousands of available parts and these clerks are no different from the guy or girl at the K-Mart store and probably worked there last. Expecting these types to actually understand your vehicle is a long-shot.

Finding a knowledgable clerk is a big bonus in an Auto Zone, Pep Boys, whatever mega-store you choose. As I said, I avoid them most of the time. I would rather deal with a real auto parts store (NAPA, etc) or buy mail order in some cases, plus you can still get some basic car stuff at a Sears or even Wal Mart. Who needs these mega-marts with their clueless clerks and computers that they can't read or understand?

Yea like i told gtsr15 on pm, I can't bash all of them, just one bye my house, and napa, sheesh, i have some stories about them too, anyway, silver pilate, thats what we call them too, well you know.:)

To see what it's like being on the other side of the counter, so to speak, click here, and scroll down to the bottom.

I had a problem with starters. A very odd problem. My starter went out and I went there to get e replacement. I wanted to get it done right away and it was the only store open. I get a starter and go home and put it in. I go to start her up and nothing happens. I check everything and everything seems fine. I called a mechanic friend and he came over and checked it out for me. He told me flat out "They gave you a bvad starter"
So i take it back to the store to return. They put it on their test machine before they will take it back. They hook it up and it runs just fine. I tell them that i want another one anyways. The guy told me that he can't do that. I'm mad I take it home. I test it on 5 different car batteries while the cars are running and nothing. I take it back to the store. I get a different idiot this time. he tests it and it works just fine. I tell him i want another one. he says no. I start yelling at him. I ask him why doesn't he come out to my car with a set of jumper cables and I'll show him. He says he can't do it. I tell him fine, I'll bring my battery in here, and he says no I can't do that either. I ended up buying a second starter. I took the second home and it worked perfectly.
After getting a working i was even more pissed off. I called to set up a time that i could come in when the general manger was in. Luckily i didn't have to give the manager any hell. As I started to tell him my situation, he says "Just bring it in I'll swap it for you." I hadn't even told him my story. I said "thats all there is to it." He said "Thats it, just bring it in"
I brought it in he didn't even test it just took it and gave me my refund, no questions.

AutoZone war stories
 

Jeb:

I read the Auto Zone employee stories and they were hysterically funny.

See, it's just a mirror.
Dumb clerks who know nothing about cars and systems, much less parts - and dumb customers who know little-to-nothing, either. Plenty of each to go around.

Dealing with either one is a recipe for disaster but you have to wonder what happens when a clueless clerk encounters a clueless customer at Auto Zone. They probably cancel each other out.:D

Yeah, I can see it now.

Customer: "Hi, I need one of these things." (holding a small auto part in his hand)

Autozone Clerk: "Well, what is it?"

C: "Man, I don't know, I thought you would know."

and this goes on for about an hour. Now you know why it when you go to autozone, and there's only four people in line ahead of you, but it takes you an hour just to get to the counter and ask for your part.

I use Autozone for the following items: motor oil, oil filters, tire dressing, car wax, and anything else for detailing...

Yeah, thats about all you need them for except for maybe windshield wipers too.