Auto Zone conversation with counter guy

[KieferS]

you guys are crazy.
You guys always shop at autozone..thats the problem.
Come over to the Napa i work at, or any other Napa..we know our stuff, and i'm sure we get better wages than any employee at autozone..because we actually hire people who know whats going on.
Half the counter guys at autozone don't know the diffrence between a distributor and a spark plug..believe me, I know, i have friends that work there.

we have 8 employees at the napa i work at.
The manager, a former tech.
3 of them working there way through school right now to become techs.
Me, i consider myself pretty knowledgable, and i will also be going to school come october.
1, a former tech. in the Army
the other 2 went to a Technical high school there graduating year and took automotive for all semesters of their graduating year.

As you can see, we have a VERY strong automotive professional presence at Napa, or atleast the napa i work at anyway.

 

[globey]

yes, go to Napa because Kiefer works there and gets better wages. People at AutoZone don't even know what a spark plug is or an engine!

 

[BrianWC]

Yep, I, too, have had the AZ people through all those packets of this and that at me without asking. Anti-seize, di-electric grease, felt terminal protectors....I pretty much avoid my AZ and go across the street to the AAP every time because at least the AAP guys are sooo clueless that that they can't even pretend to tell you what you "need to do."

My attitude with these stores is just to go in, get what I need, and get out while talking to the counter guys as little as possible. If I do make random conversation, it's to ask if they have any oil on closeout.

 

[Dave Hess]

Of all stores, AAP does have the most closeout oil sales.

What I hate about AutoZone is that most of the time the cashier is also a parts person and they are too busy to notice that theres 5 people waiting in line to pay.

Why doesn't AZ have a person just for the cash register ???

 

[BrianWC]

Yep, the fact that people are still finding pre-GC green syntec at AZ is a testament to the fact that they let oil sit forever.

 

[Gary Allan]

Our NAPA does have the best trained parts guys in the area. They're as rapid fire as a NASCAR pit crew. Not much time to socialize. No one is standing around in this store.

They also have the most expensive parts. They're mostly trade oriented and service oriented ..not price oriented (typically). The prices at the end user level become outrageous due the normal handling charges (the shops are floating a bill here) and markup by the service provider. It was cheaper for me to buy Mopar GL3 synthetic fluid from the dealer ($14.xx/qt retail) than it was the PZ GL4 MT synthetic fluid from NAPA (over $20/qt).

 

[Buffman]

Napa? I barely shop at Napa? Why, because you guys act like you're 100 freaking years old. Practically all of them close at 5pm. Parts store that doesn't have decent hours doesn't get my business. Plus they charge too ---- much.

 

[Brogy]

lol buffman, you've got a good point. AAP is open 9-9 seven days a week. Sometimes i'll need something, and go there just because they're the only ones open. I do hate how expencive napa is, but I go there sometimes because they're only a mile from my house. I paid $22 for an air filter, AAP at the time had the same filter for $12.

 

[KieferS]

Yes, we at NAPA are always closed..I know it.
But i'm telling you, people who know, shop at Napa. I don't care how i'm coming off right now, we have THE best people. Period.
Go to Autozone, HA! the cashier, mother of 3 and loving wife with the green mommy mobile with a dent in the fender is ALSO THE PARTS Guy...guyet...whatever.

I walked in there and asked for a job, the manager asked me this
"so, do you know about cars?"
"yea, i like to think I do"
"Great, because, take me for example, and alot of us here, we don't know much at all, we always wan't people who know about engines"

Those were the exact words! I went to Napa after an instructor hooked me up, and it's a totally diffrent atmosphere that I really think many here would appreciate.
Yes, we're more expensive..our store may not be as attractive, but you know WHY?!
BECAUSE! 1) we don't have a rice isle, and 2) MOST of our business, is from Shops! we deal with professionals all day! Yes, autozone has a few trucks outside, but NAPA dominates sales to profesionals, they trust our parts, and our counter guys, because we're knowledgable and know the products we sell and we can attract these kind of people because we've got better wages, the best benefits in the industry and a great opportunity to advance (even though it's not my wish to do so with this company)

 

[BrianWC]

Yep. Can't deny that about NAPA stores. Bad thing is in my city they all locate around industrial areas where indy repair shops are located. I don't LIVE in these areas and it sux to drive to them for a part. But yes, in the little town I grew up in the NAPA was THE place to get a part in stock or ordered quickly. Plus, later on they had the trucks with the NAPA hats on top. How cool is that?

 

[Merkava_4]

BrianWC

Quote:

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I pretty much avoid my AZ and go across the street to the AAP every time because at least the AAP guys are sooo clueless that that they can't even pretend to tell you what you "need to do."

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LOL!!! . . .

KieferS

Quote:

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Go to Autozone, HA! the cashier, mother of 3 and loving wife with the green mommy mobile with a dent in the fender is ALSO THE PARTS Guy...guyet...whatever.

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LOL!!! . . .

 

[aquariuscsm]

My philosophy on auto parts stores (or any stores for that matter) is to research and find out what you need/want before you head to one.

If I need a car part,I do alot of searching.......car chat forums (TT.NET,300ZXClub,ZDriver,BITOG),Google,etc. I make sure I`m informed,know what I need,and then head to the auto parts store. If I`m bored one night,I`ll get on one of these sites and just use the search feature. I`ll spend some time navigating and reading through the site.

When I buy my car parts,I always buy OEM,so I`ll either go to my local Nissan dealer,or I`ll buy from one of the Zcar club sponsors who deal only in Nissan Z parts. When I need any non-OEM parts,I always choose Auto Zone. They have the best prices and anytime I`ve ever had a problem with something I`ve bought there,they`ve always taken care of me and given me "the customer is always right" service.

No matter where you go to buy,just make sure you enter the store informed and educated on what you need to get.

 

[Cutehumor]

Quote:

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you guys are crazy.
You guys always shop at autozone..thats the problem.
Come over to the Napa i work at, or any other Napa..we know our stuff, and i'm sure we get better wages than any employee at autozone..because we actually hire people who know whats going on.
Half the counter guys at autozone don't know the diffrence between a distributor and a spark plug..believe me, I know, i have friends that work there.

we have 8 employees at the napa i work at.
The manager, a former tech.
3 of them working there way through school right now to become techs.
Me, i consider myself pretty knowledgable, and i will also be going to school come october.
1, a former tech. in the Army
the other 2 went to a Technical high school there graduating year and took automotive for all semesters of their graduating year.

As you can see, we have a VERY strong automotive professional presence at Napa, or atleast the napa i work at anyway.

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hey kiefer S!

I thought you worked at jiffy lube? what happened bro?

 

[zonestar]

When I buy something from an auto parts store I already know what I need. If I did not know what I needed then I should not be working on that part of my car. It would kind of scare me to let someone tell me what I needed to fix my car when they have not looked at it.

 

[GMGuy]

Quote:

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Yes, we're more expensive..

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If you'd just charge jobber prices on all the walk in customers you wouldn't be. ;-)

My only beef with going to Napa is that I never know what price schedule I'll get that day. Will I get jobber? Will I get full retail? Is the guy going to deny me jobber prices when prompted?

Alex.

 

[globey]

I think you have to be a member of AARP to work at the Napa near me. I swear they set their hours around "nap time" and the 4:30 dinner schedule.

 

[Gary Allan]

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Yes, we're more expensive..

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If you'd just charge jobber prices on all the walk in customers you wouldn't be. ;-)

My only beef with going to Napa is that I never know what price schedule I'll get that day. Will I get jobber? Will I get full retail? Is the guy going to deny me jobber prices when prompted?

Alex.

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Same here. I do parts runs every once and awhile when my pal is up to his neck in work and doesn't need the wait for NAPA to deliver it since it's tying up lift space. Sometimes when I go in myself, the guy will recognize that I'm "in the club" and I'll get a decent price. Other times, sometimes for the same (like) items, I get sticker shock. I got some heater hose and a couple of those nylon T's ..some clamps ..walked out for about $8..the next weekend ..I got two more nylon fittings (different sizes)..a longer length of hose ..a few more clamps (a box)..and it was almost $30

 

[Buffman]

Yeah Napa does have some good things. Like the Cooler Cleaner for cleaning out trans coolers/lines. The main reason I shop at autozone is because they have GC and have the rewards card

 

[skate1968]

This thread is making me laugh. The last time i was at AutoZone they tried to explain to me what was causing my car to smoke. This guy acted like he could figure it out without even looking at it. More than a little stupid, I thought.

 

[KieferS]

Quote:

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Quote:

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you guys are crazy.
You guys always shop at autozone..thats the problem.
Come over to the Napa i work at, or any other Napa..we know our stuff, and i'm sure we get better wages than any employee at autozone..because we actually hire people who know whats going on.
Half the counter guys at autozone don't know the diffrence between a distributor and a spark plug..believe me, I know, i have friends that work there.

we have 8 employees at the napa i work at.
The manager, a former tech.
3 of them working there way through school right now to become techs.
Me, i consider myself pretty knowledgable, and i will also be going to school come october.
1, a former tech. in the Army
the other 2 went to a Technical high school there graduating year and took automotive for all semesters of their graduating year.

As you can see, we have a VERY strong automotive professional presence at Napa, or atleast the napa i work at anyway.

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hey kiefer S!

I thought you worked at jiffy lube? what happened bro?

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I'll tell you right now..everything you read about jiffy lube is true.
Jiffy lube abuses workers, and are scam artists! They and i mean THEY because i played no part in it, scammed people every day! selling rear diffrential services to Rav 4s! adding hidden fees..for an oil change! I once even told this lady not to come to Jiffy lube w/ her VW anymore, i swear to you, i literally said that! Because I know none of the guys arn't going to have the tools! or enough time to put the skid plate on, and she's going to go home with 3 bolts in a + pattern when there were 12,with her skid plate dragging. And if you had an Audi, forget it, your filter wasn't changed.
I gave them the benefit of the doubt, thought maby it's all just internet B/S but i saw it first hand.
I'll never forget what Jiffy lube made me do.
JL is an abuser, they take advantage of employees because they have no where else to go, they're dis honest, I regret ever working there.
Sell sell sell, i hated it, and if they didn't scam, they lost their jobs, and coldn't support the family, because all the employees had bad records, or were on drugs.
Horrible place to work!
Horrible place to take your car to!
Everytime I go there, i laugh! because they're all bunched around one car, trying to figure out how to take an oil filter off, or why the car won't start because i'm betting they knocked a vacuum line off the air box of a mercedez!