Reminded why I don't shop at AutoZone anymore.

[Virtuoso]

I put a replacement alternator on our '98 Windstar four years ago when the stocker died. I purchased a "premium" reman DuraLast from AZ and stuck it on. All went well for a while, but for a year or so now, I've noticed the lights flicker during operation.. more so under heavy load, and it's only gotten worse with time. Pulled it off yesterday and had the wife take it in to be checked since she was going to town. They tested it and said it was "ok"; but had a clerk "shush" her while she was on the phone with me for some information about the warranty.


I wasn't satisfied with this, so I had her take it to the Advance store in town, where it promptly failed. They couldn't print out a sheet of results, so they wrote it on paper and she brought it all back home.

We took the alt back in to AutoZone later that night, and gave them the story. A gentleman took the alt over to the tester and hooked it up for another run. The clerk who "shushed" my wife originally gave a [censored] of an attitude, huffed around the store for an alternator to give us because "She wasn't going to argue about this, just take one and go".. even though I wasn't arguing at all. I just wanted an alternator that gave constant voltage. After she dug up the part, set it on the counter and rudely asked for my name (so she could write my 'signature' in when the test was done, just to get me the [censored] out of her store); she sarcastically asked the man testing the unit "Has that piece failed yet?!".

Her tune changed in a [censored] hurry when the guy said the alternator had indeed failed. She apologized up and down for us having to come back in, etc., and was such a nice person. I guess she thought I was trying to scam them for a new part. I really don't like replacing parts I don't have to, believe me..


Unfortunately that's not even the second time I've been treated rather rudely by an AZ employee at that store. I do all of my shopping at NAPA or Advance now if I have to buy it brick-and-mortar; and if it wasn't for the lifetime warranty on that alternator I wouldn't have gone back this time.

Just had to rant. Thanks for 'listening'.

 

[ls1mike]

Man I am sorry to hear that. My local Autozone is pretty awesome.
I cheaped out when I did the Buick's brakes and they lasted almost two year before they warped. I took them back and they refunded my money no questions asked. They have always done pretty good by me. My local Napa? Now that is different story.

 

[Trav]

I had a fiasco at AZ just yesterday. I spent a long time researching the correct platinum or iridium plugs for an old generator. I found the part# of the plug and AZ number, when i went in to order them the girl behind the counter promptly demanded year, make, and model.

When i told her it didn't matter these are what i need she went into a tirade about how she needs to look them up.
The look on her face when i said okay 1973 Onan 15.3 KW generator was priceless.

 

[Artem]

Wow, strange story. I always get treated with the utmost respect at "my" Autozone. I always go there to get parts since the price is pretty fair and i get $20 back for every $100 spent there, so it adds up. I once had a balance of $220 in free money from AZ.

I had a battery that went bad, got a new one after they tested it and it wasn't giving out the correct voltage, even though the freakin machine said the battery passed

P.S. don't send a women to do a man's job. I'd never send my wife to an auto parts story for anything except to pickup pre-ordered parts or something.

 

[HTSS_TR]

Customer services is very importance in retain current customers and attract new customers. Why don't they understand that ?

 

[Chris142]

Ya theres no reason for them to be rude but you must understand what those people go through every day. I worked parts for 6 years.

If an employee condems too many non defective parts they get written up and eventully canned if they keep it up to satisfy customers.

90% of the public has absolutly no understanding how a charging system works. When that big red picture of a battery comes on in the dash they assume that the battery is bad.

So they bring the battery into the store and it tests good. Then they get in the employees face about it. If the employee replaces the non defective battery he will get in trouble and the new battery will be dead tomorrow since the problem is in the charging circut.

The Alternator testing machine isn't 100% accurate either. It tests out put voltage and Diode condition. If these are ok it's assumed that the out put amps are good too.

Usually this is true...But not always


I can't tell you how many starters that tested good on the starter tester that wouldn't start a car because the over running clutch in the Bendix was slipping. You won't ever find that one unless you put a load on the spinning gear with a wooden broomstick handle.

You wouldn't believe the amount of coils that get sold because of a no spark condition.........Well it ain't sparkin because the timing belt is broken so the distributer isn't turning.

I've had a customer bring back a brand new battery because "It's totally dead". I could see where he had clamped his cables to the plastic covers on the battery posts!

I had another guy throw a smog pump down on the counter and ask for an alternator. He had removed the smog pump thinking it was an Alternator! When I produced an Alternator he had a fit because it was different looking than the part he brought in!

Another guy cleaned up the wiring under his hood because it was "ugly". He also removed the "ugly" wires that went to the Alternator! W/O those wires how is the Alt going to charge the battery?

 

[caravanmike]

sounds like a people (attitude) problem. can't you have a people problem at any store?

 

[Virtuoso]

Originally Posted By: Artem
P.S. don't send a women to do a man's job. I'd never send my wife to an auto parts story for anything except to pickup pre-ordered parts or something.


LOL Don't tell that to my wife. She does plenty of "man" work, knows her [censored] and was well enough informed to do this job.

Perhaps they should fire the women working behind the counter too?

I could pass it off if it was just one time, but there have been multiple offenses, by more than a couple employee's at this one location. Every other store around town has been good to me.

Live and learn!

 

[paulo57509]

I think the attitude at AZ is really dependent on who is helping you at the time. Some are just "clocked" the wrong way.

I bought a set of brake pads that were supposed to come with shims. The gal working the counter wouldn't even bother looking at another set on the shelf to confirm. She just showed me the generic image on the computer screen and said, "See? There are no shims".

Needless to say, she don't work there no more.

Other than this one time, the folks at AZ are OK. What I don't like is the place is so understaffed that you stand around in line for a long time.

That and they try to push Lucas products on me at the register.

 

[NHGUY]

I laugh at the commercials for AZ where they claim you arent going it alone,because you have the whole AZ store team behind you to tackle any repair challenge.(Get in the Zone,AutoZone!)Like the one where the kid is fixing the old Gran Torino thats sitting beside a dirt road,for Free.He bicycles to his nearest AZ for a radiator hose right at closing time,and the man clerk opens the store for him and smiles as he pedals off with his hose.What a laugh!
I have talked with many ex-AZ employees (Zoners as they are called),and they say there is no formal training,and they have to use the computer exclusively.While they have a thick paper catalog under the counter,they dont expect anyone to use it.Guess they figure they cant read.They will always ask for an applicaton even if you bring in the part numbers you need.Dont know wether thats double checking you,or just being hard to deal with.

 

[mpvue]

I brought some used oil into AZ one day and as I walked in, a guy behind the counter (with a lot of people waiting in line) yelled 'make sure you take your old bottles back!'
then I get back there and someone else tells me it's full.
I was pretty upset now (after getting yelled at), but laughed inside when my bottles dripped oil all the way out the door...

I went across the street to Advance; they said sure, no prob, go around back the doors open.

 

[SubyRoo]

The employees at my local AutoZone, Advance and Oreillys are like angels compared to the people at Napa. There are three Napa stores within driving distance and I have tried them all and left disgusted every time.

 

[Cutehumor]

"Get in the zone!" more like get in the twilight zone.

 

[spackard]

I dunno. I learned the way to get good aftermarket parts is to find the parts store the local repair shops use, and go there. Those guys go broke if there are too many come-backs; they eat the labor.

Edit: On the flip side, that parts store typically doesn't spend a lot of time talking people through what a dashboard warning light means. They're usually all business. Year, make, model, part you need.

 

[dishdude]

Advance is my favorite, wish we had them out west here.

 

[SEMI_287]

AZ, Advance and Napa are both friendly here but Napa is my place of choice. They're usually more knowledgeable and helpful.

 

[crw]

My Autozone is great. Time after time, they go the extra mile. I think a lot of it comes down to the individual managers for each store and the "culture" they instill in the employees.

 

[otis24]

I was disappointed in Advance. I purchased new front brakes from AZ at about 37k miles. Shortly afterward, I purchased rear brakes at Advance. Both sets came with a "lifetime" warranty. After about 100k miles, I just had to replace both sets. Called both places to confirm they had a record of my purchase and that the brakes were warranted. Advance refused to warranty the brakes, saying that the warranty was against defects in workmanship and "separation", not wear. Autozone's warranty was even against wear.
Needless to say, I won't be buying anymore parts at Advance.

That said, it never hurts to call corporate when treated rudely. I've gotten some good kickbacks when I have called regarding rude treatment. I don't like to complain, but I am not afraid to when the sitaution warrants.

 

[JustinH]

What do you guys expect out of a 9 dollar per hour clerk? I do most of my business with Rockauto.com, its less of a pain and usually far cheaper than any of the stores. I even started ordering wipers from them since advance wanted 17 dollars for one wiper for my saturn. They must be charging for the "free installation" service that they offer.

 

[stephen9666]

Originally Posted By: Chris142

90% of the public has absolutely no understanding how a charging system works. When that big red picture of a battery comes on in the dash they assume that the battery is bad.

So they bring the battery into the store and it tests good. Then they get in the employees face about it.


Ugh, tell me about it.

When I used to work at a tire shop, we had a few people coming in complaining about our batteries.

"I'll charge it up and then the next morning it's dead."

Well, that's most likely an electrical drain, not a bad battery. But try telling that to someone who has convinced themselves that it's a bad battery.