The boys at Advance Auto

[zerosoma]

Went in to ad-match an o'reily ad (which they gladly said they'd do on the phone), regarding the $3.59/qt Valvoline Next Gen.

After picking some up at O'R for that price, I snatched an ad and headed down to AAP. Filled up my cart with 5 qts and got to the counter. The elderly man looked down his nose at the ad and said... "hm.... this has to be the price AFTER the rebate, do you see that? $20 rebate. Yep that must be the price after rebate." He then went on to explain how they had a better deal going at AAP as it was virtually free. I corrected him kindly and said no, take a look...it is $3.59/qt, THEN you get a MIR. He called over a buddy and the buddy said the same thing. I continued to correct them, a little bit more sternly now because it was obvious they didn't know what they were talking about. I was getting impatient as I had to be somewhere. He then picked up the phone and called O'R's, I told him I didn't have time (I had to be to work in 20 min) and he hung up the phone and said "see ya". I said I'd come back later to check in if they found anything.

So I stopped back later and I get this jerk at the counter who looks at me condescendingly the whole time (they must hate their jobs) and tells me that his boss said that price was AFTER rebate and their price was better! Ha!

Looks like I'm going to another town to price match. What jerks!

 

[NHGUY]

Those price match guarantees arent always what they seem.A great way to bring people in and then deny the match.Seems everybody in parts is doing it now,but they are finding loopholes to wiggle out of it.

 

[volk06]

Should have shown them your receipt with the price.

 

[Slick17601]

Sometimes free oil is not worth the hassle.

 

[JHZR2]

Originally Posted By: volk06
Should have shown them your receipt with the price.


+1. I dont see more correct proof than that.

Id be complaining to AAP corporate about the service and lack of reading comprehension, and definitely provide a copy of the circular and the receipt from buying a quart at OR.

I find that at these incapable quote hire type parts stores, it takes 2-3 trips to get what I need how I want it.

 

[Dan55]

Call advanced cust svc and complain . I had a similar issue and called 1-877-ADVANCE # . A few days later the manager called back apologizing profusely for his stooges behavior and gave me a $20 gift card. MAKE THE CALL !

 

[SLCraig]

Just get the NextGen from Oreillys?

 

[Mr_Incredible]

AAP has always had great customer service in our area. The surveys and emails have been very professional.

+1 on make the call.

 

[AuthorEditor]

My local Advance has one of the better staffs around here. I think this varies a lot store to store, and has a lot to do with the manager of the individual store. Strangely, the crew at my local Walmart auto center aren't too bad either.

 

[Hootbro]

Originally Posted By: zerosoma
................

Looks like I'm going to another town to price match. What jerks!


Gas is not cheap anymore to drive of any length to save a nickle.

 

[bama7x57]

Sorry to hear that. My AAP guys are top notch.

 

[TMoto]

Originally Posted By: AuthorEditor
My local Advance has one of the better staffs around here. I think this varies a lot store to store, and has a lot to do with the manager of the individual store.

I've had the same experience at my local AAP, friendly and courteous. Of course that can change any day, but I'm happy after several years of doing business with them.

 

[antiqueshell]

I agree with others here, if they refuse to honor the company policy of price matching, then call AAP Corporate and politely explain your experience, my guess is you'll get a gift card, the price match on that product and an apology from the manager of that store.

 

[mechtech2]

What is your threshold of problems being worth it?
$5? $10? Principle?
Sometimes it is better for you in the present, AND ultimately for others , to make a stink - you are in the right.

 

[Rock_Hudstone]

Originally Posted By: AuthorEditor
My local Advance has one of the better staffs around here. I think this varies a lot store to store, and has a lot to do with the manager of the individual store.

Right, The guys at the Advance Auto I frequent are super helpful and cooperative with returns, warranties, discounts, etc. Needless to say they get a lot of my business.

On the other hand, the people at the Advance the next town over are major PIAs.

 

[Rock_Hudstone]

Originally Posted By: mechtech2
Sometimes it is better for you in the present, AND ultimately for others , to make a stink - you are in the right.

I find being polite, yet persistent, along with clearly explaining yourself gets better results than making a stink.
Eventually they usually get tired and cave in just to get me out of the store.

However, if you come across a real bunghole no amount of arguing will change their mind, they take it personally and won't admit they could be wrong. I go elsewhere in those cases.

 

[Jarlaxle]

The ones in my local AAP are friendly, courteous...and utterly clueless! I'd rather deal with the gruff, crotchety old guy that owns the NAPA and has the parts book memorized!

 

[chiks]

Originally Posted By: zerosoma
Went in to ad-match an o'reily ad (which they gladly said they'd do on the phone), regarding the $3.59/qt Valvoline Next Gen.

After picking some up at O'R for that price, I snatched an ad and headed down to AAP. Filled up my cart with 5 qts and got to the counter. The elderly man looked down his nose at the ad and said... "hm.... this has to be the price AFTER the rebate, do you see that? $20 rebate. Yep that must be the price after rebate." He then went on to explain how they had a better deal going at AAP as it was virtually free. I corrected him kindly and said no, take a look...it is $3.59/qt, THEN you get a MIR. He called over a buddy and the buddy said the same thing. I continued to correct them, a little bit more sternly now because it was obvious they didn't know what they were talking about. I was getting impatient as I had to be somewhere. He then picked up the phone and called O'R's, I told him I didn't have time (I had to be to work in 20 min) and he hung up the phone and said "see ya". I said I'd come back later to check in if they found anything.

So I stopped back later and I get this jerk at the counter who looks at me condescendingly the whole time (they must hate their jobs) and tells me that his boss said that price was AFTER rebate and their price was better! Ha!

Looks like I'm going to another town to price match. What jerks!


Why would you price-match?
Just buy it from O'R.

 

[Rock_Hudstone]

Originally Posted By: Jarlaxle
The ones in my local AAP are friendly, courteous...and utterly clueless! I'd rather deal with the gruff, crotchety old guy that owns the NAPA and has the parts book memorized!

Ugh, not me, those grizzled counter jockeys are the one of the main reasons I rarely shop at mom and pop parts stores anymore.

If they own the joint even worse, they battle you over ever dollar, only really care about the commercial accounts and often act as though you're an inconvenience rather than a paying customer. Discounts, forget about it.

Yes, with Advance Auto and such the counter guys may not know much, (thats what computers are for) but I get treated with respect and if there happens to be a PITA working there just wait a few months and he'll be gone.

 

[MinamiKotaro]

I don't care if the counter guys are friendly or knowledgeable at all. I know what I need, all they need to do is fetch it from the back for me and take my money.

Actually, in the case of Advance, I just buy everything on the website for the discounts and pick it up in-store. I circumvent human interaction completely.