Would AutoZone take this filter back?

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methusaleh

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I know it seems like a simple question, but I work nights and live in the middle of nowhere, so getting to the store would be a major interruption in the middle of my day, however I would like to resolve this somehow ASAP.

This was going to be the first time I did an OC on my new-to-me 2009 Taurus.

I took advantage of the recent Mobil 1 promotion (5qt + Mobil 1 filter for $32 or so), and chose the only filter listed for my application in the printed book that the store had.

So the other day I am in mid-change, car is up on jack stands, all of the oil is drained, and I get ready to put on the new filter. Filled it with fresh oil, then crawled under the car...only to find that I had the wrong filter. I know I had cross-referenced it correctly, so I called the local Ford dealer to ask them. They confirmed that there was an engine design switch mid-year that caused some engines to require one type of filter, and others to require another. Needless to say, I had the wrong one. I put the old filter back on for the time being, as the car was taking up my garage and I had to finish the OC and could not leave it sitting there.

I drained as much oil from the new Mobil 1 filter as I could, and was hoping that AZ would do an even exchange for the proper one. Do you think that they would? As I see it, their x-reference book was wrong, so they should make the situation right, even though the filter is now technically "used."
 
Yea, I'd take it back....tell them it did not fit your vehicle.

I'm sure they will simply "write it off" as a claim though.....and the dude behind the counter will probably "brow beat" you, thinking, "this dude is returning a used oil filter...." but really, if you got the receipt, I can't see it being a problem.

All else, just chalk it as a loss.....and toss it.
 
Thanks folks, much as I expected.

In all of my approx. 20 years of doing my own OCs, this is the first time this has happened, and I had no reason to think the filter was wrong, so I don't blame myself for expecting it to fit and filling it with oil like always.
 
I am guessing you bought the equivilant to the FL-820S and your car actually takes the FL-500S? Might want to make sure they have something for that engine. We sell a ton of those FL500S filters both OTC and to shops because they say they have a hard time finding non OEM ones yet.
 
Yeah. I'd tell them there book is wrong. If they don't take it back it's only 4 bucks. But they should. They fact that they have the wrong part number is there fault.
 
I understand this situation. The 09 MKX is usually listed as an FL400s, though some are really the new FL500s, as is the case with my mother-in-law's. I wouldn't go in there saying "You idiot countermonkey, the book YOU printed is WRONG!" The dudes that work there have nothing to do with data entry. I have filter catalogs from Advance, AutoZone, and Pepboys and none of them have the midyear filter change notated.

Most stores don't carry anything but the MC filter for this application, but I did recently get my local AZ to order the M1 212 filter in from their warehouse, which is the equivalent. It is not a normally stocked item and must be requested, but thy can do it. Maybe try calling and asking for a manager, politely explain the situaion and ask if he/she can order the proper one for you, then swap them when it arrives.
 
But I do appreciate this huge sticker on the inside back of my Bobcat where it lists every filter by number in the machine. And there are 6 I believe. So i could cross reference the number.
 
Update...exchange went off without a hitch. Frankly the teenage-looking guy at the counter could not have cared less. He didn't even look at the filter I brought in, just told me to go pick a new one while he noted the return in his computer, I brought it to him, he scanned it, and I was out the door.
 
Good to hear. Auto parts stores can give you quite good customer service sometimes. For example, my dad recently returned 4 unused shocks for a van he no longer owns, but the shocks were purchased 3 years ago. They were purchased at Autozone, and although he didn't have the receipt, they were able to look up his transaction through his Autozone rewards account, and gave him a full refund on the shocks with no questions asked.
 
Originally Posted By: Klutch9
Good to hear. Auto parts stores can give you quite good customer service sometimes. For example, my dad recently returned 4 unused shocks for a van he no longer owns, but the shocks were purchased 3 years ago. They were purchased at Autozone, and although he didn't have the receipt, they were able to look up his transaction through his Autozone rewards account, and gave him a full refund on the shocks with no questions asked.


That's amazing ... sounds like AutoZone is the "Nordstom" of the auto parts stores.
 
autozone must take it back per their return policy.
Everything they sell has a minimum 90 day warranty. (even candy & soda).
that oil filter is covered under the 90 day warranty and you are allowed to bring it back for your money back or for another or an exchange.
MOST AZ's are good about it. some need some help in the returns dept with a phone call from corporate. but in the end, they take care of the customer.
 
I would not have returned it.I would not have accepted it.It is the customer who should know what filter his/her car needs.Especially after making the filter unusable by putting it on your car makes it unreturnable.Does that mean they won't accept it?No.They will probably take it back.
 
Originally Posted By: kozanoglu
I would not have returned it.I would not have accepted it.It is the customer who should know what filter his/her car needs.Especially after making the filter unusable by putting it on your car makes it unreturnable.Does that mean they won't accept it?No.They will probably take it back.


Get real, that was a honest mistake anybody could have made. Tech data at the store was wrong. Lesson learned.
 
Originally Posted By: Hootbro
Originally Posted By: kozanoglu
I would not have returned it.I would not have accepted it.It is the customer who should know what filter his/her car needs.Especially after making the filter unusable by putting it on your car makes it unreturnable.Does that mean they won't accept it?No.They will probably take it back.


Get real, that was a honest mistake anybody could have made. Tech data at the store was wrong. Lesson learned.


Yep. And I run into this isssue on my wife's 06 Golf all the time. The 06 in their books lists a cartridge filter. Its actually a spin on like the 05 model year. So I just tell them its an 05 if they don't have a parts book handy in the filter section. The times I slip up and tell them its an 06 it becomes a 5 minute discussion on how their book is wrong and not that's not the right filter just give me the one for the 05.... no I'm sure its right... I've changed the oil many times in it... wash rinse repeat for 5 minutes.
 
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