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AutoZone adventure

PaintChips97

PaintChips97

New member
I redid the brakes on the car this week, and I decided to do the dual piston Impala setup while I was at it. When I asked for the parts, I asked for stock rear pads and rotors for an '04 Grand Prix GTP, and front pads and rotors for a 2006 Impala. He asked me what size motor was in the Impala (to put it in the computer), so I explained that they were going on the GP and they're all the same part number, but this guy just wasn't having it. He kept asking, not listening to a word I was saying about the part number, so finally I just said "pick one". Well, that guy doesn't like me too much anymore. I get that not everyone knows about cars, I certainly don't know much, but Jesus, that guy just refused to listen :mad:
 


It's just the way most part store systems are set up.. Unless you physically have the part # searching through the car you have to choose a engine option. Even though certain parts are the same no matter the engine size. For future references just look up the part # yourself and write it down and just hand it to them. Makes it so much easier on both them and you.


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thats what i do sometimes. it makes it much easier. the only reason i dont do it all the time is because this one guy wants to sell me 200 buck worth of parts everytime i go in. when he is there i go no i just need this part number
 


REDCOMPG said:
It's just the way most part store systems are set up.. Unless you physically have the part # searching through the car you have to choose a engine option. Even though certain parts are the same no matter the engine size. For future references just look up the part # yourself and write it down and just hand it to them. Makes it so much easier on both them and you.


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The one guy who used to be a manager at Advance actually loved that I did that. He told me, you walk in here, you hand me a piece of paper with a part number and that saves so much time. Then I have idiots that walk in here and ask for brake pads. I ask them what kind of car and they point out to the parking lot and say "That white one over there."

REDCOMPG said:
I get the we have... Fuel stabilizer on sale etc etc.


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There has never even been an attempt at an upsale on me at Advance. I think its because they see me in there so much that they know I won't buy something unless I need it. I get it if they do try an upsale though. They are actually supposed to try to upsale every customer.

bonerjamz03 said:
It's rare to find a guy at autozone/advance with common sense. NAPA on the other hand I always have luck with.
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For me AutoZone is hit and miss, more miss than hit. NAPA I don't even hardly try any more because of prices and lack of parts on hand, etc. Advance for the most part is pretty good. You have your occasional idiot, but the one I frequent isn't the type to just hire someone just because they put an application in.
 
I think the only place where they would try to upsale to me is you guessed it autozone.. Advance has never tried that with me, same with Oreilys. It's good to deal with the same people often.. They know that you've spent plenty of money there and don't waste their breath. Returns or warranty exchanges are easy enough.. I don't usually have the receipt and as most of us know they don't keep records for to long but the guys and girls know we well enough they take my world for it that I've purchased whatever part there and just exchange it without any issues. Hell I've swapped out at least 4-5 defective optima batteries in the last 6 years or so even though some were out of warranty they had no problem giving me a new battery and giving me a new warranty with it.

I order online most of the time to make it as easy as possible for them. There's been plenty of time when I would go pick up my order and I just observe.. Customers coming in left and right not knowing what the hell they're needing or what's it called or trying to redneck rig something up. Then getting upset when nobody knows what they're wanting. Same thing goes with the phone it's constantly ringing.. Similar scenario... Not knowing what they hell you want or what engine, what year car etc and somehow the pets guy is suppose to know what your needing.


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Autozone is a joke here. They have no respect or idea how to treat customers. They let it shine through brightly that they hate their jobs. Last two times I was there I seen irate customers voicing their opinions. Just last week I was right behind this big corn fed country dude who asked for a manager and when he came over he said, pointing 6 inches from the guy at the register, "he's treating me like some kind of b1tch!". I'm pretty sure the cashier had an underwear change shortly after.
 
A friend of mine is a manager at an Autozone so I get preferential treatment. When his guys are messing up I'll call him and ask him where I'm looking for is at and he tells me so I just walk behind the counter and pick it up and bring it out. It really messes with the new guys.

Jeff
 
You would think they would hire someone with basic automotive knowledge. The latest new hires at advance auto parts are horrible. 2 women running it and neither of them could understand what vacuum pump oil is and where behind the counter it's located.
The other women failed just entering my correct vehicle type in the system and tried to sell me an oil filter - randomly offered me a oil filter. No ****ing clue what that was about. Cute chick so I played along but seriously wtf lmao
 


O'Reilly's is 90% where I go. My store has actually, what a surprise, people who know about cars. How 'bout that.
 
PaintChips97 said:
..... so I explained that they were going on the GP and they're all the same part number, but this guy just wasn't having it.
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I had a guy tell me that once. Buddy wanted a cap and rotor for a 350. Wouldn't tell me what make, model or year, just that they are all the same. I looked up some oddball Olds cap and rotor, handed the parts to him, and all he could say was, "These are wrong!" My reply, "That is strange. They are all the same." His tune changed very quickly, and after he gave me the details, I got him the correct parts.

As others have said, when you need parts that aren't "stock", have a part # or know what they are from. I've been doing parts for a long long time, and with the new computer software, it will ask you questions that you think are silly, but to look up your part, you need to input an option.
 
Just had them try to sell me a gtp belt tensioner for a gt and then the part was messed up where the hoses go in but he couldn't even find aluminum elbows for the upgrade either. Not going back to auto zone for parts
 


O'Reilly's for me to they dont always have what i need but at least they know cars and they remember what cars i have. No up sales no bs
 
One time I went to Autozone, and asked for a 180* thermostat for my GP... guy behind the counter said the reduced coolant temperature would throw a CEL. I told him with this model, it didn't. He insisted that all newer cars were like this. I told him I tuned, I know the table in the system that determines this threshold... and he STILL would not just sell me the damn T-stat I asked for. Walked out. Never been back to that location.

Almost no reason to go there with Advance's discount codes anyway
 
It's not just Autozone, all parts lookups start out asking year/make/model/engine... so unless the guy cares and hits the part number instead.. he'll never find what you want.

This is why I ask by part number and when they try to ask vehicle, I mention that I'm modding something and the part won't be listed for the vehicle I'd give them.
 
BillBoost37 said:
It's not just Autozone, all parts lookups start out asking year/make/model/engine... so unless the guy cares and hits the part number instead.. he'll never find what you want.

This is why I ask by part number and when they try to ask vehicle, I mention that I'm modding something and the part won't be listed for the vehicle I'd give them.
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The goofy thing is, autozone can indeed bring up a 180 degree thermostat that fits the vehicle in their system. Several alternative temps are available. Listed on their website, too. But yeah, most of the AZ staff seem to be mindless key punchers.

Another time saver... can always just order online, then pick up the stuff. No issues there. Need to order online for discount codes anyway.
 
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