Irritating Experience At Auto Zone

[NHHEMI]

Originally Posted By: HangerHarley
It is real irritating when they sell the Fuel Injection cleaner, as if you need it. All you can do is say "no, thanks."

Then they ask for your phone number and i should somehow say "I dont have a phone."

Just general morons, at Autozone. And they are agressive as all [censored].

Basically, i will go in aparts store once. if my experience is good and they leave me be, i make a note. If they bum-rush me when i walk in the door, i shoe them away like a fly and make a note of that that they wont just leave me be. Then i see how it goes at the counter.... the combination of the two tells me if i will be back, or not.

You are not to blame for being irritated. Ive been to ones where they ask for your phone number and do all sorts of things at the register, to further annoy you, because they are getting off on their "policy".............


The only time I get asked for a phone number at AZ is if I use a credit card and it is the credit card company( i.e. - security company not actual CC company )that has them do it for verification purposes. If you refuse they won't let you use the CC. I too get very annoyed at this request and will say so but I don't blame the employee asking who is just doing their job. Even Wal-Mart did that at one point.

 

[mcrn]

Originally Posted By: HyundaiGuy
Originally Posted By: mcrn
LOL don't mean to be creepy at all. I live near there and she sounds just like the girl I have dealt with in there as well! Sounded very familiar. Im glad they were carrying the PU!

If you think about it, that's pretty bad when someone can identify the store's location in a decently sized city with multiple locations by the non physical description of "Ms. Personality" that works there.

And to answer another question, I did not finder to be physically attractive at all either. A real winner, that one.



Man you got that right! I have seen her be nice but its still in a very annoying way. I think she likes to hear herself talk.

 

[bigmike]

Originally Posted By: HangerHarley

Some know their stuff, but strike up a conversation about Oil close to the Additives shelf, and just wait until they start talking about all the benefits of Lucas, and that its on sale for $8.99 or $9.99 instead of the original $10.99 or $11.99. Busted!

Hah! That's the local PepBoys here. I overheard a conversation with a customer and the parts guy:

Customer: "Is this Regane fuel cleaner any good or should I try something else?"
Parts guy: "Well, it's just OK. What you really need is Lucas fuel treatment and that's the best. They sell little bottles of it and big bottles right over on aisle..."

I watch this lady (customer) walk over to the aisle and consider both. Then she walks away with the Regane and I thought to myself, close call and I didn't have to intervene! Plus, as an added bonus, the bottles were the old stock of Regane (big bottles, not the 2X concentrated) and were 50% off. I picked up a few myself before I left.

 

[CROWNVIC4LIFE]

Originally Posted By: jhs914
I try to shop at our local NAPA when I can. Those folks know what they are doing and treat you like you also know what you are talking about. And when I don't know what I am talking about, they offer to help!


Not in Broward and Miami-Dade...I almost had to call the cops on one of them last week as one of the NAPA stores tried to rip me off...Not going to get into it now....Autozone is a million times better down here.

 

[Kaboomba]

The NAPA nearest me is pretty good. Where my parents live there is a "good" NAPA and a "we don't bother anymore" NAPA!

AZ counterpersons seem to be under pressure to move the promotions. I usually just be nice about it and say something like "thanks for pointing that out", and then go on with business.

 

[rslifkin]

The NAPA in my hometown is good, and the one up here seems good as well (although I've only been in there once).

The Advance in Stamford is decent as well. They understand that I know what I want, being that I don't ask for suggestions as far as what to buy, so they don't push any extra product.

Autozone isn't as good, however. They tend to push the Lucas injector cleaner, etc.

 

[edwardh1]

what is PU

 

[901Memphis]

Originally Posted By: edwardh1
what is PU



Pennzoil Ultra Synthetic - A superior synthetic oil amongst others

 

[jstutz]

Well i have been very lucky. I, like most everyone, have been into lots of parts stores with clerks that have almost no knowledge of anything in the store. My local AZ in Kernersville NC has been very good to me over the last 10 years. the manager is great and more than likely some kind of mechanic. The guys in there are very helpful and have helped me many times trying to troubleshoot or fix one of my vehicles. Because of this, i generally give them all of my business. Just thought i should mention that there are still some good parts stores around with good guys in them.

 

[teddyboy]

Originally Posted By: kkreit01
Yeah -- I think that's a bad enough experience to go to Wal-Mart to pay $25 for 5 qt jug! I can guarantee they will not ask you questions, not provide suggestions.


Did you ever imagine that there would be a circumstance in which Wally World's lack of service was actually a blessing?

 

[CharBaby]

Once again, not picking on every employee that work at the parts store. I have met many who have helped me in my situation and many other who know their limitations and what the limitations of the store. They can only sell customers the products that the store carries.

Too, there are customers looking for advice and most of the time, the employees have limitations as-far-as, what they can tell a customer without being liable..."Sell the products that are in the store".

I see and hear these things that I find offencive from places such as Firestone and Good/Year Service Centers. Things that these sales manager tell customers makes me walk away shaking my head and rolling my eyes. But, that's not to say that all Firestone and Good/Year stores share these practices.

 

[Boss302fan]

Ultra is $26 for 5 quarts at my local Walmart.

 

[rat]

Originally Posted By: Char Baby
Once again, not picking on every employee that work at the parts store. I have met many who have helped me in my situation and many other who know their limitations and what the limitations of the store. They can only sell customers the products that the store carries.

Too, there are customers looking for advice and most of the time, the employees have limitations as-far-as, what they can tell a customer without being liable..."Sell the products that are in the store".

I see and hear these things that I find offencive from places such as Firestone and Good/Year Service Centers. Things that these sales manager tell customers makes me walk away shaking my head and rolling my eyes. But, that's not to say that all Firestone and Good/Year stores share these practices.



I admit that I do go to Autozone and Advance to save money on car cleaning supplies, oil on sale, etc. Seems that whenever I go there, none of the counter people are aware of their "limitations", and will gladly tell the customer totally wrong information because they don't know how to say "I don't know the answer to that". Things from teling customers that you can just add stop leak instead of replacing gaskets, or you can use these E3 diamond fire plugs in your Ford instead of the double platinums it recommends(waste spark ignition), and everyones favorite.....wait for it.......

"20w50 oil will protect your engine much better than the Xw20"
I honestly believe that most of these guys want to help and give good advice,
but they are not being trained beyond a couple of sad videos when they get hired.

 

[mechtech2]

I just had a counter kid angrily explain to me how SAE and metric threads were interchangeable for some brake line I was buying!


I wish it were not so, but my experience is overwhelmingly consistent.

I do know one guy at a VW dealership who is phenomenal. Too good to be true. I actually LIKE going there to hear whatever tidbits of info he has!

 

[Merkava_4]

Doesn't $32 at 4 quarts come out to $8 a quart? I get 5 quarts of MaxLife at Walmart for $16.

 

[Aquaticentipede]

Autozone sucks; lousy service & high prices. I either go to Advanced Auto, O'reillys, or Napa. But there's an Autozone literally 5 blocks from the house so sometimes I go there (holding my breath).

Once had a guy ask me why I was buying anti-seize compound. Told him it was for some lugnuts. He got a surprised look on his face and proceeded to tell me that you're supposed to put them on dry and "tighten them as hard as you can". I explained that I've broken studs before trying to remove seized nuts. Another employee overheard our conversation and told the guy that I was correct in using anti-seize on them. His face turned red and he shut up.

 

[postjeeprcr]

Originally Posted By: rat
Many times when the parts stores have specials like that, the employees get a spiff on each one they sell, and try extra hard to push those items. I remember my favorite one back in the day was when Autolite platinum spark plugs came out. I got .50 cents for every one I sold, so everybody that came in needing plugs got "upsold".


That is very true, I am not sure what spif stands for but I'd guess something like Sell Premium Incentive Fund