Autozone fun

[bigmerc2003]

Went there once for brake pads, got the box, paid and went to leave. For some reason we looked at the pads before we left and found out they were used! This was only a year or two ago so its not like they were a core put back on the self by accident!

[TexasTruck72]

I hate dealing with the folks at Autozone most of the time. The only time I've had a good time there was when the one and only guy who knows anything is working there. He actually is very helpful cause he used to own a '70 F-100 SWB. Besides that one employee, I've been disgusted at the stupidity of the employees at Autozone. I usually don't ask them for help, I know what I'm looking for. The only time I asked for them with help was trying to find some throttle linkage clips(little things that clip the linkage together near the carb). The employee insisted on searching the computer for the part. I said its a generic type of thing, not specific to the model. They didn't listen to me. I found some way to distract the employee and walked out without them even noticing I was gone. I found a box of Ford style linkage connectors at Pep Boys thirty minutes later for $2.99.

If I want to buy a part of any significance I'll try NAPA. Otherwise, I'll order from NPD or Dennis Carpenter.

[Mancar1]

Sounds like Autozone is neck and neck with Kragen. Never know what your gonna get. (Have not used them in years. Maybe they are better now.)

[ford4x4fun]

From my neck of the woods, advanced is the most knowledgeable place. The manager use to dirt track race back in his day, and was a fan of the 302. I don't deal much with the other workers at the store but he is always ready to help out. He knows a lot and cares about getting his customers the correct product. Now... The advanced in Brandon FL, not so much those guys don't care at all. I was a big fan of O'Reily's when I was in TN. Car Quest was also a good place down in Clarksville, but a little more expensive!

[bigmerc2003]

I like Advanced too, also if you can find a Federated Auto Parts store they are usually pretty good. If you go to auto zone make sure you look up the part numbers and bring them in to match what they give you, cant tell you how many times that has saved my a$$

[hdpusher]

I ordered a radiator for my truck 2 years ago. The first one came in was aluminum, damaged in shipping and wasn't even close to fitting correctly. They ordered a second one and when it came in it was copper/brass. The problem was it was damaged before it was even put in the box. So they ordered a third one. When it came in it was undamaged, aluminum and fit perfectly. All three boxes had the exact same part number....

[RyanV]

As a former Autozone manager I can tell you the gray shirt guys are managers, red shirt guys are employees. But that dosnt always help because the most knowledgeable guy may be an employee and not manager. I started there when I was 18 and had a great employee there that knew anything I could think to ask and had managers that knew far less than me. I worked there for 5 years and learned more from the customers than anywhere else. Some employees thought they knew everything and I couldn't belive some of the crap I would here. I work with O'reillys now, and Checker/Schucks/Kragen before thay were bought by O'reillys. Been here 5 years or so. I've had customers tell me they come in and if im not there walk back out and come back the next day because they know i know what im doing. It's hard to find a good parts guy to work for $8/hr part time. I preferred hiring older semi retired guys that had experience and were working for something fun to do rather than a paycheck.

[flyboy2610]

We had a really great independent auto parts store here in town, but the owner retired, and now his son runs it. I'm surprised that guy can even find his way to work in the morning!
One of the best parts guys they had now works for Autozone. I won't buy anything major from anyone but him or another guy who works there who has a really sweet mid '60s Chevy pickup which he built himself. If those two aren't there, I come back another day.

[Project Rustoleum]

I went to AutoZone to get a real main seal for my 302 in the Mustang... Guy didn't know how to spell main and didn't know what a seal installer tool is. I typed it in the computer for him and said oh wait, forgot my wallet, be right back. Went to Oreilly's and got my seal and installer the same night. I quit going to AutoZone the same day also. Haha. I have only gotten the wrong part from Oreilly's once or twice, but mostly due to a misunderstanding via telephone... but I can live with that. Been going to Oreilly's since 1993 now and made a few new buddies too.

[trashman]

You can use a good puller to tweak the pulley flange to where it belongs Been there, done that...

Jamie

I too have had to move the flange on a few water pumps , one was even from NAPA. They just dont make em like they use to.

[Caseys71]

, I feel all of your guys' pain. With Autozone's around here its usually hit and miss with a lot more misses than hits . Only one Autozone in my area that I feel somewhat confident in and the only time I will get any part in there is if the manager (Matt) or Lindsey the part's girl is there. Me and Matt actually had a pretty in depth conversation about my truck last time I went to pick up some parts there, turns out he'd went through quite a few F-100s himself. Lindsey the parts girl is the most helpful person I've ever seen in an Autozone. Rather than sitting there with a blank stare on her face looking at the computer she flipped through a few of their books and actually helped find the part I was looking for (Carburetor float for a '77 C-10 with a Rochester Monojet). Other then that one store I stick to the Napa and Carquest in my area which are much closer/ more helpful anyways. Autozone is usually a last resort if it's a Sunday since Napa and Carquest are closed then or if it's a part that will take Napa/Carquest a while to get in when Autozone already has it in stock.

[Bumpside Collector]

I have quit using Autozone also. I bought some plug wires for an 01 Taurus my wife had and they gave me the wrong thing. Not a big deal but when I went to take them beck the guy insisted that these were the correct wires and that I just didn't know how to put them on. I said "I have the car here and if you can get them on then I'll keep the wires." We go out and pop the hood and the coil pack end of the wires isn't even the same. He didn't have much to say then. I didn't like the guy from the start back when I had gone in to pick up the parts because of his negative attitude toward the brand of vehicle I was getting parts for. Now I look everything up online and get most of my stuff from a new Orielly's that is 15 miles closer to my house than any other parts store.

[sargentrs]

The counter person is the one that determines what store I'll go to. Had this old guy at the AZ in my town. Cranky old fart but really knew his parts and his store. You just walk in and tell him "I need a solenoid for a '70 Ford truck, 302" and he'd walk straight to the back and get you one. He didn't have to go to the computer and didn't ask you automatic or manual, 2wd or 4wd. He knew there was only one.

When he retired a few years ago, I quit going to AZ and went to Advance for a couple of things and chatted with the counter people. Otis is helping his son build a mustang with a 351w and supercharger. He's now my go to guy at Advance. When you tell him you need an oil filter he reminds you to pick up a new fiber/plastic washer for the drain plug and opens the box of plug wires to make sure they've got the correct angled boots on them.

At O'reilly's, it was Crystal. A cute 20ish girl who's daddy, uncles and brothers were all mechanics and grew up fetching wrenches and gettin' greasy. She quit and now it's the big bald guy with the tattoos and goatie driving a '63 Chevy pickup. He doesn't know Fords that well but at least he knows the difference between a forward rotation and reverse rotation water pump.

At Mountain City Auto Parts, ANYBODY can help. Nobody works there but gear heads and hot rodders and if you're talking to one guy, the others are listening trying to catch him in a mistake or forgetting something. The problem there is actually LEAVING the store.

Everybody else at all the other store's are incompetent except those people. There's nobody at the local NAPA that knows their A-- from a hole in the ground.

[michael69]

What I love about advance you go in to buy simple headlight. You get ask 20 questions, what engine size,what transmission,2wd 4wd how much gas what color I say what the hell does it matter what engine or trans? I need headlight for certain year and type truck,thats all you need to know. Oh no sir headlights are different for different engines and such,because it takes more electricty to burn different headlights so they won't give me a headlight that will burn up the wires.

[AlleyCat]

The local Advance has some good folks on the counter. A couple are a tad slow so if I'm into something complicated I'll just return the next day. Local Autozoo is good for small stuff. NAPA has one guy in his 70's that is very good. You can ask him for parts for a Y block and he knows what you are talking about. Most of the fun I have at the chain stores is with other customers that are " experts ". Had one idjit tell me that using Rotella T oil in a gas engine would cause it to blow up because Rotella is a diesel oil.