Autozone fun

[Bullitt390]

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 sense Irony...

Josh

[F100builder]

I ordered a set of plug wires and a remanufactured distributor at autozone.com. I thought I had outsmarted them by bypassing the counter...joke's on me. I opened the box when it came and the plug wires were in a tattered box. It had clearly been opened. Oh well I thought, as long as everything is there right? All of the terminal bags had been opened, one wire had a terminal installed, and they were all covered with dirty fingerprints!
So, I took them into the local AZ and asked if I could just swap them for a NEW set. No problem with that but they had to order them as well. The guy was nice enough and he wrote on the order that I just needed to swap the items when it arrives.
A day later I go in and they needed my receipt...crap, ok, I'll go get it. I bring it in and reach for the new wires and the guy says, "wait, we gotta run your card".
"What?" I reply, "these are paid for, they're the same part number, and the other guy said I could just trade old for new."
"We need to credit your card $52.99 to exchange these and then you can go to the other counter to have it run again to take the new ones."
"WHAT?!!! You're gonna credit me $52.99 and then charge me $52.99 twenty seconds later?!! Why can't I just trade these and YOU guys do all the paperwork?!!!"
Never going back...I realize that these guys are just doing their job so my rant is more directed at the corporate level but for crying out loud! Stupid.

[ta TACO]

I don't know why, but nobody has 2 water pump gaskets or a manifold to spacer gaskets. Had to go to work for a meeting today and on my way home I was going to find these parts. First stop, Advancedauto. Now, I knew better than to go here do to location and be AA, but I needed these gaskets. I waited in line for about 10min being patient, no biggie. Finally it was my turn. Told the guy what I need and saw that these parts were in stock. SO, this guy goes to get the parts, and NEVER COMES BACK . I asked the lady working the counter if he had got lost. She told me he probably went to the warehouse to get the parts. I think this JERK went on his lunch break or left for the day. So finally, another guy helps me out. Goes to get the water pump gaskets and brings back the wrong one. He tells me he knows they are the wrong ones but they are close. Deer in the headlights was all he got from me . So I tell him, they show these gaskets in stock and if he could please get them. He goes and gets the right one. Now we have to find the manifold to spacer gasket. He already has the part numbers written down, but has to look them up again for who know why! He disappears again. Comes aback with some 1" cardboard looking thing and asks if thats it? I was beyond irritated at this point, but desperately needed these gaskets. I called it good and said this is fine with just the water pump gasket. I couldn't take it any more. I was there for about an hour. STUPID ME!

Davin.

[dolinick]

I thought about posting this under humor... "Note: Don't EVER buy an ignition key switch from auto zone."

http://sanantonio.craigslist.org/wan/2271864468.html

[englertstephen]

Grey shirt is a manager. Which is sad you received this treatment. I know because I worked there for five years while in high school and going to school for aviation maintenance. I learned from working there that most employees are clueless. Now I look up my own parts and figure out what I need because I don't have time for bs. I also learned that most of the time there is a store within 30 minutes of me that will have whatever it is that I need. The employees just arn't trained well enough or they don't know enough about the part you bring in to realize that they actually do have something that will work in stock. I have been in your shoes many many times. I have also been on the other side where people have judged me the wrong way simply because I work there. No one can know everything, but Ive learned at least enough theory to pass one of the hardest mechanics test out there. I think Ive learned just as much from this forum if not more . I admit though most think they know more than they actually do. As far as the pins go. Look for the guys with the ASE certified pins. Although its not the hardest ASE cert to get. It means they have some experience. I have dealt with all the parts stores and I think Ive dealt with many people over the counter who think they know more than they actually do. When it comes down to it, I will always come back to whatever store has the part I need in stock. When you need a part, you have no other option.