An Auto zone Horror Story

Topic: An Auto zone Horror Story (Read 6151 times) previous topic - next topic

An Auto zone Horror Story

October 27, 2007, 12:39:21 AM

My 99 has been giving me a check engine light for about 3 weeks now, i already knew that it was the cam position sensor. I go in ask for a cam position sensor for a 99 Cougar get it back to Nicks house get the Ford cam position sensor off. Im trying for my life to fit this sensor into the plug, there are extra fins on the CPS that i bought. We take the sensor back to AZ the guy at the counter takes a look at the oem sensor and what they gave me and said something to the effect of that sensor is not correct. We then spend another 30 - 40 minutes looking through CPS's and i start to lose any trust i had in AZ in the first place when he starts looking at Honda 2.2 sensors, Ford Truck sensors and Olds sensors. After about 20 minutes of looking through sensors that had nothing to do with my car i said sir i will put this one back in and left for murrays. I get to murrays then have to wait about 5 minutes and the first CPS the clerk brings out is correct, needless to say 21 bucks as compared to JD trying to charge me 45 for the sensor and 20 for labor ,21 bucks sounded much better to me. A lesson learned on my part if i want actual service and parts go to Murray's if i want bodykits and underbodys go to AZ.

An Auto zone Horror Story

Reply #1 – October 27, 2007, 12:44:09 AM

i hate autozone any more. unless for oil or some car care cleaners/wax. every time i got it's like 25 + mins. i HATE that

An Auto zone Horror Story

Reply #2 – October 27, 2007, 01:39:40 AM

You wait in Autozone because everyone goes there. They are the largest retail auto parts supply. 99% of the time you get the right part. When you buy sensors by the hundreds of thousands or any part for that matter things can go wrong. I worked at autozone for years.. I know that sometimes people get the wrong part, but the situation can be quickly fixed. 99% of the time someone gets the wrong part they are just a ****ing idiot. Trust me I know this. Most stupid fools who stomp out the door cursing AutoZone are upset because they ordered a part for their 1989 Caravan, when clearly they just got out of a 1998 Caravan, you know this because as they curse you because its your fault they point out in the parking lot and say "thats the gal van right there.. you wana go see if this fits??" And so when you go out into the parking lot you open the door and show the ass hat that his van is a 98 he gets pissed at you for making a fool of him and leaves. People say that Napa is the best, well go buy Gaskets from them.. absolute JUNK gaskets. AutoZone? FelPro.... Just one example.

Working at AutoZone I learned two things... How to take care of a customer and everyone is an idiot.

An Auto zone Horror Story

Reply #3 – October 27, 2007, 01:49:56 AM

Another thing, the two stores I worked at are some of the best in the area. I've been to a few stores in the "ghetto" and received some of the worst service ever. Stupid ****ers just stand there ****ing around on there ****ing cellphone while you have been standing in front of them for a minute. When I have received this poor level of service I promptly say to the guy or girl "drop stop 30/30?????" in a pissed off attitude. They know what it means and know if the right person above them finds out they don't follow the rules they will get fired. It stand for 30 seconds inside the store or 30 feet inside the door.. You better have already greeted that customer. In both of my stores this was followed to a Tee. I've not been to two better autozones.. You will notice a high level of turnover in these "in the ghetto" stores as they have a hard time finding people that are not a lazy no good stupid ****.

An Auto zone Horror Story

Reply #4 – October 27, 2007, 01:55:44 AM

Well I personally think autozone is junk, and that napas parts are far superior. Everything I have gotten between the two stores has proven that correct for me (ignition parts for example). And a lot of times I have gotten some idiot working behind the counter. Once in a while youll get the older guy that does know his stuff.

Basically the only thing I find autozone good for is the simple things, like fluids and such things that are the same between stores.

Ive also found that murrays is the place to go for OE parts, like motorcraft or mopar, etc. Too bad the only nearby is way out on reynolds rd...

Anyway, just about anyone here coulda told you to go to napa or murrays or similar stores instead of the zoo.

An Auto zone Horror Story

Reply #5 – October 27, 2007, 03:36:04 AM

Don't you have any O'Reilly stores out there? :D. I used to work for Napa and have used the Victor Reinz gaskets they used to sell and had no problems, Victor has since sold out and the Napa's around here switched to Fel-Pro. Now I work for O'Reilly and have friends that work at the Zoo, what I have learned is this the parts are pretty much the same wherever you go, there really isnt that many aftermarket suppliers for most parts, its the guy behind the counter that matters the most. I'm only 24 and when I started at Napa almost three years ago people used to walk past me to Larry, our 50 year old parts runner;), then have to come back and talk to me anyway but when I left Napa I had quite a few customers follow me to O'Reilly.

An Auto zone Horror Story

Reply #6 – October 27, 2007, 04:35:46 AM

When I go to the Autohole I look up my own parts, go grab them off the shelf and compare it them to the part I brung in! Almost all sensors can be checked and Autozone has some excellent checking equipment that they are more then happy to let you borrow. But anyway, I'll agree that I do find myself making several trips on occasion but since I looked up my own parts it's my own fault.

An Auto zone Horror Story

Reply #7 – October 27, 2007, 05:43:45 AM

The particular Autozone in this story is just a bad store altogether (I'm Nick from the original post.) On a few occasions I've had to look up parts myself and find them on my own. It was my bad for even suggesting that store in the first place, but I figured they wouldn't have that much trouble finding an extremely common sensor. I've had better experiences at other Autozones, but this store just can't get anything right. I give the clerk credit for at least sticking with it to find the right part, but he really had no idea what he was doing. I'm guessing he just wasn't trained well, and lacked overall knowledge on the subject. Murray's, on the other hand, got us the right part in under 5 minutes (and got a 10% discount on the part.) Also, for future reference Darren, I get a business discount at the Murray's on Monroe St.

An Auto zone Horror Story

Reply #8 – October 27, 2007, 12:05:45 PM

Quote from: CougarSE;184805

You wait in Autozone because everyone goes there.

Sorry man i was there at 9 PM there were two people me and another gentleman, the initial transaction was quite quick. Its when i went back the second time , thats when i lost all hope in AZ the customer rep that was helping me was checking every other company/ engine size combination he could including Honda. He then proceeded to tell me that they did not make Cougars in 00 or 01 (i asked him to check both). I understand what your saying SE. The fact of the matter was that incompetence was abound especially since i was able to tell the guy at Murrays what it was i wanted and he was able to produce the correct part (The first time i was there) in about 5 minutes.

[Edit]
I get what your saying about the sensors and all, i was a bit tired yestreday night had been up since 4am.

An Auto zone Horror Story

Reply #9 – October 27, 2007, 12:18:47 PM

O"Reilly > all

An Auto zone Horror Story

Reply #10 – October 27, 2007, 01:22:46 PM

what i do is shop online at auto zone, advance, o'reilly's and napa...... i use carquest (which i think is best) but i have an online account with them through work, so i'm not sure if "regular" people can search that way...... anyway, online, 1 of the 4 places should have a pic available for the part you're looking for.... when i see the right part, i just write down the part number and the lowest price and go to o'reilly's..... they'll maych anything (i usually print it so there's no question) and the part numbers from place to place are usually the same (or at least they can cross reference them).... i don't trust counter people anymore to know what's right, especially when there's 4 or 5 options (like rotors) to choose from...... so my advice is to try to do the leg work yourself and turn the counter person into a gopher...... also, i have a person at o'reilly's that i trust more and will gladly wait for her to become available..... somethimes that's the only way to truly be sure that you're getting what you want

An Auto zone Horror Story

Reply #11 – October 27, 2007, 01:48:13 PM

Quote from: capitlj;184812

what I have learned is this; the parts are pretty much the same wherever you go. there really isnt that many aftermarket suppliers for most parts. its the guy behind the counter that matters the most.

^^^this is the key.^^^

parts is parts, when dealin with aftermarket OE replacement stuff, IMO.
find a competent counter person you can trust, who likes their job, and always go back to the same person no matter what store they work in.

An Auto zone Horror Story

Reply #12 – October 27, 2007, 02:07:26 PM

Pep boys is the WORST!!!!!! Their service dept sucks bc they hire the $5 monkeys who don't know shiznit lol. Theres really only one guy there that knows what he's doing and you rarely see him lol.

An Auto zone Horror Story

Reply #13 – October 27, 2007, 02:28:18 PM

For years after I no longer worked at autozone every time I went to autozone I was asked questions by either customers or people behind the counter that I had worked for. Hell I even answered the phone for a while when they were busy. Having a history in auto parts I never have a problem with getting parts.

Auto parts are no different than any other business. No place is going to have 100% perfect employee's. When I go to restaurants I request specific waitresses, when I go to grocery stores I ask specific people for help. Hell even at my own workplace I only trust a handful of people.

Like I said anywhere you go.. they are all idiots.

An Auto zone Horror Story

Reply #14 – October 28, 2007, 06:33:14 PM

A/Z sucks. if the A/Z warehouse doesn't have it you're sol. they can't do outside purcheses with local warehouses.(at least thats what they told me.) one time i went in there for a holley rebuild kit for a #4412 carb(500 cfm 2bbl.) the dude behind the counter told me i didn't know what i was talking about holley only made 4 bbls. so we got into it. i told him to pull a #0-4412 carb off the shelf and showed him the difference between a 2 bbl and a 4 bbl. f'n moron. and around here if you speak english they treat you like a second class citizen. going to A/Z is like walking into little havana. no disrespect meant but here in florida english is a secondary language. will the last american out please take the flag? rant over.