Who loves the Autozone store?

Local store in this small town is pretty darn good. I've had good luck with most of their products too.

They usually try very hard to help. Generally have gotten good service from them.

I have a problem with some of the quality of the products they put out. It seems I have to use the warranty/replacement policy too much due to bad parts.

Unfortunately the one in my town seems to hire kids off the street who don't know too much. I don't know how many times I've had to send them back to get the right part. They seem to have trouble with the computers also. Seems a lot easier than the rows of books that I learned on when I worked at a NAPA 20 years ago.

autozone sucks i totally agree with wilfie27 because i am 18 and going though school right now for automotive technology and i know more than some of these guys who are running the counters there, and half the time when i go in there they have to order the part and it will take 2 or 3 days to come in

I preffer O'reilly Auto Parts. Knowledgeable staff and quality parts.

and...O'reilly's price matches

What do you think of NAPA? I just got their American Brake Rotors, and NAPA assured me of their top quality.

NAPA is a little pricey.

Hell yea ebox knows a good auto parts store when he sees one! thanx guys

My local Auto Zone hires the mechanics that get FIRED from their other jobs. I would not trust any of those guys to piss on a spark lug for me. I go in, get the part - have a GM replacement number in mind, or exactly what I need in mind - then run out. When my Subaru decided it was going to toss codes for a malfunctioning TPS ($299 part at Autozone) I grabbed the OBDII scan tool out of the kids hand to verify. I yanked the box out, handed it back to him and thanked him for his time. Turned out I had a bum #2 cylinder spark wire boot. Computer adjusted idle to smooth it out, but not seeing any positive results, threw that code out there.

The kid took the scantool's word as law and was going to sell me a $300 + Tax part over a $12 wire kit. Thank you - no. Their parts, products and ability to express order a part for you is great, but the behind the counter help is about as bright as a solar powered flashlight. ;)

Hello;
ADVANCE AUTO is the best here in Ohio,they seem to be a lot smarter than AUTO ZONE people , thier always cheaper too and very friendly i might add. I dont even go to AUTO ZONE anymore because i already know i get better quality parts with better warrenties. AUTO ZONE says they will meet AA prices .why go back and forth to get the best price when AA always are cheaper anyway
Don

When I need to go to Advance or Auto Zone for a part I usually go to their online store and look up the part number myself. That makes the trip quicker and I am pretty much assured to get the right part.

Autozone's here in So. Il suck. Of course I could be biased. The manager fired my bro. because he kept correcting him in front of the costomers. I also have had rotten luck with parts there. I replaced the alternator on my old truck 3 times before I got one that would last more than a month.

Overall I guess I'd have to say they're ok here in the Phoenix area. You just can't beat their Lifetime guarantee. I put 10 Autozone alternators in my 82 Olds in a 10 year span. At $90 USD each it would have cost me a fortune, but I only paid for the first one, the rest were free. When the original Alternator went out, I replaced it with a $90 NAPA alternator that only lasted 6 months, I replaced it again and the 2nd one lasted another 6 months. When the NAPA guy refused to honor the warranty on the second one I went to Autozone. I get free brake pads every year, and free spark plug wires every tune-up.


I have had some problems with their products, but I can say that about EVERY parts store I've used. I've come to the conclusion that we don't live anywhere near "Perfect" when it comes to Auto parts stores.

If you the mechanic know what you're doing and don't take everything they tell you as gospel you should be O.K.

Autozone in Virginia Beach is pathetic. I had a girl pull my computer codes my computer and she totally didn't know what she was doing... when she finally figured it out..she gave me the wrong definitions for my codes...i had to go out and get the haynes manual to get the right meanings....its really sad they hire people who have no idea what they are doing *sigh* ..haha but yeah...other than that autozone is straight.

AutoZone plug wires,alternators,starters and fuel pumps are junk.My dad calls AutoZone,AutoJunk.My dad had to replace brand new plug wires in a customers truck because someone put plug wires from Auto zone and the cutomer was "complaining" about a miss.The Auto Zone wires were replaced with highest quality Carquest plug wires and the miss was gone.I have heard of people replace the alternators,starters 3 times before getting a good one.Carquest makes very good auto parts all except their fuel pumps made by airtex.The reason why AutoZone is around is for idiots who don't about their cars.I heard this once,a person went to AutoZone and asked why his car was not charging.The person that he asked responded,put a second battery in it.I thought that was a really stupid solution and it was,Later on went to Advance Auto and was told that putting a second battery was not the solution

AutoZone plug wires,alternators,starters and fuel pumps are junk.My dad calls AutoZone,AutoJunk.My dad had to replace brand new plug wires in a customers truck because someone put plug wires from Auto zone and the cutomer was "complaining" about a miss.The Auto Zone wires were replaced with highest quality Carquest plug wires and the miss was gone.I have heard of people replace the alternators,starters 3 times before getting a good one.Carquest makes very good auto parts all except their fuel pumps made by airtex.The reason why AutoZone is around is for idiots who don't about their cars.I heard this once,a person went to AutoZone and asked why his car was not charging.The person that he asked responded,put a second battery in it.I thought that was a really stupid solution and it was,Later on went to Advance Auto and was told that putting a second battery was not the solution

Don't get dupped into thinking that just because you pay more money for something that it is better. Unless you are buying your parts direct from the Chevrolet Dealership, the majority of our parts are made, built or assembled in 3rd world countries, and even many parts from the dealer are as well. For every horror story you can come up with about Auto Zone or any other parts store, I'm sure there are just as many about Napa, CarQuest etc.

Live and let live. :smile:

Heh, just do not go looking for caliper pins/bolts for our trucks there. They were the only place open the day and time I took it upon myself to do the brakes on my truck. The computer said they had 4 boxes in stock, yet there were none on the shelves. Waited until the "banker's hours" they keep at a local NAPA shop the next day (Sunday, today) and they had what I was looking for in an OEM AC/Delco box three rows of shelves down. Though, Autozone is still a great place to pick up chromed wingnuts. They are never out of those. ;)

What are you guys doing that you burn up that many alternators? Have you checked the maximum amp draw to make sure it's 75% or lower than the rating? Don't go blaming the parts.

Here in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Advance Auto is the best. They've not had some stuff when I want it, but can get it there in a day or two. They have the best service I've ever seen.

yip, mines filled with a buncha dip shit twenty some year olds that know theire car has a gas and break peddle, not much more, usually more expencive and seince theres 3 in town, 9 of 10 times they are out, but the one 30 min away has it, i can go get it or wait 2 days for it to come in there, i like napa for auto rebuild, ie machine shop and pistons, and Advanced auto for everything else, advanced is like autozone, exceptthey are cheeper and more compitent

IMO the AutoZones in smaller towns are more customer service oriented. When I lived in Des Moines, IA my experience(s) @ the Zones were always great, and this was over several years. Now that I'm back home in Chicago...well, I lets just say, my relationship with God will not allow me to convey the words that describe my experiences at the AutoZones here in town/suburbs. Here's a hint: They (*&^%$#$@!~) ie. stink).

The auto zone here in Memphis is good only because its open 24/7 and they usually have the part your looking for. Memphis is the main distribution center so that comes in handy. Other than that i think their customer service is good but the advice on some things are poor sometimes.

Have had problems with quality of parts with AutoZone here in West Virginia, compared to Advance or NAPA, both of whom I buy from on a regular basis. They first opened a store here a couple of years ago and while the folks there try hard I had problems with IAC control, radiator pressure caps, and thermostats right off the bat. The only reason I will go there now on rare occassion is when I might need some electrical stuff, as they seem to have a good selection of that. Some folks I know swear by them, others swear at them...

Have had problems with quality of parts with AutoZone here in West Virginia, compared to Advance or NAPA, both of whom I buy from on a regular basis. They first opened a store here a couple of years ago and while the folks there try hard I had problems with IAC control, radiator pressure caps, and thermostats right off the bat. The only reason I will go there now on rare occassion is when I might need some electrical stuff, as they seem to have a good selection of that. Some folks I know swear by them, others swear at them...
use to go to auto zone for bat and alt testings, untill last week, the manager asks me, i alwse bring in vehicals for testing, but i never bought a single alternator or battery from them, he wanted to know where i got them from, i told him i pull them from junk yards, and then he told me sorry the machine is busted, try again in a couple weeks... last time in autozone, ever

use to go to auto zone for bat and alt testings, untill last week, the manager asks me, i alwse bring in vehicals for testing, but i never bought a single alternator or battery from them, he wanted to know where i got them from, i told him i pull them from junk yards, and then he told me sorry the machine is busted, try again in a couple weeks... last time in autozone, ever

3 years ago (before I heard of automotive forums) I went to Auto Zone because my car wouldn't start. They tested and said my battery was dead and so I bought a new one. Two days later same problem and I went back and they tested and said my new battery was dead again. Then I said: "wait, I just had it replaced by you guys 2 days ago". They got defensive and did the test again and said the alternator was dead. I bought a new alternator and installed it in their parking lot (actually my first auto repair LOL) and had it tested and they said everything was a ok. A week later same problem and took it too a real mechanic and found the starter was out.

Lets say I learned a lot about how the world works that week. I got ripped off about $550 dollars in a flash (and that was doing the alt and the battery myself). I bet my original battery was fine, I'm sure there was nothing wrong with my original alternator, and I think only a wire may have been loose on my starter (that has happened to me since then). Basically I had my entire electrical system replaced and I think there was nothing wrong with it.


But last week my mom took her buick park ave into the dealer because the alternator went. It cost her over $500 (with tax). I don't see how an alternator could be more than $150 and there be over an hour of labor involved. It should have been $250, and even that is unreasonable. I have to take a look at that bill... If I had that money I would be well on my way to buying junkyard 350, or maybe even like 5-6 alternators.

lol. that sucks, alternaters for buicks (did one 3 weeks ago, my gpa does simple auto work on the side to keep busy and i help the 85 year old guy with the jobs usually) cost 105 usd from (yeah yeah yeah) autozone, with lifetime warrenty, total to the person i did it for was 210 dollers, my g pa charges doubble parts costs, he gets a 10-50% discount on almost every thing, alternaters arent one, so the person winds up paying for just parts most of the time, it helps me make money, and keeps him busy, unfortunetly it involves az, but most days i get to go to advanced auto, so it makes it worth it lol

Sound very familiar, I posted in another thread it will make me feel better again.

85 blazer 6.2L Diesel. Went to Auto Zone. They sold me the wrong alternator twice. The third time they gave me what they claimed was the right one, it even looked identical to the old one. The guy tells me to hand in my core since he got the right one and I did.

Take it to a mechanic to install. Turns out its the wrong one, since my truck is a 24 volt system the one alternator is grounded differently from the other (truck has two alternators). Now I made sure to emphasize that my truck was a 24V system while buying the alternator but the guy says it dont matter, hey what do I know.

The replacement alternator is hard as crap to find so the mechanic tells me to back to Auto Zone and get the core back so he can rebuild it. The guy at Auto Zone tells me that the core is some where on a truck in Ohio but he will refund me the core charge!

Thats BS, I had to pay to have the wrong alternator altered to work with my trucks system at Auto Zones expence. I`m still not done with them yet. :banghead:

Autozone is ok if you know what you are looking for, sometimes they have great deals on replacement parts, like radiators, you just have to know what is going on before you go in, or they will jerk you around

autozone sucks...they hire punk kids who dont have a clue about anything other than stereos and speakers and pretty blue neon lights. there prices arent too bad when you need a battery or an alternator but otherwise they are useless...triple check that you have the right part before you leave the store 9 out of 10 times ive got anything from there they sold me the wrong part. i prefer "local" no frills parts stores. local garages use them and so do I.

I check NAPA then Advance Auto. Autozone is a 3rd choice for me.

On a positive note, I am finding that on accessories and tools they are ahead of Advance in our area. Much better selection. Still staying away from regular "parts" though as I have bad problems as stated in previous post. Advance and NAPA still my choice for that.

Autozones in Michigan aren't too bad if you know what you need. They seem to be a lot better than another large chain (Pep Boys, who never has anything except minibikes, mudflaps, fuzzy steering wheel covers and oil). There's a NAPA a couple miles from me that I'll go to in a pinch because they've always got the parts I need, but charge accordingly. The Auto Value store a half mile or so from Napa is good and cheap, but their hours don't always agree with my work schedule.

Here in Mass. they are not too bad, free testing is key. Prices are usually great and can special order. Sometimes you get people who have no idea what they are talking about there as far as troubleshooting but hey they are not mechanics so you get what you pay for when you buy there pretty cheaply priced stuff. They are now producing there own line of stuff as far as break cleaner and solvents and starting fluid, so prices are coming down, great store for cheap parts and cleaning stuff. Napa for expensive parts though and great knowledge.

The Autozone I used when I lived in a small town was great. Anytime I had a question I always got an intelegant answer. And the prices were usually lower at Autozone than at Advanced Auto. Better quality parts too. So it seemed to me anyway.

But since I've moved to the city, it's geting harder to tell the differance between any of the parts stores here. If I have a question, the kid behind the counter has that "deer in the headlights" look. And I thought that all teenagers knew how to use computers? I could find parts faster than most of the employees. Even when asking about oil they have to get one of the managers.

But if given a choice, I will go to AutoZone. The waranties on a majority of their parts are alot better than any Advanced Auto has. I will however go to Advanced to buy my fluids (oil, antifreeze, transmission fluid, etc....) since they are all the same no matter where you go.

And NAPA? If I wanted to take out a loan to help pay to change the oil in my Blazer, then I'd go to NAPA.

Their parts break alot faster than the OEM parts. That's why I always try to get one with a lifetime warranty, if possible. Advance Auto Parts is better for service (fewer numbskulls), but NAPA just plain blows. Everything I bought from NAPA was wrong, and they even gave me 8 spark plugs (the wrong platinum ones) and charged me for 6 of the right ones. The transmission pan filter was wrong (the guy even crawled under and looked first to see if it was deep or shallow and still got it wrong). I always try Advance first, and their website shows parts availability too - I print it out and take it in to prove they have it, so they can't say they don't (they still try, but I make them find it).

Ive gotten horrible service at the auto zone in my town. I try to go to O'Rileys or advance auto parts before i go to them. They tend to be more friendly, and ive never had to bring something back because they told me the wrong part number.

The Autozone in my area near my work is horrible....they have a bunch of kids working there and don't put away inventory so it's stacked everywhere. They say they have things in stock and they do , but it's in boxes so the rummage through them....it's a joke.

I used them based on this forum to scan codes for me..so I just went out and bought my own code reader (the same one they use) for my blazer and silverado.....

I use them as just a resource for oils etc.....and even then Fleet Farm in my area blows-them-away in prices....

Bottom Line: :loser:

we have 4 parts stores in this area: autozone, advance, napa, car quest. Autozone is the best I can't say more(no need to). Advance likes to tell me what I want not what I'm telling them I need.(i uselly take crayons with me to draw them pictures). Napa's helpful but pricey. Car Quest does well ,very helpful, polite, and knowlegable but the location is a little out of the way. so one vote for autozone .

LoL this is a great thread. Nice to see I'm not the only one watching AZ's slide into the pit. We've got two AZs, a CarQuest, a couple NAPA, and a few others I never deal with. Long story short I've had so much experience changing out AutoZone alternators in my small block S10 I could do it in under 5 minutes (kept the 1/2 and 9/16 sockets in the truck at all times...but hey...lifetime warranty<g> With my newest baby (93 S10 Blazer) I bought 3 alts (last one didn't even bench test before I actually paid for it..so I guess 2 alts from them). They refused to return my core or my core charge...finally got my core charge (after 2 hours of fighting and refusing instore credit) went to Bumper to Bumper got a better quality alt at a better price...but got hosed on the core (AZ was 50 buck...BTB was 90). So, I avoid AZ whenever possible, but, it's always good for a laugh to go in and ask the kid behind the counter for a left handed wrench.

(really wanna throw 'em off...ask for a muffler bearing...I actually had one kid find one on their system for a 68 caddy)

No, no - want to watch them really panic - insist that a part that you need for your 4x4 VIN-W machine is found under S-10. They actually have a seperate "T-10" section on their computers for 4x4 Blazers. Then to watch them really go into a tizzy, have them try to pull a code from an early '95 Blazer with a 16 pin IEEE OBD-II type connector with a OBD-1.x ECM under the dash. Make sure you have the entire lunch hour to burn as they take turns freaking out and holding the scan tool that will not talk to such an "Obviously severely damaged computer or something..." when nothing but "Data Sync Error" keeps popping up on the display. Nevermind that the $350 scanner they have behind the counter that is the "big brother" of the scanner they use to help people with *will* extract the code with the "Pre '96 GM" cable attached to it, or borrowed out of the blister pack and attached to their counter scanner... Then, to really watch them go flying for loops and whorls, buy out their entire stock or selected botles of their Castrol 0w-30 oil. I just love it when a "smart" and "helpful" counterperson asks why I want a winter oil in the middle of summer. And to add insult to injury, wonder why I hadn't picked up a top quality "Fram" filter to go with those quarts. Given away for free, I still wouldn't take one. Oh, and the hillarity just rolls off the counters there when they cannot figure out which one of two different types of fittings are on the front of almost every smallblock Chevy/GM engine's water pump. Oh, and the best - ask them the difference between OEM style, Lifetime Silicone, and Bosch Premium plug wires. Go ahead. I dare you. I'll wait for you to try. I can guarantee that is going to induce the all too common, 1000 yard stare of ignorance in a heartbeat. They really DON'T KNOW. But the answer I got? "Bosch are premium because they cost more." Nevermind the need for resistor type, carbon impregnated glass core 7mm's we need to keep the trucks running happy. (Performance wires are a no-no!) Just because it reaches and fits doesn't mean it's good. Especially some gee-whiz spiral core wrapped garbage in a flashy box and a $50 pricetag. The $12 box will more than suffice.

Even if it doesn't really hurt anything? I wouldn't ask them to piss on a spark plug for me. The selection is *okay* at best. Parts for common break-downs are usually in stock. If not, it can be all had overnight from Memphis, or from their regional store up in Springdale. Personally the best value I found there? The nice, brilliant blue anodized wheel lug nuts that match the color of my truck perfectly. It looks good with them. ;) But I would not trust the "assistance" or "opinion" of any one of them as far as I could throw my own truck. The best joke I heard about Autozone service lately was that one fellow in another, completely different forum was treated to the high-pressure salesmanship of the fellow behind the counter. He was changing his oil, and wanted a really tight, premium filter. So he gets a Mobil-1 down off the shelf. When checking out with the filter and a crankcase's worth of conventional oil, the counter-monkey insisted that unless he bought synthetic oil to go with a filter with synthetic fibers in its make-up, the filter would be ruined! :rofl: :loser:

To anyone from Autozone reading this - not all of your customers are as unabashedly, shamefully stupid as your customer service reps and oil rack refilling, slack jawed & fuzzy lipped jockeys you have under your employment. :nono: \rant (breathe)

ROFL 2 points!

Classic

One of these days, I am going to have to try and sneak a tie-tack sized wireless spy camera into one of these stores and just ask plain idiot questions to get the reactions on tape. Hell, the answers to legit questions are funny enough - but imagine the looks you would get, and then the absolutely made up responses you would get for say:

"Hey bro, do you know where I can find a windshield wiper blade sharpening tool?"

"Do you know if Auto X-Ray really uses X-rays? And do I need to wear protective goggles when I plug it in?"

"Do you know what this noise is?" (And then imitate the noise like one of those fellows off of the Cartalk NPR show)

"Do you stock belt tensioner idler pulleys?" (This one even agrivated the SNOT out of the NAPA parts guys - it sounds like a legit question, but no real part by that name exists ANYWHERE. The pulley on your tensioner arm is, yup - tensioner pulley)

"How hard does one have to squeeze an engine to make motor oil?"

"Do you stock metal mite repellant? I have them eating the glue off of my S-10's door hinges..." (I could not resist, this is the best running joke EVER!)

"Don't mind me, I am checking for freshness... Would you like some?" (Say this as you open and then sniff bottles of Castrol Syntec 0w-30 - that makes them STARE)

"Where can I find DOT-5 class center tail-light coolant?"

"Is Seafoam really made from sea water?"

And the number one question on this top-10 idiot list:

"Why do I have to rotate my tires when they already spin everywhere I drive?"

Thank you, goodnight! Remember to tip your waitresses back upright before you leave... (rim-shot)

Edit: Encore question: "If the car carries a bumper to bumper warranty for 5 years, shouldn't the engine oil last at least that long?" (I *WAS* asked this by a rather charming lady friend many years ago. I think the relationship went really sour after that because my initial reaction was to snarf into my glass of soda and laugh my ass off.) Ah, to have a sense of humour means to have a lonely life... :spit: :lol:

Heheh. You performing here all week?

Enjoyed that.

Every day except Saturday and Sunday. My saturnine insight, humour and wrenches are usually demanded of me on those days. Half of the job of keeping a friend's Minivan rolling properly is practicing my pit-side manner and massaging the engine just lightly as I allay his fears on the tiniest of things. It is so tempting and I can see how some unethical mechanics get away with saying/doing things that they do - to just even play a slight joke on those that have no idea of what goes on under an engine hood. However, if you want to keep friends? You always do them right. ;) I will not accept cash, but consider the job paid in full if you spring for my lunch. The point behind all of this? Jokes are one thing...but truly insipid, short sighted, industry hype that is designed to give people a false fuzzy glow of security from shoddy advice or poor choice in parts really rubs me backwards. Inept, poorly, or untrained help in the area of automotive maintenance will not only haunt you, but bite you on the ass. Ugh, I am up way too late now, does it show? I'll shut up now. :D

Hahahaha
MAN you hate AutoZone!

Allow me to clarify, I *dont* hate Autozone. I hate the help, the training (or lack thereof) and the super superior snootiness that accompanies the pure and utter bullshite that comes out of these guys' mouths. Autozone would be perfect if they had robots or Walmart style self-checouts where you can be on your way. I still fume, 5 years later after overheaing one kid in the orange uniform telling another poor, unknowing newbie customer that Slick50 transmission treatment would solve the man's problems with a tranny that could not find any gear you put it into. If your gearbox went "POW!" and the car does not move? Nothing in a bottle is going to make it move. Ever. :disappoin Rather than fess up, come clean and SAY that - they countermonkey wanted to make a quick grab on a $20 bottle of snake oil I would not deighn to put in a *functional* transmission.

EDIT: Second thoughts always come along afterwards, huh? In contrast, compare your average experience at other nationwide chains. Everytime I have a chance to speak to the counter help at say, NAPA, you KNOW you are talking to a technician/mechanic. These guys know their stuff AIRTIGHT. And as such, despite a slight, corny feeling that they give you that you cannot go wrong with NAPA branded oil, (And you really can't...Valvoline rebadges slightly different manufactured products to flow under the NAPA name - and Napa Gold oil filteres are really *good* quality Wix filters at a decent savings over the Wix name on the can and the box products) they are dead on in advice and parts matching for your repair. They also are the only manufacturers/carriers of GM/DOT/NHTSA approved replacement brake liners. (Check a previous thread long ago on where I talk about Ceramic/semi-ceramic pad and compatible rotor upgrades for Blazers) I guess there is just never going to be a "perfect" experience no matter where you go, but Autozone is just so.... "ghetto" and inept in comparison it makes my flesh crawl.

wolfox you are right about NAPA, while more pricy they do know their shit, BUT, even though i dont like contact with the local stealerships, if i need advice that HAS to be airtight, i will call and talk to them, and on a rare occasion order from them, then if its wrong, shit hits the fan (but that has yet to happen), and at 8 bucks for an oil pump bolt, it would hit the fan with a quickness

We don't have any Autozone's around here...

NAPA, well most of their products suck, and they're too expensive.

Agreed, there rarely is a better "We KNOW your vehicle" experience than at the dealership. They saved my bacon from the fire when I went through the arduous task of finding a replacement intake boot that connects to the plenum. NO parts house/chain is ever going to carry that. Every junkyard I talked to wantd at least $20~$25 for the part. The one GMC Jimmy of the same model year and engine configuration was in WORSE shape than my truck. The part I needed disintegrated in my hands as I pulled it off the truck, exactly the same way it disintegrated when I pulled it off of mine. Calling up the GMC Truck dealership in town got me the part, brand new in the box for $11.60, shipped *overnight*. Couldn't beat that with an ugly stick. So sometimes it pays to cast the net very wide and pool as many resources as you can - even from the "stealership". At worse, you can play various shops and places off of one another for the best deal. I am a conniving bastard when it comes to playing like that. ;)

We don't have any Autozone's around here...

NAPA, well most of their products suck, and they're too expensive.

The aftermarket/3rd party market is flooded with garbage, agreed. But a good eye and doing research before you buy is going to help you much. For most of your common break-down parts, Autozone is not bad. For brakes, oil filters and premium driveline fluids, NAPA. For ignition, emissions, and steering coloumn parts that match *exact* OEM parts, O'Reilley's. For mechanical repairs that are beyond my reach, I have one local shadetree style mechanic that is a GM guru and very competitive but he books by appointment only and does jobs only 5 hours or less on the books. For anything really complex, a GM-Goodwrench ASE certified Garage around the corner accepts walk-in's on the spot and costs 50% dealership, for dealership-quality repairs. It pays to look around!

Their prices could be better for the quality of their stuff (i.e fairly low quality). Their computer system is good. The knowledge of the employees is pretty much limited to what the computer tells them. Cheaper than the dealer but not as cheap as the internet. One of the better FLAPS all in all though.

Auto Zone is little more than a 7-11 for cars. lotsa glitz, no guts. O'reilly's is better, hands down, on or offline

The NAPA near me sucks. Its this old pos building with a dirt parking lot.
Auto Zone is pretty good, well stocked and pretty decent parts. but any thing performance related I order online. Places around here tend be to way overpriced, for everything.

autozone sucks i totally agree with wilfie27 because i am 18 and going though school right now for automotive technology and i know more than some of these guys who are running the counters there, and half the time when i go in there they have to order the part and it will take 2 or 3 days to come in

i agree. i just finished the Auto Service Technology program at CCCTC in MD. the employees there are stupid(at leat in my area). they have no automotive skills other than starting the vehicle. I had a print out of a part off their website that i needed and they said they did not have it so i made the 30min trip back home. then they call the same day and said they had the part in the back room and did not look hard enough. :banghead: cost me more in gas getting to the store then it did to buy the part. :lol:

Hello.

We built our first hotrod and had some noisy timing gears running in the beast. We drove it to AZ and asked a kid what was this noise? He said it sounds like bearings are going out.

Fast foward...

I go to college. I get hired PT at AZ, then later full - time.

I transfer to my hometown. Back to PT with pay to match - though I was making the bucks.

I was forever repairing those damned computers though. The network is just not stable.

Autozone must price - match, even with themselves. For example, I'll ask for a part. Then I'll ask them to price it at 0617 (Marion IN, store). They hate it but hell, some of the parts are almost half - price!

But anyways... I'm a tech. I was hired in at peanuts, rapidly advanced up the money tree, and quit when they began cutting hours. It was a stupid move as I can't get my job back (they can't afford me) and they're hiring a bunch of stupid kids to run this stuff. I've actually done auto tech business in the parking lot because the employees didn't want to go help the customers.

At any rate, Autozone will, and must, change your:

Windshield wipers

Battery

Headlights

.... in any weather.

In addition, there is a phrase they use called "stop drop 30/30." All this means is that if you walk in, you must be waited on within 30 seconds or 30 feet into the store, whichever is first. The employee is supposed to "drop" whatever he's doing.

I'll be around and I'll answer any questions about the store if you want to ask. It's been a couple years but I've kept up on most of it. I go in and help myself - use the computers, get my own parts, etc. The manager is a 'friend' of mine and will allow it.

Questions are good. Fire away.

Josh <><

I like that stop-n-drop 30/30 philosophy. I would like to see it practiced at ANY local Autozone store. It has yet to happen in my experience. I usually have to throw something at the back of an inattntive worker or spill a package of red anodized chrome wingnuts all over the floor before they pay me any mind. Anymore though, I go to AZ to pick up oil because once sealed in a bottle...

...It's damn near impossible for them to f*ck it up. :D

Auto Zone is decent if the parts clerks are decent.


I prefer Advance over auto zone because I can understand and be understood without a translator.

detroit, try a napa, i use to like advance, but then i started worken on cars and learned better

detroit, try a napa, i use to like advance, but then i started worken on cars and learned better
NAPA= take out a 2nd mortgage to buy some wax.


Advance seems to have everything I need......24 hour store close by, their online store that has 1000x more parts that they dont carry in the stores, they take my used oil..... In all actuality a junk yard is the best bet.

napa may cost a little more, but you get what you pay for, reasons we go directly to the dealer for some items, you dont want an aftermarket part in some places (ie an early 90's 3.1l)

Nice people work at my local autozone, but won't pick up the phone to save their lives and are just too slow.

Hey, just to let yall know. I work at AutoZone, and well... I don't blame yall for going to other part stores. At the store I work at, there are about two people that don't know anything. They always send the customers to me or another manager. Their pointless to be there and are just a waste of money. I think the parts are fine, just understand that everyone there may not be on your level of automotive knowledge. And the computers are alittle wrong here and there, you just have to hope you are talking to a smart employee that may know what your talking about.

Hey, just to let yall know. I work at AutoZone, and well... I don't blame yall for going to other part stores. At the store I work at, there are about two people that don't know anything. They always send the customers to me or another manager. Their pointless to be there and are just a waste of money. I think the parts are fine, just understand that everyone there may not be on your level of automotive knowledge. And the computers are alittle wrong here and there, you just have to hope you are talking to a smart employee that may know what your talking about.
no offence, but we change so many az parts out because of failure, and then the customer is pissed because their starter, alternater, clutch, whatever it may be, is a week or two old and now were tellen them it is no good, then we are every thing under the sun besides the 3 white guys that we accualy are...