Auto Zone Ordeal

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I have a guy at NAPA that does that. I get the local tech school discount. It really helps and is always appreciated.
 
If all you ever do is go into any parts store and always fannagle a discount, you're helping that store go out of business. Even if it's a big one. WTF do you "deserve" a damned discount? You caint ask for a discount buying groceries.
 
My "parts guy" has been thru half a dozen " different outlets " in my area.
I've followed him since the 80's. - all over .
I always get the right part, and any suggested part "I" forgot ! lol
I'll follow him as long as he works.

Machine shop , same ! !
 
I was in the local Autozone and the customer ahead of me was asking for a vacuum gage. The parts girl was obviously new and asked the other counterman if they had one. He had no idea what the man wanted. He got the manager who asked the man what it was used for. The man said he had an old corvette with a hopped up motor and needed a vac gage to tune it. The manager told him that they didn't carry anything like that.

I asked them to step aside so I could see the shelf behind them. I looked at the customer and pointed to the bottom shelf and said " there's one right down there". The manager looked and bent over and picked it up. The man said "Come on guys!...You need to hire him." pointing at me.

My response was "They couldn't afford me!"
 
I was in the local Autozone and the customer ahead of me was asking for a vacuum gage. The parts girl was obviously new and asked the other counterman if they had one. He had no idea what the man wanted. He got the manager who asked the man what it was used for. The man said he had an old corvette with a hopped up motor and needed a vac gage to tune it. The manager told him that they didn't carry anything like that.

I asked them to step aside so I could see the shelf behind them. I looked at the customer and pointed to the bottom shelf and said " there's one right down there". The manager looked and bent over and picked it up. The man said "Come on guys!...You need to hire him." pointing at me.

My response was "They couldn't afford me!"

So the man with the old Corvette, and the hopped up motor, that needed a vacuum gauge to tune it didn't know what a vacuum gauge looked like ? Seems more lame than the young parts girl that didn't know.
 
So the man with the old Corvette, and the hopped up motor, that needed a vacuum gauge to tune it didn't know what a vacuum gauge looked like ? Seems more lame than the young parts girl that didn't know.

He knew what he wanted, he just didn't know where they kept them....
I knew I had seen one at one of the local stores on the bottom shelf behind the counter, just wasn't sure which store, autozone or orieley's
 
If you're an auto parts store manager and don't know what a vacuum gauge is, you just need to go home.
 
If you're an auto parts store manager and don't know what a vacuum gauge is, you just need to go home.
No doubt. I don’t know what kind of capital it takes to open up such a place but guys like you and I should open one up (and throw dumb *** customers out on there was when they return used and butchered parts.)

Better yet, a hot rod shop.
 
No doubt. I don’t know what kind of capital it takes to open up such a place but guys like you and I should open one up (and throw dumb *** customers out on there was when they return used and butchered parts.)

Better yet, a hot rod shop.

That is another soap box I could get on
 
Tomorrow is my birthday so I’m gonna give them a break til Monday night. No Dougs by then. Refund and price match at Summit!
 
Customers buy things and use them and then return them as unused. engine sensors and tools are the worst then the store is left with an unsellable item to write off
 
Most, if not all auto parts stores will not accept any electrical or electronic parts for refund unless it has not been opened.
 
No doubt. I don’t know what kind of capital it takes to open up such a place but guys like you and I should open one up (and throw dumb *** customers out on there was when they return used and butchered parts.)

Better yet, a hot rod shop.

That's been my dream. To be able to tell customers to get out when they get rude......wait, I've already lived it. I did it several time at the OReilly where I worked. LMAO
 
Most, if not all auto parts stores will not accept any electrical or electronic parts for refund unless it has not been opened.

Not Autozone the customer is always right. If a customer makes to many returns the system will flag and block the return then higher up's get involved.
 
We have a part store here called Baxter's Auto Parts. It still retains some old school stuff.. most of them will have a mocked-up small block Chevy with a bunch of Edelbrock Parts on it. I do believe they have some kind of deal with Edelbrock.. anyways there's quite a few stores with old timers in them and most of them are pretty knowledgeable. Occasionally you get one that thinks he actually owns the store. I mean it's one thing to take pride in your work but it's a whole nother thing to act like the money is coming out of your pocket.. instead of checking the warehouse it's checking my warehouse LOL..
Me: hello Baxter's? I just got home from purchasing two identical throttle linkages for the same two identical carburetors.. one has been opened and pre drilled for a different size hole and is obviously used... I'm checking to see if you have another one so I have two new ones that I paid for.. Baxter's: let me check my warehouse... Though we don't have one in my warehouse let me see about ordering one... Yes I can special order one but it will take probably 8 to 10 days and it will cost an extra $10 for shipping... Me: you sold me a used part today and now I'm to wait eight to ten days and pay an extra $10 for shipping?..
Baxter's: okay I talk to the manager and "I'll" pay for shipping this time and give you a call when it gets here...
When I get off the phone I called O'Reilly's and they said they would have one there in the morning for a dollar less... LOL.. still haven't heard from Baxter's and that's been about a year..
just never know...
The part that pisses me off is wanting to charge me for shipping. I have never been asked to pay for shipping from an auto parts store, until the local Oreillys tried it. If I wanted to pay for shipping, and wait two weeks, I would use Rock auto.
 
The part that pisses me off is wanting to charge me for shipping. I have never been asked to pay for shipping from an auto parts store, until the local Oreillys tried it. If I wanted to pay for shipping, and wait two weeks, I would use Rock auto.

Here's the deal on that. If it's a special order part, it comes right from the manufacturer. That means it's not under the O'Reilly transportation network, so OReilly has to pay for shipping through UPS, USPS or another third party. They're not gonna pay for that for you. If it's something in an O'Reilly warehouse, it's always free to ship.
 
Alright. Final word on this is the Dougs Hedders are on back order til after Thanksgiving. I got a call from them this week about this. So, when I get off work, I’m going down there and get my refund and see if Summit will price match it. Thanks to everyone for all the robust discussions.
 
Called Auto Zone a couple weeks ago. Told the gal I wanted to order a set of Doug Headers. She said just a minute and put me on hold. Ten minutes later I hung up ordered
on line got the discount, had the headers by the end of the week. I dont really like Auto Zone. You go in and tell them what you want
and its like crickets.
 
All the big box stores suck.
 
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