I hate: AutoZone, Advance, O'Reilly, CarQuest and RadioShack

This is not really an original observation; it's more of a rant.

Imagine this situation playing out, 4 times.

AutoStoreZombie: "Can I help you?" or, "What you need?" depending.
Me: "I need to replace this." (Hands the zombie a connector from my XJ. It's the 3-position connector that comes out of the alternator and into the rectifier. Not too fancy).
AutoStoreZombie: "Ok, no problem. What year model?"
Me: "It's not from a car, so you don't have it in your system."
AutoStoreZombie: "Did you look on the 'Electrical Parts' rack?"
Me: "Yes, dumbass, I looked at your random collection of high-output halogen wires for ricerockets to put 1000000 W headlights on with, there's no 3-wire high current inline connectors over there."
AutoStoreZombie: "Well, I need a car so that I can look it up in my system"
Me: "Every car ever made (basically) has one of these. Just look up something from some random car and give me that alternator connector. It doesn't have to match."
AutoStoreZombie: "ERROR ERROR ERROR. Must have MODEL NAME."
Me: "Seriously, any inline connector from any alternator will probably be fine. I'd even take a 4-position connector. Whatever."
AutoStoreZombie: "CANNOT LOOK ITEMS UP BY CHARACTERISTICS. CANNOT LOOK ITEMS UP IN BOOK. MUST HAVE CAR MODEL NAME."

Me: Burning down auto store and in search of someone who knows anything about cars, electronics, looking things up in books, anything at all. But it has been in vain. Apparently the skills available/required in the workforce today are: matching things and typing slowly.

AHGHGAHGHGA. I wish there were a NAPA near me. You may disagree, but in my experience the NAPAs always have a guy with a long greasy beard who comes out of the back when you ask a hard question. That's how you know you're going to get somewhere. If the person trying to help you has stick-on nails, you're in for some trouble.

That is all.

 

I have it happen to me all the time in those stores. Go to NAPA and save some time.
Go to the junk yard for those connectors, bring a pair of wire cutters and start opening hoods . Cut off a few and pay the man at the counter a few bucks .

 

Re: I hate: AutoZone, Advance, O'Reilly, CarQuest and RadioS

You forgot to continue on with your rant re: Radio Shack aka The Shack.

-Rant on Anyone care to speculate how many billions of dollars in sales these morons frittered away over the years with their moronic question "What's your address"?

I used to start with 1's and work my way up. For example 11111 NE 11th Ave. I swear this is the truth. I once answered the idiot behind the counter with 5555 SW 55th Ave. His response? "Man that's really cool"!

He probably needed a cue card in order to remember to breathe! In all fairness to the employees it was grossly unfair for RS to make them ask the question in the first place.

-Rant off

Loren

 

You think not giving them the car make confuses them, give them an actual part number and tell them to find it. Can't do it.

Or grab their keyboard and look it up yourself. They hate that.

At least I'm at the Advance near me enough that the counter help has figured out I know what I want, where it is in their computer and for the most part where it is in the back of the store. They don't let me behind the counter often but I've been back to get my own parts a couple times when counter man can't find it.

 

Its like that one commercial for new Computers!
"Whats the difference between these two computers?"
Sales associate reads the cards in front of the laptops, "Well... Uuuuuhhmmm.."""

Yeah. Its like that all the time. These people dont know jack. Job skills are: Read, write, answer phones, and type. Thats IT!. Now the managers might know a lil more than average Joe. Years of experience and eating the corporate bull will give you at least SOME background.

But yeah totally agree
-Chris

 

It is kinda sick, isn't it. Used to be that there were at least one or two guys, (usually an older guy), that knew his stuff and could reference his HUMAN COMPUTER (brain) to help with a project.

There are a couple of independent places here where I live. The guy will look at the part, furrow his eyebrows and (usually) say, "yeah, give me a second".

He disappears into the back and comes out with an option.

"Will this work?"

He KNOWS it will work. It is at this point I bow to the parts god that has saved my day.

Good rant. Thanks.

 

Experience = Money, which they aren't willing to pay. I spent a couple years for Advance during college and when I started I was probably one of these guys but I really learned a lot working there over that time dealing with customer projects, experienced co-workers, and our commercial mechanics. I agree though that NAPA will usually yield the best results.

 

Don't forget, we have the correct original style connectors shells and open-barrel terminals available for most every harness connection on these bikes.....

 

Don't ya love it when they stop working the counter to answer the phone

 

Haha I hated doing that, and I hate it when it happens to me now but it's how we were trained. If you're already in the store you'll most likely buy so lets make sure we answer the phone and get that customer in as well.

 

So I walk into my local AZ, and go to the parts counter, because that's how you buy spark plugs.

"I need some sparkplugs."

'Zoner: "what kind of car?"

"They're not for a car, they're for my motorcycles. I need some NGK D8EA's; either 4 or 8 depending on how many you got."

'Zoner: (typing frantically on his keyboard) "ok, I'll look, but I don't think we have those."

"yeah, you do. I buy them here all the time."

'Zoner: "No, sir; I don't show we stock those but I could order some in for you."

"OH, COME ON now; I just bought 4 a month or two ago."

At this point, a more experienced 'Zoner comes along, hears me busting the guys chops and says "whatcha need?"

"I need some NGK D8EA's, Einstein here says you don't carry them."

M.E. 'Zoner: "How many you want?"

"Either 4 or 8 depending on how many you got."

At this point, M.E. 'Zoner disappears into "the back" returning all of 15 seconds later with a box of 10, which he pulls two out of and hands to 'Zoner #1. "Here ya go."

And that's pretty much typical of my AutoZone experiences; I have a couple much more hilarious ones. BOTH of my local NAPA stores have a wood floor, and real counter people who actually know what they're talking about; at least 99.9% of the time.

 

We have spark plugs too!

 

Yeah, but that's no fun; you KNOW you have them.

 

My favorite AZ story:

I walk into AZ with the lower clutch cable bracket screw I've just used an extractor on and horribly mauled the head.

I hand it to the 'Zoner and say "I need a replacement for this."

He looks at the screw in his hand and says "ohmygosh, what happened to this one?"

"It was stuck; I used an extractor on it." I replied.

He looks at me and says: "wow, did it work?"

Honest.

 

Last year when I was out of work for my regular employment (graphic design), I was working for a local motorcycle shop. Mostly repairs on "small engines" and some sales.

Several times (REALLY) people walked into the shop area and ask us if we repaired motorcycles!!

Now THAT is a dumbass! ROTFLMAO

 

I like to ask find the youngest work experience guy and ask him if he stocks welding sparks, or left handed screwdrivers ...

 

Re: I hate: AutoZone, Advance, O'Reilly, CarQuest and RadioS

I used to manage stores for RadioShack. Could be a great job if it wasn't for the BS like name, address, what cell phone do you have etc.

Not only is it the corporate stuff, every district or region manager comes up with crap like "stack all the green batteries on the counter and send me a photo within an hour". They threaten to fire anyone who doesn't toe the line.

They drive everyone with a brain out the door or stark raving mad. Visit your local RadioShack every month for a year. Odds are very high that none of the employees that were there month 1 will be there month 12.

I suspect many chain retailers are the same.

 

and here I thought I attracted ALL the idiots. glad to know Im not alone.

 

Re: I hate: AutoZone, Advance, O'Reilly, CarQuest and RadioS

Wow, I like my local AutoZone! It is staffed by grown-ups and they are generally knowledgeable and helpful. I've purchased basic stuff for the cars/bike/boat there. I can look up parts online, get the price, and then call to have them pull it ahead of time. They will print pages from the online repair manuals if you want them. They called me when my special order part came in, which was only one day after I ordered it. There's even a guy there who rides his motorcycle to work and even though it's a Harley, he is a nice guy LOL.
I'll admit I haven't gone in there to ask for anything strange yet, and of course I wouldn't expect them to have XJ specific parts or info.

 

Re: I hate: AutoZone, Advance, O'Reilly, CarQuest and RadioS

This one happens lot. You call your local A.Z. checking on availability a part you need. They put you on hold. Every ten minutes or so some one will pick up the line and ask if you’ve been helped. So you tell them all over again what your are looking for and they put you back on hold. This will happen 3 or 4 times. So you get feed up and drive to the store where they keep asking for you to wait while they handle the phone calls.

There is no service anymore in customer service

 

I don't get it?
Why go to AutoZone for a Yamaha Part?

Sure, .... you can find a handful of generic items.
Filters
Bulbs
Oil

An Electrical connector?

You're lucky the "Zombie" went through the motions.

Near Boston, ... you would have heard:

"That's a part you need to show Donna."
"Donna who?"

"Donna D'Rhode!"

 

Re: I hate: AutoZone, Advance, O'Reilly, CarQuest and RadioS

You have to feel for the clerks too, they don't always get smart customers. When I worked at a starter & alternator shop, customer called to ask if we had a starter for his car. I asked, what kind of car do you have? His response, a green chevy 4 door. I then told him that we were out of green chevy 4 door starters but a red 2 door starter might work. :lol:

 

people in general just aren't that bright. a car is a car, a truck is a truck, a van is a van to them. they have no idea. Those that do, don't waste their time working at AA, AZ, or RadioShack. I avoid the counter jockey's like the plague. And with the OUTSTANDING discount codes available for Advance Auto, all I have to do is point click and go pickup. Big $ saved, no speaking required!!!

 

Advance Auto Story
Me: Hi I need a YBA9? (probably not right can't remember) for my Honda motorcycle, do you have any in the back they aren't out front.
Zoner: Well I think we are out let me go check. Comes back with one, here ya go.
Me: Get home, they sold me someones CORE RETURN! 8O
So there was another AA close by, I went there to exchange it since I knew the other one didn't have the battery.
Me: Hello, I bought this battery in your other store hours ago and they sold me a core return. I would like to exchange it for the actual battery.
AZer: Well, we can sell you the battery but we can't take another stores core, you have to take it back.
So I buy the battery and drive back to the other AA.
Me: Hello again, you guys sold me a core return, and the other AA wouldn't exchange it and told me to bring it back here.

So now I check stuff to make sure it isn't a core return.

 

The local AZ here told me they were pretty sure that no one makes oil filters for my bike anymore. Swore it. So I went up the street to the AA and in 45 seconds, I had my filter. The other AA on the opposite side of town, however, is just as clueless as the AZ. They were convinced that no one made batteries for my XJ and told me that I was going to have to hunt high and low for one. Again, I called the good AA and picked up my new battery, ready to go.

 

I guess I'm lucky to have lived here all my life and have found a good supplier. I just call Lee Ann at Napa. She's smart as a whip, really nice and capable. Plus, I never have to pay in advance when I need something shipped in. What I do experience, when shopping at other suppliers, 90% of the time:

Me: Do you have an upper radiator hose for my '90 Audi V8?
Them: What model of Audi do you have sir?
Me: A V8
Them: Is that a 100, 200 or what sir?
Me: It's a V8
Repeat
Repeat
Them: Oh here it is, listed in the book.

 

You have to check this at RadioShack too. On most of the items it hits the managers pocket if he writes it off. Too often a store manager will try to resell returns that aren't in new condition or even broken.

 

I bought a wheel bearing hub for my van at Orielys. 9 days later it locked up solid while I was on the I-10 bridge! I was going about 70 mph, almost hit 2 cars a few more almost hit me and I slid a long way almost flipped. the tow was 110.00 the repairs to the damage it caused was 2600.00. they open a claim, LOST the claim, refiled the claim then DENIED the claim because "it was filed over 60 days after the incident" it was filed late cause they LOST the original. an attorney has it now and I'll never see a dime cause in 2 or 3 or 4 years when they "settle" the attorneys will get it all but I dont care I just want O'riellys to PAY and I wish theyd go bankrupt and out of business. I really HATE O'riellys they suck. ever hated a store so bad you had actual evil thoughts? Im over it now just wanted to add my 2 cents. thanks

 

When I worked at Best Buy it wasn't uncommon for them to take something that was returned and re-shrink wrap it and pawn it off as being new. Also, on more than one occasion an employee would buy something broken on ebay, come in and swap it out with the new item, take the new item home and re-shrink wrap the busted piece they bought to pawn off on some customer that will go through HECK trying to return it since the serial numbers won't match.