Gotta love Auto Zone

[TheSilverBuick]

My dad is the crusty old guy behind the counter at AutoZone that everyone lines up for. After he closed his shops and retired he got bored. He's been working at AutoZone for a few years now. He calls me up all the time with customer stories. He gives advice but most people ignore it and blow stuff up, then come back complaining whatever hackjob repair they tried didn't work.

But my dad will tell you don't go to AutoZone unless you know EXACTLY what part you need, and possibly the part number. I just make sure to save up my parts orders for when I go visit so I can get dad's discount.

that's pretty cool. My local AZ has a guy like that - there'll be three unoccupied kids at the counter, but 19 people waiting in line at the register "the guy" is working. Because he used to be a mechanic and knows his stuff.

I go to him because he knows that I'll be putting together parts from 5 different cars to make someone's custom EFI system work. He always wants to know what I'm working on each time, sometimes we bring the car by the store for him to check out.

We always make sure to let him know he's appreciated...

Haha, I was that guy! I might not of been a mechanic at the dealerships, but I paid attention to alot of cars and their problems and fixes. I'd have a line in front of me and there would be a couple other zoner's standing by computers saying "Next" to no avail. These were usually shops and guys that knew, because 75% of our clientel was mexican and only spoke spanish, so if I had a line it was for buisness. It was pretty sad when the guy who can barely speak english waits for me instead of going to the guy who's fluent in spanish because despite the language barrier he know's I'm going to get him what he needs/wants.

The ASE cert for parts to me was essentially a joke. I laughed about it openly until I took the test with several other Autozoners, many who had worked there the better part of a decade and have taken the test before, then to find that myself and only one other guy passed it. I didn't giggle out loud about it anymore, just shook my head in disappointment

[antmnte]

The AZ near here really sucks bad.Youve got these morons behind the counter and the parking lot could have an episode of cops fimed there .I dont go there. NAPA or Carquest is good as well as Advanced.

[FoFittyFoSS]

You have to realize that these chain stores are businesses that are in it for profit, understandably. I have always had oddballs. Big block Chevy's with tapered plugs vs washered, a boat with 2.3 OMC inboard (Ford), '85 C10 with late model roller block, after market cam and valvetrain, electric fuel pump. I don't bother trying to stump or prove a point with the man or kids at the counter. I know what I want and order a starter relay for an 83 mustang or plugs for a 396 69 Chevelle, or a fuel pump block off plate for a 96 1500. I have never owned any of those. Never had a problem. I choose parts stores based on the friendliness off the help. Around here it is Advanced. Although I just realized I could pay for items at NAPA, but charge them to my cousins shop, and I get a HUGE discount. Still go to Advanced most of the time because I like the people that work there.

[SpiderGearsMan]

go to the dealer .... or naaapaaa

[FoFittyFoSS]

[quote=SpiderGearsMan ]
go to the dealer .... or naaapaaa


#### the dealer

[min301]

go to the dealer .... or naaapaaa

Dealer is far too expensive.

I'll stick with my Car Quest.
They have 7 stores, and a warehouse locally,
and they bend over backwards to make us happy.

I'm sold...

[BluLightning]

I'll go to AZ for oil, filters and light bulbs. Anything more complex then that, I go to Napa. Mine's got no windows, stools by the counter and books behind the counter. ;)

[cstmwgn]

I have been hesitant to jump in here but I just have to ask

Why is the re-manufactured rack and pinion from Napa worth 30% more than the rack and pinion from Autozone when they are both from the same re-manufacturer? Is it the fact that the Napa rack has a 1 year warranty and the Autozone has a lifetime warranty?

Why is a Timken bearing from Napa better than a Timken bearing from Autozone?

I just don't get it, where I live CarQuest and Napa are pretty pricey for the exact same brands as Autozone or Advanced.

Do you guys really rely on the advice of the counter guy to tell you what/how to fix your car?
Unfortunately, IMHO, those days are long gone. Now before you get your panties in a knot, I was a partsman for ~20 years (mostly motorcycles) back in the days of printed books, microfiches and cardex inventory systems so I have some understanding of the skill that is required to be a "competent" parts guy.

Perhaps I am stupid but the easy to change stuff (alternators, starters, powersteering stuff, brakes, ...) I tend to buy from Autozone for the lifetime warranty. But then I tend to keep my junk for extended periods of time.

[SSChevyManiac]

I got tired of reading all the badder asser replies by mid page 2 and wanted to post up my .02.  My two local NAPA's are awesome. However, with NAPA it seems that like afforementioned the quality comes from the blood and guts of the operation. Just like with AZ or AA the guys behind the counter make the store. Both have their corporate limitations but there is one NAPA guy here who is nuts. He is known to wear a clean white shirt every morning and by the afternoon its brown, the store sure isn't pretty either. But I'll be damned if I ever walk out of there without my parts or a specific time they WILL be there. The other store is less amazing but still great to deal with. Same good service, and usually if I need it they have it, granted I work on Chevys. I also deal with chain warehouse deals through a friends shop, AutopartsWarehouse, CarQuest etc. They all do good work too. Couple weeks back I decided it was finally time to rebuild my QuadraBog. Kit was out of stock but in in 2 days, just got it rebuilt today, man it feels like a new truck. With all of these guys any error, even if it was my fault, I was at least helped out.
EDIT: as for the dudes at my local AZ. My brother got lucky and blew the front feed line in his F150 in front of their store. Wheeled it in with no brakes and shut it off, guess who's phone rings even though the kid he was with is a mechanic by trade. The guys were cool enough to let us rummage through the back to find a long enough piece of straight stock tubing to bandage it well enough to get him home.

[min301]

I have been hesitant to jump in here but I just have to ask

Why is the re-manufactured rack and pinion from Napa worth 30% more than the rack and pinion from Autozone when they are both from the same re-manufacturer? Is it the fact that the Napa rack has a 1 year warranty and the Autozone has a lifetime warranty?

Why is a Timken bearing from Napa better than a Timken bearing from Autozone?

I just don't get it, where I live CarQuest and Napa are pretty pricey for the exact same brands as Autozone or Advanced.

Do you guys really rely on the advice of the counter guy to tell you what/how to fix your car?
Unfortunately, IMHO, those days are long gone. Now before you get your panties in a knot, I was a partsman for ~20 years (mostly motorcycles) back in the days of printed books, microfiches and cardex inventory systems so I have some understanding of the skill that is required to be a "competent" parts guy.

Perhaps I am stupid but the easy to change stuff (alternators, starters, powersteering stuff, brakes, ...) I tend to buy from Autozone for the lifetime warranty. But then I tend to keep my junk for extended periods of time.

Let me tell ya....my Car Quest guy's are the best.
For one, I have a commercial link through my computer at work,
as such I look up alot of my own stuff, they'll just deliver.

But sometimes I get in a bind, need something but it's in say, Bay City.

They will send out a driver...and not charge me an arm and leg for
doing it.
Say I need a hardened bolt, they run to the fastener companies here.
They give me a break on prices alot, like say Brake Cleaner is $20 a
case if you buy 5 or more cases, they'll give me that price for 1 or 2.

I've been using them foe OEM stuff for 20+ years, and they've
always went above and beyond.

I've had NAPA accounts before, never even came close in
customer appreciation.
As far as a price discrepancy, I get the same prices as AZ
sells stuff for, much better service, and people that
in case I don't have the answer, find it for me.

That is something AZ, Advanced, Pep boys, etc... can't give me.