Whats the point of AutoZone?

[BrooklynBay]

Where I live, there are only a few major chains of auto parts stores, besides the mom, and pop places. We only have AutoZone, R & S Strauss, one Auto Barn, one Aid Auto, and one Pep Boys which is about a half an hour away. When AutoZone went into business, they bought out all of the Pep Boys stores except for one. Most of the Aid Auto stores started to close down one after the other. From what people have told me, some countries don't have chain stores for auto parts like here. They just have a few mom, and pop stores, and dealer parts departments. Even with the bad service, I guess we are still lucky in a way that parts are so easy to get. I've spoken to a few people that told me in some countries they soak parts in gasoline, and reuse them, like filters, pcv valves, etc. One guy told me that he even had to make his own bearings! I guess when you don't have something, you must improvise.

 

[Rick]

From what people have told me, some countries don't have chain stores for auto parts like here. They just have a few mom, and pop stores, and dealer parts departments.

Sounds good to me... I used to work at a "mom and pop" autoparts store. It blew away any chain that I have ever been to. They had practically everything you could ever need for any automotive project in stock... They had a wall with nothing but drawers full of hardware of all kinds. None of this blister pack BS. Just drawers filled with hardware. You could pick one bolt or a dozen or more... None of this running to 3 AutoZones to try and find enough blister packs of poor grade hardware to complete a job.

Damn shame of it is... that AutoParts store BECAME an AutoZone they swallow up the competition just like WalMart :thumbdwn:

 

[BrooklynBay]

One thing that is also a waste in major chains like AutoZone, and Radio is the amount of unused floor space. They have corners, or sometimes complete sections with absolutely nothing there. I once asked a manager in a Radio Shack if they plan on adding more displays in that area. He told me that all of the stores have to follow a certain floor plan, and they just have to leave it empty! Some stores are very big, and others are hugh, but according to their company, they all have to appear the same way. What a waste of space! If they could just expand the amount of aisles, and include more items from the same manufacturers, then the bigger stores would be the "super stores" that carry the full line of products. If they would do this, I'm sure that they would do more business, and have more satisfied customers.

 

[BrooklynBay]

I don't have Wallmart where I live either. Rick, I have one question for you. If the website started in 1996, how come your joining date says 1999 if you are the one that started it? I was just curious.

 

[section525]

This is Version 2.0 of this forum.

Version 1.0 was old skoo.

 

[Rick]

Actually version 3. The first "message board" was actually a guest book. People started talking to each other through their posts in the guest book. Soon we had pages and pages of submissions that had no structure at all so I invested in UBB "Ultimate Bulletin Board" software. We ran that for awhile and it started to become a real headache due to problems with their code and the constant need to update their software. I switched to VBulletin software in 1999 and that's why you see that date. That's the short history of EF

 

[92blusilvxlt]

iam all about shucks auto store. good service and always cheaper than crappy napa

 

[BrooklynBay]

After not going into AutoZone for a few months, since I got harrassed by a manager, I was brave enough to go there today. A neighbor asked me to replace their front brake pads. They changed their warranty policy, and a few other things. They had a lifetime warranty on Performance Friction carbon metallic pads. Now, it's only a 2 year warranty. I have a resale form on file on their computer. When I wanted them to punch a star in their card toward a $20 gift card, they said that they couldn't do it for me anymore. They claim that anybody that gets a discount (no tax) on their purchases isn't entitled to it. They also changed the entire layout of their store. I don't know why. Everything is just rearranged, but no improvement. Now, they have things that have nothing to do with each other close by, and similar items on different sides of the store!

 

[mynameisaric]

yeah that happened to me last time i got pads... the pads with the 2 year warranty are better pads i believe.. but you can actually get like $1.50 back and get the lifetime pads again. it was weird... but i have lifetime pads again and i made money last time. i never have problems with autozone, i just have to know what i'm doing/looking for because i know the employees arent exactly top notch mechanics.

 

[jayhawkexplorer]

yeah that happened to me last time i got pads... the pads with the 2 year warranty are better pads i believe.. but you can actually get like $1.50 back and get the lifetime pads again. it was weird... but i have lifetime pads again and i made money last time. i never have problems with autozone, i just have to know what i'm doing/looking for because i know the employees arent exactly top notch mechanics.

I'll never understand lifetime brake pads. That's like trying to sell lifetime oil or air filters. They are parts designed to wear out over time and there's no way around that when its a part that is designed to create metal on metal friction everytime you press the brake pedal. Buy high quality Bendix, Raybestos, or Wagner brakes and you'll be in good shape.

 

[snocross1985]

I hated the autozone back when I was in NH. The employees were a bunch of gothic punk teens that didn't know jack about cars. Back there, I would go to napa for the old car buffs that new their stuff. Here, I go to OReily's. Very smart car guys that will do their best to find you what you need. Napa is the same, but OReily's has the best prices. If I want morons, I can find them at carquest. Punk kids and a few middle aged women that know squat.

 

[CougarX]

Having worked at an Autozone for 3 years during college, I have to say that it is all in who you talk to. Autozone pays just over minimum wage for most of their regualr workers, so they obviously don't attract many ex ASE mechanics. A lot of the time, they have things that you need, they just don't know it. As an example, Rick mentioned copper brake washers, which I know for a fact they have because I have sold them. Also, the clay bar that started this thread, I know for a fact they have those too. Actually they carry two brands, Clay Magic and Mothers.

It's all in who you talk to, and how much they care about their job. Admitedly, we had our fair share of people that knew nothing about cars, but our management (me included) was always there to pick up the slack. I know that a lot of stores don't have nearly as good staff as we did, and I understand why.

There is a trade off for cost versus service. Autozone doesn't always have the best service, but they do usually have the cheapest or close to cheapest prices. And as long as you don't buy the obviously cheap parts (1yr warranty vs. lifetime) then their parts are pretty good and reliable. If you go to NAPA, you will generally get someone that knows a lot more about cars and can answer a lot more questions but you pay for it in the cost of the part too.

Some autozones aren't worth going into, I admit. After college I transfered to an Autozone back near home for the summer while I waited to find a real job (aka college degree). The manager was horrible, and misinformed people all the time about parts we did and didn't have. Somehow he had become a store manager after working for Autozone for only a year, and didn't know enough about the store and our inventory. I had more time experience with Autozone then everyone else that worked at that store combined. I continuosly had to correct the Manager when he misinformed customers. He didn't take this well and took it out on me in scheduling. I got fed up with this and walked out after only a month. 3 years at the other Autozone had been great, never a problem and I learned a lot, but 1 month at this store with this manager and I was fed up.

In the end, I'm not defending Autozone, I know that some of them suck. But I also know that if you find the right one or talk to the right person, you'll get a whole new perspective. You can't expect a lot from a parts house that pays their employees the same as McDonalds, its a flaw in their buisiness model, but as a buisiness they are trying to make as much money as possible, and they are doing a good job of it regardless. Autozone definately has the market share for DIY (do it yourself) parts stores.

 

[jayhawkexplorer]

Having worked at an Autozone for 3 years during college, I have to say that it is all in who you talk to. Autozone pays just over minimum wage for most of their regualr workers, so they obviously don't attract many ex ASE mechanics. A lot of the time, they have things that you need, they just don't know it. As an example, Rick mentioned copper brake washers, which I know for a fact they have because I have sold them. Also, the clay bar that started this thread, I know for a fact they have those too. Actually they carry two brands, Clay Magic and Mothers.

It's all in who you talk to, and how much they care about their job. Admitedly, we had our fair share of people that knew nothing about cars, but our management (me included) was always there to pick up the slack. I know that a lot of stores don't have nearly as good staff as we did, and I understand why.

There is a trade off for cost versus service. Autozone doesn't always have the best service, but they do usually have the cheapest or close to cheapest prices. And as long as you don't buy the obviously cheap parts (1yr warranty vs. lifetime) then their parts are pretty good and reliable. If you go to NAPA, you will generally get someone that knows a lot more about cars and can answer a lot more questions but you pay for it in the cost of the part too.

Some autozones aren't worth going into, I admit. After college I transfered to an Autozone back near home for the summer while I waited to find a real job (aka college degree). The manager was horrible, and misinformed people all the time about parts we did and didn't have. Somehow he had become a store manager after working for Autozone for only a year, and didn't know enough about the store and our inventory. I had more time experience with Autozone then everyone else that worked at that store combined. I continuosly had to correct the Manager when he misinformed customers. He didn't take this well and took it out on me in scheduling. I got fed up with this and walked out after only a month. 3 years at the other Autozone had been great, never a problem and I learned a lot, but 1 month at this store with this manager and I was fed up.

In the end, I'm not defending Autozone, I know that some of them suck. But I also know that if you find the right one or talk to the right person, you'll get a whole new perspective. You can't expect a lot from a parts house that pays their employees the same as McDonalds, its a flaw in their buisiness model, but as a buisiness they are trying to make as much money as possible, and they are doing a good job of it regardless. Autozone definately has the market share for DIY (do it yourself) parts stores.

Just about everyone keeps saying that AutoZone has the cheapest prices and that may be true, but do you all realize that O'Reillys and Advance both do price matching, as does AutoZone? All you have to do is have the parts person at the higher-priced store call the other store to check the price and you can get it for the lower price. Buy better quality parts and get them for the same price.

 

[CougarX]

This is true, but from what I've seen and experienced in most Advance Auto Parts, their service is the same or worse then the typical Autozone. I've only been to one Oreilly's, and I was impressed with their service, but as with any parts store, it depends on who you talk to.

For 75% of people out there, they just want to fix the car as cheap as possible, regardless of part quality. This is how Autozone (and Advance) stay in buisiness.

 

[BrooklynBay]

Just about everyone keeps saying that AutoZone has the cheapest prices and that may be true, but do you all realize that O'Reillys and Advance both do price matching, as does AutoZone? All you have to do is have the parts person at the higher-priced store call the other store to check the price and you can get it for the lower price. Buy better quality parts and get them for the same price.

Check post #56 on the previous page. Some managers won't call another store. They will make you get a receipt from the cheaper store, and run you around. Sometimes you think you are saving $3, but if you figure in the time, gas, and aggravation, it's easier to just go to the cheaper store.

 

[Mbrooks420]

They are privately owned franchises. Some will have good service, most probably will not. They carry bottom of the barrel parts, which people like because most people are cheap. And just because one Autozone has clay bar and copper washers doesn't mean another would. We have at least 4 Autozones and one totally sucks, and one isn't so bad. We have large privately owned Store in town that has parts for anything from small cars to heady duty trucks, semi's and eqipment. They also have a very stocked paint supplies section. They are also pricey. There is only one true mom and pop, and they have excellent service, and if they aren't too busy will help you diagnose problems by actually looking under your hood.

 

[aldive]

Several local ones have to staffing the stores with Hispanics.

Its hard enough to deal with an English speaking person who knows nothing about automobiles, now try it with someone who not only knows nothing about autos but also speaks marginal English.

I miss the old days of the local parts houses.

 

[CougarX]

They are privately owned franchises.... And just because one Autozone has clay bar and copper washers doesn't mean another would.

Actually, I know for a fact that this isn't true. All Autozones are corperately owned out of Tennessee. Everyone of them gets 95% of the same product. The only difference in what they carry is that larger stores carry more hard parts (stuff behind the counters). All of them answer to District Managers who answer to Regional Managers. The only difference in Autozones is the staff. They tend to put all the people that care and that are good at what they do into one store in an area. If you get an Autozone with a bad staff, the service is going to suck and they aren't going to know where things are that they have. Its hard to find a store full of people that care about the customer and know their stuff about cars that are willing to work for $6-$9 dollars an hour.

 

[Mbrooks420]

I also know for a fact that NONE of the Autozones here have clay bars. Only one had Seafoam. I have looked in 4 different stores. There is no way that they all carry the same things. If it is a corporate run company they do a very piss poor job, and all of these managers need to find other jobs. Maybe without all of the managerial fat they could employ someone who isn't brain dead.

 

[KPT]

Actually, I know for a fact that this isn't true. All Autozones are corperately owned out of Tennessee. Everyone of them gets 95% of the same product. The only difference in what they carry is that larger stores carry more hard parts (stuff behind the counters). All of them answer to District Managers who answer to Regional Managers. The only difference in Autozones is the staff. They tend to put all the people that care and that are good at what they do into one store in an area. If you get an Autozone with a bad staff, the service is going to suck and they aren't going to know where things are that they have. Its hard to find a store full of people that care about the customer and know their stuff about cars that are willing to work for $6-$9 dollars an hour.

The Autozone HQ is on front street in Memphis. Came in handy when I lived in Memphis because they ship online orders out of the Summer ave store. That store has everything in stock.