I have never had a problem with autozone. The lifetime warrantys have always been honored and it is close to my house. So until I have a problem, I will be at autozone

 

I agree, most of the help at autozone seems to be permanently "confused." O'Reilly has much better help and has always honored the stated warranty.

 

A few years ago, both O'Reilly's and AutoZone opened up stores in the county seat where I live. I went to both, but found that the O had better help, although if you took the time, AutoZone could get the same parts for about the same price. But, AutoZone ended up pulling out after only about 2 years, after building a new building and everything. O'Reilly's is still going strong, and NAPA opened a store soon after. Now I go to whichever one has the part cheaper or can get it faster. Can't say I've ever had any trouble with any of the three stores as far as getting parts, and when AZ was in town, they had one fellow who worked there who had been a real mechanic and had driven his own stock car, so he knew his stuff. When they closed, he went to O'Reilly's for a while, then opened his own shop. I take all my trucks and tractors to him now.

 

We don't have Autozone or O'Reilly's here, this is not a well-populated area. We have one tiny little Napa store in the town I live in, and a few miles away there's another town that has a Napa, a Kragen's, and an independant store, I can't remember what line of parts they carry, I don't go in there much. I prefer Napa, they have some real parts people in there, as opposed to the people that Kragen's seems to hire who only know how to push buttons on a computer, and if it ain't in the computer then they don't have it, 'cause they don't know how to cross-reference or get creative about finding ways to help you. However, I have better luck with the local Kragen's then I have had with any other. There is a guy there who drives a Ranger, same year and style as mine, and he used to be service manger at a Ford dealership and knows his stuff. He also races a modified at the local circle track. On the other hand, they have big, dumb kid there who falls all over himself in his eagerness to help, but doesn't really know much. The other day, I was looking for a PCV valve. They have them out on the floor, with a catalog right there so you can look it up yourself. I was doing just that, when he calls out from behind the counter, "Can I help you with something?" I told him I was just looking for a PCV valve, he asked what for and I told him so he started to look it up in the computer, trying to prove that he could do it faster than me. I already had the number and was looking at the part (would have had it faster if he hadn't distracted me) when he calls out the part number...the wrong one. I said thanks, I had a catalog right there. Anyway, the only Autozone I've been in was a new one they built over in the next county. The people there were fairly helpful, but all I was buying was some A/C oil and O-rings and such. The first gal was helpless, but a guy took over from her when she said that they didn't carry the specific kit for my vehicle, it was listed but not available. He had a universal kit that she didn't know about. He also let me go behind the counter to look at the shelves where they kept more A/C stuff than what they had out on the floor. I was looking for some system flush, and they had it back there. So my only AZ. experience was fairly positive.

 

In Wichita, we have hub stores (as I'm sure all other major cities do). For those of you that don't, this is the store that houses all the stuff for the other stores. The o"rielly's hub is only about 10 minutes from my house. I always chuckle as I drive past AutoZone (3 minutes away) on my way there.

 

I used to regularly frequent Autozone, but in the last six months the help a)knows less about cars than I do, and b)speak English as a second language.

I now go to NAPA for everything but the small stuff. I might pay a little more, but I get professional help, and the parts seem to be better quality.

 

I don't really have a preference for one or the other. But I do notice people don't like AutoZones as much. You can tell by "shrinkage". I see more empty blister packs of parts on the shelves at AutoZone than O'Reilly. Either that or it's easier to steal from AutoZone, maybe the temporary workers they hire don't care enough.

If there were any NAPA stores I'd shop there. But they closed the one near me, the one in Frisco near where I bought the truck, and I just don't see them when I'm out and about. Does NAPA even exist in Texas anymore?

The one thing I will give AutoZone credit for is having a handful of stores open 24 hours a day. They are in the worst parts of town, of course, but as an ex-taxi driver I'm used to ghetto shops. None of them are close to me, but when something breaks and you GOTTA fix it, that's the way to go.

 

here's some food for thought ,
how much is a good mechanic worth?
are you willing to pay good money for one?

now think about where do the good mechanic's go after they retire?

now if you was a mechanic and needed a partime job where would you go to work, given these four choice's

1 napa, higher priced part's
2 autozone, cheaper parts
3 pep bozs cheap parts
4 advance cheapest parts

now think about how many actual parts manufactors and suppiers there are before you answer........ hmmmm hmmmmm still don't get the connection? ..........hint this is happening all over america and canada.

 

1 napa, higher priced part's
2 autozone, cheaper parts
3 pep bozs cheap parts
4 advance cheapest parts

Hey, cant a good mechanic go to WallyWorld or Megalo Mart?

 

> Any one notice that auto zones uses disapearing INK on there lifetime
> sales receipt!

Thermal printers stink, same thing with the slips from Home Depot. I scan them all. Just do not try to make a copy through a fax machine, you end up with a blank slip. I made that mistake once ...

 

Strauss is the worst!! I try to go to the local parts places before anywhere else. at least you have the same people wroking there for yrs.
Bob, do you remember AID auto parts, and what about Rex on 86th st.?? My best memory of that place was the all metalflake steering wheels hanging on the wall. And the Cherry Bomb and Thrush mufflers.

 

We had an Autozone next town over. I used to think they were good, and, or polite. I've noticed lately tools and stuff hanging on the walls was low quality, and the people who work there are rude, and stupid.
I switched to Napa. More expensive, but the workers know what you're talking about, and I feel the parts are higher quality. I don't think you can beat Ford, but when ever I go there, I feel like I got raped on pricing.
I should say, not just Ford, almost any new car dealer wants top dollar.
They just opened a Car-quest down the street, I think I will wander around and get a feel of the place. They're so close, I could walk there if I had to.

 

I used to be sponsored by CarQuest when I was racing, I liked their parts OK (especially since they were free!) and my crew chief was the manager of the store, so I got great service. But the nearest one to me know is about 1 1/2 hours away, so I haven't had any dealings with them for a long time. -TD

 

Hi Tiger,

Thanks for the tip. I've been meaning to stop in, and see what brands they carry.

 

Here in ol' Fresno, there arnt any O'Riely's. I miss 'em. When I was in Kentucky over last summer, I found that store. Figured what the heck and went in.

Their parts may or may not be of better quality, but the guy I delt with in there was sure friendly and very, very helpful. Even wound up sending them a "Thank You" card.

They were very helpful and understanding as I fumbled my way through changing all of the brake hardlines on my Bronco and did the F-350 swap. They even let me go to the back of the store and check the fittings I need.

OH YAH! My Bronco died in the parking lot of a little eatery. Very embarassing. I was only about a mile and a half from the store, so I went there and asked them some oppinions. The manager told me to hold on. Drove his nice new red Ram around front, had me and my fiancee get in...drove us back to the Bronco and checked it out for me. Even jumped it. Turned out to be a wire that had fallen off the alternator, nothing much...but MAN, what service.

How cool is that? Anyone around Ft. Knox, you should go to the O'Riely's there!!