we give each other a hard time around here, but it's all intended to be in fun. You seemed pretty critical of their automotive neglect and misunderstanding; I just jumped on the pile.

If someone goes too far then let them know -- that includes me. Mods are not immune from making poor decisions that hurt people's feelings. Then, as time goes on, we all learn your limits and you learn ours.

We're just one big dysfunctional family here.

 

I will speak up when someone goes too far, but as for that post, no harm done. That is not too far in that case because I am the one who was talking about them, well mainly one.

 

I do hate Autozone for the variety of cheap crap they've sold over the years, derf. BUT as far as where I am now, their employees have been the most helpful and willing to help, so far. And at least they knew what the hell I was looking for. As a side note, if you guys need filters and plan ahead, go to filterheads.com and check their prices. I started using them last year for my 200 and their filters are of good quality. I just ordered the air filter and cabin air filter for the PT and saved $12 over Autozones prices. Free shipping too!

 

I can't stand the people at autozone where I live. I've had them argue with me that the part I'm asking for isn't what I need. My personal favorite is when I go online, check the part number, see that they have it in stock, ask the wife to go pick it up, giving her the exact part number with instruction to ask the person behind the counter for the part using the part number; only to have her come home with a completely different part then I need. I ask her what happened and she says they tell her what I'm really looking for and need it "this part". SMH This has happened three times now before the wife refused to go back.
Needless to say I order all of my parts from rock auto now if I can wait. If I can't wait I have to personally go to the auto parts store to guarantee I get the exact part I want.

 

You shouldn't send your wife more than once. If they pulled that crap on my wife, she'd come home empty handed and very pissed off. YOU should be the one going after your own parts. I always do and when I give them the part# I got off the internet, I've never had a problem with anyone trying to change my mind. Sometimes being six feet tall and 200 pounds comes in handy.

 

I have never had any issues with an auto parts store forcing the wrong part on me or anyone I have sent. Not even the family mechanic would force repairs. I would diagnose the issue myself when I was younger, we go to the mechanic and told him what work to do. He asks if we are sure and then does it. He does not even force a diagnostic fee or say we are wrong.

 

It has come to the point that the people know how to take me when I order a part... Despite their opinions, I know what I'm doing, and they sell me the part I want... Only exception was recently when I asked the local NAPA for an alternator for my 04 Redline, and they listed the wrong part number for my application and sold me an L61 alternator when I needed one to fit an LSJ engine...

 

Finding a good local auto parts store can be difficult. Even then, it depends on who's working when you walk in the door. There's an Autozone in my town that has one particular guy working for them that I had to go in myself and educate as to what the difference is between various headlights. He had absolutely no idea how an old school headlight plugged into the harness. What's sad is my wife went there the first time and told him the make and model of the car involved. He saw it was a rectangular headlight and handed her the first one on the shelf. It was the style that had the three prongs on a slant. I took it back and told him he gave us the wrong one and he was like "just turn the connector to match the prongs". I found the right one myself (which was cheaper by 50%) and showed him the difference. It still took 20 minutes of arguing before he was finally convinced it made a difference and that he had handed us the wrong one. Amazingly after all that he then went ahead and refunded the difference (which I expected as a minimum) but also gave us a discount on the right one.