I don't know how Autozone works, but that does not work with O'Reilly. If you call your distribution center at O'Reilly and ask for a physical parts check, you get laughed at and hanged up on.
Auto Zone Ordeal
- Thread starter JoeDragster
- Start date
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I don't know how Autozone works, but that does not work with O'Reilly. If you call your distribution center at O'Reilly and ask for a physical parts check, you get laughed at and hanged up on.
j par
Well-hung Member
O'Reilly's here will go put a physical hand on it if you ask them... Then sometimes will do it without even asking..
The help make the store. Because most of my fleet are yesteryear cars, I have a specific O'reilly's that know classic cars and are super helpful. They give me discounts under "the dodge garage" too 
The Advance Auto Parts Hub in Marietta was the same. No chance.
JoeDragster
Well-Known Member
I was suspicious when they told me the first time he ordered them that the box took a wrong turn somewhere. Ordered again and that is where I am now. Was told twice when to expect them delivered and I waited 2 extra days each time before I went by their store.
I have no idea who or what to blame. I paid
abodyjoe
Well-Known Member
get a refund, call summit and have them match the autozone price.
As a parts person myself for a few years, when you order parts you have the ability to see which warehouse has what quantity. If the closest warehouse inventory is depleted it will obviously pick from the next closest. If no warehouse has any than a red indicator shows backorder status. It's the difference between someone who does their due diligence when ordering or someone who needs to just flip burgers . It has nothing to do with picking from the lowest shelf, but has a ton to do with having the best trained employees.
stroked340
Well-Known Member
I'm with ya on this (hey miracles do happen
)I use Summit a lot and get my stuff usually in 2 days..
stroked340
Well-Known Member
We have a great O reilly store.
bcschief
Well-Known Member
With Autozone the supply chain is like this
Store ( normal store stock )
Hub Store (usually same day delivery to the store )
Mega Hub Store ( most likely next day delivery to the store )
Distribution Center ( generally once a week delivery to the store for normal store stock items )
Vendor, Special Order Items ( shipped to store VIA FedEx 2 day delivery or freight delivery for large items such as engines )
Store ( normal store stock )
Hub Store (usually same day delivery to the store )
Mega Hub Store ( most likely next day delivery to the store )
Distribution Center ( generally once a week delivery to the store for normal store stock items )
Vendor, Special Order Items ( shipped to store VIA FedEx 2 day delivery or freight delivery for large items such as engines )
stroked340
Well-Known Member
Not here,but its got a LOT to do with the a-holes that work there!!
my68barracuda
Well-Known Member
was at Autozone earlier this week to get an item that I needed that day. While I was there I also looked for some R134a to finish up an AC project the coming weekend. AZ had the item that I needed but I did not see any R134a on the shelf. I asked one of the store employees and they responded ' that item is seasonal, it was all removed and sent back to the ware house". Figured that make sense.
Yesterday I called the same AZ and happened to get the store manager on the phone, when I asked if he would bring in a few cans of R134a from the warehouse he replied, 'don't need to I have plenty here'. I told him the story of none on the shelf and all the R134a going back to the ware house,, he said said the R134a did not go to the warehouse-warehouse, it went to the back room at this store. When I asked him why one of the store employees told me that, he said 'you just got the wrong guy'.
And that is the truth. A counter worked at a parts store is an entry level job, maybe one step up from being a burger jockey at a fast food joint. I think that is why they always ask, 'what are you working on" so they can look it up in a computer, because for the most part they just don't know.
There are some long term counter workers at the AZ who have been around long enough to know where things are and how to do special orders. Its the newer folks that probably cause the issues,, but they have to learn somehow,, we all were green at some point in time.
Yesterday I called the same AZ and happened to get the store manager on the phone, when I asked if he would bring in a few cans of R134a from the warehouse he replied, 'don't need to I have plenty here'. I told him the story of none on the shelf and all the R134a going back to the ware house,, he said said the R134a did not go to the warehouse-warehouse, it went to the back room at this store. When I asked him why one of the store employees told me that, he said 'you just got the wrong guy'.
And that is the truth. A counter worked at a parts store is an entry level job, maybe one step up from being a burger jockey at a fast food joint. I think that is why they always ask, 'what are you working on" so they can look it up in a computer, because for the most part they just don't know.
There are some long term counter workers at the AZ who have been around long enough to know where things are and how to do special orders. Its the newer folks that probably cause the issues,, but they have to learn somehow,, we all were green at some point in time.
The manager right there is the problem. Stating "you just got the wrong guy" is a direct reflection of his managerial skills or lack thereof. He hired "the wrong guy" and allowed him to continue to be "the wrong guy".
Lord Sparky
Well-Known Member
Robots will cure all our problems. People are the problem.
my68barracuda
Well-Known Member
my68barracuda
Well-Known Member
and that won't be totally perfected until we have Robots building and programming the new Robots,, leave Humans to what they are made to do,,
procreate, eat, drink, hunt, fish......
Not a perfect world for sure, but how many employees do those places employ, maybe 4 ? And a green employee should have enough curiosity to ask another employee rather than taking it upon themselves to just off the cuff throw out an answer to a customer. Step on that wrong answer x5 a day results in the "we only have a$$holes" working at our local store by customers.
You said it!
Right! And THAT RIGHT THERE is the problem. That's part of corporate America that's no good. Useless as tits on a boar hog. It shouldn't be that way......at least not for every position in the store, but it is and corporate America is to blame, because they want employees as DEAD CHEAP as they can get them. The store where I worked now has all kids straight out of high school. Every single time without fail when I go for something, there are some of my old customers standin there wantin me to come back because "nobody knows anything". Sad really. Is you see an older guy at one of these stores and you know he's good, you better use him while you can. Chances are he's one of the higher paid employees and he has a target on his back.
I dealt with a NAPA in Winnipeg for years, they had well trained staff, all of whom wrenched on their own stuff. They gave me a standing 15% discount on everything and up to 25% on some items. One of the very few things I actually miss about the city.
j par
Well-hung Member
We have a part store here called Baxter's Auto Parts. It still retains some old school stuff.. most of them will have a mocked-up small block Chevy with a bunch of Edelbrock Parts on it. I do believe they have some kind of deal with Edelbrock.. anyways there's quite a few stores with old timers in them and most of them are pretty knowledgeable. Occasionally you get one that thinks he actually owns the store. I mean it's one thing to take pride in your work but it's a whole nother thing to act like the money is coming out of your pocket.. instead of checking the warehouse it's checking my warehouse LOL..
Me: hello Baxter's? I just got home from purchasing two identical throttle linkages for the same two identical carburetors.. one has been opened and pre drilled for a different size hole and is obviously used... I'm checking to see if you have another one so I have two new ones that I paid for.. Baxter's: let me check my warehouse... Though we don't have one in my warehouse let me see about ordering one... Yes I can special order one but it will take probably 8 to 10 days and it will cost an extra $10 for shipping... Me: you sold me a used part today and now I'm to wait eight to ten days and pay an extra $10 for shipping?..
Baxter's: okay I talk to the manager and "I'll" pay for shipping this time and give you a call when it gets here...
When I get off the phone I called O'Reilly's and they said they would have one there in the morning for a dollar less... LOL.. still haven't heard from Baxter's and that's been about a year..
just never know...
Me: hello Baxter's? I just got home from purchasing two identical throttle linkages for the same two identical carburetors.. one has been opened and pre drilled for a different size hole and is obviously used... I'm checking to see if you have another one so I have two new ones that I paid for.. Baxter's: let me check my warehouse... Though we don't have one in my warehouse let me see about ordering one... Yes I can special order one but it will take probably 8 to 10 days and it will cost an extra $10 for shipping... Me: you sold me a used part today and now I'm to wait eight to ten days and pay an extra $10 for shipping?..
Baxter's: okay I talk to the manager and "I'll" pay for shipping this time and give you a call when it gets here...
When I get off the phone I called O'Reilly's and they said they would have one there in the morning for a dollar less... LOL.. still haven't heard from Baxter's and that's been about a year..
just never know...
pishta
I know I'm right....
Then once in a while you get a guy who will just open up on a model and tell you the running changes on the AC compressors! I was behind a customer with an Acura Integra type R (whatever that very popular Acura was 20 years ago) and the clerk was just rattling on about some sub-system while he was checking the computer for something. This guy really knew his Japanese cars...heck, he was even Japanese! Must have been a fan. All I was there was to buy my $25 oil and filter change deal. Came with an air filter too, and the darn air filter alone would have been $18! Ha...I guess someone didnt read the fine print on the limit of what the air filter could cost...?
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j par
Well-hung Member
On the other hand the same Baxter's has some young kids and one always gives me a huge discount on everything.. I've got a set of plugs waiting to go in the Duster that only cost $14 when everyone else charges me 23...
Dartswinger70
Well-Known Member
Agree. If I can avoid auto zone I do. they really arent cheaper and the part quality isnt better, the counter help person is always questionable. I miss the days of real parts professionals at Napa or Big A stores.
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