I needed a starter for my 1984 gs. So I checked the autozone website. One store in Tucson had the starter in stock. The internet site listed the price as $69.95 plus $25.00 core charge. I called the store and they said they had the starter in stock but the list price on there computer was $129.96 plus $25.00 core. I said wow a 100% markup. I called the autozone main office and they said the store can charge whatever they want, but try printing out the website page with the $69.95 price
take it to the local store and see what they say. So thats what I did, after alot of dirty looks form the store
employes, I had to talk to 3 plus the manager. He called the main office and after alot of bullshit I got the starter for the web price. I think they have my picture on there wall now.
Zoomie

 

Yeah, I worked at Autozone for a few months part time to catch up on bills. I worked with some of the dumbest people I have ever met. The manager and four of us quit on the same day. Three weeks after I quit, the new manager called me at home and asked why I did not show for work for three weeks and said if I did not come in within three days, they would suspend my discount. I ordered a manual for my 7 from them last week and when I go to get it they hand me a Spanish version of the 323. I had hell getting a refund since the one they got in was open and the return policy states no returns on open manuals. Pure idiots.

 

You should see the looks I get when asking for anything Mazda. Then they say, I'm gonna hafta order that. And I'm like really cause I've only talked to you at this counter like a dozen other times and you've had to order everything else too. Anyhow my personal experience with A.Z. is that they a rude, arrogant, and generally provide poor service. I go to O'Riellys now and have yet to be disatisfied.

 

I stick to Advance -- they've always been awesome in their service (They frequently are surprised that I'm asking for RX-7 parts and ask me how I like the car...) and they usually have what I need at most a day away.....

:-)


It's fun screwing with stupid counter people though

 

The autozone people here are IDIOTS too. Terrible support and pretty damn stupid to boot. I've had better luck talking to a three legged cat than Advanced or Autozone.

O'Reilly might not be the best but they speak english and usually have what I need.

Better luck getting the part from a boneyard for $15.

 

When calling around for prices and warranties autozone almost always beats advanced both ways. But I do tend to go to advanced.
For some reason these companies only hire a certain "breed".
We're supposed to have an o'reilys coming soon.

 

I go to Advanced, when I broke a plug. They say we don't carry that plug, I say yes you do I bought it here just a couple weeks ago. The arument insued and now I go to O'Reilly also. They got what I want when I want it.

 

I've a lot of friends who work or have worked at AutoZone in the past. Personally, I think that there is nothing more boring than AutoZone workplace politics, but that's probably the reason that they didn't want to honor the website prices:

From the redshirts to the DM, everyone there is always looking for some dirt on everyone else.

 

O'Reilly's pricematches and often makes the price LOWER.

Autozone, Advanced and even NAPA annoys me now.

NAPA used to have quality parts but I won't ever go back after the water pump fiasco I had with them and a car that no longer runs anymore. The new pump failed after 1 day and the ex-wife drove it until it blew. I blame it on NAPA and her.

 

Local area chain of stores here called Olympus Imported auto parts. I like em.

I go there when I need actual PARTS...
I also price compare with CarQuest....

I'll goto Advanced if I need fluids, filters, or some Silicone RTV, or something... Maybe some low price parts, like wheel studs, or headlights, or something...

I get a 20% discount on parts at any CarQuest or Olympus.

 

All the Al's Auto Supply/Grand Auto Supply stores were purchased by Schuck's/Checker/Kragen chain due to an Al's district manager embezzling from the company. Paccar put all the Al's on the market and Schuck's bought 'em all up.

 

I got the same answer. I needed a starter for mine a few months back and called around for the best deal before making an actual trip (like I always do)

Autozone= like $120.00+
Advance= like $69.95
O'Reillys= like $65.00

Needless to say I went to O'reillys. My town just got one of their stores and like everyone working there used to work at Autozone (the ones that were worth anything anyway) so now Autozone is left with a bunch of monkeys now I guess.

Oh yeah, installed my new starter and when I hit the ignition, you could hear the gear enganging and "slipping" instead of spinning the flywheel. I fooled with it forever before taking it back. Turns out it was bad. My "replacement for the replacement" has been working great though...

 

Yeah, my bro's GSL-SE had two bad ones. The third was the charm. That's typical; just keep swapping them until a good one turns up.

 

I'm always told whenever possible, go with mazda original parts.

 

Yeah, I got a NAPA starter a while ago. I had to file the housing to fit on the tranny and the teeth on the starter because they didnt engage correctly. After a couple of hours with a hand file I installed it and found out it didnt work to begin with!

Bought a mazda starter, and it works great!

 

i have a short temper, i would have been so pissed.


one guy at the local autozone, thought my car had a six cyl WTF???

 

haha even thidiots at autozone around here have gotten to know me, if in doubt make a scene, you may or may not get what you want, but it sure is fun. I now only work with the knechts, they have a guy with 3 rxs so he knows what I need and usaully knows good fixes for the little problems (cheap too hes never tried to sell me the most expensive fix, but the one that works the best) so haha

 

don't be so quick to trash parts guys, a lot of them work on only a specific type of car (pistons) so they don't know the rotary... so give em a break. i know cause im one of em, but i only know rotary's so i get **** sometimes.

i work at a schucks (checker schucks kragen) and our internet prices are lower too, but we always price match the internet ones if people mention it. Its not our say in what the prices are its a corporate decision. In other parts of the country prices are different for the same part too, just all based on selling percentages and ****.

anyways...i don't always like our prices or what we sell but its business and if you don't like it go somewhere else like i do!!

 

I like schucks here in oregon. they freakin' fixed my truck for 30 dollars, ofcourse that was me getting lucky and having the manager be an ex chevy mechanic. It's amazing how those parts stores people can screw up parts since their computer tells them every detail about any car ever made.

 

dont get em wrong, i like schucks, but I agree that autozone must hire a certain type of person, they all seem to b ******, scre jesse james, think for yourself y'all, locketine, where in Oregon are you

 

As long as you remember that each autozone has its own set of employees then you will be okay. I go to an autozone in Kennesaw and one in Knoxville where the guys are awesome and helpful. Best parts places for me. You can't stereotype them, just find the ones that work for you the best.

 

i would not **** on autozone or napa if they were on fire too many bad experiences


O'reillys is the **** they have everything that i have ever needed in the store or have it there by the next day

 

I've had good luck with autozone. They are about the same as anyone else. Bumper-to-Bumper is a local company that seems to do the best.

 

I've had pretty good luck with Schuck's. I'd rather go there than to Napa. I only go to Napa for the oil filters (made by Wix/Dana).

 

This is very strange.

I use my local Autozone and get nothing but great service from them. They know I own two 7s and that I have lifetime warranties on most of my parts. I imagine just like any other store, your mileage varies based on who you deal with. Go to 5 McDonalds in the same area, you'll get a big mix of shitty/not-as-shitty food.

Go to another state and you'll still find the same mix. A lot of people don't do their jobs right wherever they work. That's just a simple fact of life. My Autozone also seems price-competitive to Advance on absolutely everything they sell. I guess Florida is really a nice piece of heaven?