If I had the opportunity to leave a -10-star review, I would have done it. This was my favorite auto parts store until today. Less than two months ago, we purchased some very expensive windshield wipers because the sales associate assured us they would last more than 8 or 9 months. We paid $50 plus tax for each one, and they handled the installation themselves.
Today, we returned to file a complaint because one of the wipers flew off while we were driving, which is incredibly dangerous. When we arrived at the store, we were assisted by Michael, who displayed a terrible attitude from the start. We explained our concerns to him, but he insisted that they didn’t sell that particular type of wiper at that location. We insisted that we had indeed purchased them there; unfortunately, since it had been two months, we no longer had the receipt. After much back and forth, he finally decided to check if they actually had them in stock, and sure enough, they did. He then came back with the excuse that those parts did not carry a warranty.
This was so strange to us because whenever we had encountered a problem in the past, a sales associate had always assisted us. However, Michael clearly had no intention of helping us. He told us our only option was to buy a new wiper, which was extremely frustrating since we had already paid a considerable amount. Reluctantly, we agreed to purchase a new one because we needed it, especially during this rainy season, as that car is used to take our kids to school.
Out of sheer frustration, I tossed the defective wiper onto the counter, feeling that we received no semblance of decent customer service from Michael—no discount offered, no "let me check to see why the part is not working." While we didn’t expect the part for free, we thought it reasonable for a defective product to be replaced. Instead, he took offense at my action, claiming he wouldn’t sell us anything and threatening to call the police if we didn’t leave immediately.
In other words, in addition to providing terrible service, he was now threatening us with police involvement. We told him to go ahead and call them, stating that we hadn’t done anything wrong and weren’t afraid. He then pulled out his cell phone and went to the back of the store to speak with the manager. To our surprise, he began speaking in Spanish, and we replied that we understood Spanish too. He went on to describe what we were wearing, which felt like a threat.
We spent quite some time arguing, our time is valuable too, but it was clear he wasn’t going to help us; he was unwilling to sell us anything and had no intention of resolving our issue. It seemed that his pride, thinking he was some sort of lead manager, prevented him from assisting us. Eventually, we decided to leave, and as we walked out, he mockingly shouted, “That’s exactly what I thought! I knew you wouldn’t be able to stick around!” We didn’t leave out of fear or to prove him right; we simply realized that our time was too valuable to waste on someone who lacked basic decency and professionalism. We escalated our concerns to the corporate office since the store manager’s direct line was just the main store number.
Afterward, we sought a solution and found an Advance Auto Parts store just a few blocks away. The person who helped us there was a Godsend. We told him what had happened at AutoZone, and he kindly offered us a discount, something we hadn’t even asked for! By providing exceptional customer service, Advance Auto Parts gained a new customer while AutoZone lost one for life.
So, be very cautious if you choose to shop at AutoZone Store #6136. Don’t say you weren’t warned!
And Michael, buddy, remember, karma has a way of coming back around!
I visited this AutoZone location around 2:00 PM and had a very unprofessional customer service experience.
When I walked in, the female employee behind the counter did not acknowledge me at all. The phone rang, and instead of briefly acknowledging my presence or letting me know she would be with me shortly, she answered it and began chatting and laughing with the caller.
I was simply trying to ask if she was the only employee available or if someone else could assist me. If she was alone, I would have understood and come back another time. However, when I attempted to ask, she waved her hand at me in an unprofessional manner as if to dismiss me, without saying a word, and walked away to assist someone else.
As a business owner, I understand multitasking can be challenging, but basic acknowledgment and communication are essential. A simple “I’ll be right with you” would have made all the difference.
I ended up leaving without getting any help. This experience could have been handled much better with just a little professionalism.