KC
Kandice Cleveland
Jan 18, 2026
I visited an Advance Auto Parts store to purchase a battery and was assisted by Gabriel O. During our interaction, Gabriel voluntarily stated that I could receive a warranty replacement for my battery and initially told me that the replacement would be completely free. At no point did he state that the replacement was not guaranteed or subject to conditions.
When he looked up the warranty using my phone number and stated that none was found, I asked whether another phone number could be used. He said that it could not. He then told me that I would receive the full purchase amount minus the core charge. Shortly afterward, he contradicted himself and stated that I would not receive that amount.
After first telling me the replacement would be free, and then stating I would receive cash back minus the core charge, Gabriel then stated that he could instead put the amount on a gift card. This added to the confusion. If a gift card refund was an available option, then issuing the refund back in the original form of payment should also have been possible. The shifting explanations and changing options made it difficult to understand the actual policy and gave the impression of inconsistent or incorrect information being provided.
I attempted to calmly clarify what I had been told and offered constructive feedback, explaining that clearer communication could help prevent overpromising to customers. During this attempt, Gabriel repeatedly cut me off and escalated the interaction by arguing rather than resolving the issue.
In an effort to prevent the situation from escalating further and to keep the interaction professional, I politely asked if another employee could assist me. Gabriel responded by saying, “It doesn’t have to be this way. I can help you, but you are being difficult,” which I felt was dismissive and unnecessary. I calmly stated that I was not being difficult and that I simply wanted to keep the situation civil and be helped by someone with more patience. Gabriel then rolled his eyes at me.
Another employee, who indicated he was newly hired, attempted to assist me but needed Gabriel’s involvement to complete the transaction. To fully de-escalate the situation and avoid further conflict, I chose to leave the store and went to another Advance Auto Parts location for service.
Advance Auto Parts promotes core values centered on integrity, accountability, respect, and delivering knowledgeable, customer-focused service. Employees are trained to communicate clearly, provide accurate information, and resolve concerns professionally while maintaining a calm and respectful environment. In this situation, Gabriel O.’s inconsistent statements, argumentative behavior, and dismissive responses did not align with those values or with the customer service standards Advance Auto Parts promotes.
At all times, I remained calm, respectful, and focused on preventing escalation. My only goal was to receive accurate information and resolve the issue in a professional manner consistent with Advance Auto Parts’ customer service expectations.