Autozone Overall experiences not good Tracy California

I have been dealing with Autozone for many years and just have tolerated their poor performances. I guess I am just so used to fighting the system it doesn;t even phase me anymore. I guess I should change but NAPA isn't usually open on SUnday or duriong the week at 10pm, Autozone is usually located in small towns wehre I go. Here is my observations.

1. If Walmart has something that Autozone sells, get it at Wal Mart. My recent examples:

Tire Iron Autozone: 12 dollars, Wal MArt: 5 dollars
Permatex Balck RTV Sealant Autozone: 5.99 Wal MArt. 3.25
2 gallaon gas Can, Autozone:11 dollars, Wal mart 3.25

I have had numerous replacement sets of pads and rotors from Wal mart, I now have 4 extra rotors for my Jimmy/Balzers now because I didn't have time to dela with getting them turned and just bought them new each time. Their pads are bad.

I recently purchased a Battery from them and adter only 6 months the Battery would go dead if it sat for more than a week, this happened no matter what vehicle I put it in. I spent a little more on this Duralast battery and figured I had a higher quality unit ofr my wiofe's behicle when I am out of towm , but now went back to the cheapy walmart batteries that i have been using for years. I got rid of the duralast battery by charging it over night, and put it in a vehicle I sold for parts, where the motor had problems.

I have had problems with Autozone where they want to answer the phone in the middle of dealing with my problem while I am standing there spending REAL money. I generally prefer to deal with Monument auto parts now in CA, they are very good, have stuff in stock, sometimes, to my surprise and their people are excellent and patient. I usually know what I want so it's not an issue, but they did help me with a mystery once on the cv joint for 4wd Jimmys, where GM switched parts mid year production. I retore a lot of cars form the 60s mostly GM stuff and they have the parts I need right in store, I recently got shifter cable from them without ordering it, amazing. In all fairness though, they were quite high price on simple radiator hoses, I had to go to autozone.

I used to buy radiators from them and found the Carquest stores to be a little better on price and speediness. Recntly got a 69 GTO automatic radiator for 214, they had it in one day. Carquest also helped me with a ignition key replacement tumbler, thay had it in stock, in Tehachapi CA. The Carquest there, can even get parts the same day, if you place order before 11 am. They have a truck coming from warehouse every afternoon 30 miles away in Bakersfield, and it costs nothing extra, you just need to realize what you need and order it before 11am. I did have a problem with Carquest in GA, not their fault, because I never have any cores to turn in, cause I deal with stripped project cars. I had to avoid buying their disc brake calipers for 69 GTO cause I would have to pay 40 dollars in cores charges vs. 20 at Autozone in GA. Autozone has many wrong parts for my 69 GTO, so far it has their listing are wrong for : Alternator, wrong size pully, Brake Caliper Hoses, wrong thickness where banjo bolt goes. Wrong listing for ujoint retainer at pinion.

Autozone in GA recently was quite a bit cheaper than Discount/Advance Auto parts on belts recently. I went in there and belts were all above 12 dollars apiece for 69 GTO with Air. Autozone belts were 5-6 dollars.

In order to deal with these companies you just need to realize the good and bad and act accordingly.

Michael
Fayetteville, Georgia
U.S.A.