I'm not sure because my story could go either way. What do you think?

Took the family up to my Mom's place at the beach this weekend. About 5 miles out, my console lights went out. The closer I got the more electronics, and the a/c, stopped working. The last 1/2 mile my headlights dimmed down to almost nothing. Finally the Olds stalled out as I made it into her driveway (that was pure luck).
I figured it was the alternator, which bothered me even more because it's an AC Delco that I bought from an AutoZone only 4 years ago. The next day I went into the nearest AutoZone ready to rant and rave a bit...but I couldn't. Not only did they apologize many times about it, but they said that their alternators have a life time warranty (no receipt needed). The funny part was that they had 2 new ones in stock, but they both failed on their tester so they immediately sent a guy out to another shop to grab one. This alternator passed on their test machine.

In the hour that it took for the driver to get back, they charged up my battery. Like I said, I wanted to be mad, but you do not see customer service like that too much any more.

 

You got that right! I remember doing for a customers mini van battery in our lot, even though we have an A.Z next door, he asked to buy one of our batteries for the trouble. I work for an Farm equipment dealer, we were lucky enough to have the right battery in stock.

Pat

 

If the alternator was AC Delco brand, then Auto Zone has nothing to do with it. Complain about AC Delco. I'll join you in that, as I got a brand new AC Delco alternator for my truck from RockAuto. The rear bearing failed within one month of installing it (not the heavily loaded front bearing, the REAR bearing). This happened about an hour from home, and the failed bearing overheated and melted the rear frame of the alternator. I'm now on the road and since this is a serpentine belt (do NOT get me started...) there no way to drive the truck without the alternator. Fortunately there was an AutoZone with a replacement Duralast alternator less than a mile away (thanks, Google), so I walked there and back, swapped the alternator, and that one has been on my truck for the last three years or so.

 

I've found most auto parts stores are really good at bending over backwards for you if you don't go off on them. I agree with Joe, its not a store issue but a manufacturers. The definition of good service is not that you had the problem but their response to correct it.

 

It sounds like the warranty and the local help was far better than the original part they sold to you. Be glad about the good part.

 

I often buy auto parts from the local auto parts store for their warranty even if they are more expensive than RockAuto or Amazon. That's good that they treated you right.

 

I think what really surprised me was that their 2 brand new replacement alternators both failed when they tested them and that they had to send a driver out to another store. I guess that AC Delco is not what it used to be.

 

 

That's an understatement, unfortunately.

 

Rebulding my motor for the umpteenth time and several of my parts are under warranty. These include wires, radiator, water pump, etc. It sure helps having them around the corner and some patience for them to keep me riding.

 

I don't know how it is for others here but when autozone and advance auto came to town and the smaller businesses went under some of the knowledgeable workers and even owners of the local shops I've used my whole life went on board with them which helped a lot of issues of customer complaints and getting it right the first time

 

Just to add my 2 cents... Advance Auto has awesome coupons for ordering online and then going to pick up your parts at the store. Typically 20% off, and if you create a free Speedpass account (or whatever they call their program), you get additional coupons based on the amt you spend, to be used towards your next purchases. Not to mention mail-in rebates from time to time. Front brakes on my Enclave parts total was $185, but after my discounts, coupons, and mail-in rebates, my total was $93. Savings pushed me towards buying the premium pads and rotors, which is almost a necessity in MI thx to the winters.

I've never had a problem with any of the chain retailers as far as returns and overall helpfulness. AZ, AA, and OReilly all good in my book, and they each seem to have their own categories for who has the best prices on the particular parts you need.

 

 

I agree, I've found the chain stores to offer excellent customer service. I think competition is so fierce between them and profit margins so razor thin, that they really can't afford to do otherwise. Of the big three (Advance Auto, AutoZone and O'Reilly's) I find Advance and AutoZone to be about equal in quality and service and O'Reilly's a little less so. And for what it's worth, I find that RockAuto's attractive prices go right out the window once you add in their overly expensive shipping charges.

All that said, I did have an annoying experience with AutoZone about ten years ago. The original Delco battery in my 1998 Aurora finally bit the dust at ten years old and I bought a Duralast battery from AutoZone that only lasted five months. To be fair, I shouldn't even have accepted the one they sold me because the date sticker showed it had been sitting on the shelf for more than a year and they had to charge it up before installing it, but it was the only one they had in stock to fit it. The Aurora's battery is a bit of an odd duck in that it has ports at the top that connect to vent tubes to send the battery fumes out the floorboard of the car. When I went to get a free replacement, I had to go to a total of three different AutoZone locations. They didn't even offer to go and fetch the battery. The first store sent me to another one nearby, without even calling to make sure they had it. To their credit, the second store did call around and made sure to send me to a location that had the battery I needed in stock. That battery was still gong strong when I totaled the car a year and a half later. The bottom line here is I will never buy another Duralast battery. The last couple of batteries I've purchased have been from a nearby Walmart, which does not have an auto center, and I've just installed them myself in the parking lot. Also, I now ALWAYS look at the date sticker and choose the newest battery. Sometimes the Wally World employees in their laziness make it easier for me by just shoving the newer batteries in front of the older ones, but I'm not above leaving a battery or two on the floor that I've had to move out of the way to get to a fresher one.

 

It takes me only seconds to compare the delivered cost from RA, Amazon, and the local stores (including NAPA). There have been times when I've been able to get heavy parts (brake drums, calipers) from NAPA for less than on-line sources, even when factoring in the local sales tax. On the other hand, when factor in my time, my gas costs, and the fact that the parts that I need are never in stock locally anyway, I nearly always order on line. Lately, Amazon has been cheaper than RA. I just ordered a new radiator for my truck. I got an AC Delco factory replacement for $330 delivered from Amazon. The same P/N was $50 more from RA, delivered. None of the local sources could even get an AC Delco radiator. They only had their low-rent house brands. Given that this one lasted nearly 300,000 miles, I'm sticking with OEM quality.

Yes, I realize Delco brand is not a guarantee of that, unfortunately.

 

I have a Duralast gold in my cutlass with install date of 5-2000, it's still cranking my car over very well! I would not hesitate to buy another. On the other hand, my local Menards is carrying Delco advantage batteries now.

Also my heater core is from AZ and it's been in there since 1998. And they had it in stock!
Pat