Autozone wait times...

[GeneW]

This isn't surprising.....

Professionals will have the part number will ask for the part by number, if it's not there they'll have it shipped from a warehouse. They cut out the clerical non-sense by knowing specifically what they need and as a steady customer they're not treated lightly.

Your average consumer does not have the part number. They'll make a phone call based upon Application. This means that the clerks will rely upon a computerized inventory system which has trees, menus and other doo-dads that point out the part's availability and location. They're only as smart as the programmer who wrote up the inventory control system.

This computerized inventory system is why companies like the Auto Zone do not necessarily hire automobile literate clerks. They hire people who can pick up heavier parts, who have decent customer service skills and who will hustle for the pittances paid.

I live in a rural area where mechanics are not well paid unless they're in business for themselves. As a consequence a lot of our part store clerks are automotively savvy people. Quite a few are motor heads who rely upon their employee discount for their hobby.

Still these places are usually understaffed and do not have enough people to field phone calls and take care of customers. At my local Napa there is almost always a line and someone on the phone.

Why this guy waited on the line for fifteen minutes is a mystery to me. I give them an agreed upon wait or hang up after four or five minutes. The greasy wheel gets greased, but out of sight out of mind. Shame on him for not playing the game right.

Gene