Auto Zone lost a long time customer today (9/29/17) over a defective Brake Caliper.
Since there was a $30 core charge I took my old caliper off and carried it with me to purchase a new one. I made my purchase and installed it on my vehicle. After bleeding the brakes I noticed that the new caliper was leaking fluid at the brake line connection. I took it back off and checked the brake line but there is nothing wrong with the line itself. I cleaned it all up and reinstalled it. There was still a leak at the the connection. I disconnected the brake line again and double checked the connection for debris of anything that would prevent it from properly sealing and found nothing that was obvious. I then reconnected the brake line for a third time and had the same result, a leak at the the connection.
At this point I removed the new caliper and returned it to the Commerce Ga Auto Zone where I had just purchased it an hour and a half earlier. I was informed they didn't have another in stock to warranty it but I could drive another 10 miles away to Jefferson Ga where they did have one and could warranty it for me or they could order on and have it "tomorrow". Neither one of those options was an acceptable as I needed the vehicle to be operational on Saturday morning (9/30/17).
I told them that I just needed a refund and I would pick one up down the street at Advanced Auto Parts to which they responded, "We can't just do a refund, I'll need a receipt where you bought another one before we can do that."
HUH?!? Seriously?!?!? They will NOT DO A REFUND on a DEFECTIVE PART unless you bring a receipt where you BOUGHT another one somewhere else! They refused to return my core also! In order for me to get my money refunded I had to go down the street to Advanced Auto Parts, purchase a new caliper AND pay a $35 core charge, take the receipt BACK to auto zone and THEN they refunded the purchase price back to my credit card and refund the $30 core charge back in cash.
I cut up my Auto Zone rewards card RIGHT there at the counter and GUARANTEE I'll NEVER set foot in another one.
Auto Zone you can thank your Commerce Ga store for the loss of one good customer and potentially several thousand dollars in future sales. NAPA, Advanced and or O'reilly will be getting my money from now on!!! read more