I'm literally the YES (Yelp elite squad) member whose headline says "you can't give 0 stars so don't be that guy" - so understand that when I say it the service or lack thereof here deserves zero stars - it's both painful yet completely accurate.
I stopped in with my friends truck this evening to get some refrigerant (freon) after calling earlier in the morning today and speaking to Rhonda to find out what kind I was going to need and if they had it / how much etc. she told me I needed 134A coolant. She said it was $50 ish and they had it in stock. Cool. She mentioned that they'd not be able to do it for me but could tell me where it went and also mentioned that if she wasn't there "Buddy" (who didn't end up becoming my buddy in the end) would be able to assist. I made a note of everything and planned my day out to visit them on some errands that night.
Fast forward to my store visit. Once I found Buddy I told him what year make and model/trim the car was and said (going from his knowledge - not from a computer ) he confirmed I needed the 134A refrigerant that Rhonda had told me I needed.
When I asked for help Buddy was reluctant to help me outside (mentioned that he couldn't spend "too much time" with me-I later realized why-he was about to punch out) ... I remember thinking that it was a little inappropriate the way he said it as my expectations were not extraordinary and I fully understood he couldn't do it for me - but I bit my tongue and let Buddy boy put me in my place - setting my expectations exactly where they needed to be for his level of help to follow. Honestly it was at this moment that I felt uncomfortable and should have left knowing I wasn't dealing with a professional of any sort whatsoever. I show respect and didn't think talking to me like a child was in any way appropriate but I honestly just wanted to get out of there and move on with my night so against my judgement I bought the coolant.
Buddy came outside and began to assist another customer before me, who, incidentally had been rung up after me - ok, whatever. So finally buddy comes over, puffing on his vape mod, blowing clouds of smoke. Gross and unprofessional at best. I digress. He advises I put the 134A coolant in the high pressure valve so I proceed to do so and at his direction continue to until he told me to stop emptying out nearly all of it. The air conditioning wasn't getting any colder and he started to be unsure if where he told me to put it was the correct place. At that point he went over to consult with a guy named "Ricky" who apparently is a mechanic that they refer people to who was working on a car in the Autozone lot. I thought this was odd but whatever. Apparently this is how they do things at AutoZone in Alabama
Ricky came over and immediately said "you're using the wrong coolant" and pointed to a sticker stating clearly the type that was needed which is the newer kind. Buddy blamed his computer. Next Ricky asked if I'd put it (the can of coolant) in the high valve to which I said yes and he said well - you put it in the wrong place it goes in the low pressure valve. Great. So now buddy gave me the wrong stuff and had me put it in the wrong place. AutoZone fail.
It was at this time that buddy said that I could exchange it for the more expensive refrigerant, and I asked Ricky the mechanic if putting it in the wrong place was going to cause a problem and he said "quite possibly". Conveniently Buddy disappears for the end of his shift at this point turning me over to nobody - which I only realized later.
So now I'm really getting frustrated, but still keeping my composure hoping for the best fingers crossed that I didn't cause any damage or further complicate the situation taking everyone at AutoZones direction and advice.
So I go to exchange the stuff , which I was left completely alone to do without Buddy's help who was leaving for the day. So now I'm going outside and putting this stuff in my car really not wanting to ask AutoZone for any more "help" I ask Ricky to help. Unfortunately it didn't do much putting the $140 can of coolant in the low pressure valve and ultimately I went back inside about 30 minutes later to return it.
When I went inside I made no secret of sharing with the staff saying that I didn't appreciate that nobody bothered to follow up or assist me after they sold me the wrong stuff and directed me to put it in the wrong place.
"Josh G" immediately decided to take it upon himself to put me in my place to tell me that they (Buddy) went "above and beyond " by helping me as much as they did and that they weren't supposed to even do what they did - well, then maybe you shouldn't tell customers you'll do it - genius.
Hard pass on these fools, they literally don't know what they are doing. read more
