Today started out as a rough day...and on a Friday no less! I was driving to work and the Subaru (borrowing from my mom while my VW gets repaired) decided to die on Stephens Way. There was no where to pull off at and I was blocking traffic. I am not having a good few weeks with vehicles it seems. Many people stopped to ask if I was okay, which was kind of them, but I wasn't. I'm one of this women who loses it when it comes to automotive stuff. I'm going to sound sexist here but I'm an office lady, automotive stuff is for males! Not to say that women can't love or be good at mechanics or automotive. Heck, I am trying to learn to work on my bikes...but not cars! Thank goodness I have a mother and a few brothers who are mechanics. Well, this nice local named Sean stopped to help me. he was truly a blessing! He mentioned a few things about the gas vapors since I had just fueled up the night before headed home from Denver. We tried that, didn't work. Then he said we should try to jump it. Now in my VW I have my jumper set my brother got me for Christmas. However, there is no jumper cables in the Subaru. So Sean says be right back and goes to get them from his wife's car. He hooked it up and sure enough the Subaru wanted to go. The minute he took them off...the car died.
We decided he was going to follow me over to Auto Zone, leaving the portable jumper box hooked up and taking the back way so I could go slow. We get there and Auto Zone guys are busy but super helpful! The Auto Zone guy hooks up his meter and says, yep it is the battery. Thank goodness because an alternator is an expensive damn part! Yes, I do know this. So $130 later and a new battery all set. Sean was wonderful and such a great Samaritan. He took it off, hooked the new one up and everything. I didn't want to be cheesy by just saying thank you for EVERYTHING he did so I gave him $20. I also thanked the Auto Zone guy, he said he couldn't accept a tip but does appreciate our regular business (we are in the computer).
I personally like Auto Zone, I read an article in the Summit Daily where a woman compared it to Walmart. Hardly. I have gone to the local Car Quest, I feel their customer service lacks BIG TIME. I have been in there a few times and I have yet to have someone ask 'can I help you'? When I walk into Auto Zone, they always ask, even if they are with a customer. They say 'be right with you ma'am'. That is good business! I like their prices and I feel overall their products are a good value. They might not always have OEM stuff, but customer service is key in business. I have been to NAPA and I don't feel they know anything about anything. Seriously! I went to get oil and asking about 5W-30 over 10W-30 for winter time and they seemed awestruck that I knew there is a difference. Yes, I have brothers who have tried (tried being key-word) to educate me. Some things stick, some things don't. Point being is, though I am a female and I don't know a lot about cars, I'm not stupid and I am resourceful. Be honest, be truthful, be straight-forward. Don't try to sell me something I don't need or want.
Auto Zone you get a 4 out of 5 star for sure! You really helped today and it made me not break down into a screaming fit. Thank you!!! read more