This review is from January 2, 2021. I don't care. She's dope!
THE REVIEW: This has always been my AutoZone of choice. I've had a stroke of luck with my car and hadn't been here since 2018 though, but I had a GREAT experience with this curly-haired guy on Sept. 29, 2018 who looked like he could model but was on the shorter side. I always had good customer service with the guys in there.
But I must admit tonight's service with the men was abhorrent. Three different guys all avoided eye contact and tried their best not to really do any work. But the women in there asked me could they help almost immediately. One manager on the phone (Hispanic, maybe in late 20s/early 30s, long maroon-ish braids, about 5'5) confirmed that they could change a headlight for me.
She assigned a guy to do it (football-playerish build, also Hispanic, dark hair, had hood and mask on so you couldn't see his face much, but I believe his name was Eric) who gave her a blank stare, strolled to the corner, then started randomly checking new customers out to avoid coming outside. Finally he walked toward the door, still averting eye contact, and I asked, "Are you too busy to help?" Looking off into space, he finally made eye contact and said he had to help some other guy (who wasn't even in the store) but if I went to my car, he'd be out in a few. I shook my head and drove off, trying to find another AutoZone location. But that one said it couldn't fix my headlight.
I called back to talk to her again, and she was really convinced it could be done. She said if that other guy was too busy to do it (and the other two AutoZone locations already turned me down), she'd do it herself. I was relieved that the hoodie guy was not there when I got back. I did not want to deal with him again. And she kept her word. As soon as I walked in the door, she said "You!" and took my bulb. As soon as she was free a couple minutes later, she went outside with her phone and got to work.
What annoys me is three guys decided they wanted to come check out her work, including the hoodie guy (Eric?) who got outside of someone's car. He walks over to me and goes "Bulb?" when he sees me. At this point, I just want him to get the hell away from me. Then he just starts staring at parts, mumbles "air filter" and just walks off. No explanation. No nothing. I don't know who hired him, but he has no business working with customers. Put him in the stock area somewhere. He gets zero star and I hope he quits by the time I need to come back in that store. Then here comes another guy who was outside petting somebody's dog in a car forever, and then came over to give unsolicited tips. Then comes a third guy (my complexion, mid-20s) walks over to brag about his car expertise and how no one should challenge his opinions.
IF YOU'RE NOT OUTSIDE TO HELP HER, SHUT UP! Go back to standing in the store ignoring me (and my car) from inside. But like a trooper, she came back and forth three times with different tools trying her best to do fix that headlight. At some point, she even got a mat and crawled under the car near the tire, trying to get this headlight in. She finally had to admit that the other two AutoZone locations were right, and this air filter is in the way. But even then, she was still too stubborn to do so before calling over a mechanic to ask him what steps I'd need to take to get this headlight replaced. She introduced the two of us (he didn't work for AutoZone), and he ended up repairing it on the spot. She also recommended another company less than a block down. I respected her for trying SO HARD to do this when none of the guys in the store acted like they knew they worked there. She's dope. I see why she's a manager, but she needs a better team (in my opinion). I came back to thank/tip her, wave at the other nice lady who works there and and pay the non-AutoZone mechanic for his work.
If I go in here again (until the staff improves), I only want to talk to the women! Or, bring back Wavy Ponytail Guy and keep Sal close by.
