AutoZone: Threat or does it fit a need?

[Joe Marconi]

I am staying out in California at my sons place for the holidays. He was complaining to me that the dining room chair legs were loose, so being the mechanic that I am, I took a look. All the bolts loosen up. The heads of the bolts were Allen key style (hex heads). He did not have the right size, so we went out in search of a hardware store, but found an AutoZone on the way.

 

We found the right size hex key and went to the register to pay. This was a Sunday afternoon around 4pm. At the register counter was a line of people buying: Wiper blades, oil, air filters, oil filters, batteries, floor mats, car wax, shop rages, and asking questions about problems with their cars. These were not our customers.

 

But it made me think: Do the AutoZones compete with us? Are they really a threat? Or do they somehow fit a need that we cannot or should not fulfill?

 

Your thoughts?

[xrac]

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[Gary A]

Would have to say, not our customers. If it is one of mine and it's Saturday afternoon and he needs a set of wipers or a battery, what could I say? I'm not open, I'd probably do the same thing. When he has a more involved issue though he will come to me. Convenience means a lot today because everyone is so busy.

[Jeff]

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[phynny]

It's fine, though i wish they would stop pretending to be mechanics. I certainly don't think I should be avail 7 days/week, 5 works well for me.

[AlohaAutoLasVegas]

I feel autozone is not a threat to me as a repair facility.autozone sells parts only.and Autozone probably makes more money selling parts than anyone of us as independent repair shops could ever make.I love my local Autozone parts store,they read customers engine codes for free,then those customers come to me to repair their check engine light.We should be thanking Autozone for "diagnosing" the problems.The more they diagnose The more I make..Thank you Autozone..And I don't think autozone employees are trying to PRETEND to be mechanics.and if you feel you shouldn't be available 7 days a week that's great.I thank you too, cause I get alot of NEW and good paying customers on Saturdays and Sundays..

[phynny]

I feel autozone is not a threat to me as a repair facility.autozone sells parts only.and Autozone probably makes more money selling parts than anyone of us as independent repair shops could ever make.I love my local Autozone parts store,they read customers engine codes for free,then those customers come to me to repair their check engine light.We should be thanking Autozone for "diagnosing" the problems.The more they diagnose The more I make..Thank you Autozone..And I don't think autozone employees are trying to PRETEND to be mechanics.and if you feel you shouldn't be available 7 days a week that's great.I thank you too, cause I get alot of NEW and good paying customers on Saturdays and Sundays..

 

I'll go out on a limb and say you work for autozone. No real shop that I know of is "thankful" for them reading the codes. Reading codes is certainly not diagnosing a vehicles problem as 95% of the time the codes thrown is not for the failed component so I'm not sure what your shop does but I'd guess it's not troubleshooting. Now if you mean that you make money because you swap a part that doesn't need replaced because the customer told you to via autozone's code reader then I suppose it's profitable just maybe not so morale. That being said, we sometimes do it. I stress to the customer that a diagnoses from a code reader is almost definitley not going to fix their problem but if they insist then I swap the part and then sell them a real diagnosis.

 

They are "playing" mechanics down at those stores, period. If they were so good they'd be working at a shop making 3-5 times the money they are making their and have a much better work schedule.

 

Don't have to "thank me" for not being open on the weekends, my kids do that enough.

[5 Star Auto Spa]

 

 

I think in its purest form, Auto Zone is not a threat as there will always be do it yourselfers who need a place to purchase parts. Where it becomes an issue is where a lot of other shop owners have stated they overstep their technical skill level and try and interpret codes that are being read and telling customers what is wrong with their vehicle when they themselves do not fully know. In a lot of ways the advertising that Auto Zone portrays to the public is to come to their stores and have their code read and they will be able to "figure out" what is wrong with their car which is totally false and misleading.

 

On the other topic, we are a shop that is open 7 days a week as well. I am totally envious of the shop owners who are only open Monday - Fridays! Unfortunately for us, Saturdays are our busiest day of the week. We have talked about closing on Sundays though as it is the slowest day of the week.

[Joe Marconi]

I feel autozone is not a threat to me as a repair facility.autozone sells parts only.and Autozone probably makes more money selling parts than anyone of us as independent repair shops could ever make.I love my local Autozone parts store,they read customers engine codes for free,then those customers come to me to repair their check engine light.We should be thanking Autozone for "diagnosing" the problems.The more they diagnose The more I make..Thank you Autozone..And I don't think autozone employees are trying to PRETEND to be mechanics.and if you feel you shouldn't be available 7 days a week that's great.I thank you too, cause I get alot of NEW and good paying customers on Saturdays and Sundays..

 

You love your AutoZone? We should be thanking AutoZone for Diagnosing the problems? Thank You AutoZone?

 

I had to read this a few times to make sure my eyes were not deceiving me. I don't fault AutoZone or any other part companies for creating a business plan that targets the DIY and other consumer segments. And I don't consider AutoZone a threat to me or the independents. BUT (and this is a big BUT), I really don't know of many shop owners that Love their local AutoZone. Also, Reading a code and diagnosing a check engine light problem are two different things. I guess everyone is entitled to their opinion, that's the reason for the forums.

 

Just curious, you must have a lot of AutoZone stock, don't you?

[phynny]

 

You love your AutoZone? We should be thanking AutoZone for Diagnosing the problems? Thank You AutoZone?

 

I had to read this a few times to make sure my eyes were not deceiving me. I don't fault AutoZone or any other part companies for creating a business plan that targets the DIY and other consumer segments. And I don't consider AutoZone a threat to me or the independents. BUT (and this is a big BUT), I really don't know of many shop owners that Love their local AutoZone. Also, Reading a code and diagnosing a check engine light problem are two different things. I guess everyone is entitled to their opinion, that's the reason for the forums.

 

Just curious, you must have a lot of AutoZone stock, don't you?

Hahaha, I did the same thing. I have yet to see autozone ever diagnose anything correctly. I'm sticking with my, "they are wanna-be mechanics."

[AlohaAutoLasVegas]

Sorry fellas,my meaning behind the words "I love my local autozone store" etc....is due to the fact that those customers who comes in to my shop and says "autozone people diagnosed it for me"and "they have this thingy that plugs into that stuff under the dash"Have you ever noticed those people faces when you bring out the real scanners?their first words are"wow,well that's not what autozone used" this is when the customer really realize that there is more than just a code number..This is when "I love it" cause that's when I can do my own diagnosis and troubleshooting and actually fix the real problems without throwing parts at it and save the customer some money and not to mention doing it honestly.we all have had customers come in to the shop and present us a print out of a DTC and all possible causes.i just had one of those customers Friday show up with a print out.a truck with lean codes and guess what the customer requested,,, O2 Sensor replacement (just because the print out says so)..BUT being professional technician with 28 years experience (18 years as a shop owner).After a few minutes of REAL diagnostic time with a REAL scan tool and a good ear,I could hear a vacuum leak. Yea,I really think the best scan tool for this job was the GOOD EAR,,LOL..So fellas don't get the wrong impression I love autozone cause when I finally fix the customers real problems my guys are automotive Heros to them,and I've gained a new customer and their trust,and we all know customers who trust us is a valuable customer.

[Joe Marconi]

Thanks for the post and for clearing that up. I think we can now see what you mean.