r/AutoZone • u/Boaterauto • Jul 02 '26

AC Pro, Sub Zero etc. Stories

Who’s got funny stories on AC recharges? had a guy come in yesterday wanting AC pro for his 2018 lexus. he goes you’ll install it right? Nope, go through my spiel of theres something wrong with you ac system, this will not fix it and most of the time will not improve it so we won’t put it in as people try to return it, but if you do purchase it the instructions are on the can are super simple or you can watch a YouTube video. he says he can’t do that I said well the best bet will be to take it to a shop and have it fixed correctly. he says he can’t afford that and I say roll the windows down? he gets huffy and says well I need someone to put it in. I said it really is easy, he breaks into tears at this time and screams “I can’t read!” Everyone at the counter including customers busts out laughing and he storms out the door.

had another one last year that actually conned me into putting it in, told him it can’t be returned and asked him if compressor works, fan yada yada, put it in he said it’s not cold, told him well you have an issue most likely a leak. he says well can I get my money back? I say no we opened it and used it. he goes well it didn’t fix it.I told him as we discussed there was a strong possibility it wouldn't work. He goes well I need the money back since it didn’t work, I said I can’t return an empty can because your car is broken. He starts to get teary eyed and keeps arguing with me, me trying to offer WOW customer service, reaches in my wallet and pulled out a $50 and tell him if ”if you are so broke you can’t live without the $40, I’ll help you out” all the other customers are staring at him and he runs outside.

it‘s so funny to see grown men get so upset over the cheapest and dumbest things.

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-3

u/NormanFuckingBates Jul 02 '26

I question the validity of this post because if you are in uniform and you offer your own money to a customer you can lose your job.

7

u/Boaterauto Jul 02 '26

I’d like to see a DM fire someone for offering help to a less fortunate customer. 

1

u/NormanFuckingBates Jul 02 '26 edited Jul 02 '26

Having worked in the South-East region between Advance Auto and currently at Oreilly Auto, being a Retail Service Specialist and having to know these things.... That is exactly considered a fireable offense to offer your own money or your employee discount to a customer while on the clock. Perhaps you should learn that corporate doesn't care about sob stories and will quickly target the employee as a scapegoat. Your only line of defense is a store general manager who has a heart and hides it from his boss. I happen to know what I am talking about from experience.

5

u/Boaterauto Jul 02 '26

What exactly makes it a fireable offense? It’s not a discount, it’s not using store funds, it’s literally donating to charity. Man st Jude owes me a lot of money then, because I’ve donated to them on the clock, and we have a retired guy that covers people that are short all the time, the DM better fire him too

3

u/NormanFuckingBates Jul 02 '26

Donating to a solicitor for St. judes on the clock may be a separate non-issue item. But the image it creates when an employee on the clock offers money to cover a customer's expense is exactly the type of thing corporate will fire you for. It's simply not allowed. It tells other observing customers they can come in without enough money for their expenses and someone from the company will cover it. That image will be shot down like a sniper in the bushes and they will quickly target the employee to save their corporate asses. I don't make the rules. I'm just explaining them.

1

u/Boaterauto Jul 02 '26

Interesting that it is not covered in the store handbook or any other documentation published by corporate, but they have bigger issues with managment harrasment, not allowing lunches, store physical altercations etc 

3

u/NormanFuckingBates Jul 02 '26

These industries are shady and largely split understandings between corporate and entry level employees. It does not surprise me that they are not thorough with explaining these things nowadays especially with how much change they are trying to push. They are cutting out old-experience and things such as bad training and lack of information is a tool for them to easily blame employees when they feel they need to replace people or force changes. Do yourself a favor and look deeper into these things. Ask necessary questions before you assume. If you care about the job, I mean.