Autozone-Woburn, MA

  

I miss the days of old mom and pop/independent stores. Usually the selection would be a 3 out of 5 stars, but the service would be perfect. I'm not a real big fan of most large chains, but in this day and age there really isn't a choice, and a chain with good service is hard to come by. One of those chain stores I'm not real pleased with is AutoZone, specifically the one in South Woburn. They moved from North Woburn last spring to South Woburn. It makes getting there a bit easier from where I keep my car, but every time I go in there (usually a Saturday or Sunday morning) it's usually a nightmare. Now I admit going into an AutoZone on a weekend morning is like trying to do your weekly food shopping the day before thanksgiving or Christmas, I know the store will be busy, but there's always only 3 people working there, 1 usually trying to find a part for a customer, having some problem looking it up on their system, and then asking employee #2 how to look it up, and employee #3 helping explain to some guy that has no clue what a box wrench is, how to change his oil, or even worse trying to explain to a customer that when you use 1/2 bottle of car wash, you can't return it.
      Every time I seem to go in there for 1 thing, usually in a bit of a hurry, I walk in, see the ensuing poop show that is going on, and I immediately decelerate, like the last second of a rollercoaster ride. I now downshift to look around a bit more, to see if they have anything new, or something more suitable for the project I have planned. I'm amazed at what other crap they sell now, the PINK and gold superman symbol key chains top my list. It goes to show me that they're trying to get the demographic of people that like spinning wheel covers and shiny items with any kind of cheap trinket that has a high profit margin

      One day I went in there to pick up something simple. Duplicolor Grey wheel spray paint. It's a pretty common item, and I've purchased it from them before. Even at NAPA or other suppliers, the always note to me "you know they have this at AutoZone". I found out the hard way, No they don't, in fact I looked at 3 AutoZone's in my area. All of them were out of stock. So I go into the one in Woburn, and it's a customer service nightmare at the checkout/parts counter. I go to the paint area, and it's pretty much empty of all duplicolor stuff. They have tons of Rustoleum (which you can get at ANY hardware store or home depot) and other touch up paints, but no wheel paint. Crap. Ok so I go get it at a place I should have gone in the first place, NAPA auto parts. So about 3 weeks later I need more wheel paint. I go to AutoZone again, and it's Déjà vu. Some guy trying to return something without a receipt, that he's opened up the package, and can't figure out why the sales clerk won't give him a refund or a credit, and again the paint area looks like it's been ransacked, and still no wheel paint. So as I make the trip up to NAPA again, I started to question why I even go to there.

      My Dad went there last week and had the same kind of situation. Salesperson having a hard time looking up an item, then a hard time ringing it up, and when my Dad gets to the head of the line, the salesperson says, oh I'm going on my break. My Dad just walked out. So it's not just me I guess.

      I do however know that they usually have a fair selection of auto detailing and cleaning supplies. I usually get most of mine there early in the season. Car wash, wax, applicators, shop towels, armor all, Etc. I figure if I can minimize my trips there for the stuff they actually have I'll be in good shape for the season. I probably end up there about a dozen times a year at most, and I'd like to cut it back to like 8 if I could. I should start price hunting around and see if other places like Target or Wal-Mart or home depot have them cheaper. If I knew of a small Mom and pop type place that sold this stuff I'd rather go there.

      Anyway-so here's the deal- Selection is so-so, depending on what you need, Customer service, not that great. Maybe go right when they open on the weekends, or go on a Monday or Tuesday night, to avoid the idiot customers. FYI certain NAPA's are open on Sundays now! Location (for me at least)-good. Your mileage may vary, but I give them a 2 1/2 out of 5 stars.

Waffle Breakfast Sandwich-Dunkin Donuts

I used to live in Acton, MA and right across the street from my condo was a Dunkin Donuts. I will admit it was a selling point when I decided to move there. One extra good thing about this DD is it was one of those "testing" places. Whenever DD was trying out a new item, it would be introduced to several select places, and this DD was one of them. Sometimes it would be for an item that wouldn't even be advertised. The DD Waffle Sandwich is one of them. A couple of years ago, they had it, and for some reason discontinued it, but now it's back.

2 waffles (the "buns")
Sausage
Egg
Cheese

I know, it's basically any fast food breakfast sandwich, just a different "bun", but it's the little things in life. I've had the crosanwich and while it's good, it always seems to be too flaky for my tastes, and makes a bit of a mess, and the English muffin version can taste a bit dry (for my tastes). But this version is so far my fave. The sweetness of the waffles, combined with the Spice of the sausage makes me think "why didn't they come up with this sooner?" I never had the "McGriddle" (special "pancakes" for "buns") from Mc Donalds, but someone reminded me of their entry in the breakfast sandwich wars, and said the DD version is a bit more manageable size wise, and you don't feel gross after eating it. You get the sweetness from the waffles and the savory from the sausage, it's a great combo. The waffles seem to have a bit of a maple flavor to them as well.

I don't eat them daily. Mostly on the weekends if I'm out the door early. Usually my Girlfriend makes a KILLER weekend breakfast sandwich with Eggwhites,cheese, salsa & Turkey bacon, but that's not commercially available, yet. So the DD version does well in a pinch.

I highly recommend it, definitely good for a quick breakfast on the go, and I've had it at several different locations over the past few months, and the quality/service on it has been the same for the most part, I know, it's probably pre packaged, and frozen, so how can someone screw it up. If you've eaten at ANY fast food place, you know some places just suck at making pre-prepared foods, so it's nice to note that if you get one in Acton, or downtown Boston, You'll get the same deliciousness. I rate it a 4 1/2 out of 5 stars (the only reason it doesn't get 5 stars is because it's fast food..

Stuff I like / Stuff I don't like

I really wish I could put together a reason as to why I'm doing this in a more articulate manner. I like certain things, and I often think that other people may like them as well. there are also things I don't like and think that this is something that people should avoid. This is where I do this. Everything - goods, services, experiences, and Ideas. You don't have to agree with them, it's just my personal experience. I'm not one of those sites like Aquire, or uncrate, where they just post stuff that's coming out. I'm actually basing this on my personal experience, something I shelled out some hard earned cash on, or invested some time in. Most reviewers get an item from a distributor, or manufacturer, and they get it for free, and then tell you what they think about it. I happen to think that when you spend $ on it, the perspective is a little different. I invite you all to comment, and debate on the subjects posted here. I'll try to stay away from the taboo's and arguments that are basically useless, religion/politics/sex, etc. because you'll never get someone else to share your opinion on subjects like these, especially in a blog like this. Like they say "your mileage may vary" so one person's experience may not reflect another person's, but here I'll share mine with you all.

I'll try to be fair on the things I review, but lets be honest, life isn't fair.