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.