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guest_
· 3 years ago
· FIRST
Chain auto stores generally don’t hire based on automotive knowledge. They care more about attitude and other things since for liability reasons- an average chain auto store employee isn’t supposed to give advice or help. They’re basically on a script and the computer program they use goes off a process that starts Y/M/M. As a fun fact though- there ARE certain cars that DO use specialized washer fluids or have specs given by the manufacturer! So all in all- the employee probably honestly doesn’t know what car parts or fluids are “universal” and which are specific- and even somewhat knowledgeable car folks don’t know every detail of every model and submodel of car.
guest_
· 3 years ago
Along with “blinker fluid” another “test the dummy” part people sometimes mention a “muffler bearing.” For those who do not know- car mufflers don’t have bearings- it’s a made up part used to tease or expose those without auto knowledge. BUT- there are a very small number of relatively obscure cars that actually DO have muffler bearings. So someone who knows a bit about cars will think a muffler bearing doesn’t exist- and someone who knows ALOT will know that there are actually cars that applies to!
guest_
· 3 years ago
Lastly, to be honest- the customer quite often knows little or nothing about their car or cars in general. Often they THINK they do, which is generally worse to deal with. If you ask for a tear make and model- or as dealers often will- a VIN number- if the customer comes back angry, or had an issue and tries to bring legal action- you can show that you looked the part up by the vehicle THEY provided. That of the part is cataloged correctly in your system- if it didn’t fit or caused a problem- it is because of the information THEY gave you, or didn’t give you. If you give them the right fluid of part for a 2010 Chevy Camaro, and they have another year or even model- or have modified it etc and it gets damaged etc- you can show that you gave them the part for the car Chevy built and they said they had.
nossedai
· 3 years ago
Most of my coworkers at Autozone were ASE certified, so yes, they do know cars. And we were trained to offer trustworthy advice.