Complaint Review: Auto Zone - Los Angeles California

I work as a PSM (Parts Service Manager). Working at AutoZone does not require you to perform any installation or mechanical duties. Your objective as an employee is to sell parts and provide information to the customers. However, there are times where customers ask if an employee can replace parts such as light bulbs, wipers, batteries, air filters. They are just asking. You don't have to say yes. But, being able to do the task and making a customer happy can mean the difference between them coming back or not. Also, there are times that even if you think you can do a job, doesn't mean you always can and admitting it to the customer will make them happier than you wasting there time. At my store, we do install batteries, wipers, bulbs, and whatnot to customers that ask us to. We have put a time limit on the job, though. If you can't perform the job in under ten minutes then you can't work on the vehicle. But, if you don't like having to spend the extra couple of minutes installing a quick and simple part then just find another job. This job is to simple to do and that is why the company has a high turn over rate. Be grateful for your job and try to look on the brighter side of things.

It is true due to the fact That I also work for autozone.

To Whom It May Concern,

On September 1 2011 ,received the Ok of The Right To Sue The Company Auto Zone  with file #550-2011-00679  (Department of Fair Employment and Housing)  filed such a complaint because the company violate The Disability Act.  Also In Violation of The Civil Rights Act of 1964,as amended.  I also believe I Have been discriminated against based on my Disability. This will be a civil Violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1991, as amended. 

Also In Violation of the Age Discrimination  in Employment Act of 1967.

This  Company Wrongfully terminated my employment on November 10 2011 and cancel my Insurances(Health, Vision ,Life) the same day they confirmed that I was no longer working  for the company. They forgot in this case that I had fully paid my Insurances and I had one month to get my medications,  from  November 10 2011-December 10-2011.  Now Kaiser is charging me as regular patient. Neither Kaiser or the Main Offices had the Courtesy of inform my rights.

All this started when Human Resources brought to my attention Rumors apparently of something I said and they did not have evidence, proof .Therefore this turned into  a false accusations, they  opened a  Pandora  Box when Mentioned that Instead of
harassing   me with false allegations,  they  should check on the upper Management which were committing  serious violations with the Hours. Going to lunch   and not punching   in/out.  This definitely   brought conflict and personal actions were  taken against me.

I do not blame the Company personally; but some dirty Managers that are involving their  upper Management  in this  Personal  activities. Everything   started since Manager found out about my complaint with  eeoc; because in the Month of September my Second Anniversary with them, he brought that out once I did not want to sign my appraisal review. Everything he wrote
on that paper was done with the purpose of dirty my  record as employee. That was not  Professional at all and I personally felt as  the beginning of my  employment.

Around July this year, Dr. George Tan my assigned Doctor by Kaiser, stated on a form  that I have  more than 50% of  restrictions.  I handed it to him and month and a half ,told me that I was not supposed to be working because the company did not have accommodations at all.and in order for me Had to request from the doctor a form stating that I was perfectly fine to keep my job.

I  Knew that this was totally illegal. Doctor Diagnosed me based on X rays.  But started feeling  that he had something in mind, for me to either be fired . transfer. or terminated . Company Through the Manager  Violated My Civil Rights as I Mentioned  Before. He was formulating every day what to do and how to do it, looking  to find an open window  for him to accomplish what had in mind and look good for the entire Region.

Couple Months ago, The Commercial Manager approached me when I was busy helping the customer, to hand a deposit Envelope containing money, Refused to take it because it was sealed wrong. Therefore  I decided to interrupt my conversation with the customer to tell him that he needed to do it again. He went back inside, next time I saw him, he had the keys to lock the delivery trucks  ,and the last time to punch out and say Good Night. At the time of closing the store with the proper procedures, noticed that  there was no envelope at all from the commercial department to close the system.

Immediately called the manager at home explaining about the money ,he said is ok maybe he took it with him .I was feeling uncomfortable. Never experienced this in my whole time working for this industry. Saturday after this Incident, Received the change for the whole week from a company Name Garda. They drop the requested amount and we pay them accordingly. 

My Surprise was when  putting the envelopes, counting, confirming, scanning one by one; found one that mysteriously did not belong to any of the bags. Also The Manager  that was supposed to be at lunch, appeared  suddenly and what a coincidence, taking picture to the envelope that was over. Commercial Manager do not have access to put  any deposit in the safe unless the  Manager Authorize it. He was going to write me up for this? 

Also refused  and he said I will let . Commercial Manager do not have access to put  any deposit in the safe unless the  Manager Authorize it. He was going to write me up for this?  Also refused  and he said I will let you go this time. He
knew that was not me and that he could not set me up as he wished.

Couple of days before they put me in pay leave, He brought loss prevention Augmenting   that I took merchandise from the floor and gave it to a customer without paying. The day before this poor lady came with her car almost on fire. She was desperate asking us for help, since it was dark and my partner was female, decided to help her myself. I did not want to touch anything inside. Suggested to turn the car off ,cut the wires, crimp them and tape them with a black tape.

The tool to do this job, we had it only for sale. As Parts Sales Manager, Made the decision to take the tool and with the intention of put it as store use, gave it to her son to do it outside of the store  Due the Circumstances ,they decided to do it at their hotel ,they came back that night to return the tool, not knowing that we were close.

Unfortunately the lady came back the next day and happened to be him Manager who received the tool .Auto Zone has promoted through Radio and Television that they help customers whatever it takes. This according to him and loss prevention, was enough evidence to get rid of me. One day he called me at home pretending that he did not know what kind of papers he had to give me, went to place and he handed me a check along with a form  # 1089 In which they stated that I had been
laid off starting November 10,2011. Filed for unemployment and  received a month later after filled up my application on line, a letter  Notifying me  that between 0800-1000 am ,they were going to interview me instead, a Philipino woman went straight to the point, stating what they said to loss prevention. I know that some Dirty companies do that in order to get away with the unemployment. What they did not know is that I had the form signed by them describing my status.

Well not all the stores are that way at the store were I worked at if you didnt Install a battery they would cut your Hours. you had to do everything they said or they would reatiate back at you, o and we were not aloud to sell to nigerians well ice crream truck drivers. what a bunch of ricist pricks are in that company not you them.

I was also on Ex Auto Zone employee and you are 100 % right they want to hire us. and dont pay us for being mechanics. Pep Boys does

I am a current part time PSM at AutoZone. It is not in the job description or advertised that company employee's have to install anything, nor is it in the handbook. It is at the discretion of the employee's on duty, and that discretion MUST be within reason. I for one leave it up to the customer to decide if I'm going to install something for them. Walk in demanding that I install a battery when you're perfectly capably, you're doing it yourself. Demand anything, and you're doing it yourself. Weather plays a factor too. I simply will not go out in sub freezing temperatures to change a battery, and would not expect any employee under me to do it either. We don't get paid enough, and customers are perfectly capable to do this themselves 80% of the time. Exceptions are always made. The simple fact is that there are a few things that by being an employee we are required to do: In-car battery and alternator testing, DTC code pulling (NOT interpreting/parts advisement), off car battery, alternator, starter, and some misc electrical parts testing (ICM's, coil resistance, ect). The culture of the retail auto parts industry has shifted to "Do anything to keep the customer happy" and it's resulted in an expectation by the consumer that they can bring their car to a parts store for simple maintenance items like battery changes, wiper blade changes, ect. This simply isn't the case. For the original poster, your management cannot make you go change a battery or anything outside of your job description. It is NOT a requirement by any means to change someone's battery.

I also worked for Zone, 3 times over the years at different locations. Two of the times I was the Commercial Specialist. I have actually worked for many after market parts stores over the span of about 21 years. I learned on a catalog rack, and if I can't find it, I go back to the catalog rack. I totally agree that it is not to be found in the handbook, yes I have a copy of the latest, where installation is part of a job description. Probably the closest thing to it is asking you to sign that you can pick up 10 or more lbs with no problems. That being said, it is still part of thee job man!! The reason they want you to do this is so you can say, maybe sell the customer wipers, air filter, belt, tire gauge, anything else that you can while you are with the car!! My biggest gripe is "Is your check engine light on? Come to Auto Zone!" That is probably the worst idea they have ever had. A Technician needs to pull the codes on a vehicle and diagnose it, not pull the codes and say it could be this or this or that over there! A Ford pulls EGR Valve 90% of the time. In my experience, the Valve is filthy, or the EGR Position Sensor is bad. It sounds like some people just don't want to work anymore. I'd tell 'em to clock out and go on home, saves on payroll. Be happy you have a job, alot of people don't. If you don't love what you do, you'll never be successful!! I'm a hairdresser too, I just don't like it. Though it was unheard of for a girl to be behind the parts counter back then, I loved it and that's what made me successful!

Check the job description and there is likely a line about following the directives of management. This would fall under that. If you believe there is an issue with this in regards to your job description then talk to your manager about it. He will check with HR and if there is an issue they will change the description. Either way it will still end up as your job. Also I loved the prices you quoted. No one pays that to get these minor things done and loads of stores offer the services free with purchase of the item. As for taxes, I am not familiar with CA laws but I don't see why there would need to be a tax beyond the tax for the item purchased. Installing batteries, wipers, and headlights is not a job for a real mechanic. In fact most would be annoyed because the time it takes would take away from doing a job which they could get paid for. Most mechanics I know are paid based on a collectability scale with jobs given a time or money value. Easy jobs like the ones we are talking about take more time then they are worth so lower the mechanics pay rate. This is why when you take your car into the shop it is washed by someone besides a mechanic. They get paid more then the job is worth because they have a valuable skill. Batteries, wipers, and headlights are simple jobs on most cars and thus are not work that should be performed by a skilled mechanic. As for training this is something you need to bring up to your manager and HR. If your job requires you to do these tasks you should be trained how to do them.