Before you buy at Advance Auto Parts - check to see if your part is non-returnable - even if defective out of the box

[Trulyvintage]

Before you buy an auto part from
Advance Auto Parts - check  to see 
if your part can be returned.

 

 There is is long list of auto parts that
are non-returnable
(even if they are defective when you buy them).

 

This includes many parts that have a
one year or lifetime warranty at other
retail auto parts stores like Autozone
and O’Reilly Auto Parts.

 

Recently I need to purchase a replacement 
IPR (injectior pressure regulator) valve while
on the road in Batavi, New York.

 

The only place that had it in stock was
Advance Auto Parts - I bought one and
installed it - it was NIB in sealed plastic 
and labeled “ Made In USA “.

 

My diesel truck idled roughly after 
I installed the Adbvace part but would 
smooth out at highway speed - I made 
it to Iowa - had my mechanic there pull
it and put it a lifetime warranty one from
O’Reilly Auto Parts a few days later
that was a different design - also
NIB and labeled “ Made In America “.

 

I looked at the valve from

Advance Auto Parts.
It was coming apart.
I took it to the Advance Auto Parts in Iowa.
Showed it to the female store manager.
She refused to return it.

She referred me to their website return
policy here:

 

@ https://aapretail.my.site.com/s/article/What-is-the-Advance-Auto-Parts-return-policy#:~:text=Return or exchange any item,these criteria will be denied

 

Eventually - with persistence - I was 
able to return the IPR valve  at a later date.

I will not buy anything else  at 
Advance Auto Parts.

 

Jim

Edited October 4, 2023 by Trulyvintage (see edit history)

[joe_padavano]

Policies like this are not uncommon and have been implemented because people use the "shotgun" approach to fixing a problem - they are incapable of troubleshooting and simply replace parts until the problem goes away. Frequently when a new part doesn't fix the problem, they try to return it for a full refund. This only hurts the rest of us by forcing stores to increase retail pricing to cover these returns. Note the "not for refund" policy on electrical parts - only exchange if the new part is defective.

[Trulyvintage]

If you go to the link & scroll down

to the list of non-returnable items 

you will find many of the items carry 

a one year to lifetime warranty at

Autozone & O’Reilly auto parts.

 

Jim

[Trulyvintage]

I have a commercial account 

at O’Reilly Auto Parts - they 

will run parts out to me if needed

if I am broke down and there is

a store in the area.

 

There was no O’Reilly Auto Parts

in or near Batavia, New York and

 Advance Auto Parts was the only

source - Autozone and Napa did

not have the valve in stock.

 

My mechanical skills are sufficient

to do most emergency repairs 

and I could not find a diesel mechanic 

available.

 

The fact is - Advance Auto Parts

has an extensive list of non-returnable

parts that carry a one year to lifetime

warranty at Autozone and O’Reilly’s.

 

The IPR valve I pulled originally in

Batavia, New York was replaced free

under lifetime warranty from O’Reilly’s.

 

 

Jim

 

Edited October 4, 2023 by Trulyvintage (see edit history)

[TAKerry]

I dont buy a lot of car parts, and have no dog in the fight but most likely like a lot of locations, Advanced is in one shopping center and across the street is Auto Zone. For ease of access and store cleanliness and friendly employees I prefer going to the Zone. For parts needing special attention and a counter staff that actually knows something I will hit up the CarQuest, which I believer is part of Advanced.

 

I have heard good about Oreilys as well, none in my area though.

Edited October 4, 2023 by TAKerry (see edit history)

[Trulyvintage]

My point in starting this thread 

is to educate members of a 

written policy regarding that

a major retail auto parts supplier

has regarding “ non-returnable “ parts.

 

This policy may factor in your

decision to buy specific auto parts

from this auto parts supplier.

 

Personally - when I can buy a part

with a lifetime warranty from

one retail parts chain and the another

considers the same part

as “ non-returnable “ ….

 

I know where I’m taking my business.

 

Jim

[Frank DuVal]

Most electrical parts have been unreturnable to stores for 40+ years! Nothing new here to me.

 

Yes, it is because of:

1. Replace parts until the defective part is found 

and

2. The new part is damaged because the underlying problem was not found first!

[60FlatTop]

I have a non-automotive related business. If a person is in my employ if figure selecting them showed they were smart enough to make a discretionary decision that coming out to be around $3,000 on the high side. The answer to the customer is always "Yes".

 

I believe the world has been in a management crisis since the first cadence drum beat.

 

These business policies are deeply rooted in management. And the greatest management problems are rooted in a psychological condition called projection.

Edited October 5, 2023 by 60FlatTop (see edit history)

[JACK M]

21 hours ago, Bills Auto Works said:

I voiced my displeasure about how much I had to spend per month to keep my Long Standing Discount! 

This is why I do not use my local NAPA store anymore.

The good ol boy deal I had when the owner bought in years ago worked for many years.

I had an open account when he bought the store and we were friendly. 
His wife was pregnant with a boy at the time as I recall.

But when that same punk kid took over a few years ago it all went to hell.

When he told me that I don't spend enough money to get any kind of discount I told him that then he can have all of nothing rather than part of something.

I still have the account and rarely charge there. And when I do it's probably not worth the billing.

[Hemi Joel]

Advance is like shopping at Target. A chick store.

[brasscarguy]

Advance Autoparts in my area was a local owner operated really good parts store. My company favored him with on average $4000.00 monthly in purchases. I never had a problem with a return defective part or an ordered part where the customer did not show. 

 

The store owner sold out to Advance, new manager, new rules, and not wholesale friendly. Hot shot new slipery salesman shows up and tells me we need to increase our monthly purchases by a minimum of 15% each month to get delivery and discounts.

 

We pay cash each and every time the driver shows up so we are a cash cow. The guy up the street from us is a slow pay 60-90 day account, I know him well. So I asked hot shot salesman would it not be better to keep me as I pay every time they show up or the guy up the street that does not pay his bills on time. He has no answer and as he left my shop I told him don't ever darken my door again. Picked up the phone and called NAPA and their salesman was at my door in less than 30 minutes. I get my discounts, they take any return parts or defective parts when necessary, problem solved. Now every time Advance gets a new salesman they show up to get my business and I tell them get the X$%^CVT out of business and don't come back..

 

just sayin'

 

brasscarguy

[46 woodie]

RockAuto has a 30 day, no exchange policy. I was fabricating a dual exhaust system and ordered two identical mufflers from RockAuto. It took me over 30 day's to TIG weld all the components and when I opened the boxes for the Walker mufflers one was entirely different from the other. The "shell" of the muffler was somehow welded on backwards and all the mounting brackets were in the wrong places. I called Walker and explained the situation and they confirmed that it was indeed a mistake. RockAuto would not except the muffler because even though it was wrong from Walker, it was purchased over 30 days ago.

[Marty Roth]

Rock Auto accepted my order,

Charged my credit card-

The order never arrived !

I phoned and emailed, but got a RunAround

Rock Auto refused to refund

Rock Auto refused to send the already paid for Order ---

So I had my credit card company refund my payment !

 

Some time later I tried once again to order an item from Rock Auto-

They refused my order and will not allow an order from me 

UNTIL I PAY FOR ITEMS WHICH WERE NEVER RECEIVED ??

 

DO YOU THINK I WOULD EVER AGAIN DEAL WITH ROCK AUTO?

[Frank DuVal]

Sorry to hear that Marty. If treated that way I would have the same reaction! ❗

 

I probably spend more at Rock Auto than all the other suppliers together for my daily drivers.