“Bro, how hard is it?”
A mechanic visited AutoZone for a replacement set of brake pads for a 2002 Honda Civic and was upset when the worker sold him the wrong size. That irritation was magnified when he went back from returning those pads only to find the second set didn’t fit either.
Nathan Coleman posts about cars on Facebook. In a video, Coleman discusses what went wrong with his current brake pad replacement.
“Guys, I just wanna do a brake pad job,” he says. “I’ve gone to AutoZone twice. They gave me the wrong brake pads twice. This time it’s my fault for not taking these with me. But, bro, how hard is it to put a 2002 Civic in the system and look at the part number and say, ‘Oh, yeah, the part number works.’”
In the video’s comments, Coleman says AutoZone gave him Accord and then CR-V brakes instead of those for a Civic.
“Always use the VIN and look at the screen with them,” suggested one commenter. “I’ve never had a problem and I always get Gold, so I can replace the metal clips as well.”
“Bet they were cheaper than the competition, though,” said a second person.
“After the first time, you should just look up the part number yourself online and then go into the store and compare to what they hand you,” a third opined.
This isn’t the first time a mechanic has gone to the Internet with a story about getting the wrong brake pads at AutoZone. A Reddit user posted to r/Cartalk asking how to figure out which brake pads to purchase at AutoZone. “For some context, I have tried asking employees at AutoZone before and have been sold the incorrect parts,” one person wrote.
Another replied, “Go to the OEM [original equipment manufacturer] website for your vehicle. It’ll ask you for your VIN so you’ll get the correct part number. Then you can shop with the correct part number. Good luck.”
If Coleman went to Honda OEM Parts Online, he’d be able to input his VIN and find out exactly which brake pad he needs for the job. Then he can take that information to AutoZone or another auto parts retailer and make the correct purchase.
Having to return to AutoZone twice to get a replacement part may have been a headache, but in all likelihood, it wasn’t an expensive one.
On its website, AutoZone states that you can return in-store purchases within 90 days. Just bring the original packaging and your receipt. If you don’t have the receipt, you still may be able to return it by calling customer support, it adds.
You may also return online purchases at any AutoZone location. If preferred, you can return online purchases via mail. AutoZone instructs buyers to complete the return form included in the package and return it. If the product was defective when shipped or the company made a shipping error, you’ll be reimbursed for shipping costs.
Take note that you may be required to provide an ID to return a product.
Motor1 contacted Coleman via Instagram direct message for comment. We’ll update this if he responds.
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