View Full Version : AutoZone
getsome
12-05-2012, 09:44 AM
Here is a company that has seen the last red Lincon penny from my pocket and I have been a long time loyal customer....
"From Fox News" Just before Thanksgiving at a Yorktown Va. AutoZone store an armed robber held a gun to the managers head and demanded money...The armed robber was recognized later from store security film as the so called "fake beard bandit wanted for more than 30 other armed robberies in the area....
23 year old store employee and Air Force Veteran Devin McClean who's wife is soon expecting a new baby saw what was going on from the rear of the store and slipped out to his truck to get his properly registered Glock .40 hand gun and came back in and confronted the armed robber who put up his hands and ran from the store...The manager was not injured and no money was lost....Happy ending right?...Wrong...
AutoZone fires Mr. McClean for violating the companies zero tolerance weapons policy because Devin brought his hand gun into company property...
Well this may just cost AutoZone more than one fine brave employee and I say that all legal gun owners all over the country find another auto parts store to buy from and no longer purchase items from such a non caring and bone headed company...
Way to go Devin and it's too bad you didn't get to make the "fake beard bandit" room temperature and get him off the streets before he does kill a citizen in another robbery.....What do y'all think...
Bawanna
12-05-2012, 10:07 AM
I'm with ya. Never been in one but now there's no reason to ever go in one.
les strat
12-05-2012, 10:23 AM
I dropped them a comment on their website stating as a long-time customer, no more. I will not support any business that terminates an employee for something like this.
Fredr500
12-05-2012, 11:38 AM
Ditto what les said.
Longitude Zero
12-05-2012, 12:01 PM
Never used them. Pep Boys is my location of choice.
downtownv
12-05-2012, 12:11 PM
You simply can't cure Stupid
He should have been awarded for this act, not lose his job.
Tinman507
12-05-2012, 12:57 PM
Until this morning I bought all my parts, oil and accessories from them. No More, Period the End.
There are many other choices for parts and things. No need to support Boneheads.
mr surveyor
12-05-2012, 01:18 PM
does anyone know if this is Corporate policy, state by state policy, or a single store policy? There are quite a few corporations I've heard (some hotel/motel types) that seem to have different policies in different states/areas.
jocko
12-05-2012, 01:19 PM
or also could it be a frachisee auto zone..Just sayinb
Tinman507
12-05-2012, 01:20 PM
I heard on Fox this morning, it's their corporate policy.
He didn't have the gun with him. When the SHTF he ducked out to his car and got it. While I don't agree with no guns on premises policy, I understand why corps do it. You'd think they'd make some sort of exception in this case.
Bawanna
12-05-2012, 01:27 PM
I'm sure it's typical cover your backside corporate policy. They can't get in trouble if they insist they don't know anything about it.
Course they are in an office with a full security force probably toting their own guns, it's the common folks that are dispensible.
jeepster09
12-05-2012, 01:27 PM
Welcome to our NEW WORLD we live in.....:7:
Were the bad guys are the "victoms" and the good guys are the BAD :mad:
painter
12-05-2012, 02:08 PM
No good deed goes unpunished. :2rolleyes:
Bawanna
12-05-2012, 02:24 PM
No good deed goes unpunished. :2rolleyes:
Thems words to live by.
AIRret
12-05-2012, 03:51 PM
No more AutoZone for me.
Les, I think it's a great idea to email them rather than just boycotting their store. Maybe they'll get a clue! But probably not!
jocko
12-05-2012, 04:57 PM
they don't read gun forums, but they might read their emails.. Just sayin
Knight92
12-05-2012, 05:34 PM
I don't know how many of you all get the mass emails from Front Sight but Piazza, said he had a job waiting for him in the email.... take as you will
I don't agree with what Autozone did either.
jocko
12-05-2012, 07:25 PM
damn andI kinda liked auto zone's $20 buy thing, where u buy sumpin 5 times over $20 and you get $20 off on ur next purchase. I buy all my Mobil V-Twin oil there for my Harleys and buy just 2 quarts at a time to gather the points. Like getting 20% off..
Thoe dirty bastards.
muggsy
12-05-2012, 08:13 PM
damn andI kinda liked auto zone's $20 buy thing, where u buy sumpin 5 times over $20 and you get $20 off on ur next purchase. I buy all my Mobil V-Twin oil there for my Harleys and buy just 2 quarts at a time to gather the points. Like getting 20% off..
Thoe dirty bastards.
And how much do they over charge you for each quart? Ain't you heard, there's no such thing as a free lunch.
Planedude
12-07-2012, 09:39 PM
I can't speak for VA law, but in Texas the firing would be in violation of the law because it is legal to keep your firearm in your car in the company parking area.
When he came inside with it the gun maybe... but I'd take my chances with a jury of Texans in this case.
Best of luck to the young man.
nmkahrshooter
12-09-2012, 02:21 PM
I hate the place here, rude employees and stupid too. I agree if they don't like guns- they don't like me!
O'Dell
12-09-2012, 03:17 PM
they don't read gun forums, but they might read their emails.. Just sayin
Agreed! I've done a great deal of business with them over the years because they are convenient to me, but no more. I sent an E-Mail to corporate saying that Advanced Auto and O'Reilly's will get my future business and why.
jdlott74
12-09-2012, 04:50 PM
I can't speak for VA law, but in Texas the firing would be in violation of the law because it is legal to keep your firearm in your car in the company parking area.
When he came inside with it the gun maybe... but I'd take my chances with a jury of Texans in this case.
Best of luck to the young man.
Planedude you know a Texas jury wouldn't convict the employee....If anything they would praise him.
This is the reason we don't frequent Long John Silver. They had a similar story a few years back about the same thing. Employee went to defend himself when a robber came in and he got fired for it.
LorenzoB
12-09-2012, 05:03 PM
Here is a great place to leave a comment and let them know how you feel about their poor judgement. It looks like there are already a slew of recent comments about this.
http://ecorporateoffices.com/AutozoneInc-1936
LorenzoB
12-09-2012, 05:33 PM
I left a review, but it didn't show up yet, so it must be going through some moderation process. :(
knkali
12-09-2012, 06:18 PM
I left my review just now too.
Fredr500
12-09-2012, 06:56 PM
I emailed them from their website. Got an auto reply saying it was being sent to the right department. Nothing since.
7shot
12-09-2012, 08:20 PM
He's also probably lucky that he didn't shoot him too. He would of been charged with deadly intent because he went and got his gun from the car. Crazy....
jlottmc
12-10-2012, 07:48 AM
Planedude you know a Texas jury wouldn't convict the employee....If anything they would praise him.
This is the reason we don't frequent Long John Silver. They had a similar story a few years back about the same thing. Employee went to defend himself when a robber came in and he got fired for it.
Couple of incidents, the last one that really set everyone off was the manager that didn't even use a gun, but a hammer instead.
He's also probably lucky that he didn't shoot him too. He would of been charged with deadly intent because he went and got his gun from the car. Crazy....
Can't let this one go. Deadly intent does not exist in the Penal Code, Code of Criminal Procedure or anywhere else. The closest you'll find would be Deadly Conduct ( http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Docs/PE/htm/PE.22.htm#22.05 ) (hint read the elements of the offense). If he fired there would be a possibility of a Murder charge ( http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Docs/PE/htm/PE.19.htm#19.02 ), but remember in Texas it is legal to come to the defense of a third party if that party would themselves be legally able to use force or deadly force (don't make me look that one up for you, it should be easy to do if you follow my links). In all likelihood, no charges would be filed here, and as my wife says he'd probably get an atta boy. Virginia is much the same in regard to defense of third party, but then again I am not a lawyer. Do your homework and make your own calls, if you still need help then find a competent lawyer. This reply was not meant to start anything, nor belittle anyone, just to educate.
QuercusMax
12-10-2012, 08:21 AM
I'm with ya. Never been in one but now there's no reason to ever go in one.
My situation, and opinion, exactly.
A lot of big companies and government agencies have silly "zero tolerance" policies on various things, driven by fear of litigation and by the death of common sense. Thus they rigidly follow their policies, with no thinking required.
Cynically, I doubt that writing to Auto Zone or leaving a customer comment will do the slightest amount of good, because most companies don't actually pay any attention to that stuff - at best it is collected and summarized by low-level employees and rarely makes its way to any decision-maker unless it is a high-profile, public-sympathy item.
Fredr500
12-10-2012, 08:30 AM
My situation, and opinion, exactly.
A lot of big companies and government agencies have silly "zero tolerance" policies on various things, driven by fear of litigation and by the death of common sense. Thus they rigidly follow their policies, with no thinking required.
Cynically, I doubt that writing to Auto Zone or leaving a customer comment will do the slightest amount of good, because most companies don't actually pay any attention to that stuff - at best it is collected and summarized by low-level employees and rarely makes its way to any decision-maker unless it is a high-profile, public-sympathy item.
You're probably right but it depends on the company. I know where I work e dry customer comment is reviewed by several people. But we sell multi-million dollar software. Retail probably not the case.
LorenzoB
12-10-2012, 08:43 AM
QuercusMax, I also don't think corporate will ever read these comments. They are meant to spread the word (bad publicity). If it weren't for people spreading the word here, I may not have seen or heard anything about it. If enough bad publicity spreads on this, Autozone corporate will regret they did the wrong thing, AND other companies might think twice when faced with a similar circumstance knowing there may be national backlash. It is also good for non-gun people to hear about this, because even they will know this was a good situation to have and use a gun. Stories like this remind people that guns aren't bad, cold non-thinking corporate policies are... and in the end... common sense wins another point even though McLain got fired.
AJBert
12-10-2012, 09:39 PM
QuercusMax, I also don't think corporate will ever read these comments. They are meant to spread the word (bad publicity). If it weren't for people spreading the word here, I may not have seen or heard anything about it. If enough bad publicity spreads on this, Autozone corporate will regret they did the wrong thing, AND other companies might think twice when faced with a similar circumstance knowing there may be national backlash. It is also good for non-gun people to hear about this, because even they will know this was a good situation to have and use a gun. Stories like this remind people that guns aren't bad, cold non-thinking corporate policies are... and in the end... common sense wins another point even though McLain got fired.
This has already made the national news (as seen on the local news). Autozone will feel a backslash, though I couldn't say what the result will be.
LorenzoB
12-11-2012, 12:12 AM
At least part of the result will be that gun ownership and the proper use of guns will be presented in a good light at a national level. That guns can stop crime and potentially save lives when used as a tool in the proper hands. Maybe, just maybe, some anti-gun person will realize not all guns are bad and gun people are bad. And it gives an opportunity to speak to others about this incident in a good light. McLean already has some opportunities of his own now, so I think he will be ok. The sheriff is planning on giving him an award for service too. He did the right thing and said he wouldn't do it any differently if he could do it over.
Fredr500
12-11-2012, 08:10 AM
I won't patronize them any more, but I did have a good experience there last time.
Went in for wiper blades, only person working was a 16 year old girl. Asked me what I needed as soon as I walked in, told her blades, she took me to the aisle, give me pros and cons on each style, asked what vehicle I drove and got out the right size.
After ringing me up she offered to install them. I said sure, she walked out and changed them one-handed! No fumbling, no forcing, just snap off, click on, have a good day.
I was impressed with the whole experience.
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