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I recently purchased 2 halogen head lamps from advance auto parts, the sales person was polite and asked if I needed two or 1. I stated that I should probably get two because I was not sure if both higbeams were out or not and told him if it doesn't work I will just return them.
After getting home and determining the bulb(s) were not the cause, I tried to return the bulbs 1.5 hours later. I was then told that because I had touched the bulbs I could not return them and that they were no good anymore. I am now trying to understand how I am supposed to put a bulb in my car without touching it and if that is the case, why was I not told this at the point of sale and where does it say this on the bulb package.in my opinion this is not any way to treat customers. I will be calling the regional president and will never, never, never and did I say never shop at advance auto parts again. It is my mission to deter everyone that I know from ever shopping at this store.
I work for the competiton and would have told you the very same thing they did.
I agree about electrical parts diagnosis and proper bulb handeling, however, I will never buy so much as a sparkplug from advance ever again... bought a timing chain tensioner for my 95 pontiac grand am from them. I am ase certified and have been in the auto repair business since 1967 (I just might be qualified to do this job) bottom line is that the part was defective. the manufacturer (sa gear) said there was nothing wrong with the part (though when I had it, it failed to properly extend) advance told me basically to get lost. damage to my engine: complete cylinder head and one piston.
Even though I installed it correctly, the chain lost tension on cranking causing the chain to bunch up in front of the exhaust cam gear. my only departure from standard practice was that instead of turning the engine two turns before re-checking cam and crank indexing, I turned it four times, checked indexing and tension at both sides and top before buttoning engine up. (quad 4)
As far as i'm concerned, advance is a bunch of polite #s who care more about winning than they are about the truth. this is not good or real customer service!
The outcome would be the same at any other parts store. Advance does a terrific job and service for their customers.
Now you know why you need to diagnose the problem before you buy an electrical part. electrical parts are non returnable. if you look in the store, there is a sign that says just that. secondly, you never handle the glass part of the bulb with your bare fingers. the oil on your fingers gets transferred to the bulb, which gets very hot. that can cause the bulb to fracture. where does it say that on the box? I have never seen a halogen bulb box with out that piece of information. maybe if you insist on dyi, buy some books. learn before you do.