Boycott Autozone

[SGKent]

having an alert store staff is step one. That often prevents most of the robberies. I say that from experience. During the 1970'a I ran a large store in Pasadena like a best Buy or Fry's. Stores around us were robbed monthly, in some cases staff were shot and killed. I kept a loaded pistol in my standup desk near the sales floor and on several occasions had it pointed at someone who was considering pulling a gun out to rob the store without them ever knowing it. It is not a pleasant position to be in at all because someone's life is in your hands - whether it is theirs or your co-workers if they pull a gun and shoot someone. On at least 6 - 8 occasions we had police arrest people acting weird in the store who were also carrying weapons. Their pockets flap too much when they walk, they are more interested in looking around than at products, they are nervous etc. In each case the police arrested them going out the door and in each case they were wanted. Staff basically didn't allow them to get the confidence to pull the gun out. One guy was so nervous that when he bent down behind a rack to pul lout his gun one of my staff leaned over and said really booming, "can help you buddy?" The guy dropped the gun on the floor, picked it up and ran out the door into the arms of the men in blue. My regional came in one day and saw the gun while looking for something. I think the comment was something like, "we should probably be sure it is kept on an empty cylinder and add a robbery button to the alarm so it can be tripped from several spots in the store." You have to act from control and not be controlled by these situations. I don't carry a gun, mine are locked up at home and don't think it is a good idea in general to get trigger happy like some people do today, but there are places and times when it is needed. Most police forces will develop a good relationship with a store if you let them. We kept coffee and donuts in the back plus a couch so the officers in the area could take their breaks in the back. Once the "bad" guys see them coming and going all the time, they will leave you alone. At least it worked for us.

 

[Falcon67]

The criminal also knows that same $2000 isn't worth them spending the rest of their life in prison. A conviction for burglary and a conviction for murder 1 are two completely different things.

Yep, and while I don't know what it is now in Texas, some time in the past the penalty for murder was less than for armed robbery, which resulted in more than a few dead convenience store employees.

 

[O_M_Jeep]

First off, on the actual topic at hand, I havent seen a single person wonder if it's the same person as the 30 previous robberies, were any shots fired in any of them? If your going to sit there in your nice comfortable home and arm-chair quaterback this situation, in either direction, reading comprehension is a good place to start.

My own lowly opinion is that the gun he retrieved saved no ones life but did save the stores money IF A. The thief was the same thief who hadnt fired a shot in more than 30 other robberies (the information is out there, look it up), and B. if he left without the money.

If this was someone different, then there is no way to say what would have happened, I do agree that to an armed robber there is a major difference between an agravated robbery charge and a 1st degree murder charge. (even if the murder was an accident and unplanned if in the commision of a crime is 1st degree). There is an extremely small chance that anyones life was at risk at any point during this robbery or he wouldnt have bothered seperating the TWO (2) employees on hand (you seperate them to minimize risk and the situation getting out of hand).

If the robbers intentions were to kill everyone as seen on TV, he wouldnt have left the store when confronted, the robber had a lot of options open. The arguement that he was all hopped up on drugs is very unlikely, being surprised by a restrained employee with a gun makes twitchy people do twitchy things, and with that in mind perhaps getting the gun wasnt the smartest thing to do.

No matter what we think, a few people in the Autozone corporation handled this whole situation badly, the employee, the corporate stooge who couldnt see the situation not covered in the by-laws, and the whole legal system that makes this all worth debating.

On the topic of veterans, I agree with the Brits, slinging potatoes for 6 months doesnt make you a "veteran" any more than waving a flag makes you a "patriot".

I did a year (twice the 180) in the USCG, I was even shot at (by my fellow Americans) on more than one occasion, I did 1/4 of my 4 years and would never dream of asking for or accepting veterans benefits, I am legaly "entitled" to them having a DD214 that says I was given an RE3L discharge, but no way would I ever take advantage of the system or the tax payers in that way, I'm not a veteran, I dont deserve the title, or the benefits. Period. Not everyone who serves is a veteran, sorry, they just arent.

 

[bazzateer]

To discredit someone's ability to call themselves a "veteran"

Which he didn't do. It was the use of the term 'Veteran' he was asking about, not discrediting. If you had read the other posts regarding this issue you would have seen that the discussion is in relation to a difference in language use and nothing to do with whether or not someone's military service is to be respected or not.

 

[SuperSocket]

Here's the quote of the day:

"Sheriff Diggs said AutoZone has also sent an unintended message to the community.

“The company has now sent a message to every would-be robber out there – ‘Hey we’re open for business and unarmed. Come on in and take our money,’” he said"

I wonder how it will affect their policy when they get hit by robbers again and again. Welcome to the gun free zone.

When an unarmed employee gets killed by a robber I would like to be on the jury deciding how much Autozone owes the family.

Maybe the kid can get a job at the Sherriffs Office.

Umm newsflash, every multi-national corporation store has a no-gun policy... this is common knowledge.

 

[slickgt1]

My friend was recently held up, not going to say which national retailer. While the gunman was yelling and swinging his gun around, he seemed to have accidentally discharged it. My friend was shot in the leg. Less then 1/2" away from his left nut. He bled there till the cops showed up. Cops came and arrested everyone, including my bleeding friend, till they could figure out if there were others with the robber. He still does not have his cell phone back, because it is part of the "investigation". Well no one from that night still got their cell phones back.

You tell me the employee did the wrong thing, I don't think so. There should be more people like this. He protected his friend. I would have done the same. You never know what the robber has on his mind. The kid kept it cool and didn't shoot him, which could be a mistake, considering he robbed 30 other supposed stores. How long will it be before the robber actually shoots someone.

I am happy the guy got fired. At least he won't be in a dead end job, in a ****** *** parts store. It's not like Autozone will lose me as a customer, I never like them in the first place. I will just spread this around when someone does mention them.

Autozone basically said to me, that if I am in that store, and someone comes in to rob them, or **** them, or whatever they want to do, their employees are not to put up a fight. As a matter of fact, the employees are not even allowed to have the weapons to make the appearance of putting up a fight, and now all the thieves out there know this.

Yea chances of Autozone seeing me or anyone I know in their stores again is slim to none. Especially since all the areas the Autozones are in, are shady as is.

 

[KevinP]

I don't even bother shopping at Auto Zone anyways. As far as the kid doing what he did, I commend him for actually doing something rather than handing over his balls in a jar. If something like that happens, company policies go out the window. I love me more than I love comapny....

 

[skyking]

If I remember right ...our veterans kicked the UK's asses and sent them home.The UK then dissarmed their people because it is much easier to rule ,or oppress peasants than free men. No hard feelings though because the Brits gave us the beatles and have consistently been great ,supportive allies.

Over there they call old men "veterans ", over here we call them "old fuckers"
In both countries they drive like ****.

 

[O_M_Jeep]

No hard feelings though because the Brits gave us the beatles and have consistently been great ,supportive allies.

Actually, we were the supportive allies in both world wars, and while they supported us in Vietnam, Korea and Iraq/Afganistan, but we were pretty lacking in support during the Falklands.


Neil Gaiman explained the difference between the US and UK very well, when your trying to understand the difference in mind sets between the two, you have to take in to concideration so many factors, however, this is what always does it for me -

"In America 100 years is a long time, in Britain 100 miles is a long way" - Neil Gaiman

 

[Lippyp]

If I remember right ...our veterans kicked the UK's asses and sent them home.The UK then dissarmed their people because it is much easier to rule ,or oppress peasants than free men. No hard feelings though because the Brits gave us the beatles and have consistently been great ,supportive allies.

Over there they call old men "veterans ", over here we call them "old fuckers"
In both countries they drive like ****.

At least we were on time for both world wars!

I'm a free man, I don't feel opressed because I don't have a gun, well, apart from when it comes to my plague of drywall eating fat dormice!

edit: I think we pretty much kept out of Vietnam, we might be allies but we ain't stupid!

 

[bazzateer]

"In America 100 years is a long time, in Britain 100 miles is a long way" - Neil Gaiman

 

[skyking]

[I think we pretty much kept out of Vietnam, we might be allies but we ain't stupid![/QUOTE]

Dam.........got to give you that one. We be stupid !

 

[danski0224]

I am not from the States but if i was i would not shop at Autozone any more!

http://radio.foxnews.com/toddstarnes/top-stories/autozone-fires-worker-who-stopped-robbery.html

This is crazy!

A similar policy exists at many retailers.

 

[4000xt]

I think a lot of you are missing my point here, but oh well.

 

[hot rod reverend]

We are all living in a day when life is no longer precious to a growing number of criminals and would-be criminals. I am 39, and I have never had to stare down the wrong end of a gun pointed at me. If I have some means to protect myself in this type of situation or in any other, I am going to do it.

Autozone can have their policy, it's a free market. However there could be a day when another Autozone will be the next Colorado theatre... who knows? I would not take the risk. You wave a gun at me and give me orders, you had better be my son playing GI Joe with a plastic toy. Otherwise, I will take every action with any and every weapon possible....trained to do so or otherwise.

This morning I purchased my son his first 22 Rifle this morning and could not believe the paperwork and background check info I had to go through. I told the fellas behind the counter, "been a long time since I purchased a firearm at a place of business." My wife met me later and looked at the 22. She shook her head and told me, "We need to buy ourselves a pistol."

I about fell out in the floor. I own a few guns, but no handguns as of yet. Looks like I will be soon though, lol.

Yes - I happen to be a pastor. "Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition."

 

[danski0224]

I think a lot of you are missing my point here, but oh well.

And what point is that?

I can't specifically elaborate on employer policies because it is proprietary information, but there are parallels and the outcome for the employee would be the same: termination.

Like it or not, losses from theft (also called shrink) are accounted for, literally, in the operating budget. The shrink plan for a retailer like WalMart probably exceeds the GDP of several small nations.

Some have stopped theft through customer service actions or being thorough at checkout, but not once has the employee received a monetary bonus.

In principle, I am disappointed that the employee lost their job, but on the other hand, the employee didn't follow the rules.

I don't know what's worse: a crook with a gun or an untrained retail worker with a gun attempting to stop a robbery. Granted, in this rare instance, the employee was a "trained Veteran", an exception. However, no details of the training are given in the article.

The backlash against AutoZone will be bad, but what if the robber shot the manager when McLean returned with his weapon?

No one knows *what* the outcome would have been if the two employees simply went into the office as directed.

Unfortunately, retail establishments that are open late are easy targets. They are open late, with minimum staffing, long after the suits in the Ivory Towers are home shortly after 5.

 

[darkk]

Sure, keep a Glock under the counter and take 'em out when they head for the door. You miss and the bullet goes... you can figure out the rest.

Why is it there's always one anti-gunner in the crowd? Do you believe everyone shoots at someones back when the danger is gone? Do you think everyone misses when they do shoot? The clerk ran to his car and came back in with a gun to try and save a friend/coworkers life. He did exactly that, no more, you're making it sound like a tragedy averted. Many gunmen do kill the victims, that being said......if it were me, I'd have blown the stupid fucks head off.....

 

[darwyn]

We are all living in a day when life is no longer precious to a growing number of criminals and would-be criminals.

Based on what? The evidence is completely contrary to that statement: http://bjs.ojp.usdoj.gov/content/glance/tables/viortrdtab.cfm.

 

[TMCCuda]

There are about 4 Advance stores within 10 miles from that Autozone. I would go across the street and get a job from them, Turn the PR spin positive for their side. Advance Auto is Virginia based and has got to be paying attention.

 

[chuckh_02]

There is a LOT of missing the point going in here . . . if you are in a situation where someone brandishes a weapon with ill intent, you have the RIGHT and the RESPONSIBLITY to expect him to use that weapon. All decisions and reactions need to be made from that mindset. Which one of you wants to be in the small percentage of people killed during an armed robbery??? The only important statistic is the one you're living in!!

 

[SKAutomotive]

I agree. When I was working retail I would never fight anyone that tried to steal. I would give them access to whatever they want. While they are stealing the money they want an oil filter for their truck, let me look that up for you while you empty cash registers...

If it was a life or death situation then I would obviously react much differently.

Sometimes heroes die for stupid reasons. The guy in this story did the right thing and its wrong with the actions taken by autozone.

Autozone was a joke the way they would always try to sell you junk at the counter like packs of rags, fuel injector cleaner or battery lube (seriously, wtf is with the battery lube).

It's die electric grease, it protects against erosion. However, Vaseline does the job just as well, so need to pay 1.00 for those stupid little packages.

 

[SKAutomotive]

Also, all the people talking about policy is policy. It's not. We live in a world of gray and to enforce things as black and white is stupid. This is one of those situations where you decide by the facts.

The policy is there to ensure workers aren't walking around armed and scaring customers. It has nothing to do with anything else, because not one of those policies has ever stopped a person from going home and getting a gun and coming back and shooting up the place because they were that disgruntled.

The law says you have the right to protect your life, and the life of your friend's and family from a potential threat and a gun in the face is a potential threat for his friend. He also upheld the law by not firing on a retreating gunmen as the threat was now, for the moment, neutralized.

The circumstances of the situation need to be reviewed before black and whiting someone with a policy decision.

 

[volaredon]

I call them "useless Zone" for good reason.... they rarely have good counter help that knows what yhou really need and their parts are **** for the most part I go to Car Quest or Federated before useless zone> unless I find myself in a bind on Sunday nite when no one else is open

 

[quick60]

I have always had good service with Autozone. Advance Auto? Different story. SKAutomotive has some good points. Autozone should look at the circumstances. He was following policy by keeping his gun out of the store but then extreme circumstance required extreme measures.

 

[quick60]

I don't carry a gun, mine are locked up at home and don't think it is a good idea in general to get trigger happy like some people do today, but there are places and times when it is needed.

Then what good is it if it is locked up when you need it?

 

[SKAutomotive]

Another thing I want to talk about. These people talking about just hand over the cash and let them be on their way. It doesn't always end that way.

When I was a manager at GameStop, another store's manager and his hourly employee were shot and killed after handing over the money as policy states.

I'll remind his wife and kids that if you hand over the money you will be alive to tell your story. I am sure she will be very grateful to know that.