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'O’Reilly Will Forever Have My Business:' Man Buys New Battery at AutoZone. Then a Worker Refuses To Change It

"I am never going back to AutoZone."

Man jumps his car just to get a new battery at AutoZone

Photo by: AdobeStock

Alexandra Samuels

By: Alexandra Samuels

Dec 20, 2025 at 6:00am ET

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A man is going viral on TikTok after sharing a frustrating story about trying to get his car battery replaced: a search that started at AutoZone and ended, much more happily, at O'Reilly Auto Parts.

The creator, who posts as @mr.midknightsnak, used the video to explain why he says he's "never going back to AutoZone" after the experience.

As of this writing, the clip breaking down what happened has racked up more than 32,600 views, with many viewers chiming in with their own car-repair horror stories.

Why Did the AutoZone Customer Go to O'Reilly Instead?

In the video, @mr.midknightsnak says the ordeal started when his car battery died. After getting a jump, he drove about 15 minutes to the nearest AutoZone, hoping to get it replaced and be on his way. That didn't happen.

He says employees there confirmed what he already knew—that the battery was dead—but then refused to replace it because of the weather.

"They wouldn't change it because it's below 40 degrees outside," he explains.

That reasoning didn't sit well with @mr.midknightsnak, especially given the conditions he lives in.

"It has been cold every single day," he says. "And it's going to be cold every single day moving forward."

Frustrated, he drove to a nearby O'Reilly Auto Parts and explained the situation. This time, the response was completely different. According to @mr.midknightsnak, the employees there immediately jumped in to help—and even laughed in disbelief at what he'd just dealt with.

"They were the nicest people I ever met," he says, adding in the caption that "O'Reilly will forever have my business."

In the end, he says the O'Reilly staff replaced the battery without issue, turning a long, cold day into a customer-service win.

AutoZone Workers Aren't Obligated to Change Batteries

If you've ever rolled into AutoZone expecting a guaranteed battery swap, that expectation doesn't quite line up with how the service actually works.

That's because AutoZone employees aren't actually required to install car batteries, even though plenty of customers falsely assume it's part of the deal.

Battery installation is not a guaranteed service, and whether it happens often depends on staffing, how simple the swap is, and, believe it or not, weather conditions.

At most AutoZone locations, workers will help if the battery is easy to access under the hood and doesn't require removing other parts. Once things get more complicated, that's usually where the line is drawn. Batteries tucked into wheel wells, trunks, or under seats are typically a no-go, especially if the install takes extra time or tools.

Store policies also give employees a lot of discretion, and it's actually within their rights to decline a battery installation if it's cold outside or if they have any safety concerns. Of course, as @mr.midknightsnak suggests, this can be frustrating for customers who've already had a rough day with a dead battery, but it's not a violation of company policy.

A reliable perk AutoZone offers is free battery testing and charging, along with checks on starters and alternators.

But if you need a guaranteed battery swap, maybe don't rely on AutoZone to do it. While it's a nice bonus when it works out, it's not always guaranteed. A repair shop is often the safer bet.

Commenters Defend AutoZone

Not everyone who saw @mr.midknightsnak's video agreed that AutoZone was in the wrong. A steady stream of commenters pushed back, arguing that the frustration was misplaced.

"People don't realize them changing your battery is a courtesy, not a guarantee," one commenter wrote.

Others were even more blunt about what they see as a misunderstanding of the store's role.

"THEY ARE A PARTS STORE, NOT AN AUTO REPAIR SHOP," another person argued. "They SELL PARTS. Buy what you need and do it yourself, or GO TO AN AUTO REPAIR SHOP!"

A third echoed that sentiment, writing, "Don't be mad at Autozone. If you can't change your battery, you should pay a shop to."

Many commenters also suggested a DIY approach, saying the fix wasn't particularly complicated.

"It's not their job to change it," one viewer said. "Do it yourself, it's not that hard."

Another kept it short with, "Do it yourself," before adding, "this generation."

A third commenter piled on, writing, "Problem is not with AutoZone, it's with the fact you can't change your own battery."

What do you think?

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Still, @mr.midknightsnak wasn't backing down. He fired back at one of the critiques with a brief response: "Or it is with AutoZone, try again."

Motor1 has reached out to @mr.midknightsnak via a TikTok direct message and to AutoZone through email. This story will be updated if either party responds.

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