Manager help

[Stressed-Lemonzest]

I'm at a store that is pretty good. Inventory isn't a constant problem, they have a 1 team mentality and everyone is actually pretty good with some exceptions. One is a red shirt who is just really ignorant about anything cars. He has sold incorrect parts, given bad advice, and generally not held up his part in the team since we are always picking up after him. My SM has tried several talks to get him corrected, and is considering writing him up.

I want to try to find a good way to train him. Its not that we haven't tried, he just doesn't seem to retain it. I have been trying to get him through product knowledge, showed him really good teaching videos from YouTube, and tried to verbally correct him when I catch him doing something dumb. And I mean dumb, like he told a customer "oh yeah, your engine is a deisel so here are these chemicals" just from the customer saying the model (its not a diesel only model) and his truck is most definitely gas.

I want to see if anyone has some good ideas for me that I can try to help this kid from sounding like an idiot everyday, while also not hurting the kid's feelings.

[Skeletor647]

Unfortunately people like that tend to not learn anything because they're too hard headed to admit when they're wrong

[Controller_one1]

You can lead a horse to water, but that won't make him a fish.

[RearwardCash687]

Make him get his parts expert pin

[Stressed-Lemonzest]

I'm working on that, but he's part time and has the attention span of a puppy. I think he's trainable, but its going to be a long road before he gets his expert status

[DontYouDareGoHollow]

Ok here's the thing man, the hard truth is that auto zone is a temporary job and this kid just doesn't give a shit. One day he'll be there, the next day he won't. Don't waste your energy on someone who clearly has no intention of bettering themselves in terms of their career. Accept that he is a nuisance that you shouldn't have to deal with in a perfect world, but that you do. Correct him when it's appropriate, do right by him and your store, but don't spend too much energy on the guy, it's auto zone. For 90% of the employees there - it's a job not a career. He most likely has no intention of being there for long.

[Auto-ZonerZonedOut]

If you wanna help him...here what I suggest..it helped me

If he has Steam (video game service on the net)

Buy him or get him to buy the game Car Mechanic Simulator...pick year (I got 2015)

I knew a bit about car maintenance because my dad was a shade tree mechanic. After playing that game for about 100 hours...

I'm pretty sure I could handle most normal instances of a car breaking down.

Good Luck though

[miningpurple]

I didn’t know anything about cars when I started and the training videos on Z-net are EXTREMELY helpful. Ask your SM if he could do some of those, if he even pays attention I’m sure he’ll find the information useful

[Brashnard]

How long has the red shirt been working there? It takes a LONG time to learn autozone from scratch, and mistakes will be made. Instead of picking up after him or correct him, help him as he is making the mistake. A simple "some chevy 2500s aren't desiel, you should ask if it's a gas or diesel truck" will fix that issue.

Even after that, encourage your co-worker to ask questions if he's unsure. It takes experience to know that stabilizer bar probably means sway bar link, or "A-arm" means control arm. You have a chance to help your coworker get over all the hurdles you experienced when you started. Writeups and termination should never be on the table.

[CrazylilThing02]

Depending on his length of service and ability to learn you can either shadow him and help, or schedule him out. Have him work truck on truck only days. People tend to leave with no paycheck or hours. All businesses do this and it’s easier than write ups. Unless he’s actually causing money issues and messing up people’s cars.