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Most of what AutoZone sells is low to medium quality. They're a mass marketer. They are sourcing from the same places as other parts houses, so I'm not totally scared of them. I buy my batteries there, among other things.
Very few people claim on the warranties that are on car parts. They can offer these sort of things because they know this. I scan all of my receipts and keep them on the computer as well as a hard copy. I claim on anything that I can. FCP offers a lifetime warranty on everything they sell, supposedly, but I've never had anything they've sold me break since they started touting the lifetime guarantee. I don't remember when they started advertising the warranty.
I only buy parts with a lifetime warranty and I haven't paid for much of anything more than once in quite a long time. That goes for several vendors, but AutoZone is very loose about it if you claim on it. They don't require a receipt with a phone number but it's good backup.
For the vendor backing up these parts, it's a calculated risk. For car owners, just like anything with a warranty, the key is keeping meticulous records and then actually thinking to claim on it and taking the time to do so. They even have lifetime BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS.
Cars today don't last long...the average car is scrapped at something like 11 years old. Think of how long an alternator lasts...the warranty is for the life of the car. There's little risk in offering a lifetime warranty because of the short life of most cars. A lot of stars have to align for them to get burned on it. A savvy Volvo owner doing his or her own work on the car could certainly can test the limits of the warranty. Also, the warranty is on the part, not the labor to install it.
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A bottle of oil and some basic tools in the trunk. The highway is calling. Always remember the difference between durability and reliability. Embrace the old Volvo in your driveway. She's eager to please.
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