A humorous but sobering TikTok animation has won fans with a playful but purportedly painfully accurate portrayal of what it's really like to work at AutoZone. The video, created by Teacher Kitty (@teacherkitty), uses cartoon cats to illustrate the daily struggles of auto parts retail employees—from dealing with customers who don't know their car's year or model to barely scraping by financially despite working long hours. The animated short, which has garnered 475,800 views, follows "Kitty" through a typical day at the auto parts chain. What starts as lighthearted entertainment quickly becomes a window into the challenges facing retail workers in the automotive industry, where low wages and demanding customers create a perfect storm of workplace stress. "Check bank account. Barely enough for rent. But Kitty keeps showing up," the narrator states near the video's end, capturing what many self-described current and former AutoZone employees say is an all-too-familiar reality. A Day in the Life of an AutoZone Employee Teacher Kitty's animation walks viewers through the mundane yet frustrating routine that defines working at the auto parts retailer. The day begins with Kitty waking up at 8 a.m., putting on the signature black polo uniform, and clocking in to receive the daily briefing from management. "Manager says don't forget batteries and wipers are top sellers today," the video notes, highlighting the constant pressure on employees to push certain products. The real challenges begin when customers start arriving. The first customer of the day wants brake pads but "doesn't know the year, make, or model" and unhelpfully says "it's the red one." This scenario will be instantly recognizable to anyone who's worked in auto parts retail, where customers routinely expect employees to perform miracles with minimal information. Throughout the day, Kitty faces a parade of familiar frustrations: customers needing diagnostic scans hoping "it's just the gas cap" (it's not), phone calls from people asking about parts in stock who hang up before getting an answer, and the classic customer who brings in a "shredded belt" demanding "this exact one" but doesn’t know the size. FROM THE TRENDING NEWS DESK Viral bits from across the social media landscape Our team of experts tracks what's trending so you don't have to—from viral videos to online debates that have everyone talking. The Financial Reality Perhaps the most sobering moment in the video comes at the end of Kitty's shift. After dealing with demanding customers, restocking shelves, and even installing windshield wipers "in the rain, in the dark" for a customer who came in right before closing, Kitty checks the bank account to find "barely enough for rent." This financial struggle resonates deeply with people who describe themselves as current and former AutoZone employees who flooded the comments section with their own experiences. "That's why I work in commercial," wrote user Cardozo, referring to AutoZone's commercial sales division, which purportedly typically pays better than retail counter positions. The video's creator includes a touching detail about why Kitty continues showing up despite the low pay: "For Grandma Kitty, who still calls it the car store. And always says, ‘Sweetie, can you pick me up one of those little air fresheners? The vanilla one.’" Industry Employee Experiences The comments section became a virtual support group for auto parts retail workers, with people who say they work for AutoZone, O'Reilly Auto Parts, and Advance Auto Parts sharing remarkably similar experiences. "I work at AutoZone and it's somewhat accurate," confirmed user Jose, who received over 1,500 likes on his comment. When asked to elaborate, he noted, "It's not that bad fr unless your store is busy." The staffing issues that plague many AutoZone locations became a recurring theme in the comments. "Why does kitty always work open to close," asked user Pete, receiving over 3,200 likes. The top response from savage.pvpi was simply: "Other kitties call out." User Nige Vargas offered a more direct explanation: "Cus Autozone is always understaffed because they don't want to pay anyone a living wage." Customer Challenges and Gender Discrimination Female employees shared particularly challenging experiences dealing with customers who question their automotive knowledge. User Pbnj (Sami), who said they work at O'Reilly Auto Parts, described a common scenario: customers who dismiss advice from female employees only to enthusiastically accept the same information when repeated by male coworkers. "Many times I have been told (including my very first customer), 'This is why women shouldn't work at a parts store instead they should be in the kitchen making me a sandwich,'" Pbnj wrote. "And now that same customer will only come to me if he needs something." The photo identification problem also struck a chord with workers. Pbnj described customers who "bring a picture of a part they need that's still on the car" but "did they have to take a picture with a freaking toaster oven?? it's blurry as [expletive], they don't know what it's called or where it's located, or even what year, or make, or model." The Commercial Division Divide Several comments highlighted the stark difference between working AutoZone's retail counter versus their commercial division, which serves professional mechanics and shops. "Commercial is way better for real," noted user C15OOLife, echoing a sentiment shared by multiple commenters. Commercial employees typically earn higher wages and deal with more knowledgeable customers who know exactly what parts they need. However, commercial work brings its own stresses. "I can’t even open a bag of chips in commercial because I’m pushing 30k a week in that program with no help," wrote Valerie, describing the high-volume, fast-paced nature of serving professional customers. The Broader Retail Automotive Context Teacher Kitty's video taps into broader issues facing the automotive retail industry, where entry-level positions at parts stores often serve as stepping stones rather than career destinations. The combination of relatively low wages—with retail sales associate roles starting as low as just $10 an hour according to PayScale—and the specialized knowledge required to help customers can make for a challenging work environment. AutoZone, founded in 1979, operates over 6,700 stores across the United States according to its corporate website, making it one of the largest automotive parts retailers in the country. Like many retail chains, individual locations often struggle with staffing and employee retention, particularly in markets with competitive labor conditions. Do AutoZone Workers Get Incentives If They Sell Certain Items? According to forums, no. However, they are encouraged to regularly upsell products. Why the Video Resonates The success of Teacher Kitty's AutoZone video speaks to a broader conversation about retail work conditions and wage stagnation. By using humor and animation, the creator made complex workplace issues accessible while still highlighting real struggles. "Lore accurate parts salesman," commented user Benji, while Dominic Downie added a touch of workplace rebellion humor: "pooping on the clock at AutoZone right now," a comment that received 142 likes and spawned similar responses from self-described employees at competing chains. The video's blend of humor and harsh reality—from the customer who doesn't know their car’s make and model but says it’s "the red one" to the sobering bank account balance—creates an authentic portrait of modern retail work that resonates far beyond the automotive industry. Teacher Kitty's series of workplace animations has found an audience among workers across various retail sectors who see their own experiences reflected in the cartoon cats' daily struggles. Motor1 reached out to Teacher Kitty via email for additional comment. AutoZone did not respond to an email. We'll be sure to update this if either responds.
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