Hmmmm., my experience is quite different. My local AutoZone has some really sharp guys behind the counter ( yes, there is a woman too, but to be fair, never interacted with her). They helped a lot on tricks in R&R Marilyn's and Katie's jeep parts, helped trouble shoot a very strange brake issue ( spent 15+ minutes with me) and oftentimes suggested other stores for hard to get parts. Part quality I found was very good, when I compared ( a few times) to OEM, they were the same, just different sticker.
Even for the 1st time when I drove John Doe home from Va with a rapid brake fluid leak, once I knew it was a brake cylinder, A Pepboys in Delaware had one, a German rebuilt one ( they actually had 2) at a whopping cost of $15 each. I should have bought both, but I am cheap