Originally Posted by XF1RE

The answer to your question(at least as far as Advance Auto is concerned) is: it depends who works with you and what they are willing to do. Your info about the filter(no Mobil 1) is correct and the special requires a Mobil 1 filter(up to $13), as I am sure you know. However, I was lucky enought to work with a manager who was willing to work with me and I just paid the difference between the K&N fleece filter and the $13 allowance(ended up to be $13). When I tried to buy another special a week later at a different Advance Auto store, that manager showed me a large black "X" on his screen which he explained meant they were not allowed to do it b/c they would lose money on the deal. Same chain, 2 different locations, 2 different outcomes. Don't know how it applies to Autozone, etc., but I imagine it would be the same. My only tip would be to go in confident that they have done this for other customers(though that didn't work for me the 2nd time, even when I showed him my receipt from the week before!)- can't hurt to try.