A viral TikTok skit has perfectly captured a nightmare that every parts store employee dreads. Whoismario (@whoismario2x) created a 40-second video in which a customer (played by Mario) walks into an O’Reilly Auto Parts store a few minutes before closing time and places an order that will sink the heart of any store employee.
The video, which has been viewed more than 3.9 million times since it was published on October 11, shows Mario playing the role of a customer who approaches his colleague at the counter with what appears to be a simple question. “Excuse me, what time do you close today?” he asks innocently. When his coworker responds, “About six or seven minutes,” Mario drops the bomb: “Perfect, perfect. Okay, so I’m actually here to get forty oil changes done.”
The employee’s response (“Really?”) reflects what any store employee would be thinking at that moment. But Mario, remaining in his role as the oblivious customer, doubles down: “Yes, my boss gave me the list of cars. I don’t know if you want to look at it. We have a car company with you guys, and we need to get all the work done today.”
The reality behind the retail automotive
While Mario’s skit is clearly satirical, it highlights a genuine frustration that many auto parts workers face. The timing of large commercial orders, especially close to closing time, can pose significant challenges for the retail industry.
O’Reilly Auto Parts, like many other auto retailers, serves both individual customers and… commercial accounts through special programs. Fleet customers and car companies often place bulk orders for oil changes, filters and other maintenance supplies through the company’s Professional Services program, which order online capabilities and specialized pricing structures. However, processing forty oil change packages would require a lot of inventory management, paperwork and time, especially if the store is about to close.
The visual comedy in Mario’s video comes from the contrast between his casual speech and the overwhelming nature of his request. Key comedic moments in the video see Mario pulling out a seemingly long list of vehicles, and the employee’s subtle eyebrow raise near the end.
How commission really works at auto parts stores like O’Reilly
The video sparked extensive discussion in the comments section about whether O’Reilly employees would actually benefit from such a big sale. Many viewers assumed the employee would be happy with a commission, but the reality is more complicated.
“[Because] he makes commission [off] of it…he’s happy, not angry,” said staticjoeyz, who earned more than 24,000 likes. However, this sparked a detailed discussion among current and former employees about O’Reilly’s actual compensation structure.
“They get an hourly wage with no commission,” cocopuffin responded, but several employees corrected this misconception. “We definitely get a commission, it’s just not much,” Isaiah explains. “Even if you generate the most sales in the US, you won’t benefit unless you are ISS. Plus, the commission checks are monthly instead of the normal biweekly.”
Former employee 5.3_garrett gave specific details: “They get paid every hour and they also get commission on sales, but it’s not worth it. I worked there and had to sell 15,000 in a month to get 100 commission.”
Employee reviews on confirm job sites the existence of some form of incentive or commission payment at O’Reilly, although descriptions vary considerably. Many employees report receiving an “incentive pay on top of the base rate” once a month show compensation data average annual bonuses at O’Reilly range from $75 to several thousand dollars, depending on position and performance. The company’s official benefits page mentions this opportunities for team members but does not provide specific details on commission structures, meaning many of the compensation details may vary by position and location.
The comments also revealed that O’Reilly’s commission structure varies by position and location. “They get a commission spread across the entire store,” mojojojo explains, while others describe it more as a reward system.
“We get a monthly reward for it, so if someone makes a purchase like this, it’s definitely worth it,” said the comment driven by progress, suggesting that big orders like Mario’s fictional 40 oil changes could actually benefit employees.
However, former employee Jayden provided more detailed context: “As a former O’Reilly employee, they don’t earn the commission they get, so as soon as they sell certain items, they get a quarter per item on their check and it goes quarterly (time frames in the year).”
This corresponds to notice employee reviews that “the incentive only applies to parts sold” and that bonuses are often minimal, especially for counter staff who handle large orders near closing time. The ISS (Installer Service Specialist) position, which focuses on commercial sales, appears to have different compensation structures than standard retail positions. employee reviews of ISS positions are still concerned about pay in relation to workload.
Engine1 reached out to O’Reilly to try to clarify how the employee incentives work. We will update this if the company responds.
3
When the card is declined at the auto parts store
Adding a new layer to the comedy, one viewer noticed a detail that Mario may not have intended. “Man, as a former employee, I realize that card was declined… that two little pieces of paper were the machine that said ‘payment denied,'” staticjoeyz noted. This observation stands in hilarious contrast to Mario’s colleague’s surprised assessment in the skit: “It continued.”
Another commenter wrote of Mario’s colleague, “He didn’t hope it would subside,” earning more than 42,000 likes. Another commenter, d_day15, joked: “I’ll rip the card out of his hand.”
Mario’s Channel: A look into the life of an O’Reilly employee
Mario’s channel features several similar workplace skits with his O’Reilly colleague, suggesting that this type of content resonates with both store staff and customers who recognize these scenarios. The video serves as both entertainment and commentary on the sometimes absurd situations that arise in the retail automotive industry.
The timing element – six minutes before closing – is especially recognizable to anyone who has worked in retail. Last-minute customers with complicated requests are a universal shopping experience, but in the auto parts industry, where commercial orders can be bulky and time-consuming, the situation becomes even more challenging.
The skit also emphasizes the professional calm required in retail work. Despite the overwhelming nature of the request and the terrible timing, the employee in Mario’s video maintains his professional demeanor and processes the order, even as his subtle facial expressions reveal his true feelings about the situation.
Engine1 contacted Mario via direct message on TikTok. We’ll be sure to update this if he responds.
#real #Man #OReilly #minutes #closing #time #orders #oil