A viral TikTok skit has perfectly captured a nightmare every parts store employee dreads. Whoismario (@whoismario2x) created a 40-second video showing a customer—played by Mario—walking into an O’Reilly Auto Parts store just minutes before closing and placing an order that would make any retail worker’s heart sink.
The video, which has been viewed over 3.9 million times since being posted on Oct. 11, shows Mario playing the role of a customer who approaches his coworker at the counter with what seems like a simple question. “Excuse me, what time do you guys close today?” he asks innocently. When his co-worker responds, “Like six or seven minutes,” Mario drops the bombshell: “Perfect, perfect. OK, so I actually am here to get 40 oil changes.”
The employee’s response—”For real?”—reflects what any retail worker would be thinking in that moment. But Mario, staying in character as the oblivious customer, doubles down: “Yeah, my boss actually gave me the list of the cars. I don’t know if you want to take a look at it. We have a car company with you guys, and we need the lot done today.”
The Reality Behind Retail Automotive
While Mario’s skit is clearly satirical, it highlights a genuine frustration many auto parts employees face. The timing of large commercial orders, especially near closing time, can create significant challenges for retail operations.
O’Reilly Auto Parts, like many automotive retailers, serves both individual customers and commercial accounts through dedicated programs. Fleet customers and automotive businesses often place bulk orders for oil changes, filters, and other maintenance supplies through the company’s Professional Services program, which offers online ordering capabilities and specialized pricing structures. However, processing 40 oil change packages would involve significant inventory management, paperwork, and time—especially problematic when the store is about to close.
The visual comedy in Mario’s video comes from the contrast between his casual delivery and the overwhelming nature of his request. Key comedic moments in the video see Mario pulling out what appears to be a lengthy 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 touched off extensive debate in the comments section about whether O’Reilly employees would actually benefit from such a large sale. Many viewers assumed the employee would be happy due to commission, but the reality is more complicated.
“[Because] he makes commission [off] of it…he happy not mad,” commented staticjoeyz, earning over 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 no commission,” replied cocopuffin, but several employees corrected this misconception. “We absolutely get commission, it’s just not a lot,” explained Isaiah. “Even if you make the most sales in the US you don’t benefit unless you’re ISS. Plus the commission checks are monthly instead of the normal biweekly.”
Former employee 5.3_garrett provided specific details: “They get hourly and they also get commission on sales but it’s not worth it I used to work there and had to sell 15k in a month to get 100 in commission.”
Employee reviews on job sites confirm the existence of some form of incentive or commission pay at O’Reilly, though descriptions vary significantly. Many employees report receiving “incentive pay on top of base rate once a month,” while compensation data shows 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 opportunities for team members but doesn’t specifically detail commission structures, leaving much of the compensation details to vary by position and location.
The comments also suggested that O’Reilly’s commission structure varies by position and location. “They get commission split throughout the store,” explained mojojojo, while others described it as more of an incentive system.
“We actually get a monthly incentive out of it so if someone has a purchase like that definitely worth it lmao,” commented drivenbyprogress, suggesting that large 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’s worker they don’t make the commission they get incentive pay so once they sell certain items they get a quarter per item on their check and it goes by quarters (timeframes in the year).”
This aligns with employee reviews noting that “incentive is only on sold parts” and that bonuses are often minimal, particularly for counter staff handling 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, though employee reviews of ISS positions still note concerns about pay relative to workload.
Engine1 reached out to O’Reilly to try to clarify how its employee incentives work. We’ll update this if the company responds.
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When the Card Gets Declined at the Auto Parts Shop
Adding another layer to the comedy, a viewer noticed a detail that Mario may not have intended. “Man I’m just realizing as a former worker that card got declined…that 2 little papers was the machine saying ‘payment declined,'” observed staticjoeyz. This observation stands in hilarious contrast to Mario’s co-worker’s surprised assessment in the skit, “It went through.”
Another commenter, remarking on Mario’s co-worker, wrote, “Not him hoping it declined,” and earned over 42,000 likes. An additional commenter, d_day15, joked, “I’ll yank the card out his hand.”
Mario’s Channel: A Glimpse Into the Life of an O’Reilly Employee
Mario’s channel features several similar workplace skits with his O’Reilly co-worker, suggesting this type of content resonates with both retail workers and customers who recognize these scenarios. The video serves as both entertainment and commentary on the sometimes absurd situations that arise in retail automotive.
The timing element—six minutes before close—is particularly relatable for anyone who has worked in retail. Last-minute customers with complicated requests are a universal retail experience, but in the automotive parts industry, where commercial orders can be extensive and time-consuming, the situation becomes even more challenging.
The skit also highlights the professional composure 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, processing the order even as his subtle facial expressions reveal his true feelings about the situation.
Engine1 reached out to Mario via TikTok direct message. We’ll be sure to update this if he responds.
