Im surprised..that none of the national parts houses have folded

[RED-85-Z51]

Due to RockAuto. I dont see how they can compete, their only advantage is convenience, if they dont have it..they can usually get it next day...but not always.

Im shopping radiators for my truck, and Autozone lists the Spectra CU1696 2 Row radiator for I think it was 290 bucks, and pepboys has it for 284.99, same exact part number on rock auto is 173.49 with shipping, have it in 3 days.

I can actually order it NEXT DAY AM Delivery, and still be 40 bucks less...

I think Ive been to Autozone maybe..5 times in the past year, for coolant...buy a special tool...stuff like that. I dont even buy my shops oil from them, I get PEAK 10W30 at Dollar General on Sasturdays, they run it every few months at like 3.25/qt and then I have a 5.00 off a 25 dollar purchase..I usually get like 15 quarts, so I spend about 43 bucks on 15 quarts, vs Autozone has offbrand no name oil for 3.99qt...lol

You would think the parts people, would have an inside line on making this stuff so affordable, no one would even attempt to compete.

[Kerrmudgeon]

Must be dealing only with chinese made stuff. And ordering a shit load of it at a time. They may even own part of the factory that makes them over there.
I was talking to a guy in California that sells go fast parts and he was paying 2 bucks for a set of chrome valve covers (Chev sb) when he ordered in lots of 100. He expected and didn't even worry about a few rejects in the bunch. He'd just toss them out. Sold the good ones for 30$ a set.

[RedLS1GTO]

Each place serves a purpose... if I'm not in a hurry or know what I need ahead of time, I'll shop around online.

Usually when I'm under a car and figure out what's wrong, I don't feel like waiting a few days. NAPA delivers in about 5 minutes.

[Lakota]

If you have the luxury of time, you can shop the net. I found Google/shopping good to find deals. Denso O2 sensor, with wiring, $85, delivered, pair of Brembo rotors, $85 delivered. SUV has rear pads held by pins and metal protection cover, $17 in part store, $7 delivered from net.

Working on vehicle, stripped caliper bolt, want to get it done, before dark. Got it at closest parts store, ADVANCE Auto for $17. Later, found it would have been only $9 at NAPA.

Needed a horn relay, ADVANCE had best price, Beck/Arnley $9.

ADVANCE has discount codes, with code/rebate got two Sensa-Trac Monroe Struts and two rear shocks for $175. OEM dealer was $175 for one strut. Yeah, had some problems in past with Monroe, this is there last chance for me. Weird they still use SAE for rear shock nuts.

Rockauto is great, got 4 Deeza quality sway bars links on closeout for $85, including shipping.

It varies.

[Nemesis]

Rock auto needs to put some money into marketing. That commercial that looks like it was made in 1990 is embarrassing.

[Mike Mercury]

I tried Rock Auto; one order placed for 3 items, all were shown as "in stock"

each one came from a different place; shipping was trippled (I was charged shipping on each item - as they all came from different locations).

Never again

[RedLS1GTO]

Originally Posted by Mike Mercury

I tried Rock Auto; one order placed for 3 items, all were shown as "in stock"

each one came from a different place; shipping was trippled (I was charged shipping on each item - as they all came from different locations).

I recently bought a coil pack (factory GM 5.3 truck pack) to use as a spare for the race car. I don't remember the exact amount, but they charged some stupid amount for shipping. When it came, my small part was in a 12"x12"x6" box, about 5 times as large as it needed to be, bouncing around with a single small sheet of bubble wrap and a few pieces of wadded up paper sitting useless inside.


Rock Auto is FAR from perfect and could use some serious help to get them going forward. Getting the right sized boxes and headhunting some mofos from Amazon would be a good start.

[RED-85-Z51]

Originally Posted by Kerrmudgeon

Must be dealing only with chinese made stuff. And ordering a shit load of it at a time. They may even own part of the factory that makes them over there.
I was talking to a guy in California that sells go fast parts and he was paying 2 bucks for a set of chrome valve covers (Chev sb) when he ordered in lots of 100. He expected and didn't even worry about a few rejects in the bunch. He'd just toss them out. Sold the good ones for 30$ a set.

Very common misconception...

RockAuto does not provide parts, they are simply the middle man...the groundwork if you will, between people selling parts, and people needing parts.

For instance, I needed an air filter for my truck last year, locally it was 49.99 for like..purolator, frame...but rockauto had a seller that had 15 of them, OEM AC DELCO...in the boxes, for 8.50 EACH...I bought 3, with shipping...I paid 31 dollars and had them 3 days later.

Rockauto sells parts in levels of perofrmance or quality...from cheap aftermarket, to OEM.....economy to high performance/heavy duty.

Ive made, in the past 2 years, a solid 50+ orders from them, and Ive only had 1 return...a light socket that was a used part accidentally put into a new box (dealer core return or something)...and 2 days later I had the right part...no questions asked.

ROCK sells alot of parts that are in manufacturers boxes...like STANDARD auto parts, TYC/Genera, Borg Warner, because the fact is...only so many companies actualy MAKE parts....and sell them ot be rebranded....

I got a "chinese produced" multifunction stalk for my truck, GM wanted..I think 475 for the OEM part...Autozone was over 200....I got it for about 60 dollars, and it works and looks exactly like new...direct bolt in and plug in...

If I had ot guess...Id say that the chinese company makes them for EVERYONE...and they just put their name on them..given how specific of a part it is.

[RED-85-Z51]

As far as shipping goes...

Put your largest part in the cart first...get shipping on it, then OTHER parts you look at that ship from the same location will have a truck emblem next to the part number...this prevents shipping from multiple locations.

And dont forget the standard 5% discount code...

[Grey Ghost]

Originally Posted by Mike Mercury

I tried Rock Auto; one order placed for 3 items, all were shown as "in stock"

each one came from a different place; shipping was trippled (I was charged shipping on each item - as they all came from different locations).

Never again

Same here. I shopped with them several times when they first opened. It was one shipping charge for all items. Like they were warehousing all the parts. A few months ago I started adding a bunch of different parts to my cart and it started showing shipping charges per item from different locations. I didn't go through with the order. If they keep this up. They will be the one going out of biz.

[Mike Mercury]

Originally Posted by RED-85-Z51

Put your largest part in the cart first...get shipping on it, then OTHER parts you look at...

that's too many hoop'ties to jump through.

[Steve Austin]

A lot of people just will not buy on the internet. Some are paranoid from all the reports of identy theft, CC theft and whatever scam of the week may be on the news. Those guys have to rely on the local parts house. I prefer to click, click, click and let the USPS bring it to my house.

[DAB]

i haven't bought a car part in a long, long time. i let the dealer mess with the oil changes and anything else i need done. yeah, i could change my own oil, but for what they charge, eh, i'll let them deal with the mess. and that way, i have another pair of experienced eyes taking a look at things while they are at it. and with the computer complexity of today's cars and trucks, there is less and less you can do to fix one or modify one. so i just drive it the way the factory made it. i did put on my own mud flaps!

[RED-85-Z51]

Originally Posted by Mike Mercury

that's too many hoop'ties to jump through.

Not really...

For instance, when I ordered my shocks a few months ago, I selected Rancho RS5000 series, 2 front, 2 rear...

I also wanted a steering stabilizer, but didnt want to pay a premium for it..so I selected steering stabilizers, and selected the cheapest one that shipped from the same location. Then I wanted a set of pads...but I like monroe, there were none from that warehouse...

So I paid like..11 dollars shipping for 4 shocks and a stabilizer, it came 2 days FEDEX...and I paid 8.XX for the shipping on the pads, they took 5 days USPS.

I saved probably 40 dollars over buying locally, but consider that Rancho shocks, would cost a fortune locally...

I put that order together in about 3 minutes on my phone...seriously, picked out, paid...shipped..3-4 minutes.

[RED-85-Z51]

Rockauto and i....we just click

[m and t's77]

If I know in advance of a repair job i'll go with Amazon and having Prime is a nice bonus.Haven't tried Rock Auto and really no desire have heard mixed reviews.

[RED-85-Z51]

I dont know why anyone would have mixed reviews...its the same parts..lol

[Sea Six]

Y2K, the soccer spammers have obviously hijacked Red's account.

Pls delete k thks

[C5SilverBullet]

I've never seen a Rock Auto ad.

[Sea Six]

Originally Posted by C5SilverBullet

I've never seen a Rock Auto ad.

Except on here?