Rockauto parts, Are they what they say they are?

[texashale]

Rockauto is the best by far. I have ordered tons of parts for several different vehicles, and have always gotten what I ordered. Great prices, and great customer service. The only time I don't buy parts from them is if they are a really inexpensive part, or if I need it immediately. You will not be disappointed at all...

 

[Hagan]

I have bought stuff from Rockauto before. Couple times actually. From my experience I would rather buy locally. It sucks waiting a week for parts, and I'd imagine returning would be a pain. Shipping prices are hihh. I could drive 1/4 mile to my local auto parts store and get almost anything next day.

 

[Broncojumper87]

I just ordered the same parts for my b2 and saved 25 dollars. J usually go through autozone because I like the rewards card but when I save 25 bones afrer paying for shipping on better parts why would I not do that. If its a part I need right now I go to the closest autozone but on my project I dont mind waiting a week and saving money.

 

[black_demon69]

ordered parts from them spent about $1100 including shipping and i would order from them again all parts came in and were right they also saved me about $1000 over buying locally... however with that being said i will only order parts online when i can afford to wait and order is big enough to save me big money on the job at hand. on smaller orders shipping tends to eat any savings..

 

[Ozwynn]

I buy from who ever has the part at the time I need it for the best price (not the lowest.... the lowest is not always best). Locally I have Ridge & kramer who never have what I am looking for, autozone who has cheaply made parts, and Russel's for foreign car parts.

recently I have bought chinese knock off parts that were of better quality than their American counterpart for a better price.

For diesel parts like water pump, cps, therastat... ect are dealership only.

 

[superds]

^^^^ I agree with this. I pay cash 98% of the time at local places.
I have a credit card for emergency's .. and have used it a few times online ordering stuff I coulden't get local.
I try keeping people employed. I always go to a cashier instead of the self-check out line in grocery stores or wallyworld...etc.
I try to buy Cooper tires ( who own and make Mickey Thompson also) because they are made here in the USA. The only tire company that is owned and operated in the USA...all others are owned by investment bankers overseas.

Also Goodyear tires, which owns Dunlop and Kelly Springfield although not all of the tires are made in USA, need to check the labels before purchasing. Goodyear is traded on a US stock exchange, same as Cooper is. But other than those two, pretty much everything else is foreign owned.

I do buy from Rock Auto, had pretty good success with them, saved thousands over the last couple years (I maintain a small personal fleet). But I also price it out at least three ways before I make an order. Usually Amazon.com, Summit Racing, and O'Reilly Auto locally. I select whichever way saves me the most money and makes sense in the long run. If I need it right now or suspect the part might need to be replaced due to either being the wrong part or it failing and wanting to warranty it (alternators coming to mind) I chose O'Reilly or Napa (usually O'Reilly because of the better prices). Amazon and Summit have both surprised me on many occasions with their good prices, sometimes beating out even Rock Auto due to their lower cost shipping and Summit has a lot more stock replacement parts than most people realize. I'll also look elsewhere if none of those have prices/availability that satisfy my needs, but for most parts can stick to those four.

 

[fyre82]

I have used Rock Auto through the rebuilts of two Gen 1's.
As some of the guys have said, if you can build a decent order
it pays, or if you can wait.
For me I have to wait if I go to the local NAPA, I can online order and pick up at the O'Reilly 35 miles away, call them, whatever. Or order online from RA and by the time I figure tax and fuel, it's close. Planned projects it's a great saver.
Emergency repairs go the local parts house that has my part or can get it first.
Another part of the deal is, I have Gen 1's and parts are getting difficult to find for 26 yr old trucks everywhere. Try to look up an '88 2.9 oil filter in one of those reference things they have in Walmart, yeah I should know it, but *oh look, something shiny* . . .

 

[SenorNoob]

Every single time I've looked to order something from Rockauto, every parts would ship from somewhere else. I've even used their system to limit it to parts from the same warehouse and it still said it was coming from 4 different places and wanted in some cases triple the price of the part to ship it.

The only times I've been able to save with them is when local places have an insane price on the parts I want or the case with timing chain guides for my dad's car where they were the only place that had them. O'Reillys said they couldn't even order them. And I know it wasn't just cause I got an idiot at the counter. I'm friends with the manager cause my sister dated him for awhile. Manager discount FTW.

 

[pcollins]

Only used rockauto once due to my local Advantage not having what I needed. It wasn't bad. My last resort is Autozone, cannot stand that place usually. If it isn't in the computer, then the employees have no idea.

Advantage is usually where I go, they mostly sell parts master stuff but can order higher end parts, plus I have the benefit of them being local so they know who I am, and we get a tax exempt bonus for having a farm account. The guys (and actually one very knowledgeable good looking gal) behind the counter can usually grab a part without even using the computer. One guy is damn good with rangers so that was a nice bonus when I owned one. To top it all off they're very trustworthy. We leave the shop unlocked and if a part is supposed to be delivered but no ones there then the driver just sets the part on a workbench inside somewhere. Nothings gone missing in the 10+ years we've been lettin' 'em in there.

 

[Ozwynn]

I find myself having to use rock auto today.... nobody else 'cept ebay has the part I am looking for.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

O'Reilly's Motorcraft Duraspark module my cost $98, nobody has one has to ship directly from the manufacturer so figure freight and a week.

Rockauto Motorcraft Duraspark module, $67 + freight.

BWD from O'Reilly's won out at $40... easier to warrenty. If it doesn't last longer than my first one (3 years) I will pony up for the Motorcraft... my JY Motorcraft lasted that long until I shorted it out testing out the radio (tach was hanging by the wiring and the tiny wire was cut by the steel dash support)

 

[swynx]

Every single time I've looked to order something from Rockauto, every parts would ship from somewhere else. I've even used their system to limit it to parts from the same warehouse and it still said it was coming from 4 different places and wanted in some cases triple the price of the part to ship it.

The only times I've been able to save with them is when local places have an insane price on the parts I want or the case with timing chain guides for my dad's car where they were the only place that had them. O'Reillys said they couldn't even order them. And I know it wasn't just cause I got an idiot at the counter. I'm friends with the manager cause my sister dated him for awhile. Manager discount FTW.

One time I spent nearly a grand on rock auto. I had shit come from 13 different warehouses. In 25 different boxes. One day I came home to 7 boxes on the porch. I'm not sure whats up with there warehouses.

 

[cammeddrz]

I'm not sure whats up with there warehouses.

I already covered that, it's not their warehouses. they are drop-shipping from the manufacturer/distributor's warehouses, not their own

you are paying rock auto a finders-fee to have someone else ship your product to you. they are brokers at best. I wouldn't even call them "re-sellers" of the parts in your 25 different boxes, I bet no employee of rock auto even layed a finger on a single one of your parts

read this:
http://www.pacificp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=13066

and....
http://www.pacificp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=13068

I ordered two new Moog wheel hubs for my 2003 LS. Long story short, they sent me one Moog, and one Pro Part in a Moog box, then gave me crap about how they are functionally the same so they don't see a problem. Told them that if they don't see a problem that after being a great customer for years I'll not be buying there anymore. They are sending a shipping label out and refunding the price, but won't send the correct part out. Word of warning, looks like Rock Auto is going down the tubes.

What tipped me off was there was a ground off area on the plastic cover on the back that looked like someone ground off a part number, and it looked like it was shoddily made. The other one I ordered was a MOOG, looks exactly like the one on the MOOG website and on Rock Auto's own site.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I already covered that, it's not their warehouses. they are drop-shipping from the manufacturer/distributor's warehouses, not their own

you are paying rock auto a finders-fee to have someone else ship your product to you. they are brokers at best. I wouldn't even call them "re-sellers" of the parts in your 25 different boxes, I bet no employee of rock auto even layed a finger on a single one of your parts

So how do they put the Rockauto memerabelia inside the boxes and seal the boxes with shipping tape that has the Rockauto emblem all over it?

I doubt the folks at Timkin or Moog shipping docks have boxes of stuff from different buyers to pack everybody's boxes special. They would throw it in their box (or a generic box) and ship it without messing around trying to make it come from someone that it didn't.

I cleaned out my truck over the weekend and found a box from Rockauto and checked it out after this thread.

They have treated me fine so far, their website said my IFS 8.8 used the same seal for the axleshafts as it does the pinion. I called them and they were all set to send me two axle seals and let me keep the extra pinion seals. The guy played it up good about being sorry about the mix up. I kept them and had them credit my card since I couldn't wait, nobody could get them within a week aside from the dealer. Paid their overpriced $$ for the seals from the dealer and got it going. That was a year ago.

 

[94 lngbd]

Occasionally they have wholesaler closeout pricing which is usually a huge savings. They have a front rotor that's D & S for my truck for $26.09 but only for the right side & only 1 remaining & same item from CARQUEST is $175.75 each.

I ordered 2 loaded calipers, 2 front rotors, & 2 front flex brake hoses for my Daughters Honda Accord & with 5% disc & shipping came to $98.02 & no core charge for the calipers. O'Reily's wanted $88.90 + $25 for core charge for JUST one loaded caliper.