Biggest parts markup/ discrepancy?

[eljefino]

Correct. I didn't know if that was known in the community....I have been inside due to my employer.

Some nerds out there (here?) have been looking up RA's return addresses from received packages and reverse engineering their system.

I literally saw a Carquest branding on a RA picture of a "famous brand" part, along with the disclaimer that "it's probably someone you know", LOL.

As far as I'm concerned, Rockauto is a parallel distribution arm, and an undisguised blessing. They don't look at OR/AZ/AA/NAPA and undercut by 5%, they charge what a part is "worth" plus actual shipping.

 

[eljefino]

Part came in. "C-Horse" brand. Works fine. Worst part was finagling the fender liner back to get at the connection.

 

[50yr Street Mech]

Car batteries from auto parts stores in comparison to Walmart or Costco. Ripoff !!

 

[Opelman]

We had a dpf unit fail on a bus. Low five figure expensive. I ordered a new one through our bus dealer, the part was drop shipped from the manufacturer and it arrived with extra paperwork in the box. Like a carbon copy of the invoice from the manufacturer of the dpf to the parent truck brand of our dealer. Hmm, the math doesn't add up. It turns out that through conversation with my friend in the dealer parts dept that the parent truck company was jacking the price up to their/my dealer by $5000.00 for a part that they didn't make or stock. I sent the extra paperwork along to my parts buddy at the dealer.

 

[D60]

I saw similar on my '07 F150 where I also got a WSS from Amazon for something like $7 while O'Reilly was ~$160 for a Dorman.

Honestly fit was great: same length and the round "protectors" were in all the right locations. This must have been circa '17 and it's still there with no codes or problems

 

[D60]

I've also started hoarding used, known good WSSs -- sometimes new ones are included with unit bearings.

It's one of those parts that is tossed everyday but expensive if you NEED it now, and sometimes not even in stock locally. I just hang 'em over some surface mount conduit on the back wall

 

[bdcardinal]

When Ford recalled the 7.3L Powerstroke cam sensors the part number changed along with a significant price drop. The F7TZ-12K073-A went to a -B with a (current) price difference of $190.93 for the -A to $46.00 for the -B. Funny how the price changes so much when Ford is footing the bill.

 

[zzyzzx]

Additional 15K on a Civic Type R

 

[zzyzzx]

An ABS sensor isn't something that you absolutely need right away. You can drive the vehicle just fine without one (if you don't mind dash lights). I'd mail order something. It's probably pretty easy to replace as well.

 

[2strokeNorthstar]

You really think a $16 Chinese part will last in that area of car over a year? I have terrible luck with non OEM electrical auto parts lasting 3 months to a year max.

They work just fine on older vehicles. No idea what makes the prius one so special. Hopefully nothing and the China part will serve it's purpose

 

[2strokeNorthstar]

Additional 15K on a Civic Type R

View attachment 301695

I saw a Type R down in Cancun Mexico with the exchange rate it was about $75k USD. No idea if they sell, I've never seen one driving in Mexico

 

[dishdude]

Additional 15K on a Civic Type R

View attachment 301695

At least they're honest about it! Can't imagine the sucker paying $63k for a POS Civic.

 

[andrew_j]

They work just fine on older vehicles. No idea what makes the prius one so special. Hopefully nothing and the China part will serve it's purpose

The parts work , the issue I have is failure rate which is typically between a week and year in my experience. The Toyota/oem one last years typically.

 

[SwampSurvivor]

Agreed.

Rockauto has a huge warehouse in central NY. Very high tech.

Or I should say they pay this specific company to ship and receive their many returns.

Of course they have several other locations.

Are you talking about United Auto in Lakeland / Syracuse? I have great luck with rock auto EXCEPT anything that ships from United Auto.

I can guarantee without a doubt - if I have an order shipped from United Auto in Lakeland it's going to be the wrong part. My favorite was a Napa Echelin ignition coil in a Duralast box that was supposed to be Denso. I do like the guessing game ... am I getting a starter for a Dodge van? Honda wheel bearing? Spark plug for a Chevy?

 

[SwampSurvivor]

Re: the sensor ... isn't it just a hall effect sensor? Those thing should be cheaper than dirt.

 

[eljefino]

An ABS sensor isn't something that you absolutely need right away. You can drive the vehicle just fine without one (if you don't mind dash lights). I'd mail order something. It's probably pretty easy to replace as well.

The dash was something else-- the message center went through about five scary messages, one of them being "reduced braking power." Not sending the wife out in that.

Car also disabled cruise control in its quest to get itself repaired.

 

[zzyzzx]

The dash was something else-- the message center went through about five scary messages, one of them being "reduced braking power." Not sending the wife out in that.

Car also disabled cruise control in its quest to get itself repaired.

I managed to make it to old age without ABS brakes. You don't absolutely need cruise control either.

 

[Skippy722]

If it helps, my trucks wiper nozzles are ridiculous…

 

[14Accent]

Craziest parts price discrepancy I've seen so far @ Deere: customer punched a hole through the LH side of the front axle housing and wanted it replaced. The housing separates in the middle, so I looked up the cost of just the left "trumpet", as Deere calls it. Almost $6k!

Thinking that was nuts for an empty housing, I looked at the cost of an entire bolt-in ready assembly:

It was almost $500 LESS than the cost of just the one half of the housing! Obviously, the customer got a new front end and I saved hours of time.