Rock Auto

[Gebo]

Is is just me or does anyone else not feel comfortable ordering from Rock Auto? I have nothing bad to say about them. Nothing at all.
No bad experience what so ever.

It's just that I have looked at parts on their website many times but just can't seem to pull the trigger. Is there something wrong with me?

It's sort of like ordering from AA but much worse. I think it is a quality issue where I'm not confident in their quality. To further explain,
I have confidence in whatever I order from NAPA. Am I a prejudiced auto parts shopper?

 

[JeffKeryk]

I decided to try RA. Prices are good, but shipping is expensive.
Total price for my order was just a little cheaper than Amazon Prime.
I did not like the 10 day shipping estimate, as Amazon Prime is 2 days.
I got the parts in 3 days, which was a great surprise.
I cannot speak to their return police.
Based on my experience, order from RA with confidence.

 

[Zee09]

I know a million guys like yourself.
Funny but true in my experience.
If you fear getting screwed, you will get screwed. Seen it a million times.
While others think nothing of it and get great service and products from RA.....

Must be a karma thing???

 

[Snagglefoot]

No problems with Rock Auto, especially as a Canadian consumer. They have totally figured out how to export products to Canada in a seamless fashion. Their prices are often 1/2 of what I pay at local auto stores in Canada, even after the exchange rate and shipping. They have been using air filled plastic bags to pack the goods and usually use a box that is generous in size.

I picked up a package from Rock Auto at our rural post office and the post mistress pointed out it was mailed from Calgary. They were clearance items so I doubt they were warehoused in Calgary. How the parts got to Calgary from Wisconsin I have no idea.

Plus they give you a groovy fridge magnet.

 

[FordBroncoVWJeta]

I was buying some wheel hubs for a 99 S10 yesterday. Some items where $30-50 more on RA vs Amazon. Plus pay shipping? Sometimes RAs prices are higher than elsewhere. I usually go on RA and find what I want then google the item to see how much it is elsewhere.

One time RA did screw me, they sent me the wrong item and they didn't make it right. That was a few years ago, and have since ordered from them a few times with no problems. That first time really put a sour taste in my mouth.

 

[neil57]

Have bought dozens of times from the Rock, if you add light parts like oil ,air or cabin filter, headlamp bulbs etc. they ship free as it seems initial order is rated and then weight adds to price. Watch your shipping location, as you need to juggle brands to get same location, look for the little gold truck icon which shows same location.I stock a fair amount of parts, as I maintain 6 vehicles, so can always add to order, or tag onto a buddies order. Buy the brand name parts you know and they are fine, never had a problem at all. Buddy got wrong filters and they said keep them and shipped proper ones to him, pretty good service. Prices on some things match NAPA, but others are way better such as wheel bearings.

 

[CharBaby]

I've been ordering parts from RA for 14 yrs. I have never gotten shafted by them however, I have learned some things about the site and how to order parts and try to get them all under the same warehouse, a.k.a., BUNDLE(for le$$er $hipping cost) and what parts not to order in regards to lowest warranty regardless of lowest cost of the part.

I feel very comfortable ordering from RA however, I do check my local parts source for parts & price comparison.

 

[Chris142]

The AC compressor and condenser on my Jeep came from Rock Auto.

 

[seanf]

Originally Posted by Snagglefoot
No problems with Rock Auto, especially as a Canadian consumer. They have totally figured out how to export products to Canada in a seamless fashion. Their prices are often 1/2 of what I pay at local auto stores in Canada, even after the exchange rate and shipping. They have been using air filled plastic bags to pack the goods and usually use a box that is generous in size.

I picked up a package from Rock Auto at our rural post office and the post mistress pointed out it was mailed from Calgary. They were clearance items so I doubt they were warehoused in Calgary. How the parts got to Calgary from Wisconsin I have no idea.

Plus they give you a groovy fridge magnet.

I think they pallet ship multiple orders via truck freight then separate in Canada and ship Canada Post to the individuals, that's the consolidated option that is usually cheapest, however lately I've noticed FedEx has been the cheapest option and its always 2 day air freight and its cheap. I just bought quick struts for a Rav4, the gabriels were $170ish CAD each shipped, my only local option was $300 retail/$266 my cost for Monroes and it was a 2 day wait for them to be brought in.

Brake rotors are the worst to ship however even with horrendous shipping I still save and I get the selection that I can't get here in Canada.

 

[Whipcitywrencher]

I've been getting parts from them the last 10 yrs. or so.I use them a lot.
Never have I had to return a part.I buy the daily driver or there premium parts. I wouldn't mess with the economy parts.
As far as shipping they give you a ETA that is rather long, but iv'e found most of the time I get my parts within 2 to 3 days.

 

[neil57]

Can't forget the discount code, pays for part of the shipping! Someone always has one on here. Here is one good to Jan 20
9686640892270816 Cheers

 

[Triple_Se7en]

At times the pictured product on Rock Auto's website doesn't match the product received. My biggest complaint lately was getting a nitrile ADBV filter, when the pic shows one with silicone ADBV.
Sure, Rock Auto will allow you to return those filters. But it's on your dime, not theirs. They claim no responsibility for manufacturer product changes. So I claim no responsibility for ever giving Rock Auto another dime of my money. They should either discontinue the attached pictures of their products, or keep their product-pics current.

Example: My received Motorcraft filters changed to nitrile ADBV like five years ago. I do believe that in five years-time, Rock Auto would update that pic. To my knowledge, the same Motorcraft 402 pic with the silicone ADBV is still attached and shown at rockauto today.

That's bad business and I don;t recommend anyone buy there. Boycott those bozos.

 

[kschachn]

Originally Posted by neil57
Can't forget the discount code, pays for part of the shipping! Someone always has one on here. Here is one good to Jan 20
9686640892270816 Cheers

Also if you have an account on their website they list the current discount code in your My Account screen.

 

[Kira]

1) Friends and I have used them LOTS of times without error...ergo, no problems

2) I tend to think that I'd just not order from any online source if returning a core was involved.
A separate trip to the post office would then be necessary to learn the shipping costs.

3) You Canadians get a GOLD little truck to indicate the same warehouse? I'm jealous.

4) I experimented heavily with a long order and found that the warehouses assigned to any particular product change. In other words, it's a scheme to take money dishonestly.
What's funny there is that I posted that a long time ago here and several people chimed in by saying that a business has to make money.
What a stupid thing to say. If it costs money to ship things then CHARGE IT.
Don't craft a system whereby "warehouse assignments" are shifted about dishonestly in order to raise the total.
I give RA some credit for showing the warehouses and offering THE POSSIBILITY of segregating orders to single warehouses.
I condemn them for being dishonest about it. Actually that's funny because I'd usually tell any company to go burn in the anti-heaven.
That's how good their prices are.

5) Use their site to get part numbers then check elsewhere (as mentioned above).
Also, if you fancy an unfamiliar used car you can use their site to see if timing belt kits are available thus determining if the car has a chain or not.
The same goes for "future planning" re HVAC fans, gas tanks, exhaust systems or door hardware. It really is fast.

6) Order from them with confidence but always do your shopping.
If you're too lazy to shop, you get what you deserve.
If you're spooked by something different, there's no end to the suffering in your life.

7) I too love the groovy magnets. I'll be selling my collection soon.

 

[Imp4]

Generally I've had a good experience.
Once they sent the incorrect parts. The returns process was easy and it was free due to their error.

The disadvantage with RA is the shipping time.
If you are planful and can wait a week, it's no problem.

The parts themselves come from the same warehouses as AA, O'Reilly's, AZ, etc...

I have found that if I price shop at Amazon, they generally come out to a wash when you include the shipping. BTW, I an a prime member already.

I really like using the RA catalog as a search tool to find aftermarket part numbers. Amazon is useless for this. I seem to always forget to add wiper blades or filters to my RA order, but it is a good idea because you can get those for a steal.

My favorite add on is the prepaid Wix oil analysis kit. Part number Wix 24077. I've been getting them for $9.48 lately.

Bottom line, RA has been generally positive for me, as long as I'm not in a hurry.

Oh, and love those fridge magnets!!!

 

[Kira]

Just factor in the WIX analysis kit costs $4 to mail and you have to lie about there being "no fluids" in the package.

 

[sasilverbullet]

I've been buying stuff from them for over 7 years and have never had an issue...

 

[tcp71]

As a Canadian, RA prices are better than I can get locally including shipping, etc. I bought tow mirrors for my 09 F150 years ago and the arrived overnight from Edmonton. They work with warehouses in Canada too.

 

[Onetor]

Some of their prices are good. But, I'm a firm believer in OEM quality first. Just a personal preference. Too many horror stories.....

 

[dogememe]

RockAuto is weird. Sometimes it's the lowest price by far, even for the same brand/quality of part (for example nowhere else had the Lares 205 steering coupler for a good price, and the auto parts store I work at couldn't even get it at all, and it wasn't on Amazon either), but usually I just use their site for part numbers and then search them on Amazon for often a lower price or even the same price, but with free 2-day shipping.

As for their customer service, it's pretty bad. I've had problems with them in the past. I would never buy anything that had a core return or high risk of warranty failure from them.