I've always been leary of buying parts online, largely because most times, even when dealing with a live person at the local parts store, what I get either fits poorly or is an altogether wrong part. I can only imagine that the Internet -and a lack of actual human interaction- can only make that worse. But, rock auto is so cheap! What are your experiences?
I have bought from them several times. I've always gotten the correct part and have not been disappointed with the quality yet.
Overall fine. Never had to do returns yet, though. A couple of wrong items, but cheap enough it wasn't worth the bother.
Keep an eye on shipping prices.
Do it.
I have ordered from Rockauto many times. I got a wrong part once, because it was mis-labeled by the supplier. I have returned unneeded parts with no hassle. Overall I'm very happy with my RockAuto experiences.
I ordered an exhaust valve for an engine, and the catalog was incorect. I called and spoke with a person, they refunded me and sent the correct part, and the catalog is now updated. I can't complain!
I've ordered from them dozens of times. IF you have an older car in particular, you can find some serious steals on there (I just got a full set of brake rotors for the e30 for under $50) on closeouts, etc. Every once in a while the wrong part will come, but they're easy to deal with for returns. And yeah, get on the email list for good coupons codes.
I have used them for years. I had one issue with half shafts for my 924s and they resolve it quick and painless. They gave me new units to replace rebuilt ones at the rebuild price.
They are my go to. Many parts for many cars over the years, only one was not what I ordered, and that was fixed promptly and to my satisfaction.
Many, many times. I've mostly used them for engine parts but recently discovered that they sell wiper blades for about a quarter of what they cost elsewhere.
The only issue I've ever noticed is that you have to watch where the items are being shipped from. If they are coming from more than one warehouse, you can get whacked for shipping two or three times. I've gone back and switched brands to get everything from the same place.
I used to utilize them before getting an amazon prime account and still use their catalog to verify part numbers before ordering some items from amazon.
Yes, just ordered from them a couple weeks ago. I've been very happy with them, just be aware that on large orders which may ship from different warehouses sometimes the cheapest part does not end up being cheapest - there's a setting in their website somewhere you can select that will help save money.
Woody wrote: Many, many times. I've mostly used them for engine parts but recently discovered that they sell wiper blades for about a quarter of what they cost elsewhere. The only issue I've ever noticed is that you have to watch where the items are being shipped from. If they are coming from more than one warehouse, you can get whacked for shipping two or three times. I've gone back and switched brands to get everything from the same place.
There is an option if you don't need a certain brand to have them pick the best option shipped to your door. Look at the top right corner in the window when you have the parts up. Its called "choose for me to minimize cost".
About three times. I have some of the same reserves, so if it comes down to Alfa parts (where parts differ from month to month of production it seems) I go local, if it's parts for something more common (Saab and above) then I'm fine with Rock Auto.
I haven't been disappointed yet, but I do find their shipping to be kind of high sometimes.
captdownshift wrote: I used to utilize them before getting an amazon prime account and still use their catalog to verify part numbers before ordering some items from amazon.
Ditto, however occasionally Rock Auto is cheaper even with shipping, and sometimes Amazon doesn't have the part I'm after. I've got half a dozen Rock Auto refrigerator magnets on the fridge.
I just counted and I have more than two dozen magnets between two refrigerators. Guess I have used it more than I remember.
A few times now myself and recomended it too a few others after hearing positive news about it on this forum. Waiting for closeout on tie rod ends for my wagon saved me 85 bucks even shipped.
Rock auto has done good for me many times.
The one time that they messed up parts in an exhaust kit I was able to speak to a live person, on a holiday weekend no less, and the problem was resolved easily, with a credit in my account too.
I have noticed one annoying glitch with the website recently though. I frequently use the email shopping cart to a friend feature, and often an item is missing, or a quantity is wrong.
Thinking about things I did have one issue with pricing. Using there site with out logging in the prices were cheaper than when I logged in to my account. I never got a good explanation for it from them. In fact I have not used them since then but only because I have not had a need. I will use them again.
On a good note there pricing on jag parts were the best around. Even with shipping from England. It took ten days to get things but that was using the cheapest shipping.
Madison, Wisconsin - beer, cheese, and a short drive to Road America. In my book they can't be bad.
I use them and I don't even live in the U.S.!
Just bought rotors and pads for my Golf. Best price locally $254 CAD. Price from RockAuto $173 CAD. Even with exchange, shipping and duty I saved $70. That is better than 25%.
One tip to watch out for - try to ensure, if possible, that all your parts are shipping from the same warehouse. Otherwise you get hit with higher shipping costs.
I use them all the time. Only issues I've ever had were ones that I traced back to mistakes I made in ordering. They still let me return the stuff. Got no complaints.
They are my go to place for parts I don't need for a couple of days
Rockauto has never given me issues.
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