RockAuto has screwed me for the last time....

Driven5 said:

That's what is meant by RA having the "best parts search user interface, period".

What I meant was this:

It takes less than 2 seconds for me to select the car I want to search for parts for:

The same applies once that vehicle is selected to search for parts.



Advance auto on the other hand requires you to use separate fields which are truly awful from a UX persepective.  And apparently it doesn't even know my car exists - there is no 2.0 engine option.

Autozone is similarly bad.

Then whats fun is the results for the parts are displayed in HUGE blocks as opposed to a list, so you can only see 3 at a time without scrolling.


The rockauto interface *looks* archaic, but its extremely quick, and extremely functional.  Its why I start there.   All of the technical info they give you on components is a bonus, although usually not needed for typical "I'm going to replace part X on my DD" type work.

What turned me away from rock auto was when I caught the price gouging me. If I put a part in my cart when logged in on my pc it would cost X. If I go upstairs and use my wife's pc and not log in it was .95*X. I called them out on it and they were very coy with me but finally I got ahold of a human and they off the record admitted to me that once they have you on the hook your pricing structure changes. So in short if you shop there more they inflate your pricing.  
 

I will only shop there if it is an absolute lat resort as I know I an being scammed. 

In reply to Keith Tanner :

Why are we holding RA more responsible for manufacturer and supplier errors than anybody else? Is their offering more products from more sources than pretty much any of the competition, such that when there is bad data there is more of it, really just cause?

Looking at RA, they (incorrectly) list the Brembo 08685710 rear rotor as being for any Miata 'with normal suspension' from 2001-2005 cars, in addition to all 1994-2000. You and I both know that didn't apply in 2003-2005 though.

However, if I go over to NAPA, they too show the Brembo 08685710 'with normal suspension' and Brembo 08c13511 'w/ hard suspension, w/ sport suspension' as BOTH being being 'guaranteed to fit' on any 2003-2005 Base, LS, or SE Miata. Same problem, different (more reputable?) site, and they haven't fixed it yet either. Nor has O'Reilly, nor Autozone, etc...

I'll bet you that any parts warehouse type sites selling these Brembo rotors have the exact same problem. How can that be? It's because none of those sites maintains their own specifications and applications database. They simply rely on the data that their suppliers provide them. RockAuto simply publishes more of the provided specs for each product than anybody else. I doubt any of them could have the resources to do otherwise though. Why do I say that? Go directly to the Brembo site... Brembo themselves also still show 08685710 as being for all 2001-2005 Miatas 'with normal suspension' and 08C13511 as being for all 2001-2005 Miatas 'with hard suspension option, with sport suspension'. So is RA really to blame for having the same uncorrected 20+ year old BREMBO error that your FLAPS will have?

Obviously from the RA list, numerous other manufacturers of NA/NB rear rotors have supplied similarly erroneous data. RA can't make them correct that any more than any of the other resellers have. You won't see this problem with the Centric rotors on RA though, because they happen to be listed correctly by the manufacturer in this particular instance.

The real problem with RA in this example is when it comes to returns for supplier listing errors, according to their policy the manufacturer has to confirm that their catalog information (provided by said manufacturer) is incorrect... Which I'm guessing is not likely to happen from just a 'Hi Brembo, we have a customer who says you've had this listed wrong for 20+ years. Have you?" This is where your FLAPS, and even Amazon, definitely do better.

I use RA all the time, for all of my vehicles. I also use marque specialists for specific parts (FCP Euro and eSaab are the ones I've used lately).  Rock Auto typically has the best prices around.  I don't trust Amazon as a parts supplier, there's too much counterfeit stuff out there.  Same with eBay.  So I'm typically going with either RA or a marque specialist, and I try to plan my work weeks in advance so I can make sure the parts arrive, look correct (as much as possible), etc.

My worst experience with RA actually wasn't their fault.  I ordered Sachs struts for my Saab last Fall.  They were shipped quickly via FedEx, but never arrived.  FedEx claimed they were delivered, but they weren't.  They issued me a full refund with no hassles.  The unfortunate part was that finding a LH and RH strut at the time was almost impossible, so it took a few months until a matched set in my prefered branch and model line (Sachs or Bilstein B4s) was available.  If the struts had been critical, I would have been forced to go with someone else.  I chalk that up to the regular supply chain issues and FedEx being FedEx.

You have to watch the shipping like a hawk.  I'm cheap, so I do.  For instance, I just bought new headlights for the Saab. Shipping for Depos was like $14 (it's a big box), but shipping for TYCs (similar price as the Depos) was almost double that - $27 for the pair.  So even on RA, it pays to shop around.

RA is my first choice for things like an Aisin Timing Belt kit for a J-Series Honda.  Summit Racing would probably be my 2nd option.  For some reason, timing belt kits seem to bring out all the counterfeit parts.

In reply to GameboyRMH :

The problem is the bulk buyer or some one further doen the line who has a seller account sells it on amazon.

What really sold me on RA was back when I needed a coil for the Mazda MPV.  Ended up buying three from local Carquest.  $100 each, no-name, made in China.  Later, when the one's on the front side of the transverse mounted V6 started going, I checked RA.  They had Denso, the OE manufacturer, for $50 each.  I've all but eliminated trips to the FLAPS except for stuff like oil and filters.  And yes, their interface blows away anything else.

bobzilla said:

L5wolvesf said:

Pete. (l33t FS) said:

It isn't a Rock Auto problem, it is a people and a parts supplier issue.  You merely get to experience it mail order instead of from a delivery truck.

This 

As I said before, I don't know any other business that makes you pay to return their mistake. 

We would joke that we needed to stop repairing cars and start selling parts.

What other industry has you able to consistently send wrong/defective parts, often late, and your clients keep coming back to you?

In reply to Pete. (l33t FS) :Not quite the same but the bar for home repair is quite similar.

In reply to Driven5 :

What we are holding RA accountable for is their absolute lack of CS and forcing customers to pay to return their mistakes. No one, let me repeat this for you, NO ONE else makes the customer pay for their mistake. Period. Full stop. Your inability to understand what we are saying over and over is a bit frustrating. 

In reply to Pete. (l33t FS) :

Sling parts for almost 2 decades. I never once made my customer pay for my mistake. I would go out of my way to make it right. 

Rock Auto is the suck 

bobzilla said:

In reply to Driven5 :

What we are holding RA accountable for is their absolute lack of CS and forcing customers to pay to return their mistakes. No one, let me repeat this for you, NO ONE else makes the customer pay for their mistake. Period. Full stop. Your inability to understand what we are saying over and over is a bit frustrating. 

This has been my biggest complaint w/RA.  They sent me a part that was incorrectly marked as "compatible." I confirmed w/the mfg. that it was an error, sent the whole exchange to RA and they still wanted me to pay for the return.  I was so mad I just threw them in the garage until the return window closed.  Eventually I became friends w/the guys I eventually sold them to...so it wasn't all bad.    I think the odds of getting the wrong stuff on Amazon is higher...but the ease of return is a big benefit.  For Advance, I can just show up in person and return or exchange.

With that said, I still buy stuff from RA.  They still offer a good value & I have more confidence in their ability to deliver the right parts than Amazon.  

bobzilla said:

In reply to Pete. (l33t FS) :

Sling parts for almost 2 decades. I never once made my customer pay for my mistake. I would go out of my way to make it right. 

You're a different animal then, Bob. Having sold auto parts for close to the same time frame I've seen countless employees (ones that were working in my stores) make the customer pay for their mistakes and/or unwilling to admit their mistakes. I've said this for years, 98% of O'Reilly employees are subpar buffoons(I typically use other words...) and I can't imagine the other parts houses are any better. It's taken a TON of coaching to make some of these people not screw the customer at any turn. It's infuriating.

In reply to metty :

Last night I sent RA an email asking about to help someone navigate their return system to get a part correctly identified as erroneous, and set up for free return shipping. They promptly sent me a response this morning, asking for an order number to look into the situation. If you're currently having trouble getting a response from them to try to figure this out, feel free to message me your order number, and I'd be more than happy to see if the person I reached (Ashley, if the email is to be believed) for my ticket is more responsive to your concerns.

I have the same fail ratio from the local FLAPS as I do from Rock Auto. Just that the FLAPS in Canada are about 100% more $$$ for the same part.

iansane said:

bobzilla said:

In reply to Pete. (l33t FS) :

Sling parts for almost 2 decades. I never once made my customer pay for my mistake. I would go out of my way to make it right. 

You're a different animal then, Bob. Having sold auto parts for close to the same time frame I've seen countless employees (ones that were working in my stores) make the customer pay for their mistakes and/or unwilling to admit their mistakes. I've said this for years, 98% of O'Reilly employees are subpar buffoons(I typically use other words...) and I can't imagine the other parts houses are any better. It's taken a TON of coaching to make some of these people not screw the customer at any turn. It's infuriating.

I think part of the problem is people think all parts people are autovancelly level of worker. They're not, or at least didn't used to be. All the people I've worked with throughout the dealer chains we use are professional and go out of their way to fix the problem the best we can. 
 

I still sling parts but not to the public. Now it's all acquiring and doling out to the body shop techs. 

If we try harder we can get this thread locked.  

I still use RA because I am not looking for "cheap" parts, but quality parts for a reasonable price.  I haven't had any wrong parts sent (yet!) so maybe I am due.  I just got through putting new rotors and pads on my 4Runner to stop the flipping shimmy.  I definitely order oil filters through them because why should the FLAPS charge $12 for a WIX filter when RA will sell them for $6.   I buy in quantity.   We have no local independent parts store any more.  The last one got bought by Car Quest and then they got bought by Advance.  Prior to that, I would order stuff on-line at Advance and go pick up in an hour and save 20-25%.  Their prices have gone up so much I don't bother with them anymore unless it is vital.   O'Reilly's never has anything I need in stock.  Take a piece of hose in and tell them you need 2 feet of this, and they just look at it and then you.  I would love to have a Park's up here in upstate SC.  I would gladly give them my business. 

I actually love Olive Garden's salad and bread.  I can suffer through the spaghetti.          

Update - I submitted another ticket for the missing bumpstop (did i forget to mention that? they shipped an empty box to me for the bumpstop...) and i got a pretty quick email response saying they would refund me for the missing part. I replied back to that email asking why i was getting charged return shipping for the wheel bearing and they quickly agreed to send me a label i wouldnt be billed for.

So +1 for RA i guess? im still over it, i think i just value my time too much these days for the "savings" to be worth it. 

In reply to spitfirebill :

Well when you bleed a billion dollars in cash to buy cq..... Prices immediately went up 50-70% to avoid shareholder or PE investors upset.

I've never had a wrong part from Rockauto but I also don't buy the cheapest thing they sell. 

Guess I've been lucky.

I've had the wrong part in the right box from my local parts store and I've had the completely wrong part several times. Best one ever was ordering a flexplate for a 1976 Camaro with a 350. Got a Buick 455 flexplate.

metty said:

Update - I submitted another ticket for the missing bumpstop (did i forget to mention that? they shipped an empty box to me for the bumpstop...) and i got a pretty quick email response saying they would refund me for the missing part. I replied back to that email asking why i was getting charged return shipping for the wheel bearing and they quickly agreed to send me a label i wouldnt be billed for.

So +1 for RA i guess? im still over it, i think i just value my time too much these days for the "savings" to be worth it. 

at least now they appear to be responding and not canned messages of you get anything at all. 

I've had much better luck w/ RA than with FCP.  Multiple times I've ordered from FCP only to have the order sit in "processing" for 7-10 day and then it finally get canceled because, oh hey, they don't actually have the part and according to them it's NLA.  Then I turn around the next day and order from somewhere else and it ships in a day or 2.  RA does sometimes try some shenanigans with multiple shipments from multiple locations, but they also tend to ship alarmingly fast.  I've had stuff arrive within 24 hours using standard shipping.

FCP is almost my last choice now.  

Today, after comparing multiple vendors for several 944 fuel hoses, the cheapest price turned out to be ... the Porsche dealer 15 min from my house.  Weird. 

I go to AZAutohauz first for anything European; then I compare out from there.FCP, ECS, RA, Pelican etc... RA has screwed me on shipping the wrong thing in the box and making me pay to ship it back as well; I understand why but not my fault...

In reply to chandler :

I just avoid euro stuff. makes my life simpler lol