Weird Rockauto Shipping Shenanigans

I cant be the only one experiencing this. I use the shotgun approach when choosing parts. If theres a specific part I want, like a coil in this case, I click that first, then I shotgun choose all the other parts I want/need to see what warehouse they all ship from, and remove the ones that don't correspond with the original, most important part.

Last night I did that with said coil, a Motorcraft unit. I then added parts I'd like, but not need, to the order to see what comes out of the same warehouse so I don't get hit with a gigantic shipping bill.

Here's the weirdness. I actively watched the coil move from warehouse B, to D, then to C, depending on what extra parts I piled into the cart.

I'd like cheap WIX filters and Bosch wiper blades,  but not for an extra $22 in shipping. No matter what combo I chose, I could not get any of them to line up with coil's warehouse. What gives? Has any one ever been able to explain this? Beyond the conspiracy theory that Rockauto is actively trying to hose me on shipping?

DaFuq?

I usually choose the part I *need* then go about the stuff I'd *like* to order based on if it will ship from the same warehouse (has the little truck beside it). I have noticed items changing warehouses as I add things and I very specifically choose items that have the little truck to denote 'same warehouse'... So maybe a glitch with RockAuto?

Maybe I'm misunderstanding the situation but it sounds like the system is doing the same thing you're doing, trying to optimize shipping costs. Doesn't it mark same warehouse items in the normal listings, before even adding them to your cart? Sounds like you added an unnecessary step to the process and that's confusing things.

That happens to me very frequently.  I have no answers, but I can confirm that, at least in this matter, you are not crazy.

Similar story here,

Bought some parts on Closeout the other day.
Shipping was broken out into a A, B, And C warehouse shipping
$35 worth of parts but paid $42 dollars worth of shipping.
Sucked but was still cheaper than autovance o'pepboy pricing

Found out on two separate occasions that two parts I ordered weren't in stock like it said on the website and I had to chose something else.....Okay....Didn't really need them anyway so i canceled both the parts. So They were both items shipping from Warehouse B and C, cool, I don't have to pay for that shipping anymore... WRONG! They moved the other parts shipping from Warehouse A to now be shipped from B and C! So in total $18 worth of parts and $42 in shipping.

Just a plain old bummer for us cheap car guys

also, i think there's some chronological order in their warehouse displaying. like, if you add PART 1 to your cart it shows as coming from Warehouse A.  Then you add PART 2 to your cart: if it comes from same warehouse as PART 1, it shows up as Warehouse A; but if it comes from a different warehouse, PART 2 says Warehouse A and PART 1 switches to Warehouse B.

so, expand that concept to putting 5 parts in your cart that come from 4 different warehouses.  now, remove the second part, and all the warehouse designations change.  they're coming from the warehouse they were always coming from, but that warehouse now has a different designation in your display.

i think.

In reply to dps214 :

I I remember correctly, the little truck doesn't show up in the closeout/wholesale section. That's where I found the desired, but not necessary Wix filter and Bosch blades.

In reply to AngryCorvair (Forum Supporter) :

Correct. I have the little cart display open on the side of the screen. I can watch the coils warehouse designation move as I add/subtract items.

If the coil is available in 3 different warehouses, why can't we get everything to line up?

I have the issue happen just about every time I put together carts. It's always one random part that does it and I don't understand why. Typically I have about 3 different saved carts I build up over time ready to pull the trigger when something else pops up in the correct warehouse location.

Same reason that you see all the "good deal" on OEM part web sites that beat out the local dealer and then its $100 to get you the tail light shipped the next day.  

Some businesses use shipping as a profit center.  Its a bit skeezy for a lot of reasons.  Deceptively low prices, you can't get a refund on shipping typically (IE "free" shipping on a part means if you have free returns you get the whole purchase price back.  $20 part and $20 shipping that costs $10 to ship means if you return it the business is guaranteed $10 proceeds)

Rock Auto is more of a headache than it is worth in 99% of cases and I am a notorious cheap bastard.  

I wish they warehouse letter would stay the same for the first item you pick, but it doesn't. Totally random as you add things.

I just went through this with an order. Could not get axle seals to get a truck icon no matter what other parts I tried. So, I got them from NAPA. Price was actually about the same.

I wish RockAuto would just offer an Amazon-Prime-like subscription for shipping.  Even if it doesn't end up saving me money, I'd sign up just not to have to play this game.

Don't forget about multiple quantity changing warehouses... that's maddening. 

Two amazingly good things happened on my last rock auto order:

1) they shipped ups ground and NOT FedEx ground! Yay!

2) they packed the stuff like they actually wanted it to arrive in one piece. We're talking like bubble wrap and all! Amazing. 

But did you get a magnet?