Hi all, I'm looking to purchase a swag of parts from Rockauto. I see there is a new discount code posted.
Are they a safe reliable bet to buy parts from and are their parts up to standard?
I'ts a long way to deal with any company in the U.S. if something goes wrong.
Thanks for your feedback.

 

After thousands of $$ spent with them, i do highly recommend. Great parts, great service. I had a couple of errors on their part but they fixed it fast.
Just be mindful at what you are getting. Many parts may be listed as say brand name , but also private label or white box. This means a big manufacturer made them but may be a store brand for a certain parts store. Also many boxes might be dirty as many are old new stock. This is very true of certain warehouse clearance items. However, all the parts I have received were good.
Also watch how they do shipping charges, as they ship stuff from different warehouses. You will however know the total before you put in your personal info - no surprises at the end.
I choose them over all the local stores. even if there are several shipping charges as they are always reasonable. .

 

I have ordered several things from them and am very happy so far.

 

I now go to RockAuto first. Like Rob said, sometimes the boxes are a little dirty, and come from different locations, but all good parts and they are correct.

Frank

 

I've been using RA for ~ 5 years (while maintaining and servicing 4 vehicles) and have only had 1 packing issue that caused some minor cosmetic damage (didn't bother to return it). This is a very good record imo. Their low prices, excellent customer service, and the fact that they offer well known and lessor known brands, makes Rockauto a winner in my garage.

 

Don't know how they are with oversea shipping, but I go to them first. Like being able to choose the maker of the part myself and parts come fast in the US.

 

I'll join the bandwagon. Parts show up within a few days (well, here in the US anyway). You do have to be careful about shipping, however, as parts can ship from multiple warehouses and your shipping costs can vary greatly depending on whether there's one shipment or several for a given order. Otherwise, the parts are usually the same brands you get anywhere. I've had a couple of problems with mis-marked boxes over the years. RockAuto always resolved these issues promptly and at their expense.

 

Rock Auto is Da Bomb when it comes to parts! Multiple manufacturers to choose from on most individual parts, most are big names; great service, rock solid. Plus, you get one of these nifty little refrigerator (well, blast cabinet, in my case) magnets in each box! And they encourage sharing their promo codes. Post it here on CO!

 

I have used them over the years, normally have the best price and no problems thus far.

 

Rock does rock, have used probably 50 times. But I check Amazon, too. Just bought genuine Nissan hood hinges from Amazon, they were just a couple bucks more than the cheap knock-offs that Rock sells.

 

I've had great experiences with RA over the past few years. I can sit in the comfort of my couch, eat pizza, and place an order.

 

My garage fridge is covered with RA magnets ! I've probably spent > $5K w/ them over 5-6 years.

Parts & service have always been top notch, but like Joe P said, sometimes you have to be careful & do some parts shuffling to keep the number of source warehouses to a minimum.

As for shipping to the other side of the planet....I have no idea...

Is there a Rock Auto Australia (RAA!) ?!?!

 

I'm a long time customer, and also my company (Enginetech) is a supplier to them for internal engine components. They are great people to work with, very smart and focused like a laser on improving the customer experience, and have made us a better company!!

 

Have used, and like, Rock Auto. However, as has been mentioned. shipping costs is a whole 'nother story. I have a serious problem with their shipping practices. If the parts being ordered in not big bucks, say gaskets, filters, etc., the shipping charges may greatly exceed the cost of the parts.

 

I've always had positive experiences with RockAuto

 

Thanks for the feedback, much appreciated. Order is in and on the way.

 

RockAuto has a fine reputation in the UK, and the rest of Europe as far as I have heard.

Roger.

 

Last order I got from them there was a problem and they took care of it. I was extremely pleased. Now I'm having another problem with them and I now am not happy. I'm just going to suck it up and get it behind me, ( not a big deal) but I don't plan to deal with them again.

 

I received a damaged radiator, called them up and before I could ship the damaged one back, a new arrived on my doorstop!

 

In my case they offered to take back the wrong parts less 5% and I pay shipping. I emailed them back and stated I expected a full refund and they pay shipping since their catalog was wrong. They responded that their catalog was not wrong. I ordered the correct tie rod sleeves thru Amazon (actually came from Summit) for less $ and they were correct! I'm done w/Rockauto.

 

I communicated with Rock Auto on their ridiculous shipping charges (shipping from separate warehouses and charging for each shipment among other things) which ended up being considerably more than the cost of the parts ordered. They could care less. When their attitude became apparent my interest in buying from them went to -zero-!

One may read about my experience on p.2 of the October 2014 issue of my monthly newsletter, Car Collector Chronicles -

 

Shipping may be high but it is very transparent. Good call is start with the biggest part you need & work backwards. They show you the warehouse the parts are available from so try to consolidate and ship from the same warehouse.

 

Transparency does not make it acceptable.

Problem I see is I have no control over which warehouse they store the part in. My choices are go with what they decide or require shipment from one warehouse, which usually means foregoing buying some of the parts desired.

In most instances the shipping charges make the final cost far more than what it is by buying locally.

RA would have to be the only supplier with the part I desperately need for me to go with them as my vendor of choice.

 

???
Just for kicks I checked RA :

5 x FelPro Part # 5292 = $3.75
Standard S&H (USPS 1-6 days) to zip 53204 = $2.21

$5.96....Cheaper than gas to the store...

 

After reading your post, I too went to the RA site. Did the same search and got the same results, $2.21 S&H.

I can tell you that in Oct of 2014 that was not the case. I did not make up the facts in my original report. Perhaps my complaint, as well as those of others, brought about a change in policy? More likely a need to be economically competitive.

Whatever be the case, it is good to know a sense of reasonableness has returned.

Thanks for enlightening me. It is appreciated.

 

That's good news. I was wondering if I was missing something. Perhaps your complaint DID bring about a positive change ! So, for me & all of us that buy parts from there, Thanks !

 

Guys:
I was able to locate the lower brake bars and small springs for my 11" rear brake conversion, otherwise it was salvage yard time, both bars and springs were $25.00 shipped. Great deal! I wanted to buy the hold down and adjuster kits
too, but the shipping from 4 different warehouses was almost as much as buying local, not to mention if there was a problem, so if you use your head and compare, not bad guys to deal with.
Thanks, Ron

 

Sixteen positive and five negative

We tend to remember when things go spectacularly well or bad, on that basis I'd say Rock Auto are doing things very well three times as often as they are getting it badly wrong.
Mostly I'd guess orders come in, the parts are dispatched, and they arrive in reasonable time and satisfactory shape, and the buyers don't really think about it much.

Roger.