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Car Forum / Driving, Maintenance, Tuning / Maintenance and Repair / January 2007

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buy auto parts online?

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RayV - 25 Sep 2006 20:58 GMT
I need a distributor for a 1999 accord V6.

Any reliable online sites?  Local places are looking to get $500 for
the part.

I found a couple but of site but even though I picked the car and 3.0
engine the results kept coming up with a 2.3 distributor.
MCL - 25 Sep 2006 21:47 GMT
Try Rockauto.com. I've bought from them several times. Great prices & super
fast shipping. Excellent return policy. Checked your part. Goes for $230
plus a $75 core charge. Their shipping is reasonable as well.
 Mike
* - 25 Sep 2006 22:17 GMT
MCL <mikelens@optonline.net> wrote in article
<ZfXRg.3454$KF6.308@newsfe09.lga>...
> Try Rockauto.com. I've bought from them several times. Great prices & super
> fast shipping. Excellent return policy. Checked your part. Goes for $230
> plus a $75 core charge. Their shipping is reasonable as well.
>   Mike

Every time you get on here and hype RockAuto, I get on other sites and do a
little comparison shopping.

I've NEVER seen a better price on Rockauto than I can get
locally.....NEVER!

The Rockauto website actually gives you a final price of $302......with the
core - and there is NO MENTION of how you get your core charges back!

By the time you pay shipping TO you, then wait for it to show up,  then pay
shipping to return the core.....etc., etc. you've spent MUCH more than you
would buying it from your FLAPS (Friendly Local Auto Parts Store)

A lot of the retail auto parts stores that cater to DIY, offer even cheaper
stuff - including the very same Cardone product that Rockauto offers at
MUCH better pricing.

Check with some of the "cheapo" parts stores such as Pep Boys, Auto Zone,
etc.

I could never understand why somebody would want to buy auto parts online
and have to WAIT for them to show up along with paying shipping charges
that makes the part almost as expensive as the one you can go down and pick
up NOW - or have overnight from the warehouse with NO SHIPPING CHARGES - at
your FLAPS!
tom@rockauto.com - 17 Nov 2006 18:00 GMT
> The Rockauto website actually gives you a final price of $302......with the
> core - and there is NO MENTION of how you get your core charges back!

General info on returning cores is found under the "Returns" link on
the RockAuto.com home page (http://www.rockauto.com).  Here is a direct
link to the cores info: http://www.rockauto.com/policy.html#Cores

RockAuto customers return cores every day by clicking on the "Order
Status" link on the RockAuto home page and entering their order number
to get core return instructions for their specific part(s).  It is true
that some cores are valuable and worth returning and some cores are not
worth the shipping cost.

> A lot of the retail auto parts stores that cater to DIY, offer even cheaper
> stuff - including the very same Cardone product that Rockauto offers at
> MUCH better pricing.
>
> Check with some of the "cheapo" parts stores such as Pep Boys, Auto Zone,
> etc.

Maybe you were looking at prices on a chain store web site rather than
RockAuto.com.  A site like Autozone.com will usually not have prices
lower than the prices available at their local store fronts.

For many parts RockAuto's prices aren't slightly lower but $20 or $100
lower!  RockAuto prices are especially competitive on products by A1
Cardone.

The RockAuto.com home page includes a price comparison demonstrating
RockAuto's lower prices.  RockAuto's price for a part is compared to
prices at JCWhitney (aka carparts.com), Autozone,  NAPA, CSK brand
franchises, etc.  The  RockAuto price is the regular price, not a
special sale price created for this comparison.

> I could never understand why somebody would want to buy auto parts online
> and have to WAIT for them to show up along with paying shipping charges
> that makes the part almost as expensive as the one you can go down and pick
> up NOW - or have overnight from the warehouse with NO SHIPPING CHARGES - at
> your FLAPS!

I am certainly biased because RockAuto.com supports my family, but I
truly enjoy shopping for auto parts and many other products online.
RockAuto's catalog lets people jump behind the auto parts store counter
and see all the choices available.  Haven't you wondered what is on the
computer screens and in the big paper parts catalogs behind the auto
parts store counter?  Haven't you ever been dismissed by a clerk who
says a part is no longer available when in fact he just doesn't know
where to look for it or he doesn't want to take the time?  There are
certainly some knowledgeable, professional counter people out there.
RockAuto Customer Service has some great former counter people who no
longer wanted to earn minimum wage at a chain store.  But why waste gas
driving to a chain store and then waste time lurking in the back of the
store until the "good" counter person is available.

Yes the chain store might have a cork Fel-Pro oil pan gasket on the
shelf, but will even a good clerk take the time to tell you there is
also a Fel-Pro oil pan gasket made out of silicone with a metal core
that will actually seal up your oil pan?  Will he tell you about
gaskets made by other manufacturers?  Will he even tell you about the
oil pan gasket choices that might be sitting in his own warehouse?

Even if you have ties to the local chain store, before you drive there
do some research using the RockAuto.com catalog so you know what parts
choices are available and what is a reasonable price range.  Who wants
to change an oil pan gasket two or three times.

It is also just plain fun to see all the parts available for your
vehicles.  Ever wonder if you could build your car from scratch?  Does
the local chain store have a new fender, a remanufactured engine
computer, a catalytic converter, or new carpet for your old truck?  How
about custom lime green carpet?

RockAuto's prices are usually lower partly because the parts ship
directly from warehouse or manufacturer.  Even with shipping charges on
heavy parts like brake rotors or exhaust, RockAuto's prices are less
more often than not.  Why pay for a parts manufacturer to ship parts to
a warehouse and then pay for the warehouse to ship the parts to a low
volume store front? You are kidding yourself if you think you aren't
paying for the chain store to ship parts to their store front.

Why make multiple trips to the store front? For even medium sized
repairs you would usually have to get very lucky to find the right
parts on the shelf on the first trip. Go online and put together a list
of all the parts you need and have the FedEx or UPS person deliver
those parts to your door within a few days.  Many regions of the
country get parts delivered in one or two days using regular ground
shipping.
Brent P - 17 Nov 2006 18:32 GMT
> I am certainly biased because RockAuto.com supports my family, but I
> truly enjoy shopping for auto parts and many other products online.
> RockAuto's catalog lets people jump behind the auto parts store counter
> and see all the choices available.

I have to agree with him here... I haven't bought anything from rockauto
but their website has served to be good reference in checking part
numbers, getting extra info, seeing how many brands offer something, etc.
I also use napa's, motorcraft's, and autozone's websites for the same
purpose.

And I also have to agree with him on counter people vs. online. There is
a mirror glass that I probably should order from them, just haven't
gotten around to it. Counterpeople have been a pain trying to get this
not-regularly stocked doorman part. HAd previously ordered another brand
from carparts.com and that brand had their application guide all fubar.
(carparts did all they could to fix the issue and it wasn't their fault)
The mirror glass I needed and the mirror glass for a contour shared the
same part number even though were totally different. The
customer rep at manufacturer of the mirror glass couldn't even grasp the
issue even with highlighted portions of their application guide and
photographs.  

That said, I still prefer a well stocked store... problem is most now
practice just-too-late inventory systems. And now the motorcraft
distributor I go to has closed the counter at their wearhouse.... I am
now at the mercy of their stores' inventory.
Steve - 17 Nov 2006 18:48 GMT
> I am certainly biased because RockAuto.com supports my family, but I
> truly enjoy shopping for auto parts and many other products online.
> RockAuto's catalog lets people jump behind the auto parts store counter
> and see all the choices available.

I certainly agree on that point. I use Rockauto and Napaonline.com
EXTENSIVELY for that purpose, even if it is only to take a NAPA P/N to
my locally-owned parts store and let them cross-reference it.
Steve W. - 17 Nov 2006 23:27 GMT
>> The Rockauto website actually gives you a final price of $302......with the
>> core - and there is NO MENTION of how you get your core charges back!
[quoted text clipped - 83 lines]
> country get parts delivered in one or two days using regular ground
> shipping.

As a VERY satisfied customer of Rock Auto I have to agree with the
above. The local parts stores (2 NAPAs, 3 AutoZones, 2 Advance, 2 Parts
Plus, 1 Fisher Auto, 1 Car Quest) seem to have problems hiring more than
one person who knows the products and is actually willing to help. The
AZ and Advance stores are becoming more like accessory stores than true
parts stores. The two local store I go to a lot have folks who either
own the store or have been there since it was built. The other stores
don't seem to think that hiring the local college kids is good business.
Then they complain about low sales. I wonder if it could be the fact
that they usually have no idea what to do if the computer doesn't list
an item could be part of the problem. Or that when you ask them
questions about a part you just get a blank stare.

The only thing I would like to see (maybe it's there but I missed it) is
a specialty tools section where you can buy those oddball tools that you
sometimes need to do a particular job. Not everyone has a good tool
dealer nearby OR the desire to hunt down the Snap-On man on a Saturday
afternoon.

Signature

Steve W.
Near Cooperstown, New York

productsolutions@gmail.com - 03 Jan 2007 22:02 GMT
Give us a call or drop us an email, I'd be glad to help out.

http://www.product-solutions.net

Thanks,
Justin
> >> The Rockauto website actually gives you a final price of $302......with the
> >> core - and there is NO MENTION of how you get your core charges back!
[quoted text clipped - 102 lines]
> dealer nearby OR the desire to hunt down the Snap-On man on a Saturday
> afternoon.
* - 03 Jan 2007 22:42 GMT
> > >> The Rockauto website actually gives you a final price of $302......with the
> > >> core - and there is NO MENTION of how you get your core charges back!

> > > Why make multiple trips to the store front? For even medium sized
> > > repairs you would usually have to get very lucky to find the right
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> > > country get parts delivered in one or two days using regular ground
> > > shipping.

I think you have to be extremely lucky to get the right parts the first
time when dealing with online/mail order.

But, you have to wait several days to get the right parts - if they are,
indeed right - instead of going down to the FLAPS and getting the right
stuff - especially being able to match the old part with the new.

How do you do THAT online?

I've got a good chance of getting the right part to replace a wrong part
the very same day at my FLAPS, but I can guarantee at least two days wait
for the right part to replace the wrong part online.

The ONLY thing online auto parts MIGHT offer is price, but then you'll pay
for shipping, etc.

Online does NOT offer convenience or immediacy whatsoever. Suggesting that
online somehow DOES is pure B.S.
daddy0_4 - 04 Jan 2007 02:14 GMT
I just purchased 2 window lift motors(saved$33 over AZ and
Advanced),fuel pump, same cost but never heard of AZs Master brand (got
Carter) and a parking light assembly (AZ and Avanced couldn't or
wouldn't order) Got parts in 3 days and shipping was only $15. from
Rockauto- and everything was correct and new-not reman.

Signature

daddy0_4

http://www.automotiveforums.com

* - 04 Jan 2007 10:38 GMT
daddy0_4 <daddy0_4.2jv6d7@no-mx.nodomain.com> wrote in article

> I just purchased 2 window lift motors(saved$33 over AZ and
> Advanced),fuel pump, same cost but never heard of AZs Master brand (got
> Carter) and a parking light assembly (AZ and Avanced couldn't or
> wouldn't order) Got parts in 3 days and shipping was only $15. from
> Rockauto- and everything was correct and new-not reman.

And......

.....I could buy the same parts locally this morning, and have the car back
on the road this afternoon......

Looks to me as though you "earned" approximately $6 per day ($33 savings
minus $15 shipping divided by waiting time) for having the car tied up and
waiting.

You don't seem to value your time very highly.
daddy0_4 - 07 Jan 2007 04:22 GMT
* Wrote:
> daddy0_4 <daddy0_4.2jv6d7@no-mx.nodomain.com> wrote in article
> >
[quoted text clipped - 20 lines]
>
> You don't seem to value your time very highly.

well you left out the parking lamp assembly which
would normally be a dealer item at what I'm sure would have cost a lot
more than what I paid and about the time,this was a project car for my
son,the car was being painted so time was not an issue.

Signature

daddy0_4

http://www.automotiveforums.com

Ted Mittelstaedt - 04 Jan 2007 05:58 GMT
> I think you have to be extremely lucky to get the right parts the first
> time when dealing with online/mail order.

No, not at all.  You just need to know what your doing.

> But, you have to wait several days to get the right parts - if they are,
> indeed right - instead of going down to the FLAPS and getting the right
> stuff - especially being able to match the old part with the new.
>
> How do you do THAT online?

Some parts you do need to do this - parts that are poorly documented
by the manufacturer, or by the aftermarket provider, for example.

Mail order works when the part is high dollar, small, and specific.  It
doesen't work well when the part is very low value, like a gasket for a
water pump or a $5 formed water hose, etc.

Ted
HLS@nospam.nix - 04 Jan 2007 18:27 GMT
> The ONLY thing online auto parts MIGHT offer is price, but then you'll pay
> for shipping, etc.
>
> Online does NOT offer convenience or immediacy whatsoever. Suggesting that
> online somehow DOES is pure B.S.

It doesnt make sense if you want a radiator cap, or some other such part
that is
locally and cheaply available.

When you consider that not everybody lives within the USA and parts for
American
cars are not universally available at a FLAPS, they do make sense.

I have ordered   ignition modules, rotors, pads, and a number of other parts
for  American
cars while living overseas.  It literally saved me thousands, and I never
got a bad part
nor one which was not correct for the application.

Also, I have ordered from JC Whitney from time to time when there were items
that nobody
stocked locally (such as the rear antisway bar for my van), and never got a
bad part.
Their parts come from name brand manufacturers for the most part and I never
got a bad
deal.

I ordered my Bilstein shocks online for the same reasons.  Availability and
price.

There are definitely reasons for online orders.
sdlomi2 - 25 Sep 2006 22:50 GMT
>I need a distributor for a 1999 accord V6.
>
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> I found a couple but of site but even though I picked the car and 3.0
> engine the results kept coming up with a 2.3 distributor.

   Hey, Ray, I've had GREAT success buying from Ebay.  Just looked at a
dist(link below) that should fit, shipping is about $11.50, starting price
is at $10 with 1day left, and NO BIDS as yet.  I'd email seller for part
#--seems like you can often find out a bit about seller by how he answers
your questions.  Seller has only 7 feedbacks, but ALL positive, giving him
100% rating.  HTH, s

> http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/HONDA-ACCORD-ODESSY-VTEC-3-0-DISTRIBUTOR_W0QQitem
Z280031135088QQihZ018QQcategoryZ33690QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
 <
=?x-user-defined?Q?=AB?= Paul =?x-user-defined?Q?=BB?= - 26 Sep 2006 00:46 GMT
> I need a distributor for a 1999 accord V6.
>
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> I found a couple but of site but even though I picked the car and 3.0
> engine the results kept coming up with a 2.3 distributor.

http://www.slhondaparts.com/
http://www.slhondaparts.com/browse.asp?Model=ACCORD&Year=1999&Doors=2&TrimLevel=
2DR+EX+V6&Emissions=KA&TransLevel=4ATKA&PartCatalogId=13S820&Section=A&Category=
E++0511%7CDISTRIBUTOR+%28HITACHI%29+%28V6%29

Steve - 26 Sep 2006 14:38 GMT
> I need a distributor for a 1999 accord V6.
>
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> I found a couple but of site but even though I picked the car and 3.0
> engine the results kept coming up with a 2.3 distributor.

napaonline.com
rockauto.com
BLU CIVIC - 26 Sep 2006 14:45 GMT
i bought stuff from www.carparts.com

Signature

BLU CIVIC

http://www.automotiveforums.com

Knifeblade_03 - 04 Jan 2007 16:48 GMT
>snip<

Even if you have ties to the local chain store, before you drive there
do some research using the RockAuto.com catalog so you know what parts
choices are available and what is a reasonable price range. Who wants
to change an oil pan gasket two or three times.

>unsnip<

Good point!!!!!!!!!!!! I'd also compare pricing from napa, autozone,
etc. The sources are out there to find comparison costs, so why not do
a bit of "type"work first????????

One advantage to online buying, is getting the part, if you can't find
anything locally, or don't have a FLAP nearby.

Signature

Knifeblade_03

http://www.automotiveforums.com

simlight@gmail.com - 18 Jan 2007 08:31 GMT
absolutely agree with you: "One advantage to online buying, is getting
the part, if you can't find anything locally, or don't have a FLAP
nearby."

i'm a salesman of a trading company from China. i'am always viewing the
auto store online. and found their prices are higher than imagine,
commonly 3times higher than the prices for the manufacturers (of course
different manufacturers give different prices.) as the salesman in a
trading company in China. i'm quite clear about the prices and the
quality, infact most of the auto parts in your car are MADE-IN-CHINA.
but the brands are different. as someone above said: "the local store
of auto parts like AZ etc. always complaining about bad business." i
feel quite intelligible to them, but even bad business their profit are
still quite high.

i cann't understand why you guys repair your car yourself. iin China
most people put their car in garage (never it's small or big.) they
will help you buy the items need replace, and give you  right prices...

if anyone dealing with auto parts and want to import auto parts from
China, and sell in your domestic market, please contact me. expecting
!!!big!!! order.~~~~~~ send me Email. simlight@gmail.com

> >snip<
>
[quoted text clipped - 19 lines]
>
> http://www.automotiveforums.com
Nate Nagel - 18 Jan 2007 11:50 GMT
> i cann't understand why you guys repair your car yourself. iin China
> most people put their car in garage (never it's small or big.) they
> will help you buy the items need replace, and give you  right prices...

Because a) it's simply too expensive to pay a mechanic and b) it's hard
to find a good one.

Note that I'm not disputing the fairness of the average mechanic's pay -
only stating that I can't afford it on a regular basis.

nate

Signature

replace "fly" with "com" to reply.
http://home.comcast.net/~njnagel

HLS@nospam.nix - 18 Jan 2007 21:57 GMT
> i cann't understand why you guys repair your car yourself. iin China
> most people put their car in garage (never it's small or big.) they
> will help you buy the items need replace, and give you  right prices...

Reasons may include
(1) high cost of repairs in the USA
(2) love of the art (many of us are still basically in love with our rides)
Brent P - 19 Jan 2007 00:22 GMT
>> i cann't understand why you guys repair your car yourself. iin China
>> most people put their car in garage (never it's small or big.) they
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> (1) high cost of repairs in the USA
> (2) love of the art (many of us are still basically in love with our rides)

For some one in china these should make sense.

(3) not being subject to poor workmanship of others.
(4) not getting ripped off.
Knifeblade_03 - 19 Jan 2007 04:28 GMT
Yeah, and this forum is usually all about guys and gals who want to or
need to wrench on their ride, for various reasons.

I, myself, enjoy 1] the satisfaction of doing it myself, 2] the
learning experience that occurs, 3] the $$$$$$$$ saved.

Signature

Knifeblade_03

http://www.automotiveforums.com

 
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