Complaint about aftermarket parts

[2strokeNorthstar]

Mevotech ttx was supposed to be better than oem.
Any way I just got a call back from mevotech, they told me to call rock auto becasue that's where i bought it.
Rock auto will want to do a return. So basically im screwed. Reused the old hardware lesson learned

Sounds like Moog customer service. I just wanted a new ball joint boot since they use of the lowest grade rubber possible. I was told they aren't available and the exchange the part at the place of purchase. So the whole control arm is wasted because of $1 in rubber. Great

 

[Rust_Belt_Pete]

Sounds like Moog customer service. I just wanted a new ball joint boot since they use of the lowest grade rubber possible. I was told they aren't available and the exchange the part at the place of purchase. So the whole control arm is wasted because of $1 in rubber. Great

I'm an accountant and I can break it down exactly why they are doing it and why it makes sense but I still don't like it.

 

[SC Maintenance]

Sounds like Moog customer service. I just wanted a new ball joint boot since they use of the lowest grade rubber possible. I was told they aren't available and the exchange the part at the place of purchase. So the whole control arm is wasted because of $1 in rubber. Great

Buy a new one. Take the boot off. Return it.

The next guy that gets that part from Parts Geek will hate you, but I can assure you others have done it before.

And yes, its an accounting thing per @Rust_Belt_Pete. I had to beg our factory in Germany for some 15 cent screws a customer needed for a $1000 instrument. Everyone at every step fought me on it - and I work there!

 

[2strokeNorthstar]

Buy a new one. Take the boot off. Return it.

The next guy that gets that part from Parts Geek will hate you, but I can assure you others have done it before.

And yes, its an accounting thing per @Rust_Belt_Pete. I had to beg our factory in Germany for some 15 cent screws a customer needed for a $1000 instrument. Everyone at every step fought me on it - and I work there!

I may or may not have done that. Maybe Moog just forgot to include a boot in the same part where I needed one

 

[2strokeNorthstar]

I'm an accountant and I can break it down exactly why they are doing it and why it makes sense but I still don't like it.

Im sure it comes down to accounting and the need to show profits above all else. They dont care about the reputation of the company or long term customers.

 

[SC Maintenance]

Im sure it comes down to accounting and the need to show profits above all else. They dont care about the reputation of the company or long term customers.

It used to be a customer service thing - you would call and they would just send you one. That doesn't happen anymore but a few places.

I was at IKEA once and I noticed over by their returns desk they had a whole wall of different fasteners and such. You could just go take what you needed, if you lost one or your $12 coffee table was missing one. I thought that was quite smart of them.

 

[Rust_Belt_Pete]

It used to be a customer service thing - you would call and they would just send you one. That doesn't happen anymore but a few places.

I was at IKEA once and I noticed over by their returns desk they had a whole wall of different fasteners and such. You could just go take what you needed, if you lost one or your $12 coffee table was missing one. I thought that was quite smart of them.

And that's why people will spend the money on wet toilet paper and paper mache furniture, customer service.

 

[Rust_Belt_Pete]

This is why also independent shops prefer brand x becasue its the brand that screwed them over the least amount and they are nearby for returns and can send their driver out.

 

[2strokeNorthstar]

It used to be a customer service thing - you would call and they would just send you one. That doesn't happen anymore but a few places.

I was at IKEA once and I noticed over by their returns desk they had a whole wall of different fasteners and such. You could just go take what you needed, if you lost one or your $12 coffee table was missing one. I thought that was quite smart of them.

I've gotten some of those spares at Ikea. They will also send you missing hardware for free. They actually seem to care, they ask for the item #, mfg date etc. Listed on the box or maybe the manual so they can follow up and see if its a bigger issue.I was impressed.

 

[D60]

RA return process is easy, it's just impractically sllloooooooowwwww

 

[edyvw]

I looked up the part number and the OEM Ford part was only $20 more expensive than the RockAuto offered Dorman item. I'd get the OEM part from Ford.

Ford OEM P/N BB5Z-3B676-C ($320 on-line)

View attachment 289700

Sometimes on BMW E90 steering shaft goes bad. I hear knocking and immediately think it is shaft (guy who was doing my struts etc. forgot to tighten subframe bolt. Go figure).
Anyway, BMW shaft was $75 cheaper than Dorman (nit that I would ever put Dorman. But was checking).

 

[bdcardinal]

The posted part BB5Z-3B676-C is incorrect for the application. That only fits vehicles with power adjustable column. Ford does not service the shaft separate from the steering column on vehicles with manual adjust assemblies. Unless I get a VIN and it says otherwise in our cataloging.

 

[artbuc]

How much time have you spent posting here about it?

Returning the part?…I don't have time for returns…

 

[John105]

As a sometimes database developer, I can safely blame the database at least half the time. Wrong part, wrong car, wrong application.

Countless examples. Jump on the Trane website to look at a 2025 condenser, and the pic could be from 2014. Get a “direct fit” exhaust part and read in the comments it’s actually 3” shorter and requires fabrication. Imho these omissions are to allow sales to go through, when otherwise they may give a buyer pause.

 

[trd1zz]

I am not defending anyone, but OEM is far from perfect and good luck maintaining a car after 10 years without the aftermarket.

That depends entirely on the manufacturer. If you drive a Ford or a Euro-mobile where stuff is breaking all the time and the OEM quality is subpar to begin with, then yeah, go aftermarket.

But on my multiple Toyota's which are not 10 but 20 years old at this point I have no problem locating and paying the premium for the genuine Toyota part and the peace of mind that comes with knowing it will last just as long as the original did.

 

[SC Maintenance]

That depends entirely on the manufacturer. If you drive a Ford or a Euro-mobile where stuff is breaking all the time and the OEM quality is subpar to begin with, then yeah, go aftermarket.

But on my multiple Toyota's which are not 10 but 20 years old at this point I have no problem locating and paying the premium for the genuine Toyota part and the peace of mind that comes with knowing it will last just as long as the original did.

I have been in many tier supply plants but mostly Euro and Asian, and I haven't seen a discernable difference. A lot of them make parts for everyone - Bosch, Denso, Hitachi, siemens - for example.

For any of them the part you get now might not be the same as the part you got 20 years ago. Once a part no longer is in serial production it might not be any better than aftermarket. Often there identical in fact.

Not against OEM parts, but its good to have options, especially when the OEM stops making stuff or wants astronomical prices.

 

[Rust_Belt_Pete]

Yeah, as i recall there was a recent rash of ford OEM ecoboost chains for 3.5 stretching in a couple of thousand miles.
That is at least 2,000 to replace that.

 

[crashz]

RA is a discount parts house for a reason. I've had issues, but I'd say 66% of the time I get what I ordered and it works. Rarely I get something at an incredible deal and it far exceeds my expectations:
- I got a clearance deal on Hella bulbs for my CRV. It was chewing the Sylvania bulbs up. The Hellas lasted longer and I got them for pennies. I think I got 50 bulbs for like $20.
- Bought some K&N Silver oil filters. Cheap, like $1.50 each. Bought ten. Glad I did, because they are constructed very well. Wish I didn't cut up a new one to look at it.

But I have many more experiences of the wrong part, wrong fit, or just terrible quality.

 

[trd1zz]

I have been in many tier supply plants but mostly Euro and Asian, and I haven't seen a discernable difference. A lot of them make parts for everyone - Bosch, Denso, Hitachi, siemens - for example.

For any of them the part you get now might not be the same as the part you got 20 years ago. Once a part no longer is in serial production it might not be any better than aftermarket. Often there identical in fact.

And often they are not.

For example just because Denso sells a radiator under their own brand on the aftermarket/RockAuto does not mean that radiator is identical to the radiator Denso manufactures for Toyota as the OEM radiator - which has Toyota's name stamped on it. Same is seen with Aisin water pumps, fan pulleys, etc. Denso in particular is known to manufacture their aftermarket radiators in China / Taiwan, but order OEM through Toyota and you get one made in the USA. Which one do you think was built to a higher (Toyota's) standard?

 

[FowVay]

The posted part BB5Z-3B676-C is incorrect for the application. That only fits vehicles with power adjustable column. Ford does not service the shaft separate from the steering column on vehicles with manual adjust assemblies. Unless I get a VIN and it says otherwise in our cataloging.

I was only going by what information the OP gave for his vehicle. Thank you for correcting the inaccuracy. Maybe you can pony up additional part numbers to assist the OP.

He showed the lower column and those all had the same part number across the board while the manual shift with the upper attachment was additional cost, that's not what he showed in his picture.