Is RockAuto open 24/7?

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Yesterday I drove a truck that hasn't been driven in a 2 years. Just went a few miles but noticed it was pulling to one side. Also smelled brake pad material with the windows open. When I got back I felt the temperature of the wheels. The left front one was real hot, the others stone cold. I'm pretty sure it's the brake hose that's bad. I had put on new pads and changed the fluid less than 100 miles previously and the exact same issue happened on another truck I have that doesn't get driven much. Anyway, I see the brake hose on Rock for $3 as a closeout. Cheapest local place is $13. Even with shipping, Rock is only $6 OTD for a better brand name. So I order it last night at 9pm. I see an email from them at 11:30pm that it has been shipped. WOW. Are they really open all night or 24 hours for that matter?
 
Originally Posted by atikovi
They pick and pack your items?


A robot would, yes.

But let me ask you a different question, what shipping service was selected?

They may have (USPS) sent your shipping label electronically to the shipper, awaiting the package to be dropped off for shipping, in which case they did so today. OR they are next to a 24hr and your package is going through some kind of morning sort.
 
The order system is automated. No human "receives" your order, inputs it into their system, etc, etc. In your case, your part might be coming out of a warehouse that operates a 2nd shift and they were slow. Or, more likely, they didn't "ship" anything, they just printed/created the shipping label. What does the tracking info show ? Probably just something like "Shipment information has been sent to USPS".
 
Rock auto usually gets the packages to you pretty quick, in my case usually 3 business days but I'm in Wyoming. D.C. probably faster.
 
An item is "shipped" as soon as the shipping label is created, which also creates a tracking number. It doesn't necessarily mean that the item has been picked off a shelf and packed in a box yet.
 
We sell to some automated warehouses. Everything must have bar code and be packed is specific size boxes. If we charge too much for for packing, they will buy bulk and they have a packing department that packs and labels using semi-automated equipment that boxes, check weighs, and labels. If we happen to pack incorrect, they route to their packing department and then bill us. As a vendor you usually only have that happen once.

They have rows for plastic bags, a human riding on automated fork truck picks them. It goes to the correct bin and raises and lowers as needed. Other rows have fully robotic pickers.
When the order is taken the size shipping box is calculated and the final weight is determined in advance. This get routed and filled thru the warehouse. If it passes the check weight then a human arranges and adds packing material as needed. Someday this will be automated, right now humans are more efficient at Tetris. The box is closed and the computer calculates how it should be shipped lowest cost to the fraction of a cent and prints the shipping label. The boxes then get routed automatically to the correct access controlled holding area. The freight companies then come and collect everything in their area, this may happen late at night after the warehouse closes. Because of all the check weighing, errors are rare.

Their warehouse is a Multi-million dollar sight to behold.
I pity the human that rides back and forth, up and down all day, only stopping for breaks. If they get slow, that human goes to another department to pack, prep for stocking or just sweep the floors. If it is not break, they are working. Their efficiency and accuracy is monitored. If they do not meet standards then they are gone.

In this jobs favor, it is clean, weights to pick never exceed a certain weight, Is heated and air conditioned, parking lot is fenced and patrolled. It is a bad neighborhood so once you leave, you better have your pistol at your side for the carjackers. Or in my case, the uber driver knows exactly how to get in and out of there. He gets a nice tip.


Rod
 
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same thing happened to a ranger I had. It sat for 6 years and one of the calipers locked up upon its first drive in years. The piston would go out but not retract.
 
Originally Posted by atikovi
Yesterday I drove a truck that hasn't been driven in a 2 years. Just went a few miles but noticed it was pulling to one side. Also smelled brake pad material with the windows open. When I got back I felt the temperature of the wheels. The left front one was real hot, the others stone cold. I'm pretty sure it's the brake hose that's bad. I had put on new pads and changed the fluid less than 100 miles previously and the exact same issue happened on another truck I have that doesn't get driven much. Anyway, I see the brake hose on Rock for $3 as a closeout. Cheapest local place is $13. Even with shipping, Rock is only $6 OTD for a better brand name. So I order it last night at 9pm. I see an email from them at 11:30pm that it has been shipped. WOW. Are they really open all night or 24 hours for that matter?

Parts Authority fills most of Rockauto's orders.
 
I ordered some air filters for use up here in Canada. They were boxed in Sugarland Texas, Fedexed to the Houston Airport, flown to Nashville, loaded on a plane to Calgary then Fedexed from Calgary to Cranbrook BC, then put on the local Dakota Transport milk run to my home. 3 days, plus the delivery guy (Robert) left some biscuits for my pet dog.
laugh.gif
 
They are fast. I put new rotors and pads on the Rio. Ordered them on a Sunday and had them - Tuesday? Had been scheduled for delivery Thursday./
 
Originally Posted by Snagglefoot
I ordered some air filters for use up here in Canada. They were boxed in Sugarland Texas, Fedexed to the Houston Airport, flown to Nashville, loaded on a plane to Calgary then Fedexed from Calgary to Cranbrook BC, then put on the local Dakota Transport milk run to my home. 3 days, plus the delivery guy (Robert) left some biscuits for my pet dog.
laugh.gif


Fully 1/3 of my Rockauto orders hails from Sugarland. That must be one Texas-Sized warehouse.
No dog biscuits though. Don't have a dog currently.
 
Originally Posted by The Critic

Parts Authority fills most of Rockauto's orders.


But their prices, even for wholesale customers, are much higher. There are 2 PA stores within 15 minutes of me and would love to buy more parts there and get them the same day, but when a $50 part is $35 OTD from Rock, I'll wait.
 
Originally Posted by atikovi
Yesterday I drove a truck that hasn't been driven in a 2 years. Just went a few miles but noticed it was pulling to one side. Also smelled brake pad material with the windows open. When I got back I felt the temperature of the wheels. The left front one was real hot, the others stone cold. I'm pretty sure it's the brake hose that's bad. I had put on new pads and changed the fluid less than 100 miles previously and the exact same issue happened on another truck I have that doesn't get driven much. Anyway, I see the brake hose on Rock for $3 as a closeout. Cheapest local place is $13. Even with shipping, Rock is only $6 OTD for a better brand name. So I order it last night at 9pm. I see an email from them at 11:30pm that it has been shipped. WOW. Are they really open all night or 24 hours for that matter?


What made you determine it was the brake hose that's bad and not a sticking caliper?
 
I've always just assumed they either run 24/7 or have 3 shifts and unlimited OT during weekends.

"Shipped" means a label was created for order. Obviously they've been picked and packed. Most likely just sitting in a trailer at the shipping department.
 
Originally Posted by diyjake
What made you determine it was the brake hose that's bad and not a sticking caliper?


I had serviced the brakes 100 miles previously 2 years ago.
 
I just ordered some filters for the 4Runner late last night. I got the "it shipped" email from them a few hours later. It just means that the shipping label was created. I just checked the tracking number from the email, and it still just shows that the label was created. Nothing has been scanned into FedEx's system yet.

Granted, they are pretty quick, but not that quick
smile.gif
 
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