Not impressed by Rock Auto

How is a damaged box there problem ?
Yes maybe more packing bubbles or something but fed ex and ups destroy boxes.
I noticed if a box says fragile it come more damaged most the time
 
I just started using them for a parts catalog. I've noticed the local Federated, NAPA and others have very similar and competitive pricing when you factor in the shipping.
Quoting my own post. Needed parts for an older vehicle within 72 hours and Federated had the same exact Edelmann brand PS hoses for the same price as if you factored in the 2-day shipping AND they'll have it here tomorrow morning. Pretty much no reason for me to use Rockauto anymore unless my back is up against the wall. I've had very good luck with my local Federated on getting oddball parts within a couple of days. Something worth looking into if you're trying to keep it local at reasonable prices.
 
Well the Wagner calipers survived as they were packed box-of-boxes, unlike the brake fluid cans.

Likewise for the Bosch Quietcast rotors and the Akebono pads.


Not the smoothest brake job I've ever done as getting these pads into the assembled new calipers with the clips and grease and such was quite a challenge. There's a reason you normally take the slider pins out and pops the pads out from the caliper bracket with the caliper itself removed.

I guess in hindsight I probably should have disassembled the new calipers and mounted the brackets and calipers separate just to keep from spreading purple grease in all the places you don't want it.

Anyway, the the rotors and calipers are both coated (inside and out on the Rotors) so I'm pretty happy with how they look and are likely to hold up.
 
That is the shippers fault.
I've been waiting on a pair of shoes from Brooks Running. The last known location was in the USPS facility in Tallahassee. FL. That was on March 21. Today is March 31. Tallahassee is 99 miles from my house. That means that they are lost or have been stolen by a USPS employee. The USPS doesn't do drug and alcohol screening.
 
In defence of Rock Auto, here is my latest unboxing. Maybe it’s the shipments to Canada that they do the best job on. Here is my new transmission pan. The old one got damaged from a large rock.

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B96B0600-6CD3-4D56-8258-E4810ED32AFD.webp
 
I should go find the complete, carefully crafted RA post I made a while back.
1) The games they play with shipping is plainly dishonest. Goods from one warehouse magically come from another when it suits them.

2) If I live to be a cogent 150 years old, I'll never get over how several BITOGers defended RA's shipping lies as "they gotta do it".

3) STILL, I place their prices and generally economical shipping into account when I buy through them.

4) I'll never buy a heavy item (alternator, AC compressor or anvil) from them if core returns are involved.

5) A serpentine belt tensioner I bought was frozen solid and RA made it right.

6) One of their clients sent me dented oil filters AND included strips of paper saying they wouldn't consider exchanging them.
Can you explain “shipping lies”. I don’t like there shipping either but it’s published up front so how can it be a lie?

Did you try returning #6? You’re not whomever shipped its customer. Your RA customer. RA ‘s call. The shipper is beholden to them with whatever rules they agreed to?
 
Quoting my own post. Needed parts for an older vehicle within 72 hours and Federated had the same exact Edelmann brand PS hoses for the same price as if you factored in the 2-day shipping AND they'll have it here tomorrow morning. Pretty much no reason for me to use Rockauto anymore unless my back is up against the wall. I've had very good luck with my local Federated on getting oddball parts within a couple of days. Something worth looking into if you're trying to keep it local at reasonable prices.
No one here has ever suggested RA for stuff you need immediately. Next day shipping is very expensive.
 
Sure SC M,
When you add an item to your cart and it is said to come from "Warehouse A", then, as you select more items, the source of the "Warehouse A" part can become a "Warehouse B" part. That's a lie.

I've done many combinations of multiple pats orders and the warehouses changed more than once. Their method to compound shipping is structured. If the word lie isn't correct, use the word dishonest. If RA are relatives of yours, call it fluid.

Like I said before, I say on the low volatility side of their order forms. Here "low volatility" means the warehouses remain as first named.

And a RA question: If returning a core is required, does RA provide a shipping label, or is that shipping paid by the customer?
 
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When you add an item to your cart and it is said to come from "Warehouse A", then, as you select more items, the source of the "Warehouse A" part can become a "Warehouse B" part. That's a lie.
Select more of the same item or more of a different and unique part number?

I have ordered large quantity multiples of the same item and sometime there is a threshold where it gets split into two different warehouses and I assume that is because the first warehouses had limited quantity.
 
Never a issue with Rockauto but Fedex is horrible.. its always them UPS and USPS seem to be ok. Ordered the factory muffler setup for the Dakota. Muffler and mid pipe showed up today.. the tail pipe is in uh Canada and both came from the same location!
IMG_6870.webp
 
I've had good luck with them over the years, including returning a warranty item, and cores. When I replaced coil packs, spark plugs and injectors their price was better than half of AAP and Auto Zone. The parts came in a timely fashion and were packed perfectly. The same went for calipers, pads, and rotors. It could be the luck of the draw, but I will continue doing business with them until they screw up.
 
As someone who maintains conveyor equipment for a shipping company, OP got lucky. It's a wonder anything gets through unscathed. Liquids should really be labeled better. The amount of fluid spills I've cleaned off of belts and equipment over the years is staggering.
 
I've gotten hundreds of pounds of suspension parts, brake rotors, calipers parts etc shipped here from RA across the border and not had any major issues with packing yet that I can recall over the years. The box for the links etc for my TJ front end came a lil beat up but everything was inside and in fine shape, and I could barely pick it up it was packed so tight and heavy (I don't know how they even got it here!), fwiw...

There's no reason for shippers to treat boxes like that. I'd put it on them more then RA...

I'm disappointed I haven't gotten a magnet for the past orders! ;)
 
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Today I received a KoyoRad A2807 radiator from RA - shipped via Parts Authority in MD. I specifically wanted the Koyo - I have used this exact model before. All in - shipped and tax - $130.

Cheapest local was $215 + tax - so at least $100 more, for some no name thing. Yes shipping a rad is a bit dangerous, but I have done it several times and this one looks good too?
 
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