RockAuto and shipping costs

[Donald]

I need 6 spark plugs for my snow cat. They only come in packs of 4. If I order 8 its goes priority for under $11 in shipping. If I order two orders, each for 4 plugs the shipping (First Class) is a few dollars less. I assume it costs RockAuto more to handle two small orders than one small order.

 

[cknight49090]

Its [censored] i find its only good for me if i spend like 200.00 and usually buy a bunch of filters and things like that.I would just use advance and use the codes.

 

[hattaresguy]

Check out Amazon, you might be able to get free shipping on them.

 

[TrevorS]

Maybe not. Say its a minutes extra handling cost at minimum wage + employer paid costs + whatever overheads you would ascribe to that minute.

Might be just a $ in full cost or just a few cents in marginal cost. Which is less than the incremental cost of the shipping method their system determines is best for an order of 2 packs.

Getting the shipping and packaging methods and pricing right would seem to be their problem.

 

[NHGUY]

They have to make money anyway they can.Offer cheap prices but make up for it on "Shipping and handling".EBAY works that way too.

 

[KB2008X]

I used to buy a lot from Rock Auto and talked them up to everyone I knew, but this shipping nonsense will be the end of them if they don't wise up. I hope someone with some sense at Rock Auto reads these kinds of threads from the last few months.

 

[pottymouth]

Shipping almost always puts Rock Auto out of the running for me. Too many times a simple brake job results in 3 warehouses with a fresh shipping charge for each. Even with a single warehouse, the shipping is usually well above the actual cost to ship.

I find Amazon and Advance (with the right coupon) to be a much better bet. Advance almost exclusively if there is a core involved.

 

[jmb106]

I watch there shipping costs closely when i place an order. i wanted to order 2 front rotors and pads for one of my cars when i punched in 2 for the rotors they would come from two different locations if i entered 3 or more rotors they would only come from one location would have cost me more in shipping so i changed brand of rotors and pads coming only from one location. what a crock of _ _ it! still can't beat there pricing and selection.

 

[Donald]

They need to stock some items in every location such as spark plugs. I tried to order 2 different NGK spark plugs and they would be coming from different warehouses.

I always check Amazon before I order from RockAuto. But I do trust RockAuto to display the proper part on their website (more so than Amazon).

 

[eljefino]

Shannow has a story about buying grapes one at a time b/c they round down the cost to nothing.

Amazon has a helter skelter system of shipping rotors to me in individual boxes: one fedex, one UPS.

 

[HTSS_TR]

Originally Posted By: Donald
I need 6 spark plugs for my snow cat. They only come in packs of 4. If I order 8 its goes priority for under $11 in shipping. If I order two orders, each for 4 plugs the shipping (First Class) is a few dollars less. I assume it costs RockAuto more to handle two small orders than one small order.

I posted the shipping problem with Rockauto exactly the same as yours few years ago. After checking with Amazon and some other online sites, I placed 2 orders of 4 plugs each to get the lowest possible total.

I'm sure their handling cost for 2 small packages is more than 1.

 

[cjcride]

I've passed on nearly completed orders when the shipping costs displayed, at Rock Auto.
Hope they wise up.

 

[wallyuwl]

Originally Posted By: cjcride
I've passed on nearly completed orders when the shipping costs displayed, at Rock Auto.
Hope they wise up.


I have too, on several occasions. Then I go to Amazon.

if they don't get their shipping costs and warehouse structure under control, RA will soon turn into Best Buy - you go there to find the right part, then go somewhere else to buy it.

 

[fdcg27]

Why would you even bother with ordering plugs?
They're pretty inexpensive locally.
An online order with coupon code from AAP with in-store pickup would have to be cheaper than Rock.
Rock often kills you on shipping.

 

[eljefino]

^ I got a bunch of Bosch W9DCs from Rockauto after I read on a mercedes forum that they were old stock and completely impossible to find. Someone should have told "the rock."

A collector's item, I've got no use. Will save for a car show, I guess, and give them to the first gas-powered Merc or Beemer owner.

They are supposed to be the big thing for 1970's euro cars with points ignition.

Rock auto, winning the "weird part" contest.

Also got a ten pack of 168 bulbs for $4 shipped from them. A 3 inch cube box arrived via post, it was so cute.

 

[pbm]

I love RA but their shipping prices are often a deal killer.

 

[JDW]

Originally Posted By: pbm
I love RA but their shipping prices are often a deal killer.


X2 Love the cool magnets

 

[daves87rs]

Been good... so far....

 

[zzyzzx]

I also often find better deals on Amazon or eBay. Yes, shipping kills the deal.

 

[Kruse]

I did a RockAuto order yesterday for my Jeep. I ordered a water pump, a water pump (heater hose connect) metal tube, an upper radiator hose, a radiator cap, and a resister block for my blower motor. Total cost, including shipping was $49.98.
Today I went to my local auto parts store to get the lower radiator hose (RA couldn't get a lower radiator hose into the order from the same warehouse) and the first store didn't have it in inventory. So I had to use more gas to go the next auto parts store and I found one for $26. That's for just the one hose. Had I bit the bullet and just ordered from two RA warehouses, I still would have saved money.
I will still use RockAuto for a lot of items, but yes, you have to carefully watch how many warehouses your products from.