RockAuto Parts Lately...

F

fcastro

Joined
Nov 4, 2023
Messages
3
I have been ordering parts from rockauto since they started, so its been a long time lol. I have recently had some troubling incidents with the parts they have sent. A few months back I had a dead starter sent to me. When I looked at the box, it looked like it had been opened previously, but being heavy and it looked clean, installed it. Only to find it was dead.

This week I ordered a AC Delco purge valve, opened the box, it had dirt in one of the crevices, which I then tested and was open, so defective (should be closed). But the part right off the bat was used, they didn't even clean it well. Which has me thinking *** is going with rockauto now.

Anyone else seeing anything similar? Bad parts, and now used parts?
 
It is not a fun endeavor. In January I rolled the dice with a 2014 BMW X3 and part of my routine at 74k was changing plugs. I ordered the NGK OEM plugs from Amazon and admit I like the sticker over the seal and signature noting verified .... not that a fake couldn't do the same. 5K in and no issues.
 
That's what I was thinking, about them being used for returned parts. I can't tell which warehouse they come from, had multiple parts. That starter sucked, lost my labor twice installing it. I have started to stay away from any big part made overseas. Got a new starter last year, installed and while it looked the same, just sounded not right. Returned under warranty. Ending up going with an ac/delco rebuild instead and it sounded right.

Sometimes Amazon is better on price after shipping vs RA these days. RA also plays us for fools with the shipping warehouses. I have sat their and loaded X parts and confirmed they were at say A and once you get to two or three parts, they can't find it at the same warehouse or the other one you added. Guess most people don't watch or just put up with it.

Thanks all, always good to double check parts asap and install asap
 
I think we all understand the fact that RA is not the first information processing business.
They turn a customer's parts order into various purchase orders to their associated warehouses as they see fit.
The dishonest games they play with shipping fees and parts warehouse origins are well known.
I'm wondering if they're OK for a wiper blade order. I would assume there's little opportunity to lie about those.

My question is whether the "rise and fall" attribute of this business model is a known quantity.
Do patchy businesses like this have a lifespan?

Occurrence:
I exercised my brain by going through the dishonest warehouse machinations mentioned by the OP and posting them here.
My example was way more complicated and condemning.
The kicker was that members here sided with RA claiming that, "They have to because they have to make a profit".
I believe that to be the stupidest thing I've ever read on this site.
To play hop-scotch with warehouse assignments in order to charge more is lying and stealing.
It picks up where galling leaves off.

You have to know how much dishonesty you will tolerate for the attractive price.
One thing I will never do is order a starter or alternator from them as returns are a tad more difficult due to weight.
 
Last edited:
Rock Auto doesn't have any warehouses. They drop ship everything, so they are relying on their drop shippers to verify the product that is being sent is what they say it is.

I have found that with shipping included, they are more expensive than ordering the same thing from Amazon with the same chance of a junk part being supplied.
 
Kira said:
I think we all understand the fact that RA is not the first information processing business.
They turn a customer's parts order into various purchase orders to their associated warehouses as they see fit.
The dishonest games they play with shipping fees and parts warehouse origins are well known.
I'm wondering if they're OK for a wiper blade order. I would assume there's little opportunity to lie about those.

My question is whether the "rise and fall" attribute of this business model is a known quantity.
Do patchy businesses like this have a lifespan?

Occurrence:
I exercised my brain by going through the dishonest warehouse machinations mentioned by the OP and posting them here.
My example was way more complicated and ****ing.
The kicker was that members here sided with RA claiming that, "They have to because they have to make a profit".
I believe that to be the stupidest thing I've ever read on this site.
To play hop-scotch with warehouse assignments in order to charge more is lying and stealing.
It picks up where galling leaves off.

You have to know how much dishonesty you will tolerate for the attractive price.
One thing I will ever not do is order a starter or alternator from them as returns are a tad more difficult due to weight.
Click to expand...
Well, I am about to order some NGK DILFR5A11 spark plugs - for my other problem

O'reilly and Autozone are both $26.99 each.

RA is $13.58

times 6. Shipping is $10.

I know the shipping / warehouse games are annoying, but if someone knows a cheaper place let me know.

Yes, the games are annoying. You can have good, fast or cheap. You usually get one of the 3, if your get 2 its your lucky day.
 
Kira said:
I think we all understand the fact that RA is not the first information processing business.
They turn a customer's parts order into various purchase orders to their associated warehouses as they see fit.
The dishonest games they play with shipping fees and parts warehouse origins are well known.
I'm wondering if they're OK for a wiper blade order. I would assume there's little opportunity to lie about those.

My question is whether the "rise and fall" attribute of this business model is a known quantity.
Do patchy businesses like this have a lifespan?

Occurrence:
I exercised my brain by going through the dishonest warehouse machinations mentioned by the OP and posting them here.
My example was way more complicated and condemning.
The kicker was that members here sided with RA claiming that, "They have to because they have to make a profit".
I believe that to be the stupidest thing I've ever read on this site.
To play hop-scotch with warehouse assignments in order to charge more is lying and stealing.
It picks up where galling leaves off.

You have to know how much dishonesty you will tolerate for the attractive price.
One thing I will never do is order a starter or alternator from them as returns are a tad more difficult due to weight.
Click to expand...
I have ordered a batch of wiper blades at least twice from RockAuto. The orders were just fine (shipping prices included in my calculations); I did save a reasonable amount, plus order delivered to my door. Same way with air filters.
 
I only recently started using RA and assuming they’re not counterfeit parts they’re still 1/4 the price at the parts store even with shipping.

The multiple warehouses stuff was a surprise but the site is a delight to use compared to Amazon or eBay.

That said I’d buy genuine Toyota either through Olathe Toyota or my local dealer, I don’t trust the supply chain online too many counterfeiters.
 
fcastro said:
I have been ordering parts from rockauto since they started, so its been a long time lol. I have recently had some troubling incidents with the parts they have sent. A few months back I had a dead starter sent to me. When I looked at the box, it looked like it had been opened previously, but being heavy and it looked clean, installed it. Only to find it was dead.

This week I ordered a AC Delco purge valve, opened the box, it had dirt in one of the crevices, which I then tested and was open, so defective (should be closed). But the part right off the bat was used, they didn't even clean it well. Which has me thinking *** is going with rockauto now.

Anyone else seeing anything similar? Bad parts, and now used parts?
Click to expand...
Since I see you're new here and I bet you haven't searched all the posts over the years.. So I'll catch you up on some of it.. Lots of reports of bad parts from Rockauto. Damaged/beatup/defective, etc.. It got so bad for me personally that I gave up 100% on using them at all a couple years ago. What ended it for me was.. I was ordering parts for a friend's truck, the brake calipers RA sent were beat up so bad they tried to tape the part box back together! The calipers had scrapes and gouges in them, just wow Then.. RA tried to blame me for ordering the calipers! Yup, they told me that "you can't be returning parts all the time" my response was "then stop damaging them beyond repair! I cannot control your warehouses!".. With the threat of a credit card investigation they refunded me the order.

What you're experiencing is what RA has been doing, or their warehouses. It's just getting worse everytime someone writes in about their experiences. You'll always get people on even this forum who support RA and claim that "no, they're great, nothing wrong with them".. ya right.. I think it's best you try someone else other than RA, the warehouses they use have to be the gutter of the parts industry.
 
LazyDog said:
Ivan from Pine Hollow has a new YouTube video in which he describes a Denso Reman Starter from Rack Auto only lasted 3 week's in service. The quality of today's stuff is really a crap shoot.
Click to expand...
Thanks. That was a good video. I bought some NGK spark plugs from RA and now I’m worried they’re going to come counterfeit.
 
newoilguy1 said:
Thanks. That was a good video. I bought some NGK spark plugs from RA and now I’m worried they’re going to come counterfeit.
Click to expand...
I would like to add that it's not fair to judge a brand's quality by what Rockauto has in their warehouses or how they handle the parts.. I do agree that overall aftermarket quality has been going down a lot lately. There are some good brands out there, but it's getting thinner every day.. sad.. But to your point about the NGK plugs, you can contact NGK directly about checking your plugs to determine if they're counterfeit or not. Niterra is NGK's name now.. In case you go to the link and ask if it's the correct site, it is..
here's the link about how to check

https://www.ngkntk.com/newsroom/blog/emea/fake-or-not/
 
RockAuto has been a nightmare lately. Right parts on order and wrong parts sent. They want me to send parts back at my expense and then they will make sure wrong part sent or defective then send the correct part. I have ate over 200.00 in parts over a year. I don't recommend them anymore.
 
Stopping using them after the last time I ordered parts from them and they send me a bunch of parts without labels or part #s that didn't fit the vehicle and they expected me to pay to ship them back to them. Ending up having to file a charge back with my credit card to get all my money back. They have no customer service anymore and what you get is a crap shoot. I'll pay more to not get incorrect parts and not have my time wasted.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Donald
Buying auto parts on Amazon
2
Replies
22
Views
1K
TomYoung
Selmorides
Amazon shipping route experience, not bad but…
Replies
2
Views
316
loneryder
O
OE Ford tailgate bushing E7TZ-99430B22-A 3 or 1?
Replies
9
Views
302
oilboy123
S
More cheapened parts
2 3
Replies
50
Views
3K
UNC174
R
did my shop just say they do not want my business?
2 3
Replies
58
Views
2K
Mackelroy
Back
Top Bottom