Rockauto Shipping cost

[The Critic]

So RA has been doing a weird thing: the "truck" symbol won't always appear, but add a small item to your existing cart and then go to the cart, they'll still be shipping out of the same place.

Basically, don't always believe the truck symbol. Add an item to an existing cart and then go to the cart and see. This of course seems to be most common with small parts like small gaskets, filters etc.

I think their system is smart enough to try to avoid individually packing and shipping a small, lightweight item when possible.

I have very distinctly observed this when mocking up several carts in the past couple months.

Yep.
There's also another secret -- make a list of the items you need, but in order of priority. Start by adding the most important item to your cart and building the cart around that item. Always have 2nd choices for items if possible.

 

[locomaster1969]

I compare prices with Amazon and Ebay. Most times RA is cheaper including shipping. Try changing up the sequence of what you are ordering, sometimes the shipping is less. Buy in bulk when you can...RA is hard to beat!

 

[D60]

Sort of. Montana Shipping in Eureka will hold the parcel for a small fee but they don't forward. That may change. I'll have to call them and check. I have not noticed any " gathering point" warehouses. It seems they do the the collection of the GST (general sales tax) and PST (provincial sales tax) through their head office in Wisconsin. Right now we are still operating on the free trade agreement and auto part flow across the border duty free. As far a finding a "forwarder" I imagine that will just stack more charges on but I'm open to ideas if someone knows one. On the other hand if things get any worse I will just use Parts Avatar in Canada and say Adios.

I've once been on the other side of the coin with Cancraft in BC. They had a $100 core charge on a steering box but shipping the core back was $100 ‐‐ obviously I just kept the old box

 

[D60]

I compare prices with Amazon and Ebay. Most times RA is cheaper including shipping. Try changing up the sequence of what you are ordering, sometimes the shipping is less. Buy in bulk when you can...RA is hard to beat!

Yep I've also had shipping drop by a $1 or two by adding another item to the cart. Presumably, it's shifting to a closer warehouse, but I dunno.

I understand not everyone has the time or desire to play these games. I kind of enjoy it so it's fun for me to get "decent" parts at really low prices.

 

[Selmorides]

I have brake parts in my cart all from the same location. I add brake fluid to the cart from same location and shipping jumps $6. I delete that and add a different brand of fluid from same location and it only goes up $1. Doesn’t make sense, you just have to pay attention and be flexible. Shop Amazon too.

 

[Selmorides]

Yep I've also had shipping drop by a $1 or two by adding another item to the cart. Presumably, it's shifting to a closer warehouse,

I have seen that too, drop by $3. Why not ship from closer warehouse to begin with? Is this A I?

 

[blackdak318]

I always shop all my options, including calling the local auto parts store and quoting them how much RA is with shipping and see if they will match, or come close enough it makes sense to just get it locally. It is hit or miss. I have had a few instances an O'Reilly manager was in a good mood and came within a few dollars of the RA cost. A few times they straight said no.

 

[D60]

I have seen that too, drop by $3. Why not ship from closer warehouse to begin with? Is this A I?

I agree, their logistics are weird. Honestly I doubt even they fully understand them. That said, they really do an excellent job overall of managing inventory and shipping things VERY promptly IME

 

[SC Maintenance]

I have seen that too, drop by $3. Why not ship from closer warehouse to begin with? Is this A I?

I am 100% certain their algorithm is set up to best benefit themselves. So they likely choose warehouse based on their profit.

Most people like me probably start with the most critical part in the cart, then try to add other things like filters and such. But unfortunately the first part in was likely chosen by them based on their profit - and that is the fork in the road you started down - as @D60 has already mentioned.

 

[Selmorides]

Can’t complain about their service.

 

[grasscutter]

On 12/13/2025 I ordered a brand new Bosch alternator from RockAuto.

The price was $214.83 out the door shipped.

The same exact alternator at NAPA would've been $465.69 before tax.

Fantastic alternator. Puts out between 14.7 and 15.2V all the time.

Will I be making purchases from RockAuto in the future?

**** skippy I will!

 

[Chris142]

I've stopped using rock auto because of this. I can usually get the same part type locally for the same price or less.

 

[oilboy123]

Yes they have gotten very pricy for shipping. You do have to check Amazon, and maybe Ebay...... just to compare the price vs ship cost.

Though I'm more confident of parts being genuine with Rock Auto.

 

[PandaBear]

They all have their places. I use RA if I need to make sure the parts are genuine and high risk of fake, even if I have to pay more. I use eBay to bargain hunt for low volume discontinued parts that people want gone. I use Amazon if it is something I have a high chance of returning (buying extra rotors and pads before a potential brake jobs that may not be needed), I can literally just walk to my Whole Foods and return anything I want without stocking any parts I may need 5 years later. $2 for 7 days of Prime trial can help me avoid a possible $10 return shipping to RA or hold something useless for 5 years? Sign me up.

 

[johnmyster]

RA does have the "choose for me to minimize cost" feature, but it is kinda clunky to use.

For items that you're not particular about, you can select multiple options. It'll display them all in your cart as a group but then select the combination that gives the lowest product+shipping cost. It would be easier if they just told you what location items were at before adding them to cart. Or once you have a cart going show listed items as A (adds additional shipping origin) or D (does not add additional shipping origin...green/red, etc.

 

[Hall]

Researching Rock Auto, I've seen reports where others have received counterfeit parts, but they were not shipped by RA themselves, but a third party. Other reports hint that some of their super-low-priced oil filters may be counterfeit... allegedly.

RA has never shipped parts - they have "partners" across the country that they use for shipping parts. I highly doubt people have gotten counterfeit parts from RA either.

I was under the impression that the Amazon warehousing system did not put similar items in same bin. Stuffed bear with pants with shower caddy. Reduces likelihood of human grabbing wrong item.

No one said "similar" items. Remember, anyone can sell on Amazon and use Amazon for fulfillment. Take this Fram oil filter, for example: https://www.amazon.com/Replacement-TG7317-Designed-Interval-Full-Flow/dp/B079DDL8H2. Amazon sells this and ships it. Click on "Other sellers...." and a few others offer this, though only one is also shipped by Amazon. Now, ask yourself why does Amazon "connect" these items from these other sellers ? It's the ASIN - this is how Amazon catalogs them and they're all the same. When you list an item for sale, one of the first things they do is ask for a unique identifier and the most common is the UPC. Fram assigns this no matter who sells it.

So in various Amazon warehouses across the country, there's a bin for ASIN B079DDL8H2 and no matter who is selling it, they all go in the same bin. And why shouldn't they ? They're the same part.

 

[Plumb Bob]

Yes, placed an order last week. Shipping was double what I would have paid last year.

When I bought front brakes for my Prius, AutoZone’s sale beat RA’s shipping costs on similar hardware, and I didn’t have to wait.

 

[Cheetah-kins]

than it is to drive all the way across town and deal with FedEx or the UPS store and their miserable employees.

^I wonder why that is? They must be absolute terrible places to work as I've noticed that 'misery' in those facilities in multiple cities I've lived in. The shipping companies charge so much now for shipping, yet they obviously underpay and short staff their stores. WTH?

 

[Cheetah-kins]

One of my biggest concerns when shopping for auto parts online is the possibility of counterfeit parts. Amazon can have great prices at times, but unless the item is sold and shipped by Amazon, you're at the mercy of the third party vendor.

We buy a fair amount of stuff on Amazon but my wife refuses to buy anything make up related. Apparently the counterfeiting is so bad you simply cannot trust what you're buying to be the actual product some China knockoff. I think this applies to other things too and have seen it a few times, so I'm careful about what I buy. I often think drop shippers are the current scourge of online commerce.

 

[The_Jeff]

When I bought front brakes for my Prius, AutoZone’s sale beat RA’s shipping costs on similar hardware, and I didn’t have to wait.

I got a bunch of Prius rotors for $12 or so on clearance, some were even coated, LOL. Saved a bunch on shipping by sending them to my wife's office. Her wo-workers roll their eyes at the mythical miser that I must be to them.