Why do places offer junk parts?

[John105]

How about this one. What are your thoughts that if you go to an indie shop, you see rockauto boxes laying around, v. WORLDPAC? Does it mean anything? My Japanese indie gave me old parts back from a timing belt job, and the box was Worldpac, shipped to them, attention me. On that one I did not provide the parts, since it was a labor intensive job, in case anything went wrong, it's fully warranted. Nothing did, it was 5+ years ago....

 

[Snagglefoot]

I posted this with photos last year. My local Napa ( here in Canada), sold me their “ best” upper control arm for a 2010 Silverado. It was a Mevotech Supreme. So now it has survived a year and counting. I replaced the other one with a Mevotech Supreme as well, but from Rock Auto, and it was much cheaper. I’ll report back in the future.

Here is a screen shot of my posting with the Mevotech upper control arm being the same as Napa Chassis Line in Canada. Not sure what the Napa USA uses as its best line other than OEM. I can check the ball joints every six months and report back when I change tires for the season. The photos are of the new passenger side upper control arm. Enjoy.

 

[2strokeNorthstar]

Not any more. Same stuff just higher prices.

They have a few quality items. Akebono brake pads and 555 suspension parts for Asian vehicles. Good antifreeze selection, quality tools. Yeah a lot of junk too unfortunately. They aren't the quality alternative parts store anymore, like all the other chains you have to research if you want a decent part.

 

[2strokeNorthstar]

How about this one. What are your thoughts that if you go to an indie shop, you see rockauto boxes laying around, v. WORLDPAC? Does it mean anything? My Japanese indie gave me old parts back from a timing belt job, and the box was Worldpac, shipped to them, attention me. On that one I did not provide the parts, since it was a labor intensive job, in case anything went wrong, it's fully warranted. Nothing did, it was 5+ years ago....

If they use Rock Auto to get quality parts, I would be impressed. If they are getting the FVP or whatever cheaper than dirt parts and charging retail, I would go somewhere else

 

[Jarlaxle]

Another thing to consider are what kind of "parts" are you talking about? I've found Duralast batteries, (Autozone), have as good, or a better guarantee than most others. Even the bigger names like Optima and Odyssey... At a much better price. Much the same can be said about the Everstart brand from Wal-Mart.

When you get into brakes, suspension, and ignition parts, then it's another story. But even then, places like Autozone and O'Reilly usually have several different quality levels of parts you can choose from. Naturally they all get "better" as the price increases. But it's not all, "bottom of the barrel".

Sometimes, the choice is deliberate: I always used low-end brake pads in my Cadillac...on purpose. That is because I can swap pads in 45 minutes...but rotors are expensive, and I was down to one pair of the good (US-made) rotors. The cheap pads stopped fine, the tradeoff was relatively short life.

 

[SC Maintenance]

How about this one. What are your thoughts that if you go to an indie shop, you see rockauto boxes laying around, v. WORLDPAC? Does it mean anything? My Japanese indie gave me old parts back from a timing belt job, and the box was Worldpac, shipped to them, attention me. On that one I did not provide the parts, since it was a labor intensive job, in case anything went wrong, it's fully warranted. Nothing did, it was 5+ years ago....

I could care less what retailer the parts originated - so long as they were good parts.

 

[Averroes]

People don't know better and want to buy the cheapest thing. Not everyone is dedicated to their car as many people on this forum are. I go by the motto "buy once, cry once" meaning spend the money when you have to and you can sleep with both eyes closed without worrying about it.

 

[Fitter30]

Looking Chinese companies that sell parts the more u buy the cheaper they are. National brand auto parts stores can buy a large quantity box them and the mark up is a lot.
https://m.made-in-china.com/hot-china-products/Auto_Parts.html

 

[paulo57509]

There's a 4-year discussion/evaluation on thirdgen.org about idler arms with funky geometry; the arm is not "bent" the same as factory installed. Moog being the worst offender. Appears the ACDelco replacement is the only one that is identical to factory.

 

[billt460]

People don't know better and want to buy the cheapest thing.

I don't think very many know that it's the, "cheapest thing". Most worn out car parts look pretty rusty and grungy by the time they're shot, and come off the vehicle.

The mechanic shows the owner this dirty old, worn out POS he just removed, (most likely sitting in a filthy, oil soaked cardboard box), and then points to this nice shiny new part he just installed. And he or she doesn't have a single clue as to the quality. But it's brand new compared to all of the old, dirty crap that's bolted right next to it.

Hell, most here couldn't judge the quality of a part by just looking at it, as it comes from the box. Especially if it didn't have a brand name on it, or country of origin to persuade their thinking one way or the other.

 

[dfarr67]

And don't forget, they then complain bitterly when it fails/breaks, and then they go do the same thing again, lol.

Love that lifetime warranty- over and over again. My time is worth something too.

 

[willbur]

Using suspension parts as an example. Why does AutoZone,orileys and even napa sell low quality junk? Stuff that likely won't last a year. Since almost everyone knows they are junk who buys them?

I thought the same thing. But if those parts are so bad, how do they stay in business? Are they really that bad? Only ppl with bad experiences complain, and ppl with good experiences never say anything.

 

[D60]

If they use Rock Auto to get quality parts, I would be impressed. If they are getting the FVP or whatever cheaper than dirt parts and charging retail, I would go somewhere else

I regularly use RA to get actual Motorcraft parts, they tend to be a good source for most stuff Motorcraft. In order to get the water pump for a CX-9 I had to go into the Ford Edge listings, though. It was, of course, identical to the Motorcraft pump that came out of the CX-9

 

[dfarr67]

Used to use Rock for a few things- now they play warehouse/shipping games.

 

[Rmay635703]

There are people that want cheap, some are willing to roll the dice, others are stupid, some don't care because they're selling the car. Bottom line is have what the public wants.

What about the case when the only parts available for your vehicle are garbage?

My 2001 Dodge Ram 1500 2wd only issue is that the entire front end wheels and all should be **** canned.

I can get the whole front end for about $250 and it will last about a year
Or I can spend 10x more on things that are supposedly high quality OEM or whatever and no matter what it’s not going to last more than 30,000 miles because all the ball joint offerings are total garbage aftermarket or not. Bearings are also very questionable at best. Brand literally doesn’t matter anymore no matter what anyone tells you as parts aren’t the same as they were 15 years ago.

Quite a sad situation for an otherwise good truck that just turned 90,000 miles and just needs the front end replaced (which I used to be able to buy southern pulls fully complete about 10 years ago)

 

[demarpaint]

What about the case when the only parts available for your vehicle are garbage?

You roll the dice and pray.

 

[Braapdaddy]

I make it clear to customers and family that almost everything now is a complete gamble then I ask the question where do you want your "warranty " on your part from out of the big 4 box stores so they feel they have some control and this let's them take part of the responsibility in their decisions....... then I finish up with because we will almost definitely have to take them back and it will cost double the labor

Then I explain that even if you do buck up for
FoMoCo or GM or whatever the hell " DODGE" pickups owner of the month is this month that we are only increasing our chances of quality based on the current situation of the bean counters greed

Had to also explain the diff to a few truck customers about FoMoCo vs Motorcraft and
GM vs AC Delco and Mopar vs _ _ _ _ whoever

I have also had some Delphi end links that recently were junk after 1.5 years

 

[Braapdaddy]

At some point the NTSB needs to simply put a stop to critical parts that your life hangs by from entering the country problem solved
But that's chasing white rabbits

I have seen threads so soft on some of the junk people want me to install that I make them do an video saying it's thier parts now ..... some people are on such fixed incomes it's hard not to help them but dangerous is dangerous peeps

 

[willbur]

People don't know better and want to buy the cheapest thing. Not everyone is dedicated to their car as many people on this forum are. I go by the motto "buy once, cry once" meaning spend the money when you have to and you can sleep with both eyes closed without worrying about it.

So true...

 

[Audiman]

Please see the “Jeep needs brakes again” thread.

This is Why!