Auto parts stores

[stomachmonkey]

Who still uses them and why?

Had two minor issues pop up with the wife’s truck this week.

The first issue was the right rear window motor. Had to get fixed right away so parts store it was as I could not wait for the part to get shipped even though the part is 2-3xs as much locally vs Rock Auto.

No one carries just the motor, need to buy the entire regulator assembly which is not so bad because the motor alone is basically the same price as regulator with motor. Why?

Get the part home, kid pulled the wrong part. Regulator frame is not a match but motor is so f it, pull motor from regulator and swap it in. Pissed me off that I ended tossing a new regulator but whatever.

Later in the week we go out and as I pull out of the driveway I hear this horrible grinding. Drive down the block to listen and it’s an obvious wheel bearing. Wife says, “yeah it’s been doing that and getting worse”

Honey, you are supposed to let me know about these things so minor problems don’t become major problems.

“I forgot”



Anyway, I’m heading out of town for a few days so tell her to leave it parked and I’ll deal with it when I get back.

Pop it in the air yesterday and the problem is obvious, cap on back of bearing is missing.

Start my part search and again, very limited choices locally, not in stock and will take a day to get to my local store plus 3-4xs more than online.

Order online, it will be here today. Price including $30 for next day shipping still half what it is local.

And don’t even get me started on stores parts search engines.

You don’t need to know the make, year, model, trim, engine size before I can even begin a search for air fresheners just so you can show me pictures with no prices unless I enter my zip which results in a map page showing me the stores in my area which I’m aware are there, it’s why I went to your site to begin with, because I know there is a store around the corner and now I have to click two more ****ing pages to get back to my search results which is full of overpriced parts that you don’t even have in stock.

I’m bitter today.

[javadog]

I don't buy anything at a parts store, apart from maybe the occasional shop chemical. I don't buy anything from Rock Auto or those types of sites either, because all they sell is crap.

I try to limit my consumption of Chinese goods to the takeout food I get from a couple friends that run a local restaurant.

[JackDidley]

I get most of my parts from this site. Oreillys had my Porsche antifreeze when I did the water pump. They get my local business. Ive had good luck with Rock Auto and ebay in the past. Jegs and Summit both sell on ebay.

[VINMAN]

I try to avoid the big chain stores, Pep Boys, Autozone.. although Advanced isn't that bad.... I try to hit up the small local guy when I need stuff. I avoid online shopping as much as possible.

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[VincentVega]

I do maybe 80% online and have similar experiences. I needed a new caliper and its just simpler to get reman local instead of shipping twice... I had to wait for ~15 while they figured out how to process a core. What? Turns out the issue was I ordered online, picked up in store and returned to the store, for some reason thats pushing the limits. Simpler to just print a shipping label.

[widebody911]

I will buy basic supplies, like oil, locally, but for other stuff they either won't have it, it's garbage, or it's 2x-3x what I can get it for online.

Recent example: I needed wiper blades for the M3. Simple enough, right? I had a spare set so I went to O'Reilly to get refills. Turns out they don't "do" refills any more, you have to get the whole blade assembly. They had Bosch and several store brands, but none had the "wing" on the arm like the OEM blades. The guy offers to look it up. "What year? What model? Convertible or Coupe? Automatic or Manual? What engine size?" While he was dicking around with that, I looked up the part number on my phone: google "+M3 +E46 +wiper" - bam! I have it instantly. He looks it up their system and they are $70, but he'd have to order them. I got them on Amazon for $34 the next day, free shipping.

[aschen]

Ive been in the habbit of springing for OEM parts online these days. Its just too hard to know what you are getting from parts stores / rock auto. Its tough though. A OEM ps pump for a subaru is 500$ discounted online and 79$ from rock auto for aftermarket.

I do use parts stores for brake cleaner, sealants, shop towels, zip ties etc.....Even though amazon prime is cheaper and easier if you can remember 2 days in advance.

[flipper35]

I get oil for the truck and Cobra at O'Reillys and a few other things here and there. After dad retired he started working as a delivery boy for a local auto parts distributor and he gets stuff at better prices than Rock Auto so I get stuff through him like an alternator or something.

The local hardware store had good enough pricing for stuff like car wash and wax supplies or coolant if I need it.

[Scott Douglas]

I think Rock Auto must fill their orders almost real time.
My last purchase I put in the wrong number of cabin air filters. They're the same part number for both our cars. I was ordering air and cabin filters for both. I changed the quantity for them in the check out page. When the order arrived I ended up with three cabins and one air. Sent an email explaining how they screwed up and they sent me another air next day, no charge and I got to keep the extra cabin filter they sent originally. Can't fault their customer service when it was as easy as that. They give you a choice of quality too and note which is the OEM equivalent. I have no complaints about them. I get my oil at Wally World on sale. OEM Honda oil filters from a dealer that does good pricing and shipping which is still cheaper than me going to the local dealer. Go figure.

[jcommin]

I own a VW and a Porsche. I like OE parts. I buy Porsche parts from this site, 944online and at time the local dealer.

Parts for the VW come from a number of places too. I have bought from Rock A but I'm selective in purchases,

I also have bought parts from Pep Boys because I get a discount. I work for a Carl Icahn company and Carl has a huge stake in PB.

[MBAtarga]

I just tried 2 different local parts stores to replace the broken glass on the driver side mirror on my new to me '07 Silverado. First store can get the part next day - so I say sure- get it for me (didn't have to prepay for it - cost is around $29). Go to store next day, find out the part is the glass ONLY - not including the plastic carrier that would enable a quick removal/install for the new part. But the kicker is, the part showed it was for a heated, non-LED directional replacement -which is what I needed. The part that gets delivered - on the back packaging - states - direct replacement for heated glass part, but this part does NOT have heating elements! Guy at counter understands when I tell him I'll pass.
Next parts store can get the full mirror - for about $70 or so, but no other help.
I get home and decide to check Amazon. Find direct replacement - with heater element - with plastic carrier - for $16! (Oh - free shipping too!) It got delivered to my door within 36 hrs and took me about 3 minutes to pop the old cracked glass assembly off, swap wiring to new part, and snap new part in.

[T77911S]

depends on what it is and how much it cost

also convenience.
this site is getting very expensive on the parts. paid about 50 less for a bosch starter somewhere else for my BMW.

[ckelly78z]

Summit will get you what you need the very next day, and most likely for a cheaper price than anywhere else. I do walk into Advance Auto for things like oil/headlights...etc.

[Aerkuld]

I've not had much luck with the regular parts stores unless it's something really common. On the other hand, there's a Carquest in Sunnyvale which is, I think, the parts warehouse for a lot of FLAPS in the area. If I want something urgently and can't wait to order it from Pelican, then I'll call them. It's not a store as-such, just a door with small display room and a counter. It's just like a car parts store of old. The guy shuffles off into the warehouse and comes back with your parts. Magic! They haven't let me down yet.

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by Aerkuld

...It's just like a car parts store of old. The guy shuffles off into the warehouse and comes back with your parts. Magic! They haven't let me down yet.

And you could smoke a cigarette and grind it out on the floor while you waited.

[fastfredracing]

5 x a day, every day. Half of my jobs , get dropped off in the morning, and customers are expecting them back at the end of the day. It costs way more . I get a lot of stuff for myself, and customers who can wait , for eruo cars , online,and from large wholesalers, . Often times, the local parts store does not have whatever eruo contraption I am looking for .

[fastfredracing]

Originally Posted by ckelly78z

Summit will get you what you need the very next day, and most likely for a cheaper price than anywhere else. I do walk into Advance Auto for things like oil/headlights...etc.

Summit is a great resource. They are next day to me also, and have just about everything under the sun .

[Icemaster]

Kinda tough to get Amazon to deliver a battery to the parking lot of the grocery store within the hour.

[pwd72s]

Walked into my local NAPA a month or so ago. No problem..they had a voltage regulator for my '77 Dodge truck on the shelf.

[Scott Douglas]

We had a NAPA store local to us that was great. I think it was a regional warehouse type place that would serve gas stations/repair shops etc as well as other smaller NAPA stores. Unfortunately they closed up shop and I haven't been able to find out where they moved.