Do you avoid the discount autopart retail stores?
#21
Administratus Emeritus
Certified Car Nut
Online here to alot. rockauto has alot of choices and good prices. I practically rebuilt the truck with rockauto parts. They move alot of items and like to clean house before they order new. I got the rear brakes for the 3500 for $18 and new rear 8 hole x 16" hubs for $26 each on closeout. Raybestos Pro. If you register there you can add all your vehicles and anytime any part or accessory goes to a closeout price they email you.
#22
Senior Member
True Car Nut
I have valet parking, my own checkout lane, and probably majority ownership of both Autozone and Oreillys based on what I spend there.
#23
Senior Member
True Car Nut
Always get a heavy discount compared to their already fairly cheap prices. If I've ever done a job that requires a tool I don't have they let me borrow it without that down payment junk. If I need a part that even has a Chinese cheap version they make sure to give me the real American stuff.
I've never had to replace a "critical" part, only ones that don't really matter like alternators and starters. Just call them, tell them what'* up and they hook me up. No receipts or nothing. Just give me the new part, I swap it, and then once the car/truck is working again I take the bad one back. Simple.
#24
Retired Administrator
True Car Nut
Thread Starter
"They move alot of items and like to clean house before they order new."
I'd love to learn more about the RockAuto business model. Do they own any parts, or do they just have access to inventories of a bunch of auto part wholesalers?
RockAuto has been a huge blessing to me. The only challenges have been it seems that the orders are manually processed, and I occasionally get a previous installed part. This has happened to me at the retail auto parts store also, but I can inspect and reject at the store, can't do it at the ROCK.
I'd love to learn more about the RockAuto business model. Do they own any parts, or do they just have access to inventories of a bunch of auto part wholesalers?
RockAuto has been a huge blessing to me. The only challenges have been it seems that the orders are manually processed, and I occasionally get a previous installed part. This has happened to me at the retail auto parts store also, but I can inspect and reject at the store, can't do it at the ROCK.
#25
Senior Member
True Car Nut
ive been buying all my parts from amazon. there enter your car search isnt any good but if you find the part number and search for that they always have it for cheap.
#26
Member
Posts like a V-Tak
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Myrtle Beach, SC
Posts: 43
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I LOVE my local AutoZone and Advance Auto. I avoid Napa at all cost, seeing as it would cost all to shop there. Though they do make a decent "last resort".
Not sure what is meant by "tested" or "verified", but I have NEVER had a problem with an item from AutoZone or Advance that was not quickly and properly dealt with. Come to think of it, the only major part problem I have ever had with a new part was with an alternator from AutoZone, and that'* not even really "major". And of course they replaced it.
Not sure what is meant by "tested" or "verified", but I have NEVER had a problem with an item from AutoZone or Advance that was not quickly and properly dealt with. Come to think of it, the only major part problem I have ever had with a new part was with an alternator from AutoZone, and that'* not even really "major". And of course they replaced it.
#27
Retired Administrator
True Car Nut
Thread Starter
"Not sure what is meant by "tested" or "verified", but I have NEVER had a problem with an item from AutoZone or Advance that was not quickly and properly dealt with."
A couple examples would be items like ball joints, fuel pumps, etc. The ball joints stocked at autozone. advanced are copies of the OEM part. But they typically use a metal that does not meet the OEM requirments, the machining is not quite as tight. When GM has a supplier provide a ball joint, it has to meet certain specs and is tested in house by a quality control team. These things do not happen in Chinese made knock offs.
A couple examples would be items like ball joints, fuel pumps, etc. The ball joints stocked at autozone. advanced are copies of the OEM part. But they typically use a metal that does not meet the OEM requirments, the machining is not quite as tight. When GM has a supplier provide a ball joint, it has to meet certain specs and is tested in house by a quality control team. These things do not happen in Chinese made knock offs.
#28
Senior Member
Posts like a Turbo
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: New York City
Posts: 394
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I hate autozone. The only duralast part I'd put in a car is the battery (which just carries a Duralast label anyway). Otherwise, I go down to the local neigborhood autoparts store thats been around for 50 years... I got a delco transmission filter for 35 dollars, the same price as on Amazon and Rockauto, but I didn't have to worry about shipping or it getting to my house. I've looked on Advanced Auto'* website for some bits, it seems like its the most legit of the big auto part stores that I've seen, but there aren't any in the New York City area unless you want to pay a toll.
#29
Senior Member
Certified GM nut
I've personally never had a problem with any of the retail chains, but when I need to buy something important or something that I wouldn't want to replace a second time, I always go for a name-brand like AC Delco, Delphi, Worldwide, Standard Motor Products, or something in a retail box with an actual logo on it.
Then, of course, there are the online name-brands like R1 Concepts, ZZP, Intense, and whatnot, which I trust until they give me a reason not to.
Then, of course, there are the online name-brands like R1 Concepts, ZZP, Intense, and whatnot, which I trust until they give me a reason not to.