Review: Rockauto.com (car parts store)

I’ve been using them for about a year now and love this place, but a recent order and dealing with their customer service made me decide to write this review.

First off, I’ve ordered tons of parts from there and never had a problem. Sometimes they even ship out of Tonawanda so you get them next day. That was case here; ordered Friday, delivered Saturday. Their prices are almost always better than anything local and you’re getting trusted brand names not things like “Duralast” where you have to research who actually made the part.

My most recent order, an exhaust manifold kit for the Expedition, was missing the manifold studs. It actually came with 4 but they were the wrong size and even if they were the right size 4 is half as many as I’d need. Since I already had the truck apart I just picked up the manifold bolts and gasket from Autozone, reused my existing manifold (doing the work because 2 bolts had snapped off), and decided to send the whole kit back to RockAuto.

Called today, talked to a person after about 20 seconds on hold, issued my RMA and a fedex pre-paid return invoice no questions asked and apologized for the issue. Before I even hung up the phone I had the email with the RMA and about 5 minutes later had an email from fedex explaining how to print out the return label.

:tup: to real customer service.

PS… Google “rockauto discount code” before you place your order and you can always find a valid 5% off code.

EDIT 9/3/09
Just got the credit back today. Shipment was just picked up by fedex yesterday (going back to Tonawanda). Full credit including the original shipping charges. Can’t say enough about this standup company. :tup:

I’ve had good luck with them as well. Can’t beat the prices either. :tup:

:tup:

Word, Rockauto is pretty killer. Bought a whole bunch of gaskets for my old SHO there a few years back, they delivered within 2 days and saved me about $15. Great site.

I was worried you were going to post a bad experience. I ordered a fuel pump lock ring for the s10 and it was shipped the next morning. I wanted to add to the order but it shipped too fast. lol

I have used them before, recently bought some timing chain guides and they shipped one wrong. Instead of hassling me with returning the wrong guide, they just shipped me the right one no charge.

I use them all the time for parts and it was good every time. Theres always a coupon for a discount on the net or their site. Most of my items shipped out of tonawanda! ordering on friday and getting saturday is also a plus.

Never used them. I checked out their website. I like it. I also I like their price comparison chart. Example (I do not own a Prius nor would I):

2004 Toyota Prius Brake Pad:
RockAuto - Wagner - $33.79
Advance - Wagner - $44.49
O’Reilly - Wagner - $45.99
NAPA - NAPA - $52.49
Autozone - Duralast - $54.99

Been using them for a while now too. Never a bad experience. I normally call up and request that they ship out of Tonawanda too. A few times they had it shipping out of some other warehouse, but changed it to Tonawanda at my request. :tup:

They rock, I buy everything from them.

The only thing you get from the box type auto stores is a warranty on a piece of shit part.

I like to pick the brand of my brakes, and other parts…

Nice tip about calling and requesting Tonawanda shipment. I always just figured they shipped from the closest that had the part in stock.

I didn’t even know about this place. Thanks. I’ll be trying them when I need parts next.

I dont think he said anything about selecting where its shipped from

:eyebrow:

^ My new favorite smiley.

mah bad. I wouldnt think you could request it. it depends on what they have in stock at Tonawanda

Yeah they rock. I’ve used them a bunch of times.

The one site I’m on actually has an ongoing thread with discount codes. You usually get one every time you place an order. You can access the thread use the code and then replace it when you get one.

Might be a good idea for on here, although I’m sure people would fuck it up.

yeah they are awesome.

they are actually one of our vendors on www.turbo-mopar.com, a forum a few friends and i run. they post up a code in a thread in their section every once in a while.

Brian

Theyre shipping prices are the only thing I’m not a fan of and if you order multiple parts, they are shipped out at different locations and charge you for each different location so it almost evens out if you ordered local or somewhere with free shipping.

It depends what you get. If you are buying brake rotors (heavy), then you pay about the same as with autozone or advance auto, but you get to pick the brand name and quality of the part you are getting.

Sometimes they run rebates, and you make out a little cheaper, but get much better parts than the shit duralast or whatever.

If you are buying weird parts like electronic key lock cylinders for a saturn, or some other expensive little part, you will save a ton of money. Mine was 50 percent less than what the saturn dealer wanted for the exact same delco part.

Same deal with clutch kits, and other pricey parts. You don’t pay a huge markup…

I ended up doing the front brakes on my saturn for like 78 bucks after rebate. I used some monroe ceramic pads that were like 10 bucks after a 30 dollar mail in rebate, and got some raybestos rotors also.

they also have closeouts sometimes where the prices are SIGNIFICANTLY reduced. i did my trackers brakes last year for 50$ including shipping. rotors and pads for the front. advance wanted almost 50$ for just one rotor.

Brian