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Rock Auto is amazing.
Better prices than the local parts supply store and it's delivered to my door.
As long as you don't need it today, go with Rock Auto.
They have no customer service call center representatives. Zero. And, proud of it they are by the tone of their voice recorder message if you try to reach out with a legitimate issue. Prices are amazing. But, I recently bought something that required an actual conversation. The pure way that they completely drop the ball, there is epic (again, listen to their phone recorder which surprisingly says 'go screw yourself'). Their robo-attempt at satisfying an inquiry with only pre-formulated answers failed and there is no backup plan. Now, I have to contact my credit card company and go through that hassle, and probably the BBB.
Last edited by Lakeside49; Feb 9, 2020 at 09:27 AM.
I place at least 3 large orders a week from them, and use them to save both my business and my customers money at my repair shop. It gives me several options to give my customers on the brands, and related quality for their cars and their needs. It saves us all money and sometimes an older daily driver doesn't need a top brand name part. It may just need to get by for a while. They have many brands and all fit a purpose in my experience.
I have never had an issue with returns, cores, or shipping. I love my local 3 big chain auto parts stores, and use all of them every day, but I really like being able to buy the brands I can trust, and I can wait 3 days most of the time.
I have never had to call them, so I can't comment on that, but I have been able to get quick answers online and if you know what you want, it is the place to go for everyday car repairs. IMHO.
I buy from Rock Auto almost weekly as I do repair for a lot of friends OEM ****.......and my own.......sometimes the prices are so cheap that I almost fail to see how they make any money.....
My wifes 2014 Equinox puked a VVT solenoid at 61,000 miles......on my account at O'Reilleys was $80......Rock Auto was $21! So I bought both the I and E and spares that I threw in the glove box for the price of one!
My bosses daughter had a box Kia that needed an A/C compressor.......$300 EVERYWHERE I looked including Rock Auto......but I scrolled to the bottom and there was a genuine Kia boxed part with no description for $198......so I took a chance and bought it.....it showed up in a KIA box and was the exact OEM part......Rock Auto is nothing but a parts locator for warehouses and sometimes you get lucky with their algorithm......
I keep my stepdaughters 97' Exploder on the road for pennies with Rock Auto......I recently bought a crank sensor for $9! Nine dollars! You cant even get a fast food lunch for that.....
Crazy...
I place at least 3 large orders a week from them, and use them to save both my business and my customers money at my repair shop. It gives me several options to give my customers on the brands, and related quality for their cars and their needs. It saves us all money and sometimes an older daily driver doesn't need a top brand name part. It may just need to get by for a while. They have many brands and all fit a purpose in my experience.
I have never had an issue with returns, cores, or shipping. I love my local 3 big chain auto parts stores, and use all of them every day, but I really like being able to buy the brands I can trust, and I can wait 3 days most of the time.
I have never had to call them, so I can't comment on that, but I have been able to get quick answers online and if you know what you want, it is the place to go for everyday car repairs. IMHO.
I just wanted to throw out a `heads up' to our C3 brethren that the prices are amazing. But, as a long-time classic car restorer as most of us are in this awesome forum, you need a person on a phone to resolve something that either you, or they have screwed up. Their "automated" support system works perfectly for 80%, maybe 90% (seems a stretch) of issues. But, 10-20% of the time when you actually need to speak to a human you are defeated before you even start - there is zero chance that you will receive such help from RockAuto, and they tell you this in their customer assistance center voice message (listen for yourself - 608-661-1376). Unfortunately, you are entirely on your own which sucks. So, I will resolve it via my credit card company without a doubt with my documentation. Done deal. But, what a freakin' hassle, and time waster when we're all very busy people. Thumbs up on their prices. Double thumbs down on their non-existent human customer support.
I live in southern california. I think i have warehouses to almost anything close by. I usually get stuff delivered withing 48 hrs, sometimes next afternoon its on my doorstep.
Ive purchashed a bunch of stuff from them for over 10 years. for my corvette, mostly suspension related and brakes, hoses, engine seals etc.. and many things for my other cars.
Sometimes shipping is killer on small items, I just search the part on google, and usually get it with amazon prime for a few extra bucks next day, save on shipping.
The things I dont usually get are calipers, valves, slave cylinder, brake cylinders etc. I just pony up the few extra bucks at autozone and get a hassle free warranty. and i can inspect the parts in store and choose the one i want, sometimes reman or new.
Bought stuff from Rock Auto 3 times and had issues each time.
Bought a power window regulator for an Accord, didn't match the original and didn't fit, had to send it back.
Bought a set of MG Midget tapered roller bearings to replace the ball bearing on front wheels, didn't fit, rotors would bind on calipers, close out item, couldn't return.
Bought a radiator to fit my '68 Chevy Van, not even close to fitting, it was their issue in their fitment description, actually made for '71 and later, They wouldn't own up to it, took it back, but I had to pay return shipping.
Now I use Autozone. Bought rebuilt calipers for my C3 five years ago, one started leaking a couple months ago, they replaced it no charge (lifetime warranty).
Their lack of customer service makes them dead to me. I ended up eating the cost of one part from them, but I won't do it again. Not being able to talk to a human being in customer service is asinine.
