Rockauto
Racer
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 275
Likes: 34
From: Stoughton Wisconsin
Have you figured in Suzuki's huge mark-up in your math? You know what Suzuki is buying the parts at? My guess is, this telling as to what their mark-up really is. I don't think it is that Rock Auto is making that large of a discount.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 422
Likes: 53
From: PA
Yeah, I buy from them, great prices, especially for nissan parts. But of course on jobs I can schedule and plan ahead. Brakes, exhaust, etc. Belt, hose, battery, brake light switch, etc breaks on the daily driver I need the part ASAP, can't wait for shipping.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,432
Likes: 3,285
From: Hartford WI
I have no idea what Suzuki, the company buys it at. I do know that at the dealership level, it isn't that high. IIRC, 20-35% markup at their level? So maybe Suzuki, the company and NOT the dealership is marking it up quite a bit to sell to the dealership and by the time we get it, it is 500% marked up? Hard to say since I know nobody at company level but the parts managers I am friends with don't mark it up that much.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,616
Likes: 111
No wrong answers above. All the above... yes, Rock Auto has gotten to be an online auto parts guerilla and Suzuki marks up the product...they don’t sell as much parts as Rock Auto, so they sell at higher margins....When I take my car to the dealership and they let me know about a problem, I am much more inclined (if I trust them) to say, “fix it” knowing the dealer has a markup on that item that gets installed. It’s convenient at that point which I may be willing to pay for. Just like when you buy a soda from a machine wherever it might be. You are paying for convenience....it costs more than the grocery store per item that’s for sure!
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,432
Likes: 3,285
From: Hartford WI
No wrong answers above. All the above... yes, Rock Auto has gotten to be an online auto parts guerilla and Suzuki marks up the product...they don’t sell as much parts as Rock Auto, so they sell at higher margins....When I take my car to the dealership and they let me know about a problem, I am much more inclined (if I trust them) to say, “fix it” knowing the dealer has a markup on that item that gets installed. It’s convenient at that point which I may be willing to pay for. Just like when you buy a soda from a machine wherever it might be. You are paying for convenience....it costs more than the grocery store per item that’s for sure!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,616
Likes: 111
Also another thing you are paying for is the guy checking things out for you if it is model specific to you. Like my experience with RA, if you know what you want, it could work out. OTOH, if you are unsure, I would think the dealership is better since RA doesn't have a phone you can call to ask something.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,432
Likes: 3,285
From: Hartford WI
Who doesn't have an email for questions? If you can guarantee a 20 minute turnaround, fine. If not why would I put everything on an indefinite hold? Most companies do not keep me waiting more than 20 minutes and by then, I will have moved on to someone else.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 13,348
Likes: 233
From: SCMR Rat Pack'r Charter Member..Great Bend KS
I've gotten two parts orders from RockAuto this week and ordered a third this morning. Got exactly what I ordered. I'll continue to use them until something happens to change my mind.
Pro
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 580
Likes: 8
From: Clemson SC
The prices usually are good but shipping can make up the difference, particularly if you order several small items and they are coming from different locations so you pay multiple shipping fees. Also, it irks me when I have ordered "original equipment" AC Delco parts for my '88 and the part is made in China. If I wanted Chinese parts, I could get them cheaper.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 13,348
Likes: 233
From: SCMR Rat Pack'r Charter Member..Great Bend KS
Ordered a new master cylinder reservoir for one of my trucks. AutoZone has it for $57.99 in the store. RockAuto has the same Cardone part number for $24.14 shipped.
No brainer.
I can wait three days to save half.
No brainer.
I can wait three days to save half.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,432
Likes: 3,285
From: Hartford WI
To be clear, one case is part substitution, aka "Bait and Switch". The other is you not being happy with the current country of make.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 6,019
Likes: 567
From: Conroe Texas
the last part I ordered from ra was a door regulator for a grand prix dd. on the part was a sticker that said that a coating on it was cancer causing, and my wife was currently going through chemo as a follow thru from ovarian cancer. as soon as i saw that, I called customer service and demanded they take that part back on their nickel. it became a shouting match to get a return authorization out of them.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 12,221
Likes: 446
From: Overland Park Kansas
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (appearance mods)
C4 of Year Winner (appearance mods) 2019
the last part I ordered from ra was a door regulator for a grand prix dd. on the part was a sticker that said that a coating on it was cancer causing, and my wife was currently going through chemo as a follow thru from ovarian cancer. as soon as i saw that, I called customer service and demanded they take that part back on their nickel. it became a shouting match to get a return authorization out of them.
Most products (more than you'd think anyway) are manufactured with formaldehyde -- which is considered a very low risk carcinogen. It's in clothes, carpet, paint, and tons of other "household items". I have to wonder if the coating was the same deal? I probably wouldn't have worried about a coating on a regulator inside a door...or even minute gases coming off that coating -- because of the enormous amount of possible sources for cancer. So many it's impossible to count.
That said, I completely understand avoiding what you can. AND EXPECTING ANY COMPANY TO ACCEPT A RETURN IN THIS KIND OF CIRCUMSTANCE!!!
If you are really pro-active, consider what some people do to "change" their environment and "live with" products specifically made with "natural means". I haven't looked into this much myself but I remember a story or too -- likely on shows like 60-Minutes.Hope things turn out OK for your wife!
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,432
Likes: 3,285
From: Hartford WI
It's possible that company is more progressive OR that new laws require that kind of sticker? (Although THAT would surprise me considering the complete lack of intelligence displayed by Trump and Scott Pruiass. Of course, it could be a rule started before 2017?)
Most products (more than you'd think anyway) are manufactured with formaldehyde -- which is considered a very low risk carcinogen. It's in clothes, carpet, paint, and tons of other "household items". I have to wonder if the coating was the same deal? I probably wouldn't have worried about a coating on a regulator inside a door...or even minute gases coming off that coating -- because of the enormous amount of possible sources for cancer. So many it's impossible to count.
That said, I completely understand avoiding what you can. AND EXPECTING ANY COMPANY TO ACCEPT A RETURN IN THIS KIND OF CIRCUMSTANCE!!! If you are really pro-active, consider what some people do to "change" their environment and "live with" products specifically made with "natural means". I haven't looked into this much myself but I remember a story or too -- likely on shows like 60-Minutes.
Hope things turn out OK for your wife!
Most products (more than you'd think anyway) are manufactured with formaldehyde -- which is considered a very low risk carcinogen. It's in clothes, carpet, paint, and tons of other "household items". I have to wonder if the coating was the same deal? I probably wouldn't have worried about a coating on a regulator inside a door...or even minute gases coming off that coating -- because of the enormous amount of possible sources for cancer. So many it's impossible to count.
That said, I completely understand avoiding what you can. AND EXPECTING ANY COMPANY TO ACCEPT A RETURN IN THIS KIND OF CIRCUMSTANCE!!!
If you are really pro-active, consider what some people do to "change" their environment and "live with" products specifically made with "natural means". I haven't looked into this much myself but I remember a story or too -- likely on shows like 60-Minutes.Hope things turn out OK for your wife!
When Mom had breast cancer, she didn't know. Dingbat doctor told her it was probably something benign so they let it go. 7 years later, she was getting flu symptoms that keep coming back. Complete scan was scheduled for a mastectomy 3 days later. Also took out a bunch of lymph nodes. I can't say it was the cancer for sure but they are scared enough to be trying all kinds of snake oils. Oh well. Her body, her money. A few months ago, she was worried that the zit on my nose might cause cancer too.
While his panic is understandable, IMO, it is kinda unreasonable to expect the company to not only accept the return but pay shipping to return the product. If the product is wrong or not functioning, absolutely. That the buyer changed your mind though no fault of the company simply because another company, for their own reasons, put a boilerplate warning is different.
X2
Last edited by aklim; Feb 11, 2018 at 01:57 AM.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 1,674
Likes: 191
From: Shit Creek, USA
While his panic is understandable, IMO, it is kinda unreasonable to expect the company to not only accept the return but pay shipping to return the product. If the product is wrong or not functioning, absolutely. That the buyer changed your mind though no fault of the company simply because another company, for their own reasons, put a boilerplate warning is different.
X2
X2
That's not on RA, that's on you. Unless you asked up front if there were any cancer warnings on the window regulator. 
I received yet another RA order placed Wednesday, arrived Saturday. Great prices, fast shipping. Now I have to install stuff.
Clemson Engineer, you can see which warehouse you're buying from in your cart and make changes to keep cost down. And it's not RockAuto who determines where ACDelco sources their parts. It is bean counters at ACDelco. They prefer to use Mexico or China so that the CEO doesn't have to down size his yacht.
I hate that my iPhone is made in China. But I sure wouldn't want Apple's V.P. of retail to suffer with less than her usual $25 million dollar annual compensation. Poor dear. How does she make ends meet?
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,432
Likes: 3,285
From: Hartford WI
The way the brick and mortar stores are going, I have a feeling it's going to be mostly mail order with a few stores that sell items you cannot buy easily online like clothes, etc.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 6,019
Likes: 567
From: Conroe Texas
the vitamin store I normally get mine from recently closed, along with a few relatively easy to get to. now its fighting traffic for 45min to an hour or order them online. maybe i'll change brands.