Another Canadian Parts Buying experience gone bad !

[anlauto]

Okay so plenty of you have heard me praise SUMMIT RACING for their pricing on MooG parts....
Well here's another example that gets me fuming mad

I have an account at a local Car Quest where I get "jobber price" on my parts.
This morning I drove there and bought a set of Monroe shocks for a customer's Road Runner.
Full List was $42.06 each. MY COST was $26.41CDN. so I bought all four.
Over the years I've probably bought 32-44 of them there at least at that price.

During lunch and just for poops and laughs .....I thought I would look them up on Summit...NO luck
So then I thought about RockAuto.....and WTF ! Almost half price....

So I went through the whole process at RockAuto and bought 8 more.....at the last minute I used the RockAuto discount code @Cuda Cody posted and saved another 5%    All in all, my CC was charged $168.55 CDN for eight shocks and that includes shipping, duty, tax and exchange.

RockAuto (1) shock all in to my door $21.07 CDN
CarQuest (1) shock all in with me picking up across town $29.84 CDN

A difference of $8.77 CDN or 41% Cheaper 

This on line stuff is really killing the "physical store" 

I just want to put the word out to all of my Canadian friends.  .....I don't know if the same applies in the States, but it's worth checking out

[Cuda Cody]

Funny you should post your positive experience with RockAuto right now.   We are in the works to bring them on as a full time Sponsor!!!!  Finalizing the artwork for the banner right now.  Wait until you see the cool thing we get to do too! 

@RockAuto  will be happy to see your post @anlauto   You could not have timed it better.  Almost would appear as if I asked you to post about them the timing is so perfect!!!!   

[Cuda Cody]

@anlauto Have you tried the Gabriel Classics shocks that Rock Auto sells?  I tried them for the first time and for the money they've been great so far.  Plus they're black and look like stock shocks.  Monroe shocks are good too.  Had a lot of good experiences with them too.

[RUNCHARGER]

I don't mind paying a bit extra to support my local parts store. However I needed a couple of seals for my 94 Twin Turbo Stealth and couldn't get them anywhere including the Dodge or Mitsu dealer. Rock Auto did have them so I ordered them from there, only thing is they screwed up the shipping on them and they were over a month getting here. I have ordered a few other items from them and they were shipped promptly though.
I still prefer to support local but will use Rock Auto, Mancini Racing or Summit when there's no choice.

Sheldon

[Brads70]

I've bought quite a few things over the years at Rock Auto. I have found them to be super quick. If a part I need is not in stock locally. I find it's just as quick or quicker to order from Rockauto. Usually MUCH cheaper also!  Seems to many fingers in the pie around here, and everyone wants to make their 20% or more markups. The world she's a changing, that's not going to fly much anymore!

[ec_co]

I've used them quite a bit too over the years. one trick - they can ship parts from different regions, so if ordering multiple items try to get them from the same region to avoid multiple shipping charges.

[screamindriver]

Nope, not just a canadian issue...I buy stuff online cheaper than my buddie's 40yr old business can get them ...

[Burdar]

Recent experience with RockAuto...

The used drop spindles I bought came with nuts but I was missing the thick washer and castle washer needed to install the bearings/hubs/rotors.  I found a "kit" at Advance Auto that included the thick washer, nut, castle washer and a cotter pin for $9.98.  I would have needed two "kits" total.  $20 isn't a lot of money but for what I was getting, I thought that was too high.  So, I check RockAuto.  The same exact "kit" is $3.98.  Two kits plus $4 shipping and the 5% discount comes to under $12.   

[anlauto]

Just filing my paperwork...The invoice from CarQuest is number 426440 

[HP_Cuda]

The real downside is when those local shops close up and you want a part right now for whatever reason.

I love Summit for just that reason, I'm close enough to the Reno distribution site that I can order late in the day and get the part next day.

Unbelievable!!!

[anlauto]

@anlauto Have you tried the Gabriel Classics shocks that Rock Auto sells?  I tried them for the first time and for the money they've been great so far.  Plus they're black and look like stock shocks.  Monroe shocks are good too.  Had a lot of good experiences with them too.

Thanks @Cuda Cody now I'm even more pissed off ! I used to use those shocks all the time because they are shaped more similar to originals then the Monroes, but I was told ages ago, by my local supplier that they were no longer being made, that's why/when I switched to Monroes...

Just going back to RockAuto's web site I see if I had of just scrolled down further at lunch time I would have found them

They are almost double in price though...

[headejm]

I thought Bilstein High Performance were the best shocks for E-bodies! 

[anlauto]

I thought Bilstein High Performance were the best shocks for E-bodies! 

Not when you're trying to restore something stock original 

[headejm]

So, Bilsteins are better if you're not after 100% original? Or should I save some $ and use the Monroe's or Gabriel's? I'm not after 100% original. Maybe 95%.

[Cuda Cody]

Bilsteins are GREAT shocks.  I run them on our work trucks.  But when it comes to my muscle cars, I like the stock look of the Gabriels and the price for value.  They looks really good under an E-Body.