PCA Forums

when you need replacement hard parts. lets use like break pads and roters and you know its a repair you plan to do soon but not right the next weekend .
do you try and buy them online or still just go to your local auto parts ?

wear & tear like pads / rotors / tires i buy locally. Other stuff if it is not too heavy I buy online. Shipping costs are killer. I use Rock Auto, autozone or advanced auto parts online or for most my stuff but do shop around. i like Napa locally.

I buy online in three situations:

1. If a chain has a part I trust and the website offers buy online and pick up in store. Usually do this when there is an online coupon.

2. If Amazon has a coupon, really low price or unique rebate deal. Usually find out about these from hot deal websites. You have to be very careful as Amazon's part search feature sucks and you can easily buy parts that do not fit.

3. The part is a dealer part - i.e. no aftermarket part or the dealer price is less than the aftermarket price (it happens - but not often) and I know of an online dealer parts department that has good prices.

If I know exactly what I need, I like buying online. Parts get delivered during the week and I have more time to do the job on Saturday or Sunday.

I've had bad experiences with rotors online unless from a reputable brand. Even locally, it's worth getting the better ones. I've received ones that were already considered too thin brand new on ebay. That said, I've had pretty good luck with other items. I buy the staples locally (plugs, rotors, fluids, filters, & the sort).

just order the parts I needed for my car from from Murray's/O'Reillys auto parts on-line . http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/home.oap local company for me. i really needed a timing chain and gear set for my 2002 Saturn vue 4 banger. I got a good deal and there parts are lifetime warranty. anyway i went to this one site on line that claim they match or beat anyones prices .i figured why not try it . so i filled out all the BS 2 days ago for them including a link to the better price. never a reply so i just order my parts today .
the company I tried to get a price match from is rockauto and there in Madison, WI.
well as i was writing this post i see they changed there list price. to less then i just payed my local OReillys auto parts by about $25.00 they are listing the parts now for $123.99 there old price 2 days ago was $199.99 .
i never got a return email or anything from this company (rockauto ) for $149.99 and a local auto parts company i know i trust . its worth my Peace of mind staying at Oreillys.
not saying the other company's shady but makes you think !
heres the link to second not used part supplyer -http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/raframecatalog.php

good for you. I noticed that rockauto's shipping is high so all in all not much of a difference.

Rock Auto is competitive, but I've always been able to do better than them.

free shipping from O'reillys to i think they were not going to price match .just have you do all the leg work for them .

Yup, I've had the same experience. Never tried checking the price later. You'd think they'd contact you if they dropped the price.