Another thumbs up for Rock Auto

[glwood]

Nobody is even talking about the elephant in the room. The crazy ass sales tax! People from other states will buy from my state to save local sales tax as we do with others.

Trump said he wants a federal sales tax to make it fair, but if he really wants it fair he will abolish all sales tax. @Chris knows what I am talking about, but in all reality I find that if I order online I get better service and more knowledgable people. Plus a choice of where I want to shop. Here in AZ I have Desert Rat and 4 Wheel parts and the turnover of people are ridiculous, and nobody knows anything. And worst yet they don't stock anything. I swear every time I go to 4wheel parts they have to order it. If they have to order it anyway, I can just do that from my house.

I would be more apt to go to brick and mortar, if I could at least get good advice and they stocked parts, but if I have to do all of the research and wait for them to order it then I don't really have any use for it. If they go away, it really wouldn't make much difference to me anyway. The only thing I really worry about is if the brick and mortars go away then the online service may go downhill,

One more thing, If you buy something from 4wheel parts because they are local and it breaks, they argue with you and make you feel like it was your fault. If you order something online and send them an email telling them the story most likely they will just send you parts to fix or a new part. That is not always true, but you can count on an argument at the counter at 4 wheel parts if you have to return something.

Lastly as @Squatch said 4wheel parts is twice as expensive than anywhere you go, and they are also considered On-line, although I have found some really good deals around Christmas time. And they are closed on Sundays which means that if I want to shop there, i have to do it on Saturdays if I have nothing going on which is rare. On-Line is just too convenient.

Also as @Squatch says, I spend so much money on parts I save so much money bargain shopping all over the country!

I do go to local shops for supplies like oil and cleaning supplies. So hopefully that will keep them going. Also they could tempt me with an impulse buy while I am there.

That's hilarious! We have the same two choices in Abq. - 4WheelParts & Desert Rat...same experience with 4WP. Nothing's ever in stock, and the people who work there are generally clueless. Desert Rat, though, is a better store here, but still don't stock much. They seem to be the go-to shop for gear changes, though. I wouldn't take my vehicle to 4WP for an air filter...

 

[Chris]

Nobody is even talking about the elephant in the room. The crazy ass sales tax! People from other states will buy from my state to save local sales tax as we do with others..

We don't have sales tax in Oregon. But don't worry, they screw you with the income tax.

Time-and-time again, I find myself shopping at Amazon as much as I can. The Prime shipping and amazing customer service and returns makes for an excellent experience. My Prime packages even get delivered on Sunday.

I guess part of this is just evolution. You have to adapt or get left behind. Most of the local stores like you said won't even price match, and the majority of them never have what I need in stock. So why would I bother having them order it for me, when I can just go online and order it myself?

In this day and age everyone has a computer. It's not like the 90s where if they didn't have something in stock, they were the ones who had to order it for you from their system.

 

[Squatch]

Lastly as @Squatch said 4wheel parts is twice as expensive than anywhere you go, and they are also considered On-line, although I have found some really good deals around Christmas time. And they are closed on Sundays which means that if I want to shop there, i have to do it on Saturdays if I have nothing going on which is rare. On-Line is just too convenient.

I thought I was doing a good thing by buying through them (4 Wheel Parts)...you, know...locally, and all that. Well, it took 4 weeks for my order to arrive. Four weeks. It wasn't a big deal, as I'm not on any real schedule, but what about the guy that is? He'd be screwed. Anyway, they were pleasant enough, and all, but I was extremely patient with them. I'm sure that helped. Not so sure I'll order through them again, however.

 

[Squatch]

We don't have sales tax in Oregon. But don't worry, they screw you with the income tax.

Time-and-time again, I find myself shopping at Amazon as much as I can. The Prime shipping and amazing customer service and returns makes for an excellent experience. My Prime packages even get delivered on Sunday.

I guess part of this is just evolution. You have to adapt or get left behind. Most of the local stores like you said won't even price match, and the majority of them never have what I need in stock. So why would I bother having them order it for me, when I can just go online and order it myself?

In this day and age everyone has a computer. It's not like the 90s where if they didn't have something in stock, they were the ones who had to order it for you from their system.

Unfortunately, with Amazon being based in Washington state, I get dinged with sales tax, so I lose.

 

[ac_]

Unfortunately, with Amazon being based in Washington state, I get dinged with sales tax, so I lose.

View attachment 47042

Since we have a Amazon presence here in AZ we pay sales tax at Amazon too. Fortunately we don't pay your sales tax; we pay ours, that is less than yours, but we also pay an income tax here also. We are plagued with both. You guys have to fight that state tax tooth and nail. They will tempt you, and say "it is for the kids," and it will be very low, but once it gets voted in, it can grow without a vote and it will.

 

[Squatch]

Since we have a Amazon presence here in AZ we pay sales tax at Amazon too. Fortunately we don't pay your sales tax; we pay ours, that is less than yours, but we also pay an income tax here also. We are plagued with both. You guys have to fight that state tax tooth and nail. They will tempt you, and say "it is for the kids," and it will be very low, but once it gets voted in, it can grow without a vote and it will.

Every tax I have ever seen in this state has been for education, roads, and the newest one, the homeless crisis. And yet, I see no progress. @jeep_boss used to comment on the potholes in this region. He was right. Probably the single biggest reason guys up here build their Jeeps for off-roading is they need to be able to handle the on-roading!!!

 

[ac_]

Every tax I have ever seen in this state has been for education, roads, and the newest one, the homeless crisis. And yet, I see no progress. @jeep_boss
single biggest reason guys up here build their Jeeps for off-roading is they need to be able to handle the on-roading!!!

yikes!

 

[ac_]

So with all of this Amazon tax talk, I feel like I should let you know that have to pay sales tax on Amazon, and that I went to order most of my lift parts from Amazon yesterday. When I got done it was almost 2K and they were going to charge me over 12 percent tax. I know that we pay a 7.8 tax. So I didn't purchase it. I went to Northridge 4x4, and searched for a coupon and found a 5%. Even before the coupon, the prices were slightly cheaper than Amazon. I didn't have to pay any sales tax, and a lot of the parts are going to be shipped from Currie which is closer to me than Northridge. So on top of the 5% discount It was cheaper than Amazon.

I chatted with Amazon, and they had no clue what I was talking about. I showed them the cart before I purchased to show the price and the tax and they didn't know what I was saying. They transferred me 5 times in chat, and finally the guy said that the tax team needs to look at it, but they are not there till tomorrow.

I thought that was crazy because I would have thought they would have woke some one up but nope. Now I didn't purchase anything from Amazon because of this issue. Then the next day the tax team got a hold of me, and told me my last purchase was taxed correctly. I don't think they even read what I was saying. I told my tax story 6 times to 6 different people and they all thought I had an issue. Still now they still don't know they have a problem. I also told them they should mock a purchase as an Arizona customer in Arizona, and they didn't understand what I was suggesting. Seriously I don't think they even read anything. Since I am not actually out anything; I really could give a rats ass about it.

The only reason why I am telling you this story is if you have to pay tax at Amazon - California, Arizona, Washington and anywhere else pay close attention that you are getting taxed correctly. Luckily I am a cheap bastard, or I wouldn't have caught it. Too bad for Amazon, but now someone's kid at Northridge gets to send another kid to college.

 

[Squatch]

So with all of this Amazon tax talk, I feel like I should let you know that have to pay sales tax on Amazon, and that I went to order most of my lift parts from Amazon yesterday. When I got done it was almost 2K and they were going to charge me over 12 percent tax. I know that we pay a 7.8 tax. So I didn't purchase it. I went to Northridge 4x4, and searched for a coupon and found a 5%. Even before the coupon, the prices were slightly cheaper than Amazon. I didn't have to pay any sales tax, and a lot of the parts are going to be shipped from Currie which is closer to me than Northridge. So on top of the 5% discount It was cheaper than Amazon.

I chatted with Amazon, and they had no clue what I was talking about. I showed them the cart before I purchased to show the price and the tax and they didn't know what I was saying. They transferred me 5 times in chat, and finally the guy said that the tax team needs to look at it, but they are not there till tomorrow.

I thought that was crazy because I would have thought they would have woke some one up but nope. Now I didn't purchase anything from Amazon because of this issue. Then the next day the tax team got a hold of me, and told me my last purchase was taxed correctly. I don't think they even read what I was saying. I told my tax story 6 times to 6 different people and they all thought I had an issue. Still now they still don't know they have a problem. I also told them they should mock a purchase as an Arizona customer in Arizona, and they didn't understand what I was suggesting. Seriously I don't think they even read anything. Since I am not actually out anything; I really could give a rats ass about it.

The only reason why I am telling you this story is if you have to pay tax at Amazon - California, Arizona, Washington and anywhere else pay close attention that you are getting taxed correctly. Luckily I am a cheap bastard, or I wouldn't have caught it. Too bad for Amazon, but now someone's kid at Northridge gets to send another kid to college.

I will definitely be more attentive to that. Thanks for the tip!

I, too, have found that Amazon is not the only game in town. I have purchased a number of items from sources other than Amazon, after having found better prices and/or shipping rates. Sometimes it's cheaper (JKS discos through Rokmen ), but sometimes it takes longer to get your parts (JKS discos through Rokmen! ). But with some shopping around, I have discovered that Jeff Bezos' baby is just another option in a list of places to purchase my goodies from. Truth be told, for maintenance and repair items, I've yet to find anyone that can beat Rock Auto (going back to this thread's beginnings! ). It has been my experience that even with shipping costs, they have been the hands-down winner every time.

 

[tworley]

Ive used Rock Auto several times, never had any issues.

I am waiting for the day my 97 steering pump bites the dust...

 

[cliffish]

That sales tax issue is being pushed now...soon it will be collected for all states, Amazon pretty much already does this on their own fulfilled sales. Did you know according to the law you are supposed to declare all your internet purchases to the IRS and pay your local sales taxes on your own? For them to go after the individual is impossible but I have seen a few business get slammed on it during a sales tax audit.

I also like to shop local but the only local are the chain stores that really do not stock crap for a TJ or not the right quality of parts.

 

[RaymondT]

At least in the U.S. there's been some debate. In Kanadastan, there was no discussion. They just bent us over a barrel and did it. Not only do we pay BOTH Gst (Federal) and Pst (Provincial) on on-line purchases within the country but they also collect it at the border. So it looks like now I'll have to pay 3 taxes on stuff I pick up in Washington State and bring back.

 

[ac_]

it is weird that so many people shop at Rock Auto and I have never heard of it. I love this forum and I constantly learning new stuff.

@cliffish I am aware of it, and the money we do pay they are uber corrupt with it, so sometimes when I can get away with it, I may be a little corrupt or hmmm maybe take advantage of a loophole?

 

[Squatch]

That sales tax issue is being pushed now...soon it will be collected for all states, Amazon pretty much already does this on their own fulfilled sales. Did you know according to the law you are supposed to declare all your internet purchases to the IRS and pay your local sales taxes on your own? For them to go after the individual is impossible but I have seen a few business get slammed on it during a sales tax audit.

I also like to shop local but the only local are the chain stores that really do not stock crap for a TJ or not the right quality of parts.

I knew that Amazon was looking to do that, as well as the thing about it being my responsibility to declare all my internet purchases to "those guys". But much like eating healthy, I guess I always forget to...

 

[cliffish]

it is weird that so many people shop at Rock Auto and I have never heard of it. I love this forum and I constantly learning new stuff.

@cliffish I am aware of it, and the money we do pay they are uber corrupt with it, so sometimes when I can get away with it, I may be a little corrupt or hmmm maybe take advantage of a loophole?

As my accountant says "it is OK to practice tax avoidance not tax evasion!"

 

[abe abel]

We don't have sales tax in Oregon. But don't worry, they screw you with the income tax.

Time-and-time again, I find myself shopping at Amazon as much as I can. The Prime shipping and amazing customer service and returns makes for an excellent experience. My Prime packages even get delivered on Sunday.

I guess part of this is just evolution. You have to adapt or get left behind. Most of the local stores like you said won't even price match, and the majority of them never have what I need in stock. So why would I bother having them order it for me, when I can just go online and order it myself?

In this day and age everyone has a computer. It's not like the 90s where if they didn't have something in stock, they were the ones who had to order it for you from their system.

its not just the income tax there Chris you can go to wallmart in Oregon and then come to California and buy the same item after they add the tax here it comes out the same price

 

[Chris]

its not just the income tax there Chris you can go to wallmart in Oregon and then come to California and buy the same item after they add the tax here it comes out the same price

That doesn't surprise me at all!