Never recommending Rock Auto again

[D's Jeep Wrld]

Hell rock auto sent me a damn headgasket in a thin ole piece of folded cardboard......I always use them alot but I've really never really had a bad experience but now I know not to order headgaskets especially when in desperate need so I went with a cometic one at the time since summit racing had one thankfully
It's a shame that they really sent you something like that! Very upsetting

 

[Unique Username]

I have ordered from them countless times. Have magnets freaking all over the place . Never an issue unless I ordered the wrong part and that was a 1 time issue on my part. I agree they have been skimping on the packaging, but never an issue.
As of late I have been able to find the part from other suppliers for the same price if not cheaper. Shopping around usually finds the best price. When I was younger I would always buy from the local retailers as I could mess it up and scream defective when I did it wrong. Any more I find I rarely if ever have a defective part. I also get the lube locker gasket and it comes plastic wrapped around cardboard, seems to ship better that way.
Sucks you had an issue.

 

[freedom_in_4low]

interesting. Never had an issue with RA.

In contrast, I ordered an oil filter from Amazon last week - the oil filter and it's retail box were thrown in the usual amazon bubble mailer bag. The box was completely obliterated and the oil filter dented by the time it got here. It probably would have worked just fine but screw that, so I did a return and got one the exact same way, but without a dent.

I pretty much expect the absolute least effort possible from everybody, so I guess when that happens I don't get too worked up about it and I'm prepared to deal with it (and don't order stuff and let it sit until the return window closes).

 

[JEEPSTEVENANAIMO]

I have noticed their shipping department has gone downhill, but I still find them better than anyone else. Here in Canada, I'm limited, and ordering locally will often take months for parts to get in. Amazon: I'd say 20% of the time, I end up getting a part that someone has returned with a fake part. Always good parts from Rock.

I ordered a York compressor and a clutch to accompany it. They sent me two Yorks but charged me for the York and clutch. I contacted them, and they wouldn't accept that they made a mistake. I ended up sending them back one of the Yorks and just buying a clutch off Amazon. They credited me for the York even so they sent me one because they were so sure they hadn't made a mistake.. My gain I get a free York.

Sometimes their lack of QA works out in our favour.

Stop using rock auto in canada dude. parts avatar is the canadian version and the prices are better and no duty/exhange

 

[TerryD]

I've used them almost exclusively for years now. I've received the wrong part twice. Once it was listed incorrectly for my truck and for the Jeep, the belt kit included the incorrect idler pulley.

In both cases I was able to return/exchange the part without issue. I did have to pay a portion of the shipping for the brake drums but even with that, saved over 40% VS buying elsewhere.

Occasionally the packaging is lack luster but I've seen how stuff was managed in a parts store so I'm not that concerned.

The tipping point was when Advance Auto refused to honor their warranty on a fuel pump for me after being an extremely loyal employee and customer for nearly 20 years (only 4 as employee).

I'm sorry you folks had issues with them.

 

[06TJ35's]

There’s a distribution company called IMC they own rock auto.
A lot of automotive companies use drop shipping. There’s about 5 major distribution companies.

I see items with poor quality control, defective, missing hardware etc etc. Most of the time the customer puts the blame on the company but the one to blame is the manufacture for packing/shipping errors. The company just needs to make it right.

In today’s age no one has a phone number to call. It’s all done by email. Everything is nearly automated so they won’t have a huge customer service staff.
Just think about how many calls they will receive per day about issues.

 

[joe98tj]

I did buy a water pump one time that was bad. It was part of a kit so even though I would be returning a defective part they wanted me to also send back the timing belt and whatever else went with it. I ended up just ordering a new pump to save myself the time on returning, processing, and getting a new kit.

 

[Zorba]

I've only had one RA order go bad - I ordered some belts for the old MBZ - their website said they were the correct ones. They were not. They took 3 of them back, no problem, the 4th I had to pay a restocking fee. Not cool.

 

[chili_pepper]

Yeah well, we can own guns and we don't need the .gov's permission or engineering pass to mod our vehicles, so there is that.

Give it a bit of time, they're working on these two as we speak...

 

[AdelaideTJ]

Jeez, just placed my first order yesterday ($800 no less ). Wish I'd seen this yesterday morning. Here's hoping it all arrives in ok condition! Still not really sure Aussies have much other option...

 

[JeepingNet]

Stop using rock auto in canada dude. parts avatar is the canadian version and the prices are better and no duty/exhange

I do order from Parts Avatar, but for many products their total price, including currency and taxes/duty, is higher and shipping takes 2 to 3 times longer.

Set of timken wheel hubs would be
Parts Avator - $355.88 and here in 8-10 days
Rockauto - $288.05 and here in 3 days

Set of spicer ball joints
Parts Avator - $363.24 and here in 8-10 days
Rockauto - $279.25 and here in 3 days

Rockauto is still almost always cheaper until you get to really big or heavy parts, at which point it's often 50/50.

 

[Bammo68]

Yeah well, we can own guns and we don't need the .gov's permission or engineering pass to mod our vehicles, so there is that.

Always wondered where this misconception comes from - we have a very active shooting and hunting culture here yet I think that there is a persistent misunderstanding in America perhaps pushed by political agendas that has pushed the myth that guns are banned in Australia. Its true they are regulated a lot more than they are in the US and owning things like AR15's is extremely difficult but that's common globally in most countries. Definitely not accurate to say we cannot own them.

And yes, major vehicle modifications here that breach the ADR (Design Rules) generally require some type of certification which is annoying if you are into doing fun stuff on your cars but it also tends to limit the insane death traps that are on the road!

Interestingly, both these issues are 100% state managed things so the rules vary from place to place. Generally pretty consistent but minor differences - a 50mm lift might be fine without certification in one state but its only 40mm in another, stuff like that.

 

[JMT]

Yep, that is pretty much RA in a nutshell. They are in fact about 5-6 folks in an office with some computers and an IT guy whose sole function is to figure out how to stop email and phone contact with anyone at RA and keep it figured out.

The IT guy is very good at what he does.

 

[JMT]

Always wondered where this misconception comes from - we have a very active shooting and hunting culture here yet I think that there is a persistent misunderstanding in America perhaps pushed by political agendas that has pushed the myth that guns are banned in Australia. Its true they are regulated a lot more than they are in the US and owning things like AR15's is extremely difficult but that's common globally in most countries. Definitely not accurate to say we cannot own them.

And yes, major vehicle modifications here that breach the ADR (Design Rules) generally require some type of certification which is annoying if you are into doing fun stuff on your cars but it also tends to limit the insane death traps that are on the road!

Interestingly, both these issues are 100% state managed things so the rules vary from place to place. Generally pretty consistent but minor differences - a 50mm lift might be fine without certification in one state but its only 40mm in another, stuff like that..

There’s no misconceptions.

We can own guns and mod our vehicles without 100% state regulations .

Seems like you’ve bought into your states propaganda: saving lives.

 

[AndyG]

Here is how companies get established quickly and grow rapidly- They remove the risk from the transaction. Then once they get a head of steam they tighten up.

The most notable example in recent history is Walmart. When they started you could return an elephant. They are not ridiculous now but they certainly are not even close to the same at the return desk now as they were.

Currently Amazon is doing the same thing. Will they be the same in 10 years? I seriously doubt it.

If you step back and look you’ll see this happen over and over.

 

[hear]

I've never had a single shipping issue with them. Stuff has always been packed well, and recently they started shipping much faster. My biggest complaint is when they don't throw a magnet in the box. I was briefly tempted by Blaine's offer, but I want the joy of getting all 792 on my own.

 

[Weasellee]

Yeah well, we can own guns and we don't need the .gov's permission or engineering pass to mod our vehicles, so there is that.

Um, Fuck yea.

 

[freedom_in_4low]

Here is how companies get established quickly and grow rapidly- They remove the risk from the transaction. Then once they get a head of steam they tighten up.

The most notable example in recent history is Walmart. When they started you could return an elephant. They are not ridiculous now but they certainly are not even close to the same at the return desk now as they were.

Currently Amazon is doing the same thing. Will they be the same in 10 years? I seriously doubt it.

If you step back and look you’ll see this happen over and over.

Yeah, and it's understandable though. Once word gets out that returns are so easy, people start buying clothes just to try on, or multiple versions of the same car part just so they can pick which one they want and send the other back. (I'm guilty of that one). It's only a matter of time before those costs bubble their way up to the attention of upper management.

 

[JEEPSTEVENANAIMO]

Yeah well, we can own guns and we don't need the .gov's permission or engineering pass to mod our vehicles, so there is that.

H

I do order from Parts Avatar, but for many products their total price, including currency and taxes/duty, is higher and shipping takes 2 to 3 times longer.

Set of timken wheel hubs would be
Parts Avator - $355.88 and here in 8-10 days
Rockauto - $288.05 and here in 3 days

Set of spicer ball joints
Parts Avator - $363.24 and here in 8-10 days
Rockauto - $279.25 and here in 3 days

Rockauto is still almost always cheaper until you get to really big or heavy parts, at which point it's often 50/50.

YIKES. i get better pricing from them than rock auto and lordco/napa. i do have a steep discount with them because of dealeershipo tho

 

[AdelaideTJ]

Mine came without issue. Had packing materials included and appropriate sized boxes.