The closeouts are always nice from rockauto. I picked up the new front coil springs for my 94 JGC for $42 for the pair shipped.

Max

 

I'll pay $8 just so I don't need to interface with another human.

 

Game, set, match.

Plus, many of us regular parts buyers are more knowledgeable than the counter monkeys in some of the retail parts stores. I'd rather click around on a website and find my own part than rely on an order taker who doesn't know anything other than which aisle the car wax is in.

 

DING DING DING! I feel just as confident that I will receive the correct part from somewhere online than from my local parts stores.

 

It doesn't take much brain power for them to pull the parts I order especially when I'm giving them their part numbers. I guess if you go in relying on the clerk to know your vehicle then maybe theres a different issue of brain power...

So far I've never gotten the wrong part on behalf of a clerk. Sure, because of my own fault, but never a clerk. It all comes down to measure twice, cut once.

 

I use Rock Auto a few times per year. Recently, I had to purchase some fuel tank vapor emissions parts for my Z28 and they were much cheaper. It's also the only place I can consistently find wipers for the same car (the mounting hooks are reversed on them for some idiotic reason). I think my biggest savings from them have been on window motors for the Z28 and a floorpan for the XJ. I'll check rock auto if the parts total is going to be more than $100 or so or if I don't need everything yesterday.

 

I had to replace all 4 struts on my 98 Buick. Rock Auto was about $460 for everything. Advance Auto with online discounts was $375 out the door.

My 03 Tahoe seems to have a few choices for water pumps. The price difference between RA and the local parts places is close enough to make me want to buy locally just so I can return stuff if it's wrong.

A/C parts on RA are a better deal than the local places tho.

 

For me, Rock auto is always the best when I use my mad skillz to make sure I order a bunch of stuff from the same warehouse. 2 motor mounts at rock auto are $4 each + $10 shipping, or the same price if I bought them at auto zone. But 2 motor mounts, a transmission mount, a side mirror, a gasket kit, a new ignition coil and a few other things all on the same order from the same warehouse, so the same $10 shipping, and it suddenly makes a lot more sense. I never buy just one part from them. I try to bundle as much as I possibly can. which is easy to do with my POS 89 cherokee that requires repairs every other week.

 

Out of curiosity, is everyone saying they buy the cheapest part no matter what the brand?
Or they don't care about the brand?

I saw Monroes mentioned, and that's a name brand, but not much else.

Just wondering. It just seems unusual, Jeep folks are usually very picky about what parts they use on their vehicle. (and understandably so :-)



...

 

For me, it depends on the part. For sensors, if I can Mopar reasonably priced, that's what I'll get, otherwise I buy Echline through Napa. Then a lot of other stuff, it will come down to price, even if its a name brand part. If I want a Felpro gasket, I will take 20 minutes online to find the very best price on that particular gasket. I'm cheap... doesn't mean I'm stupid.... (Don't mention that stupid part to my wife... she says I'm cheap AND stupid)

 

I'm pretty picky about parts, but again it depends on what the part is. OEM is definitely my preference though. I've always faired well with Cardone and Dorman as a backup though.

Interestingly enough, when I replaced the window motors on my Camaro, the AC Delco (OEM) parts were actually cheaper on RA than some other brands, and half the price of the reman'd Cardones at advance auto.

 

Yeah it does to me and your correct as to some others all they care about is cheap, cheap, cheap and sending those dollars to China.


Then they wonder where all the American made items went or high quality gear.

 

That's quite the assumption. I don't understand where everyone got the idea that Rock Auto only sells cheap, off-brand, made in China parts? They happen to sell a majority of name brand and OE parts that are made in the USA. Just because some people choose to purchase some parts online instead of at their local parts store does not mean they only by cheap parts not made in the USA.

 

depends on what your getting. Just got my packages today of all around shocks, and steering parts and paid what I would have paid for 4 shocks at autozone. Also cheaper if you bundle shipping from the same location, like a with a instead of a and b

 

Yes and no. For me it depends what the part is. I'm not going to risk my life on a POS part. Also learning from experience what I can get away with and what I can't. i.e. Cheap brake rotors will "hot-spot" very quickly so I only buy quality now. On the other hand I'l probably buy the cheapest wiper blades I can find. You know it never rains in Ca anyway.

Also depends on what car it is. I'm not going to skimp on maintaining my wife's car.