With the proliferation of Auto Zones, O'Riely's and all the other so called discount parts places... RA is still cheaper. Can't make everyone happy however....

 

Cheaper? With shipping I rarely if ever save money. For me it was always for convenience of having it delivered. Anyone that thinks if you do an apples to apples comparison and save money buying from RA better sharpen their pencil. Add in poor customer service and I'll buy local any day.

 

I'm retired so my pencil is extremely sharp. It has to be. I compare RA to the locals all the time, Auto Zone, Advance, O'Rileys and NAPA and on 90% of what I buy, they are less expensive.

Example, I bought a complete exhaust system, cross over pipe, cat, muffler and tailpipe (no lambda sensors) for my V6 tracker and priced Rock against everyone else and they (RA) were over 100 bucks less, shipping included, for the same (Bosal and Walker) components.

Example 2... I bought complete calipers (loaded) with cross bars for my 1997 F350 4x4 pickup. AZ and Advance was 55 bucks higher per caliper than RA was, sure you have to return the core (on the calipers) but even with the core return, I saved 40 bucks per side.

I agree, some things are less locally but most are less at RA and my pencil is always very sharp.

Like I posted a ways back, I've never had issue one with RA and I had an issue with a beat up muffler and they handled it seamlessly.

I get my consumables locally but if I can wait a week, I go to RA.

 

Glad to hear it, but that certainly hasn't been my experience. I've never dealt with a more apathetic customer service person in my life, and no amount of savings is worth buying from them ever again. But that's my choice.

 

For some reason everyone thinks you can only have low prices or good service but not both. Ever heard of Summit Racing? They have both plus fast shipping and if you do have a problem, they WILL make it right.

 

I deal with Summit too. Matter of fact, I know the guys that started Summit in Akron many years ago. I grew up there.

 

About twelve years ago I had an order from summit that was missing a set of roller lifters and they without question made good on it. I really tried to explain they weren't in the package when it showed up and I couldn't get over how they cool they were. Jegs on the other hand....they screwed up a couple times then didn't give a flip....like taking my money for stuff on back order then not caring what so ever. I don't expect free stuff or places to kiss my a$$ but they did not impress me. I had a jegs hat with flames I had worn to Yemen I tossed it.

 

Jegs..... Never bought anything there...

 

So basically, You make the customer do the work to "improve" YOUR catalog accuracy because you simply can't take initiative and do it on your own? Really? No R&D? And your "manufactures" also profit from YOUR customers doing both YOURS and THEIR job by ordering per your catalog and then because it doesn't fit due to inaccuracies, The customer has to take longer to finish the job, get back online, fill out a report which only helps you out by finding out square pegs don't fit in round holes. Then, wait to hear from you at your convenience (from the sounds of it), Take more time to drop the defective part off, wait for it to arrive back to you, you decide when to process it or even acknowledge it has arrived, then try to use some lame "policy" when the customer wants a full refund because RA couldn't, or even the manufacture couldn't do their job right the first time by confirming fitment issues before stocking it and making the customer take 3 times longer than if they went somewhere else. Part doesn't fit. Man tried to communicate with RA, no one wants to do actual work, His mothers money whom is on SSD which is VERY limited at best. HE had to go to dorman for a solution. RA is just a simple middle man outfit that would rather drag all this out and hold on to a lousy $60 of an elderly woman's money, offer "store credit" as if someone would want to go through all that again and risk you suddenly not honoring it at random and still losing the money, Than just make things right in the beginning. And its easy to cut virtually all overhead cost to a bare minimum when its all family in a small office space. Sounds like all RA does is, get orders from an online type system for a part number(s) to order from dorman and collect the money to give dorman plus whatever was charged to keep for profit...And then, Patronizing a customer? And out in the open randomly? I'm sorry, but if that is how things tick, and I've never shopped there, I definitely wont now to risk getting the wrong part, "customer service" not wanting to answer the phone when I call to say the **** don't fit until the 31st day I've "had" it, then tell me the "policy" has ran out and there is nothing they can do. Or, Offer me a "store credit" and take the chance of dealing with this again? And the "policy" starts the day its shipped? What if there is delays, interruptions, Problems, etc...? You're telling me, That if there is an issue in transit, Again, the customer has to pay for the problems and lose return time because you people never heard of tracking numbers for delivery confirmation? I don't think so. I'm sticking with Summit and other REAL stores who instantly make good on mistakes.
Good night...I thought Walmart was bad...

 

Fixed it for ya...too hard to read all lumped in one long rant...

I just ordered a bunch of filters from RA a few minutes ago, they are doing a supplier closeout on Fram for my jalopies.

Never been an issue with me in the last 8 years or so. Your mileage may be different.

 

Thank you Sidecar. Using a little harbor freight LED light they sometimes give awayto type by and 2 days of no sleep while running on caffeine like a Diesel on either. Been busy searching online how to do a proper cab swap on a '87 F250, helping a family member in need, Etc... I actually found this while doing the research was throwed off at how RA handled it... Blowout on Fram? Wow. They're already the cheapest filter made. But, when doing a long sitting re-fire and just need something to catch any large particles and use as a throw away, They do work.

 

Thanks for the rant.....

One thing is incorrect though. Neither Doorman nor Rockauto did jack S*** with my research to improve their catalog accuracy. On both websites they still show the same part for the same application with no footnotes.

Screenshot by Lightshot
Dorman Products - Search Results

It really is the collective OUR fault though, when even old Ford owners from Michigan of all places don't have any appreciation for local customer service then we have given up on it and have no grounds to expect it.

 

F them both then. And thats true. Once you lose appreciation, You can no longer expect it. What kills me is, People want the cheapest, And when they get it, Such as from places like RA, They act surprised when this happens. Now, there are exceptions but its the majority of the time. Maybe they called themselves "Rock Auto" because they're about as slow as a Rock that Doesn't do **** Automatically?

Now that I looked at the screen shots, I ALMOST ordered some parts from them....Almost. Had that feeling though. Damn I'm glad Bronco Graveyard and a Diesel forum came through and I didn't.