Parts- Online vs. Brick and Mortar

I try to do business with local stores, but recently I've had to find obscure parts and for the time and effort to find a store that carried what I needed it was easier just to get online and order the stuff. Maybe I'm not looking in the right spot but the ease which you can find parts online makes it difficult to want to deal with a store with a location. The ease at finding obscure parts combined with free shipping offers, no tax for out of state purchases, and the lower overhead of some of the online retailers seems to be the best of both worlds in terms of effort and prices. I'm especially thinking about this now that sales tax here in california is up to 9.25%.

I know you folks go through a lot more parts than I do but was curious as to your opinion of dealing with online businesses verses dealing with an actual parts counter.

Just wanted to get some opinions,

Thanks folks!

Quality, convenience, service and price. All are important, but for different situations they carry different weights.

If I need a water pump, I might save a few bucks if I order it from Pelican, but it won't be here for a week. I can have one in 20 minutes from my local jobber.

That said, they have to be competitive. I'll pay a few bucks extra to support the local economy, but I won't throw money away to artificially prop up an obsolete business model.

Bottom line - I do both, with a slight advantage lately to online. But that's because of convenience more than price - click here and a brown truck will deliver my part.

I've been trying to find ways to spend money locally. I've seen so many shops close around me that I'm worried I won't have a place to visit if I don't start buying nearby.

I am currently between employments (dammit ) so the B&M stores are a lot more accessible now. Before it was order from Rock Auto or whoever and it would be on my porch when I got home.

I order most of my RX-7 parts via Mazdaspeed Motorsports, since I can get OEM parts from them at the same price as el-cheapo parts from PepVanceZone. If it's too pricey from Mazdaspeed or its a part for my Subaru, I usually start with RockAuto. If they still don't have it, I then go to my local AutoZone and order the part from a brand I trust, if possible (i.e. Timken bearings for my RX-7. RockAuto had the inners and seals, but no outers. AutoZone had them in store). There's one local independant shop go to that carrys the Wix oil and fuel filters I use.

My local autozone decided to hire a mentally challenged guy (or he's just really, REALLY stupid). I try not to buy parts there if I can help it. Before it was hard enough to get parts for anything aside from a chevy truck, now it's like you're speaking some alien language when you ask for an accessory belt for an RX300. "Lexus makes a teeeerrruuckkk!?!?!?" "no, not really. It's under lexus truck in your system though"

facepalm

Some of the locally owned places are pretty good, but again, you'll be special ordering whatever you need if it isn't for a chevy truck.

I generally use rock auto for online stuff.

I'm lucky, I have a very convenient NAPA and if they don't have the part in stock , they will have it in the morning. Advance and Autozone are near by also. So I don't order a lot online, even if they may be cheaper and that is not always true time you figure the shipping charges. The guys at NAPA know their business which is a plus.

I have a local store that will give me a "racing" discount for any vehicle that I own. It is rare that they have the part in stock for the Miata's; I havent ordered enough for the GTO or MS6 to comment at this point. I have never had much luck with Advance, Autozone, O'Reilly's or the other chain stores and at the least the local store knows me when I hit the front door plus I usually walk out with a new project for another client. I have always made the same statement to road racers: Dont be afraid of Bubba. YMMV

I use both ... depending on what... plus my "sponsor" is City Foreign Auto here in Asheville .... they sell me anything I need at cost.... so most of what my CRX needs comes from them...

Depends on the item.

When looking for a Russell SS brake line kit for my last 510, I went into the local Checker with the part # in hand for a price. I told the guy what I was looking for, and he laughed at me, and told me "I'm pretty sure they only make those for Porsches and Corvettes, you know, cars that have power."

He went on to quote me a price for the kit that was 30% above the MSRP. I went home and ordered them online from a guy working out of a spare bedroom for a discount off the MSRP, they were drop shipped from Russell.

I'm all for supporting the local business, but if it's a special order item anyway, I'll be damned if I'm going to support one that laughs at me and charges a 30% premium + sales tax for an item.

OTOH, the local AutoZone is worth dealing with sometimes. You explain exactly what you need, the response is generally a slack jawed "That'd be in Aisle 7 if we have it." However, they have pretty decent prices on most consumables, plus they are in an unincorporated block of town, so sales tax is 5.25%.

I have used NAPA, Auto Zone and Advance online without any problems. I liked the looks of the NAPA parts I bought. I have seen at least one NAPA part that was better than OEM. A 1st gen Neon ATX trans mount. Auto Zone and Advance use the same e-store, it was down last time I looked. I have had problems walking in all three stores before. A good parts person is priceless.

You have to watch some name brand parts - it's a cheaply made Gates belt at Pep Boys and a better Gates belt at your local independent parts store. Some of those same cheap name brand parts are on eBay too.

rockauto.com

the local advance was great until they changed the entire staff, i have a commercial account and spent thousands there and the new commercial account guy could give two craps about it and tries to get over on everyone by not giving the $5 commercial discount on batteries until you call him on it.

I don't even attempt to buy anything aside from oil at a chain parts store for the mercedes. I usually will either go straight to the dealer or a local european parts store, but it is better to deal with this store in person, one of the guys was a real dick on the phone. When I have to buy parts for my pickup truck I can go to NAPA and get most of the parts there and the staff is pretty cool. The guys at the local NAPA seem to know their stuff unlike some of the other chains in my area.

My mercedes has a couple unique parts because it is a "euro" car so it comes down to either the dealer or ordering the stuff online.

Thanks for the insights into where to get parts. I think it comes down to your time frame and car type whether it is better to deal with a local store. If you have a ford focus or toyota pickup the stores stock tons of parts, but if you drive a funky old mercedes don't expect much.

wbjones wrote: ...my "sponsor" is City Foreign Auto here in Asheville ....

Back in the 70's I bought my VW parts from Stuart at City Foreign Auto. If I still lived in Asheville, I would probably still buy parts there. Back then Stuart drove a sweet red BMW 2002 with round taillights, a 1969 I think.

For the past twenty years I've lived outside Charlotte and for awhile I bought parts at Viking on Morehead Street. After they closed that location, I made a few trips to their store on Central Avenue, but it is not convenient for me and now prices are high compared to online.

My favorite place to get parts now is Pull-A-Part on North Tryon.

For Mercedes parts buymbparts.com or autohausaz.com

For Volvo parts fcpgroton.com

for my Vanagon parts busdepot.com I did get a Bosch fuel pump from my local NAPA for my Vanagon cheaper than online, but they had to order it.

I try to use the brick and Morter stores as much as possible. Unfortunately that is usually not the case. Even the "standard" parts for my cars are never in stock.

When I blew a heater hose on the saab, I decided to put all new hoses on the car. I had to order each and every single one of them, as not even the dealer had them in stock.

In my area, the local stores are the mega-chain stores. So I'm doing counter top business with the same folks I can do it with via the web. I gain very little except easier returns.

As for OEM parts, my dealers are typical, charging a massive markup and giving terrible service. I can buy OEM parts for 1/4 their price on line, so I tend to do so.

when I had a my corolla - read: a veeerry common car, advance and Napa were my friends, but I tended to stay away from snotozone - apparently Skruffy and I shop at the same location - terrible service and Im usually accosted by a equally challenged customer there to buy his iced out pitbull air freshener and some more 14" spinner hub caps. I tried to stay away from the dealer as much as possible.

Now that I own an infiniti, parts are a little more scarce, however my SR20DE has enough aftermarket that I sometimes get lucky if I ask for an alternator for a 99 sentra SER instead. That said, online by far has better availability. I try to support the local guys - especially NAPA since theyre individually owned. I also like shopping in person for returns etc. Its a toss up. If I have time to wait, I order online, if I need it yesterday, I go shopping. Lucky for me, as the crow flies, closest to me is Advance, then NAPA, then KOI, then O'Reily's, then another Advance, then Autozone << always my last choice

My local Nissan dealer doesn't carry much D-21 stuff any more. Too old. They usually have to order it. I've done business with them for 22 years and they still charge me full retail. So I now order on-line from a dealer about 45 miles up the road who sells to me at wholesale. Problem is I have to pay shipping. No walking in and picking up. Stupid thing is UPS seems to charge more for something going the next town over.

I did once order a lot of stuff on line. Now only if I get free shipping or just can't get it locally.

I used to work as a counterman at a jobber house... so I have very little tolerance for incompetence in that area... so I order most of my parts online these days... However, this is mostly out of convenience - first, shipping times are often two or next-day from RockAuto and a few days for most others... second, it saves me from driving around a lot... I have parts shipped to me at work, where there's always someone to sign for them. I have bought parts from Pep Boys in an emergency... I was shocked to find out they actually had the front wheel bearing for a VW MkIV in stock, after I screwed up an install.

The last time I bought tires, I tried the place where I have them mounted first, figuring if the price was within a few $, I'd give them the business... unfortunately, they don't carry/deal with the brand I wanted.

I do use a local NAPA for machine shop and drive shaft work. I've never had to buy parts from them, though... Coincidentally, I used to work for the same jobber house with a woman who is currently one of their sales reps.

I go to my local Napa most of the time. They have a couple good guys who know what I'm doing even if I don't. (sometimes I'm the idiot that walks in not quite sure what he's doing). Anything they don't have they can get, usually today some times tomorrow, cash gets a nice price, and in a bind I have gotten delivery if I can wait for them to head my way.

I try to use the local Carquest for many things, but often Rock Auto has beat them on the price pretty well ($50+ savings on a $200 part) That said, if I want it quick Carquest is a bit better, BMW wheel bearing, pick it up tomorrow morning.

autozone and advance are USELESS. $100 overpriced frequently, IF they can find it in their system. Their employees are next to useless. Have a buddy at Carquest who takes the time to hunt down the best deal on the RIGHT part.

fastmiata wrote: I have a local store that will give me a "racing" discount for any vehicle that I own. It is rare that they have the part in stock for the Miata's; I havent ordered enough for the GTO or MS6 to comment at this point. I have never had much luck with Advance, Autozone, O'Reilly's or the other chain stores and at the least the local store knows me when I hit the front door plus I usually walk out with a new project for another client. I have always made the same statement to road racers: Dont be afraid of Bubba. YMMV

Woo hoo there is another mazdaspeed6 driver on the board

I do love rock auto, but depending on the number of parts I need, and if the parts are in stock or not I will use the local bricks and mortar store.

I live in a rural area, and any parts store is 15-20 miles away. Since I don't drive a Taurus or Pick up, it seems like the big chains like Autozone and Advance never seem to stock what I am looking for anyway plus I am leery of some of their brands. The only NAPA is in a very small town and has a sparse selection for my car, although they willingly order stuff. The Carquest (50 miles away) has a very knowlegable store manager that gives our internet club a very nice discount, so I will buy stuff there, but it is a long drive unless I plan to go out that way anyway.

I use the on line specialty stores a lot since they are experts on my brand of car (VW) and I know the parts are good quality and fit. I will say, the on line sites are also great for researching prices and availability of different brands.

I like the selection at Rock Auto, but unless you are lucky enough to have parts shipped from the same warehouse, the shipping costs can get a bit ridiculous. I have also had a rare problem with a part being listed that didn't really fit my cars ( 1973 Capri, Merkur), so you always take the risk of a return. I also buy parts well in advance of using them, so I always risk getting stuck with the wrong part after a return window has ended.

I bought some wheel bearings for my Capri from an on line source in Germany; found out over a 1 and 1/2 years later that they didn't fit. They still let me return them for a full refund (of course I had to pay shipping, but that was OK) Impressive customer service to say the least.!

Rockauto.com, Eeuroparts.com and Mazdaspeed Motorsports give me most everything I need.

I typically will go to Wal-Mart :shudder:, AutoZone or Advanced Auto Parts for fluids, bulbs, wiper blades, etc.

Everything else comes from the junkyard or my parts hoard.

It really depends on the part. A lot of parts for my '64 Valiant are still readily available at Nada, Oh Really, Sadvance, or Autostoned, but I have to watch the brand. Alternators and such are dirt cheap. Junkyards ... excuse me ... Auto Recyclers seldom have A-bodies any more, but occasionally I can find a common item from an F-M-J or other Mopar there. Rockauto is my online friend, as are Mancini Racing, Summit, Jegs, etc ... Haven't ordered from Year One yet, as their early-A coverage is weak. Body, trim, and the oddball parts are bought from specialty online stores or mail order.