Anyone buying parts thru Rock Auto?

[Digger89L]

I was putting a brake parts order together for Cip1 and just for the heck of it decided to check to see if I could buy the same / similar parts through Rock Auto (I'ved used them numerous times to by parts for domestic vehicles I've owned, and always found the service and parts good). I was surprised to see the VERY reasonable prices on VW parts (names like Carlson, and IAP). Is Rock Auto a common source for parts for vintage VWs?
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"If you can't fix it with pop rivets, crazy glue and duct tape, or hold it together with zip ties, velcro or magnets, it REALLY is broken."

[Sharp64]

I’ve used them for brakes and tierods a couple of times now. No issues.
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1960 Indigo Blue Ragtop (Blue Barry)
1967 Ghia
1985 Westy Money Pit
“...some men aren't looking for anything logical, like money. They can't be bought, bullied, reasoned, or negotiated with. Some men just want to watch the world burn.” - Michael Caine

[slave1pilot]

Like you, I’ve used them on a bunch of other cars.
Nothing on my Bug yet.
I like Everything I’ve purchased so far, so I dont See why Bug parts would be any different. Especially for the parts you are looking fir.
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My Photobucket for my Herbie Project - http://s1288.photobucket.com/user/TK-439/library/Herbie?sort=3&page=1

Currently:
1963 Ragtop Beetle
Previously:
1967 Beetle
1968 Beetle
1970 Beetle

[Digger89L]

The one thing that made me curious was the cost difference: For front brake shoes at Cip1.com, they want $24.99; at Rock Auto they're asking $14.50 (USD in both examples). "Usually" price indicates quality ...... However, I think I'll go ahead and order from Rock Auto, and see how it turns out.
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"If you can't fix it with pop rivets, crazy glue and duct tape, or hold it together with zip ties, velcro or magnets, it REALLY is broken."

[thechief86]

I've used Rockauto for several things, and everything has been acceptable except the cheapo tie rod ends I bought for my Miata, which i expected, at $8 each.
I bought all the stuff to put name brand timing components and water pump on my TDI Jetta, and it was less than half the price of the box parts houses, and was the exact same brand and everything, excellent quality, and was at my house within a couple days of ordering.
I am waiting now for a galvanized muffler for my 62 bug that was only $67, so we shall see. Hopefully it'll be better than the rusted out POS I have.
If Rockauto continues to meet my expectations, while saving me money, I will continue to use them, and endorse them to anyone who asks. I'll post how my cheap bug muffler is once I get it.
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"A poor workman always blames his parts... Ya gotta have skillz to hang junk." -johnnypan

[Gr0unded]

I have used RockAuto on and off for many years. Normally I order items for my other cars, like wiper blades along with generic plastic items as needed. In that regard, I generally very good success and they ship very fast, too.

I learned a lesson though, be very careful buying anything from RockAuto for your precious VW. A couple of months ago, they listed cooling tins that would fit a '76 Beetle. I didn't understand until after the fact, but what should have stopped me was the stock photo on their website. It clearly shows a picture of a '74 and down type cooling tin. It is clearly false advertising. I wanted to alert Rockauto about the issue but they are not taking calls or emails from the public...shame, shame.

Since I could not contact Rockauto directly, to make a claim about the part for return they cleverly devised a series of questions on their website that worked in their favor. Long story short, they will not take the tins back. Now I have a set of '74 and down tins I have no use for...

This experience put a stop of any purchases with Rockauto for my VW. I will stick with the VW retailers and fellow Sambaians.

Buyer beware.
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B r i a n
1976 VW Type 1 Beetle - Standard

Stop Dead Photo Links! Post your VW photos to the Samba Gallery!

[Ceckert64]

[wheel607]

[Ceckert64]

[CanStan]

I've ordered a lot of parts from them over the years. I like that they list parts as 'economy', 'standard equipment', and 'premium', so you can get the quality you want. Prices have been a fraction of what I can get locally. I did a brake job on a Jetta and got a complete set of 4 rotors and pads for $225 delivered to my door. By comparison, NAPA wanted around $200 for 1 rotor. They weren't a brand I knew, but the reviews seemed good, and I sold the car a few years later with no complaints about how they held up.
I once had a radiator fan fail, and after answering a handful of automated questions, they agreed to send a new one if I sent the old one back. Seemed fair to me. I had the same thing with an air flow meter. For the amount of parts I've bought, 2 failures is no worse than any other retailer I've bought parts from. Plus, they're selling the same brands of parts you'll get from anywhere else.
I aways add a bunch of odds and ends to my orders. I've bought Bosch wiper blades for $2.50 each, when they are $25 locally. A friend bought Bus brake drums on clearance for $2 each. Yup, $2. I don't recall the brand, but there's no way they're worse than the Empi drums any of the regular VW vendors sell.

I've literally spent 1/2 of the money I would have spent on parts over the years using Rock Auto. So even if I had a losing deal (like the ball joint boot issue Ceckert64 had, which sucks), I'd still feel like I'm miles and dollars ahead.

[jbbugs]

I am on Rock Auto’s email list, So they send occasionally me some clearance sale lists. Owning a VW shop, I always look for quantity pricing deals on parts I use a lot.
Rock had a really low price on Gates fan belts, So I ordered 30 of them in the 9.5x 905 size.
What they sent looked like they just went through some inventory that wasn’t moving, and threw whatever sizes they felt like in a box and sent it to me.
Only FIVE of the thirty were the correct size I ordered.
of course, since they were a clearance item there are No returns. WTF?!

Another time I ordered from them a starter for an automatic Type 2 as I couldn’t find one locally as quick as I needed it. What they sent me was a starter that fits a Jaguar. Fortunately they did accept that for return, but I got F’ed on having to pay the shipping to return it. WTF?

The only great transaction I had with them was a clearance price on some MOOG brand tie rod ends that were Dirt Cheap. I like that the Moog brand as it comes tapped for, and includes a zirk fitting on them. Unfortunately they only had One part number available, but it’s one that I use often and don’t mind keeping a few on the shelf.
As Sketchy as they have been, I seldom buy from them .
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Drag bus! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2MOVmKdhX4

69 OG paint Transporter
73' Super Beetle Champcar Endurance Roadracer
Patina my ass, that's a Rust Bucket!

[kreemoweet]

I've ordered from RockAuto.com close to a dozen times. Their website is one of the best I've ever seen.
Their offerings for any particular part are usually nothing less than awesome, as far as range and choice go.
As an example, there are over 20 different brands/variations to choose from just for front caliper brake pads
for my bus. And the prices are far lower than you'll find at any of your typical VW parts vendors.

It's an online-only business. They do not take emails or phone calls from the public, and I don't blame them.
If there's ever a problem with an order, their online return/status form is perfectly capable of handling it.
I've had to return 2 orders so far, both because the manufacturer-provided application notes were not
accurate, and parts were not usable. It was no problem whatever to fill out the form, and a return shipping
label was quickly provided (at no charge), and the part price paid was refunded as soon as the returned parts were received.
I've dealt with several primarily VW aircooled parts vendors where such fairness and efficiency is a thing unknown.

The website has an extensive set of help pages describing all the different aspects of the return/warranty
process. They have a reasonable 30-day return policy, which is specifically stated to also apply to "closeout"
items, with the caveat that manufacturer's warranty replacement may not be available in that case, but do have
30-day warranty from Rock Auto. Most parts have a clearly stated manufacturer's warranty, which will be honored
by Rock Auto. I know of no business which provides refunds for allegedly defective or mis-sent
goods without requiring the goods to be returned, or to allow returns of installed parts, or pays return shipping for
misordered parts.
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'67 bug: seized by the authorities
'68 bug: seized by the authorities
'71 kombi: not yet seized by the authorities

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