Another “parts store” warning

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Is there a source for just a boot?

I couldn't find one about 10 years ago.

Only pop on boots that don't hold grease well.
Energy Suspension sells the boots I know of for the 67 up but they’re not rubber , same composition as their bushes polyurethane. Last 5 times longer and are reasonably priced as well.Polyurethane Suspension Parts | Energy Suspension Parts Not sure what car the op has.
 
Autozone, napa, carquest and o’reilly’s are all around me several times over. The only true local store I know of is about 18 miles away. Would you guys consider all these equal?
At least in my town AZ clerks have **** attitudes. O'rielly must treat their employees better or something.
 
I refuse to use Rock Auto. The web site is horrible to navigate and I've seen many flaws in their cataloging. I've also found after their shipping charges the prices aren't that great. My local Napa store is reasonable price wise and if something I order shows up wrong they can handle it. Returning parts to online stores isn't worth the time or headache.
 
I'm not a fan of RA but I do occasionally buy from them.

Friday I ordered a LF Moog Quick strut and a Delphi (?)lower control arm for my DD. $11.99 freight which wasn't too bad. While I am friends with two of the best parts guys in town (NAPA and Federated) I saved $45.00 on the strut (name brand) and $60.00 on the LCA (Moog).
 
Here's what I do... Look up the part on Rock Auto. Get the brand and part number.
Plug those numbers into my Prime Amazon account (usually cheaper) and order from them. If the part is wrong, all I need to do is type in that it's wrong and drive over to the UPS store a few miles away. Don't even have to package it up, just drop it off. As soon as they have it, my credit card is credited and I'm all set.
 
I found something interesting. I don’t know if this is known. I was looking for an OEM air compressor and looked online. Local dealer was 345.00. Found same compressor on at least 5 different websites ie: Moparts Source, MoparParts and so on. I looked at the addresses and they where actual dealerships but the prices where over $100 cheaper than locally. I also paid not Tax or shipping from NewYork. End price was 214.00. I asked local dealer if they could match and he said better get it from New York then he said see you soon. Which I replied no chance of that unless your in New York packing my order next time.
 
Autozone, napa, carquest and o’reilly’s are all around me several times over. The only true local store I know of is about 18 miles away. Would you guys consider all these equal?

I would.....now. Used to be NAPA was a good step or four higher than the rest, but now corporate America has ruined even them, so I say shop around for PERSONNEL. It's the people that make the difference now. Used to be you didn't have to look for good parts people. now they are rare.
 
I would.....now. Used to be NAPA was a good step or four higher than the rest, but now corporate America has ruined even them, so I say shop around for PERSONNEL. It's the people that make the difference now. Used to be you didn't have to look for good parts people. now they are rare.
  • I agree that personnel makes the difference. Really good crew at the O'reilly's I go to. It's 45 minutes away, but what isn't where I live :D
  • But, I think WE, the consumers, are responsible for the junk we get. For years we price checked, and ran to the 14.99 instead of the 22.99 part. Then, everyone had to stock the "cheapies" to keep customers from going elsewhere. And NOT just auto parts. Does Montgomery Wards, Sears & Roebuck, and such places that offered product and services ring a bell? But we went to Walmart, Kmart, etc. for our 11.99 mixer instead of 18.99. Now we don't like what we've created.
 
  • I agree that personnel makes the difference. Really good crew at the O'reilly's I go to. It's 45 minutes away, but what isn't where I live :D
  • But, I think WE, the consumers, are responsible for the junk we get. For years we price checked, and ran to the 14.99 instead of the 22.99 part. Then, everyone had to stock the "cheapies" to keep customers from going elsewhere. And NOT just auto parts. Does Montgomery Wards, Sears & Roebuck, and such places that offered product and services ring a bell? But we went to Walmart, Kmart, etc. for our 11.99 mixer instead of 18.99. Now we don't like what we've created.

I agree 100%. We've no one to blame but ourselves for cheap *** chinkesium goods and outsourcing. We want everything NOW and as cheap as we can get it all else be damned.

I'm cheap, but I tell you what I do with things like engine bearings. I look on Ebay using key words like "NOS", "OLD", "VINTAGE" and so on looking for good quality AMERICAN MADE bearings, rings and so on. I hardly ever buy brand new and so far, it's worked well. I've been able to find good deals on good quality parts. I couldn't care less they're 30 plus years old.
 
I’ve used Rock Auto many times for many years. No problems. They once sent two upper ball joints that looked totally different from each other. I contacted them they sent another pair at their cost and told me keep the first pair. Don’t know what more anyone could expect. Even with shipping they are still less than any local store. I do and will continue to use them.
 
I agree 100%. We've no one to blame but ourselves for cheap *** chinkesium goods and outsourcing. We want everything NOW and as cheap as we can get it all else be damned.

Been saying that for years, it's all about the profit in today's corporate world, they don't give two ***** about the consumer anymore.

I use Rock Auto a lot, and have for years, the only problem I've ever had was over 12 years ago, I was shorted 1 spark plug. I called and the plug was shipped overnight. I don't buy the cheapass garbage parts, never have or will, and I will continue to use them because the price differences are just too good.

Example 1: I got a quote for a ignition module for my Dart from the local parts store, (I do buy from them for some items, things I need immediately), for $79.99. A made in China part, white box, no thanks. By comparison, a brand name part from RA, $24.99, even with shipping, I get a better part for about half.

Example 2: I got a quote for an Edelbrock carb from a different local parts store, one I buy from rarely, for $698.99. I drove 2 hours north to Calgary, went to a speed shop that I have never been to before, and bought that same carb for $508.48.

When I commented to the counter guy about the price difference, he told me that my local store charges more because they buy from him. Go figure.

I do believe in supporting local businesses, but damnit I gotta live too!
 
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I'm cheap, but I tell you what I do with things like engine bearings. I look on Ebay using key words like "NOS", "OLD", "VINTAGE" and so on looking for good quality AMERICAN MADE bearings, rings and so on. I hardly ever buy brand new and so far, it's worked well. I've been able to find good deals on good quality parts. I couldn't care less they're 30 plus years old.
I bought a oil filter wrench. The style I wanted was 2.99 for china, and like 5.49 for the one built in Iowa. I bought the one made in Iowa, still have it and it's still like new. I do this more on my decisions than even I realize, when there is a definite difference. I will pay more for quality. Enough folks start shopping like this, and more sales for quality items will put a damper on the flimsy junk that companies are marketing because of our demand for low low low pricing.
 
Ask yourself if you would buy cheap tools to make your living, replacing them frequently when, not "if" they break, or would it be better for you to spend the extra money on quality tools that are far more likely to last. I learned that a long time ago and I try to keep it in mind when I buy anything.
 
Ask yourself if you would buy cheap tools to make your living, replacing them frequently when, not "if" they break, or would it be better for you to spend the extra money on quality tools that are far more likely to last. I learned that a long time ago and I try to keep it in mind when I buy anything.

Yup, that's always been my attitude with tools. The guys that make me laugh are the ones who buy the cheapest crap too they can find. Even to use it once. I look for good used tools as well. I've gotten a lot of Snap On stuff through the years used......and all of their hand tools still have a lifetime warranty, bought used or not. Take torque wrenches, for example. We all know how important it is to accurately torque engine fasteners, for example. Yet, some guys will run to HF and get the damned cheapest one they can find.....use a 20% coupon and THEN try to take the thing back when they are done using it. If you have an old vehicle, you're going to need tools. No, you may not need a 300 dollar Snap On torque wrench, but you need an accurate one.
 
I've said this before on a different thread but it bears repeating. When you see a program like "Shark Tank", when a pitch is made to the "investors" that involves any form of manufacturing, the first thing that you hear is that the product manufacturing process has to be taken to China, or Taiwan, or Malaysia in order to get the unit costs down and MAXIMIZE PROFITS! America has been dumbed down from the global leader in manufacturing and industry into a nation that has begun to eat it's own young as a direct result of this thinking. JMO
 
Here's what I do... Look up the part on Rock Auto. Get the brand and part number.
Plug those numbers into my Prime Amazon account (usually cheaper) and order from them. If the part is wrong, all I need to do is type in that it's wrong and drive over to the UPS store a few miles away. Don't even have to package it up, just drop it off. As soon as they have it, my credit card is credited and I'm all set.
I always do that too just to price check. I will compare the price with shipping to Amazon ebay and all the other stores then buy it from the cheapest. I will say that lately rock autos shipping has been outrageous and it seems they have caught on to the warehouse loophole trick i use to use lol
 
True that on occasion RA has been a bit spendy for shipping costs, I recently looked up a tailpipe for my 2004 Grand Marquis, po had backed into something and bent it. Part was around $45.00, shipping was $500.00!
:wtf:
I put the car on my hoist yesterday and with both hands I was able to bend it back close enough to set it back in the hanger. Good enough for me.
 
The sad part is, the instructions mention and picture the boot. They could’ve offered to replace it, which is what I originally asked for. I bet the next one would’ve had the boot. If someone just took a minute to look at another box of the same part. But they just assume it’s a new design and say it’s ok as is. Oh well, keep wrenching everyone.
 
The sad part is, the instructions mention and picture the boot. They could’ve offered to replace it, which is what I originally asked for. I bet the next one would’ve had the boot. If someone just took a minute to look at another box of the same part. But they just assume it’s a new design and say it’s ok as is. Oh well, keep wrenching everyone.

That's because, just like brick and mortar parts stores, they don't give a **** about knowledgeable people anymore. All they want is sales numbers.
 
I don't think the argument "cheap tools vs local tools" is valid because the local stores and rockauto get the parts from the same place.

You're just eliminating a middle man.

Now, the argument "should I pay more to save the middle man's job" might hold up.....
 
Energy Suspension sells the boots I know of for the 67 up but they’re not rubber , same composition as their bushes polyurethane. Last 5 times longer and are reasonably priced as well.Polyurethane Suspension Parts | Energy Suspension Parts Not sure what car the op has.


The problem is those boots don't seal well and grease comes out as fast as you put it in.


Also, don't get confused between "energy suspension" the manufacturer, and "energy suspension" the marketer.

They are different and I had a horrible experience with the marketer, sending me obviously non-matched parts and almost refusing to exchange one or both. It took months to resolve.
 
Ask yourself if you would buy cheap tools to make your living, replacing them frequently when, not "if" they break, or would it be better for you to spend the extra money on quality tools that are far more likely to last. I learned that a long time ago and I try to keep it in mind when I buy anything.
Last place I worked at, I was employed as a machine operator (running roll formers that made feed through for chicken batteries)

They had an interesting tool policy "bring your own, if if breaks on the job, we replace it"

So I went out and bought a medium sized, 3 drawer craftsman tool box, and then went over to harbor freight to fill it up, sockets, wrenches, the basic works

In all the years I worked there, exactly one socket brake and got replaced
 
I bought a HF tap and die set ($40 vs $160 for Kobalt) and was told in no uncertain terms that it had a lifetime warranty.
 
I use Rock Auto. Generally do not have any issues. If in my research I get the impression that there is some poorly documented variation in parts, I'm inclined to purchase locally so I can return if necessary. Rock has excellent selection and makes research easy. My second choice is Advance, where I can usually get 20% off (and sometimes beats Rock on pricing). Their commercial fleet / central distribution store is close to my office and that's usually the only location that will have what I need in stock. I use O'Reilly for tool rentals. Napa for batteries. Pep Boys for plastic chrome crap (and tires!). Autozone if all else fails. There are no "independent" parts stores in my vicinity.

Source of original poster's problem is actually Moog. Proforged is available through Rock and price is comparable.
 
Wrong 72dinger, Rock Auto is to blame. They are the retailer. I have bought from them as well with minor issues, BUT their customer service sucks. Every order you place thru them is Russian Roulette.
 
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