Parts shopping tips

Post by **FireFox31** » 08 Jul 2023, 00:58

When shopping for parts, I'm always looking for the best quality parts, best fitment information, and best price. That led me to create the threads about sales and discounts at usparts.volvocars.com and coupons at FCP.

However, I always forget about RockAuto. They have a terrible user interface, weak fitment information, and loads of terrible quality parts. Yet, they have better prices on some quality parts than FCP. They charge for shipping, so that can tip the scale back to FCP's favor. Some expensive suspension parts I just bought from FCP during a 10% off sale were the same at RockAuto after factoring in shipping. Thus, RockAuto would be cheaper than FCP without the sale.

Is there any reason to not shop at RockAuto?

What other tips do you have for parts shopping to help get better quality, information, and prices?

Post by **scot850** » 08 Jul 2023, 02:04

I have no issue dealing with Rock Auto. Not had an issue with them or the parts they supply. I tens to use know parts brands where they are available. Sometimes they have parts I can't get from Canadian suppliers which is a bonus and their shipping is not terrible.

Neil.

V50M66 · Post by **V50M66** » 08 Jul 2023, 10:17

RockAuto is great, you just have to tolerate the lousy interface and really know what you want, what to avoid, and what’ll fit your car because they might as well not tell you. Shipping isn’t horrible, and the prices are great - Bilstein B4s are under MSRP on there right now, and almost $100 cheaper than the set at FCP, even taking shipping into account.

Post by **Krons** » 08 Jul 2023, 14:44

Depending on how long you keep the car the FCP lifetime warranty may be worth a small premium. Have used it before.

Post by **abscate** » 08 Jul 2023, 14:46

Krons wrote: ↑08 Jul 2023, 14:44 Depending on how long you keep the car the FCP l me lifetime warranty may be worth a small premium. Have used it before.

What? FCP has a warranty?

Post by **Krons** » 08 Jul 2023, 16:14

abscate wrote: ↑08 Jul 2023, 14:46
Krons wrote: ↑08 Jul 2023, 14:44 Depending on how long you keep the car the FCP l me lifetime warranty may be worth a small premium. Have used it before.
What? FCP has a warranty?

In form of credit—minus return shipping—and any price increases since original part was bought.

Maybe more of a heavy discount vs warranty?

WhatAmIDoing · Post by **WhatAmIDoing** » 08 Jul 2023, 21:21

Krons wrote: ↑08 Jul 2023, 16:14
abscate wrote: ↑08 Jul 2023, 14:46
Krons wrote: ↑08 Jul 2023, 14:44 Depending on how long you keep the car the FCP l me lifetime warranty may be worth a small premium. Have used it before.
What? FCP has a warranty?
In form of credit—minus return shipping—and any price increases since original part was bought.

Maybe more of a heavy discount vs warranty?

With the price of shipping now, It's almost not even worth it. I have a big box of wear items to return, but after shipping and price increases, it's almost not worth it for "free" new parts. Probably the one (and only) advantage to living in CT.

Rockauto's interface isn't really that bad. It's set up like traditional parts catalogue. It's really meant for mechanics to quickly find what they need without a bunch of extra junk taking up the screen. If you already know exactly what you want, it is easy to find stuff. I usually don't buy from Rockauto. Their shipping can quickly get out of hand for even small parts. I usually end up back at FCP anyway as their price + "free" shipping is usually the same or cheaper than anywhere else for everything that doesn't have VOLVO stamped on it. The addition of a lifetime warranty tends to seal the deal if the price difference is less than a few dollars.

Autohaus and RMeuropean has had some good deals for me on weird things like axle boot kits and Volvo hardware.

If you need something in the coveted blue box, than Amazon, eBay, or one of the buy/sell groups will always get you the best deal. Remember, eBay has a money back guarantee on auto parts.

Get the Volvo part number of what you need and search it on google (Volvo xxxxxxxxx ). Should find just about everyplace it is for sale with the price listed. Easy to find the cheapest one... oh look it's FCP again.

Post by **abscate** » 09 Jul 2023, 04:39

I FreeCP parts about $1000 last year. One of the anesthetics on my failed timing belt on the T5 was my entire set of gaskets, valves, guides, and timing belt kit were all replaced on warranty

I had come close to ordering them from Skandix on a big order to mitigate shipping, but FreeCP for the win

454cid · Post by **454cid** » 09 Jul 2023, 12:28

You guys don't like RA's interface? I like it a lot. Their catalog is fantastic, and I go to them first, and then check Amazon with the info I've found on RA, as Amazon's catalog/search is terrible. More often than not, I'm looking for GM parts, so maybe that's the difference. A big chunk of my Volvo parts have come from FCP or IPD.

In the last few years I have not gotten much for my truck though Amazon as their selection has gone way down to mostly just resellers of generic imported parts with Amazon only "brand names".

V50M66 · Post by **V50M66** » 09 Jul 2023, 19:31

454cid wrote: ↑09 Jul 2023, 12:28 You guys don't like RA's interface? I like it a lot. Their catalog is fantastic, and I go to them first, and then check Amazon with the info I've found on RA, as Amazon's catalog/search is terrible. More often than not, I'm looking for GM parts, so maybe that's the difference. A big chunk of my Volvo parts have come from FCP or IPD.

In the last few years I have not gotten much for my truck though Amazon as their selection has gone way down to mostly just resellers of generic imported parts with Amazon only "brand names".

The RockAuto catalog makes a lot more sense for GM stuff because of how their models are split. For Volvo, different trims with the same engine have wildly different parts (GLT vs AWD P80 V70, for example), so it makes much more sense to sort by trim, like FCP and IPD does, but RA sorts only by engine.