flim flam slam them man

[Plymouthy Adams]

certain online order site....pick an item....ships from point A,  pic second item ships from point B  swap that item and it states ships from point B swap again and find that time in another brand shipping from point A.....now look at your cart....your first item has now swapped to ship from point B...see the pattern.....two shipping charges....now go back and select first item ship from point A second item from point B and now select a duplicate of the second item that was shown as shipping from B...it is now shipped from point C.....they ripping everyone on shipping.....this is the third time I have found this and the third time I have I just closed the site an an obvious ripoff.....

Edited September 1, 2021 by Plymouthy Adams

[Tooljunkie]

How does this not suprise me? 
i got bit once. 
by the time the bait and switch is all done, its cheaper to buy local. Needed all the stuff to refresh rear diff in my Dart, i was all of $100 cheaper to buy local. 

[Sniper]

When you are looking at parts they give a little truck icon to show that a part you are looking at will ship out of the same warehouse as a part in your cart.

 

As for cheaper local, I dunno about that.  I am looking to get the Rusty Hope disc brake kit, uses rotors from a 78 Volare.  Price check those.

 

RA- $38.79 each (without 5% discount applied)

AZ - $68.99 each

O'reilly - $73.99 each

Advance Auto - $74.99 each

NAPA - $78.49 each

 

Even with shipping RA is cheaper.  Shipping for the whole order is $39.98 which includes a lot more than just rotors.  But if you wanted to be picky, the cost for two rotors from RA to me with shipping is $117.56.  A pair of rotors from AZ is  $137.98.  Neither includes taxes, but RA would be cheaper there too and remember the 55% discount has yet to be applied.

[kencombs]

1 hour ago, Sniper said:

When you are looking at parts they give a little truck icon to show that a part you are looking at will ship out of the same warehouse as a part in your cart.

 

As for cheaper local, I dunno about that.  I am looking to get the Rusty Hope disc brake kit, uses rotors from a 78 Volare.  Price check those.

 

RA- $38.79 each (without 5% discount applied)

AZ - $68.99 each

O'reilly - $73.99 each

Advance Auto - $74.99 each

NAPA - $78.49 each

 

Even with shipping RA is cheaper.  Shipping for the whole order is $39.98 which includes a lot more than just rotors.  But if you wanted to be picky, the cost for two rotors from RA to me with shipping is $117.56.  A pair of rotors from AZ is  $137.98.  Neither includes taxes, but RA would be cheaper there too and remember the 55% discount has yet to be applied.

And this is what really irks me:  117.56 - (39.79 x 2) = 37.98 shipping.  They  could ship those USPS flat rate box for less, but they won't do that.  I know that shipping labor isn't free, but the boxes from USPS are.  USPS flat rate always beats the competition on any heavy objects that fit the flat rate boxes.   I shipped 60 lbs of cast iron wheel weights a couple of weeks ago  Makes me feel a little guilty to hand those over with a $19.30 postage label, but just a little guilty and doesn't last long.

[Sniper]

I agree the shipping prices could be better, but if you pay a bit of attention to what parts you pick you can get a reasonable shipping cost.  For example, in my parts order I am not only getting the rotors shipped for that price, it also includes the calipers, the inner and outer wheel bearings, the dust caps and the seals. 

 

For the hoses, hose washers, banjo bolts and pads, they come from a different warehouse, for $9.99.  Now in the case of the hose washers, I bought 10, because a 10 pack came from the same warehouse, but if I ordered 4 of them, then a third warehouse was involved for another $9.99.  Was cheaper to buy ten and have 6 spares than 4 and pay another $9.99 for shipping.  Now these were for GM branded sealing washers, rather than some too thin aftermarket ones.

 

you know, in reviewing the order for this post I realized the calipers come with banjo bolts and washers, hmm. 

 

Well, now.  I pulled the bolts and washers out, rechecked the hoses and am now getting everything from one warehouse and shipping when down to $31.98.  Thanks PA!

[Tooljunkie]

I guess i should have mentioned, i spend near 30 grand a year in parts fixing cars in my home shop, so discounts apply. 

[Young Ed]

You do need to be careful to not overpay. Just remember theres no such thing as free lunch. They are being upfront with their shipping costs rather than offering free shipping and burying the price in item markups

[Plymouthy Adams]

IF there was a reasonable explanation for the first item shipping from point A being flipped to shipping from point B when you shopped about their site for the other item to also to ship from point A...else...it is solely a flim flam job....and as how it is now shipping point B you go back and change to the original selection of item 2 to be point B...whala...item one is now back to shipping from point A.  Others may not be able to pick up on this shell game...I believe they count on that to some degree.  I have found their site to be best used as a alternate part number source for shopping with real companies.

[kencombs]

1 hour ago, Plymouthy Adams said:

IF there was a reasonable explanation for the first item shipping from point A being flipped to shipping from point B when you shopped about their site for the other item to also to ship from point A...else...it is solely a flim flam job....and as how it is now shipping point B you go back and change to the original selection of item 2 to be point B...whala...item one is now back to shipping from point A.  Others may not be able to pick up on this shell game...I believe they count on that to some degree.  I have found their site to be best used as a alternate part number source for shopping with real companies.

They do have the best part lookup system on the net, at least the best I've found.  And, the INFO button provides much more real data, sizes, etc than I've found outside the manufacturers catalogs. 

 

I think the whole shipping thing is confused by the fact that Rock really isn't a warehouse, or a system warehouses, for a lot of the items.  For some, they are just an aggregator of others sales.  At least that's my understanding.  They just provide a high traffic location for others to sell.  The real owners may be shipping.  I doubt that there is a planned shell game, just a really complicated process involved in selecting an item from a seller source based on who knows what. buyer location, number of sellers, seller location or ????

 

[Plymouthy Adams]

I view them as a drop shipper....one who has links to direct sales providers and act much like a middle man.....I have bought a few items from them when all the stars align in the heavens.....there is another company I deal with that is much like these guys but shipping is not flip flopped back and forth.  If I see a part with their name attached....I have 100% confidence.

[oldodge41]

I use them sometimes. Shipping sometimes kills the deal and other sites, or local, beat them. I love to support local, but when the counter person just automatically says we don't have that and they offer no help in finding a solution, I am compelled to do my own research and then I like to reward the entity that supplies the research material. Keep in mind I am often looking for non-stock  items that I know they won't have, but also know they can get. Plymouth Adams, do you mind sharing your similar company that produces the confidence to purchase from them?

Edited September 3, 2021 by oldodge41

[Plymouthy Adams]

the other company is not necessary a company I seek out but when shopping online and is not a car part company but they do have a section for automotive, lot of stuff I need to support the house and the shop will often be listed by them....much is the stuff I need/use in my small machine shop

 

Zoro....if they have the listing....I rest easy knowing I will get what I ordered, will be top notch and their customer service is excellent.

[Sniper]

Well, I went thru this other site, same part numbers as RA when available, or cheapest option if not for comparable part.

 

RA- delivered $273.00

Other place - delivered $401.06

 

Ok, pass then.