Whats Up RockAuto Playing Games?

[Capnemo]

Rock Auto has been my go to parts house for years. Today I went to order rotor and pads for the TBU and shiping was pricey, over $30 for just the rotors and more for pads. The parts were coming from different locations, A and C so two shipping charges. Fair enough, either drop shipments or different warehouses.
But then I looked at the tax, most not all places charging tax since a recent Supreme Court case depending on the state. Fair enough.

But it appears they were taxing the shipping too, at least way over my local sales tax. Not Cool.

So I tried adding other parts to see if I could get everything from the same shipping location, save on the shipping.

Each item I added, the pads went from the original Location B, to C...to D...

5 items and they were all coming from different locations and each one of course an added shipping charge. Not Cool.

The implication is they are playing games to charge separately for shipping. Why would the pads jump from B to...whatever, each additional item.

Looks like I will just order Toyota rotors pads and shims online.

 

[pluton]

Could be some ambitious manager hoping to show a small revenue boost on his next quarterly report.
Kind of like the first few years of those supermarket scanners where they marked up one or two items at random from every shopper...the supermarkets made millions on that. If you caught them, they blamed it on "computer error" and refunded the difference.

 

[Mudballz]

The “man” has gotten to our internet favorites
Amazon and eBay are collecting taxes now
Mike

 

[Lester Lugnut]

I'm familiar with Rock Auto's habit of shipping from multiple locations. In the past, I have ordered mundane items that you'd think would be in any of their whses, but I end up with product coming from multiple locations. Happened repeatedly.

About the only thing I buy from them now is Aisin WS compliant ATF. Much cheaper than what the ebay sellers are asking.

Too many Toyota dealers selling online these days for me to watch my $$$ fly out the window dealing with Rock Auto.

 

[Capnemo]

What got me was the location of the first item would change, from Location A, to B, to C, to D, as more items were added to the Cart. This seemed suspicious, where if it remained Location A and every else came from different locations I would not have felt as suspicious.

Combine that with tax that equated to being the same as my local tax and plus on shipping (which should never happen) was enough to lose me as a customer.

 

[JeffMerr]

I've honestly stopped ordering from RockAuto over the last year or two due to the shipping structure. I recently priced a complete set of rotors and pads and I had 4 separate shipping charges because they were coming from A, B, C, and D warehouses. I've found Amazon to be cheaper and carry a lot of the same parts if you search, and have been just ordering from them. Sad but true after using rock auto for probably the last decade for my vehicles.

 

[Muzzle of Bees]

That's interesting since I thought one of the benefits of ordering online was the discount on shipping too.
I usually buy my parts locally to avoid problems with fitment, etc.
We all pass auto parts stores, so it's not really an inconvenience unless you do not know what you want.

The shops performing the work get a parts discount too.

 

[Capnemo]

Amazon has a lot of counterfeit goods and open box stuff sold as new, so I try to buy only “sold by Amazon” stuff. I mean I sold a couple items on Amazon myself, setting it up was easier than eBay.

 

[Mauka.net]

Amazon has a lot of counterfeit goods and open box stuff sold as new, so I try to buy only “sold by Amazon” stuff. I mean I sold a couple items on Amazon myself, setting it up was easier than eBay.

Agree this this. FYI trying to get my posting count up. Thanks

 

[Valkyrie18trd]

hey guys little info on rock auto. the reason they are so cheap is because the do not actually have any parts on hand...they are just a middle man between us and the manufacture. they do not have rock auto warehouses all around the country. so thats why when you order multiple items you see so many shipping charges. sometimes if you are ordering a lot of parts its cheaper just to go to your local parts guy because the shipping charges are so much.

 

[Capnemo]

hey guys little info on rock auto. the reason they are so cheap is because the do not actually have any parts on hand...they are just a middle man between us and the manufacture. they do not have rock auto warehouses all around the country. so thats why when you order multiple items you see so many shipping charges. sometimes if you are ordering a lot of parts its cheaper just to go to your local parts guy because the shipping charges are so much.

That does not justify charging more tax than the local rate is....basicallyit was tax on item plus shipping.

 

[LandCruiser]

This is why I don't order anything from amazon anymore.

 

[Substreamer]

Amazon used to be a cool platform, with nice prices and good delivery. And now they are insolent! There is no conscience.

 

[Valkyrie18trd]

That does not justify charging more tax than the local rate is....basicallyit was tax on item plus shipping.

oh no that i dont agree with just saying the shipping charges can be crazy...tax should only be on the parts!

 

[VUI Guy]

oh no that i dont agree with just saying the shipping charges can be crazy...tax should only be on the parts!

Just ordered a computer from Costco.com and they also charged me tax on the shipping. I smell a class action lawsuit coming in the future. How can you tax shipping fees?

 

[johnbt]

" the following states say shipping charges are not taxable if included in the price: Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, Maine Maryland (noted exceptions), Massachusetts, Missouri, Nevada, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Utah, Virginia, Wisconsin."

OTOH, living in Virginia, Virginia says IF the shipping charge is listed as shipping AND handling then the whole amount is taxable.

 

[Sky]

Just ordered a computer from Costco.com and they also charged me tax on the shipping. I smell a class action lawsuit coming in the future. How can you tax shipping fees?

How about when Costco has a sale? So they mark a computer down to $500 from $1000. You pay $500 plus tax on the full $1000. Never have I seen anywhere else do that.

Rock Auto- I pretty much quit them when they sent me the wrong part. Wanted me to send it back with ME paying the shipping and generously offered to refund HALF the price of the part claiming it wasn't their fault! Blame the manufacturer they said.

 

[xyzzy]

I've had good experience with BAM Genuine OEM Wholesale Auto Parts | BAM Wholesale Parts for OEM parts.

I rarely buy from Amazon anymore. Many times in recent years I've found they're more costly than other online retailers. I believe they do that because they've made it so easy to order that many people no longer shop around.