Auto Parts for the DIY'er

[MountainDon]

I do much of the maintenance and repairs for our vehicles myself. There are some things I can not do or don't want to do and I have a local shop I use for those things. I've bought most parts from O'Reilly, sometimes Autozone, NAPA or even the dealer (hard to find caliper mounting bolts with special shank and lengths).

I needed a new downstream O2 sensor just recently.  Checked prices: O2 sensor, Bosch $80 for exact fit, $58 for the one you have to install the plug yourself at O'Reilly. $70 at Autozone for the exact fit Bosch and $57 for the one with the plug kit.

On a whim I checked amazon.com using the Bosch part number. Whoa!!  The exact fit variety was $33.89 !!! Genuine Bosch!  I ordered it Friday night, it arrived yesterday.

I also found I could save $2 each on six Bosch platinum fusion 4 electrode spark plugs. I like to buy local from folks who live here, but for a part to be available for less than half the local price, well, I can use those extra dollars to help pay my dentist whom I saw today.

No shipping on the shipment from amazon either and no sales tax. I guess I screwed the city and state on the tax, but they don't listen well to me when I complain about them being wasteful with the tax dollars I do give them.

[NM_Shooter]

I had to buy a new toilet for my RV today, since I poached the old one for my outhouse. 

Central Trailer supply had one for $189 plust tax.

Campingworld in town has one on sale for $150 plus tax, plus I have to pay to join their president's club.

Ebay had it for $149, free shipping.
I really like to buy from local brick and mortar places, but WTH?   I asked central if they would sell it for $150, and they said no.  I don't understand how Bob's no-name ebay internet dealer can sell these for $149 and pay my shipping, and the local place won't.  Perhaps Central trailer should buy theirs from this ebay dealer. 

[Gary O]

Great find Don, and yeah I too try to support the locals (small box stores) when I can, but can't when the offset is substantial.
For my table saw's push button reset I contacted the local Portercable/Delta guys
"10-15 weeks if only that long"
Grainger, the 7-11 of everything (and charging accordingly) got it to me in 3 days.


(Sorry, I'm compelled ya know)

[peternap]

I've been using Amazon more lately Don...a lot more!

I'm a great supporter of local business as long as it supports me. I really don't consider the chains local though. I wanted to buy a set of Saddleman saddlebags last week. I went to Ken's Cycle Center and he carried them all summer, Didn't have any and was not going to reorder until spring, then he proceeded to cry about business (as usual).

My comment was:
"Ken, how can you expect to sell anything when you don't have anything to sell". That shut him up.

I ordered them from Amazon. This week I bought 2 Windjammers (For Microphones), a roof rack, 12 gigs of DDR PC3 RAM, a Sunforce charge controller, Avid Studio and the AGM batteries were from an Amazon link.

I'm a Prime member so almost everything is free 2nd day shipping, $3.99 if I need it overnight.

I refuse to buy from Ebay but Amazon has always treated me like a valued customer.

I don't think it will be Amazon that puts Mom And Pop out of business, it'll be Mom and Pop themselves.

[MountainDon]

Amazon keeps impressing me with their service whenever I (rarely) run into a problem.

Case in point, I ordered a plastic cutting mat for a paper trimmer from Amazon. Nobody local carried the part. There was a problem in shipping; it was damaged by improper packing. Contacting amazon was a breeze, no wait. Real pwrson who spoke American. Somewhere on the west coast. Second one arrived with the same issue. easy contact again. Talked in depth about the problem. The service rep removed the item from the website right then and there. It took about ten days but that rep called back and reported they figured out how to ship that item without it being damaged. The third one arrived in great usable condition. They never charged for sending out any of the replacements, but if the damaged items were not received in 4 weeks they would charge me then. I also got email notices when they recived the returned items. It's amazing. There are a lot of companies big and small, international and local that could learn a lot about customer service from Amazon.com.

[Alan Gage]

On a whim I checked amazon.com using the Bosch part number. Whoa!!  The exact fit variety was $33.89 !!! Genuine Bosch!  I ordered it Friday night, it arrived yesterday.

They do have some amazing prices on some good parts. My family runs an auto repair shop and we've even bought some OE parts off Amazon when they can't be sourced through our normal suppliers.

I also found I could save $2 each on six Bosch platinum fusion 4 electrode spark plugs.

Maybe they've gotten better but those 4 electrode Bosch platinum spark plugs have a terrible reputation. A few years ago they were causing all sorts of strange problems. Seems strange for a company as good as Bosch to be putting them out. Or perhaps they were just putting their name on them and buying them from someone else. Lots of that goes on and it's hard to keep track of. In all the applications I'm aware of them causing a problem Bosch wasn't the OE spark plug.

Alan

[MountainDon]

Re the 4 electrode Bosch..... I've used them before with no issues. Let's hope for continued good luck!

[desimulacra]

Because of title gotta mention car-parts dot com. Has saved my bacon a few times. (used car parts)

[glenn kangiser]

I try Amazon for fast service all of the time - Makita 18v Rotohammer not ever in stock at most places - Ordered from work Friday when I burned out my old one - new one will be here Monday with 1 day shipping for 3.99 on Prime.  Yea.....