What is your success with on-line auto parts supplies?
 

I've been a big fan of buying car parts from on line sites. They seem a good value. Except that I have had a near consistent supply of miss-shipped and un needed and defective parts. Am I just unlucky or does everyone get miss-shipments?

Here’s a list of some of the defective or incorrect car related stuff I've received over the last several years:

broken headlight assy
wrong distributor cap sent
brake rotor that warped about 2 weeks after install
brake pad kits plus un needed but paid for extra wear sensors
broken CD changer
miss manufactured radiator
sometimes parts are ordered and paid for but not shipped

I am not naming names, as this is not an attempt to slam anyone or any company.

The simple truth is by the time that lost time plus the need to ship the bozo parts back at my expense, plus, inevitably the time to replace the parts with the right one have all been added up, the value is far less than what it seems on the surface.

Comments?

I use Fastlane and have never had any of the problems you describe. Phil has been a huge help with my 350 restoration.

I've never had real problems...FastLane or otherwise.

The one time I did have an issue was with some foglights for the ML (not FastLane). One of the units appeared to have been "doctored" or refurbished in some way, but I went ahead and installed the set. Discovered too, that they sent me two right brackets.

Kept blowing the fuse when I turned them on. After some diagnosis, determined that the refurbished unit was at fault. Returned it for exchange (along with a request for a left bracket) and got both within a week. No problems installing the next one.

Rusty at www.mbz.org sent me a pre-94 hood instead of a post-93 hood despite me being very specific on the phone. It took 4 months to get the hood back because they wouldn't pay to have it picked up. Instead I had to call up the freight company and have them send it back collect to the MB dealer in Florida. While that was going on I ordered the hood from an autopart store in CA and that turned out to be an aftermarket hood with a dent in it. I had to track down the email addresses of the President and Vice-President of the company, send a nasty email, before they refunded my money and sent someone to pick it up 2 months after the fact. I then told the bodyshop to get it from their local OEM supplier.
Basically for about 2 months I had a charge of 3 hoods on my credit card. Good thing the bodyshop floor manager was a great guy or he could have charged me storage.

Although everything got refunded, eventually, it was a lesson well learned. I try and order withing my State if possible, apparently credit card companies have a "mileage limit" tagged to disputing credit card charges :eek: If you order something from a company x amount of miles away their ability to help dispute is "limited". Bet some of you didn't know that.

I also try and call especially if its one of those parts that could easily be mistaken for another.

I actually understand their point of view, they think you are trying to scam them, and you think they are trying to scam you, and its like a mexican stand off. I hate it though.

That said I have had many great experiencing from buying online. Fastlane and Phil have been great. But its one of those things that really involves a lot of risk despite the rewards like no tax and lower prices.

I too like buying online. I recommend anybody to thoroughly do their homework before ordering. It's a pain, but it can save a lot of grief. If possible, remove the old part first and write down the part number. Sometimes the catalogs aren't always accurate. Check... and double check.

The real lesson to learn here is "don't ship sheet metal". We don't, and you've done a fine job of pointing out why -- it's way more trouble than it's worth.

Believe you me, I'll NEVER do it again:)

Allow me, please to distinguish between buying online and buying from online. I would NEVER move my mouse to box and click and expect to get the correct part. I will browse online but when it comes time to order I'm gonna talk to somebody !!
I want to feel warm and fuzzy that the person placing my order knows exactly what I want and that it will fit my car!!! I also want to know his name and might even test his knowledge. With that said, I have bought lots of parts "from" online and had no problems except for my W124 transmission, and that story ain't over yet.

fastlane fan
 

I've used Phil's brain and his service. Parts arrive before expected and have always been exactly what I wanted.

Several times I would have ordered the wrong thing, but he helped. Use him.

I find I get better service online than in person. You can email or talk to someone who knows what they are doing (like Phil), instead of getting a blank stare from the teenager behind the counter. You can go to the dealer instead, but the service is not certain to be any good, and you will pay dearly.
Ironically, I have found that the stock on hand at the dealer is not that great, so it often takes LONGER than shipping to get a part in hand, plus you have to drive there twice.

I live so far out in the bonnies that there is no way could I keep my fleet going with out FastLane and a couple online MB salvage yards. I have ordered parts from Phil at ten oclock AM one day and had them dilvered to my door (UPS) by one oclock the next day.

When I bought my Euro SE friends told me I would have trouble getting parts, not so Phil gets them just as fast as for my American versions in fact most parts for my Euro car seem to be the same as those for there American counterparts.....

william Rogers..........