RockAuto

I have ordered from them about 8 -10 times. Most of the time the parts work fine. I have received a few items that needed modifications to make them work. I have a few major complaints that Rock Auto should fix if they want to stay in business:
1) The lack of any method of communicating with a customer service person can be a deal breaker. Online only customer support is one thing. ZERO customer support is another.
2) I recently ordered coil/strut assemblies and shocks from them. Monroe apparently puts no padding or fixing cardboard at all in their packages. Rock Auto does nothing to mitigate that shortcoming. So, you can expect to receive bent parts in very eroded, holey carton board boxes. I had to take time re-form the bent brake line holders on the struts. I got them to work but the paint was gone and it was hard to get the brake line grommets into position.
3) Rock Auto returns portal actually has a way to request compensation for repairing parts that show up damaged (likely because one of us used damaged parts because they didn't have time to wait for Rock Auto to send suspect replacements and then sued Rock Auto for compensation). However, when I tried to enter a compensation value for heating and re-forming the brake line holders on my struts, the portal simply directed me to send the parts back for replacement. Not at all helpful.
4) Rock auto needs to allow users better filters to make IDing what to buy easier:
a) when a part (say a strut) comes in a left/right or front/back configuration. Let the user filter out all the stuff he doesn't want to see. Beyond improving the customer buying experience this will definitely reduce returns due to accidentally ordering the wrong part.
B) When a specific make/model of an item has unique installation component characteristics, Rock Auto should included that in their descriptions. For example: if you buy the Monroe shocks for a 2005 Ford Focus, you don't need to buy the mounting kit offered by Rock Auto unless you want the installation to look more like the OE shock installation. Again, potential here for better customer experience and an order return volume reduction.
Bottom line: You will usually get good prices for parts at Rock Auto, but you should consider the cost and time it will take to get the parts as well. You should consider whether or not you have the time/ability to make damaged or ill-fitting parts work. And, you have to be ok with never getting help for any issue Rock Auto does not consider worth covering in their CS portal

SUPPOSEDLY YOU CAN GET TO CUSTOMER SERVICE ONLINE BUT IS IS SOMEWHERE SO DEEPLY HIDDEN IT CAN'S BE FOUND... NO HELP WITH AN ORDER

This place is a real joke, Carrier lost the package and no way to contact rockauto at all, no number, email, nothing, BEWARE!

I TRYIED 29 TIMES EXPLAINING ON AND OFF LINE,MY ORDER WAS DUPPLICATED AND BILLED AND SEND ME TWICE OF WHAT I NEEDED. FIRST AND 29 TIME SAME BLUFF FROM ROCK AUTO, WE DO NOT HELP ON PHONE. SO I ASK MY FREIND TO HELP ME,THEN BANK CHARGE BACK,THEN ATTORNEY GENRAL & CASE CONTINUES TILL SETTLED & IF ROCK ATUO DRAGS THEN IT WILL CONTINE WITH REFUND OF ATTORNEY FEES BY ORDER OF COURT. IF ALL CUSTOMER S AND EVERY ONE INCLUDING ROCK ATO PLAY THEIR ROAL THEN NO PROBLEM AND BEST MUTUL BENIFIT AND EXCHANGE. PLAEASE ALL CUST CONTINUE TO ENFORCE.

I have been a huge supporter of this company for the last few years, as I am a licensed auto tech who is semi-retired and look after a small fleet of my own, the farm, and family's vehicles, also taking on friends and neighbors jobs. Probably around $20,000+ in the last 2.5 years. And I'm in my mid 30's so many decades of spending left I would reckon.
So with that back story which I told when I made my emailed inquiry (since you can't actually ever talk to human!) about a wrong part (timing belt) that was part of one of those big kits that come with all the goodies like water pump/tensioner/pully's, you would think they might consider the years of revenue and potentially hundred's of thousands of dollars I may spend or refer to them. Nope no care given at all!
I had already installed the rest of the kit on a Saturday and went to put the last part on which is the timing belt, when low and behold it was too short. It came out of a factory sealed box so it was the packers at Continental to blame. I sourced one from the local dealer before they closed as the Honda I was working on needed to get back to the customer for work use Monday.
Rock Auto wanted me to disassemble what I had already installed (with high torque lock tighten bolts into aluminum which in my opinion best not to take in and out any more than necessary (as they kinda have a finite amount of times that can be done before thread damage becomes a risk) which would disable the vehicle and take time as well. They wanted it all sent back to get a refund and wait about 10 days to get another belt/kit. Don't know who would be paying for a rental car at that point either I guess me or the customer?
They sold a wrong part and make it your responsibility to deal with it even if it includes huge inconvenience, cost, time, energy. Also the local belt I had to buy at the stealership was 5X the cost which kinda throws my estimate out the window! I told them to keep the money for the belt instead of refunding it and they would never hear from me again and I won't be recommending them anymore. They need to look at the bigger picture sometimes it would have been a big win for them to keep me happy! Now it's off the "PartsAvatar.ca" to order parts lol!

2 ERRORS in a row. 1st order, instead of Left & Right, they sent 2 Left. 2nd order sent USED rusted cores!
Then made me PAY for shipping them back!

Approximately 2 years ago, I had to purchase some very unique brake system for a 1989 Chevy IROC Z Camaro. I ordered 4 rotors and all of the things needed to replace everything on each axle for safety. After I ordered what was the correct part ( nobody knows my car better than I) RipAuto sent the wrong parts for the back axle, 2 rotors, Calipers were wrong, parts were wrong on the back axle period. After notifying that it didn't t fit. They (RipAuto) insisted it did fit. After I requested a return even though I purchased a lot of parts ( owner of 6 vehicles) I went to credit card and tried to force them to return the items. Would not do it. Somehow convinced the Credit Card Company that it fit and would not allow a return, even though I was the customer and I said it didn't t fit. I wasted a lot of time in a dispute over items I paid for that didn't t fit and I still have a New set of rotors and a number of other items still on my shelf that costed me hundreds of dollars in parts, time etc. and to this day I refuse to do business with these idiots because they know more about my car that I have owned for 25 years and refused to take back parts that would not fit. DOES THIS REALLY SOUND LIKE SOMETHING I WOULD MAKE UP? It's not just the money, it's the principal of the matter. Right? I guess not. They still send me SALES from time to time but I refuse to buy ANYTHING from RIPAUTO.!

Do Not Buy from $#*! Auto! They sent me the wrong parts and $#*!ed me! No money back, nothing! FkU

I have bought several parts from RockAutoParts.Com and could not me anymore satisfied. The prices were superior to the big name discount sites and local stores. I bought parts for my 2008 BMW 528I and my 207 Nissan Quest. They arrived ahead of schedule. The surprise was that the parts that came were original MFG parts. Not knock offs or Aftermarket. Prior to ordering I contactedthe dealers as well as two or three other Auto Parts Stores and check prices and product manufacturer. I find that except for the dealers (whose quotee are usually for the very Rich or the very ignorant) the parss are made by the same manufacturers. Navigation for parts is excellent and if you know what to order, you will make a purchase. On two separate occasions I find it necessary to contact Costomer Service and was successful in doing so. I pay with PayPal and my issue was (Merchant Authentication Issue) with Paypa, l not RockAuto They are also very helpful by giving me suggestion on how to resolve this situation with Paypal.

Therefore; the only comparison that is relevant is the price. Rock Auto is ahead by a country mile.
Caution: Dont be put off by paid or phoney reviews. This company is here to stay if they continue to offer superrior products at superior prices and a dimely delivery. I