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Jul 24, 2009 11:31:19 GMT
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I'm sure I recommended these guys before but really they do the business. www.rockauto.comNow if you have been dealing with US suppliers for a while you get used to the whole business of having to wait ages for shipping quotes, not being able to use the checkout on online stores, having to fax orders in (a fax machine you say, I'll check out my local museum...) and generally it being an arze. Then waiting a week for your stuff only to have to pay £5.95 to DHL, UPS, Fedex for them to process the VAT and duty for you (as well as paying the VAT and duty) - worse if you use USPS as the Post office charge like £10 for this! Or having additional fees imposed for using a credit or debit card from the UK. Rock Auto have always been a favourite supplier of mine. I hope Summit, Jegs and JCW are paying attention... 22nd July 09:30 I want to order online a starter relay for my Plymouth. I go to their web site, I click on "on line catalog" I click on Plymouth I click on 1968 I click on Sport Fury I click on 318 LA engine I can then either browse inventory by part type or search. So I type "Starter relay" in the search box and it highlights the category "electrical switches, relays and fuses" and gives me a choice of 5 branded options on starter relay. Each option specifies the quantity in stock and if there is a lead time to oder or deliver. I chose the item in stock at the lowest price from a brand I recognise. I click on checkout I click "international" on the "state" box. I click on UK I get 3 options for shipping (Intl' ecconomy, Int'l Priority, Int'l Courier Next Day) and select Priority as this is only 80 cents more than economy. I type my credit card number, expiry and CVC as well as my address (I really need to set up an account to save doing this each time) Then it says "UK Customs VAT is £xxx" and adds the VAT on for me, saving me from the £5.95 DHL Collection fee. Then the next box says "You can chat on line to a mechanic for advice on how to fit this part - click here" which I do not. 24th July 11:00 am. My parts arrive. Along with a note saying "British customers can now pay in GBP Sterling to avoid currency change charges by your bank or credit card company [by bank wire]". I have to give these guys two big thumbs up. Few US companies make an effort to accommodate overseas customers (who I assume are a minority in their customers but these guys really make the effort. Its significantly easier to deal with them than a lot of UK based companies I could mention. Note to anyone reading in eCommerce, this is how you make the sales... Right, now I'm taking the afternoon off to fit this part. Seriously, if you need parts for your yank then try these guys.
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Last Edit: Jul 24, 2009 11:32:03 GMT by akku
1941 Wolseley Not Rod - 1956 Humber Hawk - 1957 Daimler Conquest - 1966 Buick LeSabre - 1968 Plymouth Sport Fury - 1968 Ford Galaxie - 1969 Ford Country Squire - 1969 Mercury Marquis - 1970 Morris Minor - 1970 Buick Skylark - 1970 Ford Galaxie - 1971 Ford Galaxie - 1976 Continental Mark IV - 1976 Ford Capri - 1994 Ford Fiesta
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Jul 24, 2009 12:05:07 GMT
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a chum of mine uses them for all his yank parts and just recenelty ordered a new carb for his old lincoln. arrives in normal time and don't get charged the earth
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Jul 24, 2009 12:27:46 GMT
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Nice - you cannot argue with that. Noted. Likewise, if you're looking for Corvette or VW parts, I've ordered from Mid America Motor Works and whilst not as quick and easy as RA, their service and shipping is excellent
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Hirst
Posted a lot
This avatar is inaccurate, I've never shaved that closely
Posts: 3,930
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Jul 24, 2009 13:03:35 GMT
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Akku - that is an absolutely superb tip! They seem to have tons of stuff for my MK1 Accord and other cars to boot. I'm going to investigate this thoroughly later.
It's interesting that US retailers tend to be the worst at dealing with overseas customers, most won't even entertain the idea, which is especially frustrating if they have some part you can't really obtain anywhere else.
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MWF
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,945
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Jul 24, 2009 13:04:53 GMT
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Consider them bookmarked, all I need now is an American car to order parts for.
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Rock Auto rocksBenzBoy
@benzboy
Club Retro Rides Member 7
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Jul 24, 2009 14:19:14 GMT
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Glad you got the relay so quick - have you fitted it yet? ;D Does it start now!? ;D I really like it when I find a great supplier, Rock Auto sound superb!
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Jul 24, 2009 14:24:07 GMT
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Hirst - the problem is apparently that US Customs require them to do a ton of paperwork or something. I know a couple who ship to the UK but charge $15 per order to "complete export paperwork". Although these days I would have thought that meant "print a label off the computer" but hey. www.parcel2go.com have a US office, you can get stuff sent to them in Miami and they forward on the stuff to you. They charge something like £20 a year for the rental of a drop box there and then its just the regular US-UK shipping fee. Moving Parts do a similar service from their New York address but I can never find their website. I have found small (owner operator type) US places really helpful, go the extra mile for you especially as an export customer. Then the big companies seem reasonably well set up to sell to you. Its the medium size businesses which seem to be the issue a bit. I ordered a high lift Cam from Postons and asked if it needed their valve springs, no they say, just a nice new set of stock valve springs from your local parts store. I explain I'm in the UK and can't easily get them. So they send the "boy" out to get some from their local parts store and post them over with my cam. they didn't charge any extra for doing this. Little things like that are nice.
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1941 Wolseley Not Rod - 1956 Humber Hawk - 1957 Daimler Conquest - 1966 Buick LeSabre - 1968 Plymouth Sport Fury - 1968 Ford Galaxie - 1969 Ford Country Squire - 1969 Mercury Marquis - 1970 Morris Minor - 1970 Buick Skylark - 1970 Ford Galaxie - 1971 Ford Galaxie - 1976 Continental Mark IV - 1976 Ford Capri - 1994 Ford Fiesta
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Jul 24, 2009 14:28:04 GMT
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Rock Auto rolls!
3 days to get my wheel bearing,it worked out a few pence cheaper than buying in the uk too.
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Seth
South East
MorrisOxford TriumphMirald HillmanMinx BorgwardIsabellaCombi
Posts: 15,538
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Jul 24, 2009 14:44:35 GMT
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Thanks for the tip Akku. They stock some Borgward service parts!
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Follow your dreams or you might as well be a vegetable.
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Carter
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,535
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Jul 24, 2009 16:30:48 GMT
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Cheers from me too AK, they have a horde of stuff for my Econoline, the online catalog is spot-on! Never owned american tin before, so info like this makes me happy
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'77 Chevy G20
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10mpg
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 4,253
Club RR Member Number: 204
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Rock Auto rocks10mpg
@10mpg
Club Retro Rides Member 204
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Jul 24, 2009 16:47:19 GMT
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I can second this recommendation, I've used them loads of time for my mustang bits, they are both quicker and (much) cheaper than all the UK mail order suppliers I've dealt with, absolutely A1 in every way
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The Internet, like all tools, if used improperly, can make a complete bo**cks of even the simplest jobs...
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Jul 24, 2009 16:48:28 GMT
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and I have had two free fridge magnets too the last couple of times I used them...
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1941 Wolseley Not Rod - 1956 Humber Hawk - 1957 Daimler Conquest - 1966 Buick LeSabre - 1968 Plymouth Sport Fury - 1968 Ford Galaxie - 1969 Ford Country Squire - 1969 Mercury Marquis - 1970 Morris Minor - 1970 Buick Skylark - 1970 Ford Galaxie - 1971 Ford Galaxie - 1976 Continental Mark IV - 1976 Ford Capri - 1994 Ford Fiesta
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Rock Auto rocksBenzBoy
@benzboy
Club Retro Rides Member 7
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Jul 24, 2009 16:58:02 GMT
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Hmm, they do a good line in Benz parts too. Nice, easy to navigate catalogue too.
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Jul 24, 2009 17:16:01 GMT
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Been using them for a couple of years now, their service just seems to get better and better.
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Fake patina sucks!
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Seth
South East
MorrisOxford TriumphMirald HillmanMinx BorgwardIsabellaCombi
Posts: 15,538
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Jul 27, 2009 10:40:39 GMT
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Just placed an order on the back of this thread and your experiences. First time I've ever ordered from abroad Hope parts do come quick
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Follow your dreams or you might as well be a vegetable.
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Jul 27, 2009 11:46:32 GMT
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Hope you didn't pick "economy" shipping as that's usually on the boat. Did they give you an estimated date?
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1941 Wolseley Not Rod - 1956 Humber Hawk - 1957 Daimler Conquest - 1966 Buick LeSabre - 1968 Plymouth Sport Fury - 1968 Ford Galaxie - 1969 Ford Country Squire - 1969 Mercury Marquis - 1970 Morris Minor - 1970 Buick Skylark - 1970 Ford Galaxie - 1971 Ford Galaxie - 1976 Continental Mark IV - 1976 Ford Capri - 1994 Ford Fiesta
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Seth
South East
MorrisOxford TriumphMirald HillmanMinx BorgwardIsabellaCombi
Posts: 15,538
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Jul 27, 2009 12:41:57 GMT
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No, picked the same shipping as you had I think. Didn't look for a date. Anyhow, would be nice if it comes in the next week or so but its a "want" as opposed to a massive "need"
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Follow your dreams or you might as well be a vegetable.
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can recomened hi-gear transmissions of memphiss got a recon mustang T5 speed (V8) delivered in 14 days for £500 all in , a used one was £5 dearer in the uk.
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theres more to life than mpg & to much power is just enough.
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mrj
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,662
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thanks for that link, i tried the website (it's changed to german automatically!) and they even have parts for the Passat... that online shop is very smart....
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- 1971 VW 1600 TL Fastback - 1978 Passat GLS Variant - 1980 Audi 100 5E - 1981 VW aircooled panel van (sold) - 1983 VW Jetta Mk.I - 1984 VW Polo Coupé - 1984 VW Passat hatchback - 1987 VW Passat Variant - 1987 VW Passat hatchback - 1988 VW T25
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Jul 28, 2009 10:40:19 GMT
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Been using Rock Auto for years now - one thing I've recently discovered is that a lot of the B&M stores in the US will pricematch to Rock Auto - that's a winner all round if you are in the USA I recently got a new track/tie rod end for my Proton Persona (Mitsubishi Mirage 1993) for US$7 ;D They also regularly send out 5% discount codes if you sign up for the newsletter. Here's a couple you can use now if making an order 1868691188700
The discount takes 5% off our already-low prices. There's no limit on order size or the number of orders. Use the code for your next order, and share the code with friends, neighbors, relatives, the guy at the corner garage--anyone you know who works on cars or trucks.
This discount code expires on August 16, 2009; so don't wait!
11567931006207
The discount takes 5% off our already-low prices. There's no limit on order size or the number of orders. Use the code for your next order, and share the code with friends, neighbors, relatives, the guy at the corner garage--anyone you know who works on cars or trucks.
This discount code expires on September 13, 2009; so don't wait!
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Last Edit: Jul 28, 2009 10:43:20 GMT by gtd2000
Tell it like it is.... NOT how it should be
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