Parts stores charge shipping now?

I've never run into this before, so I'm wondering if it's standard operating procedure. Local parts house doesn't have the $6 dollar part I need in stock. Guy looks it up on the computer and closest one is in Atlanta. He then tells me they can have it there in 3-4 days and $10 shipping. Since when does a store charge the customer shipping to get a part from store to store? Is this new or have I just been lucky all these years? I mean, I can get the same part from Summit a buck cheaper and half the shipping.

 

it happens. normally it would be figured into the cost but its not a normally carried item.

 

happening alot more around me. they wanted 5 bucks for a .96 cent gasket.
I like advance auto parts though. Because if I have to have it shipped to the store, they will bring it to my house free.

 

He is using a second source out side of the norm hence the charges. if it was something he could get on the next "truck" there would be no charge.

 

IMO shipping costs are thru the roof and getting worse..

and if they can p*** the cost along they will.

when im selling stuff, i hate to even tell the buyers how much they(ups or fed-X) want to **** you to ship it.

 

If its a $6.00 part and they have to bring it in and it costs $7.00 to ship it they just lost $1? I work in the autoparts biz. If we have it in a local warehouse and we can get it delivered for free, its no charge to you. If its a special order part and you need it in a hurry there will be a charge for shipping. What I tell my customers is if I can get UPS to ship it for free I wont charge you? Remember the old saying, you can get it 3 ways, fast, cheap and good, you pick 2.

 

That ****s - I have yet to experience it firsthand.
On a side note, I'm wondering if the tide had started to turn. Two parts stores around me have recently undergone a major facelift. Rather than have a giant floor space that is like a useless automotive boutique with 18 different kinds of car wax and 37 kinds of floor mats and 1,000 different air fresheners, they have rededicated all of that floor space to carrying more actual parts so there will be LESS special orders. I mean, Advance Auto looked almost like a NAPA when I went in the other day.
This could be great news since it seems like all I ever hear is I have one but its in my warehouse...

 

I had the same thing happen at the local NAPA last month. The guy told me they had the part I needed in stock for $19 or he could order a lower quality one for $11 plus $6 shipping and I'd have to wait five business days for it.

 

The part is not from his supplier ,I wouldn't complain though ,At least he can get it ,

 

Quite right. As for shipping fees, yes they are really high. However, when you figure out what fuel, labor, insurance, tracking, attorneys, customer service and all the other factors added in to get a package to you, what do you expect them to be? Which of those categories is less than it was five years ago? Any idea what a union package delivery service driver gets an hour?

Best shipping i ever got was from Bratton's. I ordered a few door hinge screws. Had to have them, so I agreed to pay the $7.95 or whatever shipping. Someone there thought to put them in a padded envelope and mail them first cl*** and only charge me the actual postage it cost to mail them.
That is customer service,fast delivery and I am happy to tell you about their company.

 

Its a fact of life anymore so its best to get used to it. I wanted a couple of washers a couple of years back. 2' o.d, 1 1/2" i.d. by .020 thick. An outrageous $3.99 for two plus $11.80 UPS. I said stick them in an envelope and put a .41 stamp on the envelope and mail them. Sorry sir we only use UPS. I had to then tell the guy to just stick them.

I work for a national auto parts company (I asked them for a bit of sponsorship to get to Bonneville this yar and they refuse so no free name plug). If I want a part and its not in the warehouse but is in another I can get free shipping if I'm willing to wait for the next truck coming to us from that warehouse otherwise its pay for shipping.

 

I'd say try another parts store. I've written my opinion on this before but here it is in a nutshell: You, "the parts store owner" are in business to sell parts. I, "the customer" am not and will not be responsible for paying the shipping costs to stock the parts you choose to sell in your store. With that said, if they choose to silently build the price of shipping into the part, so be it. But I can tell you I have never paid additional shipping for parts unless I ordered them online at which time you would expect to pay it. When I go to the diner, I don't pay shippping on my eggs. When I go to a music store, I don't pay shipping on an instrument. I think the parts stores that are trying this are ******* up a rope. If you have to pay shipping, you may as well order it online for less money. I guess I am fortunate to have an excellent real parts store local to me.

 

See, that's just the thing. It's NAPA. NAPA has the part in stock, but the closest one is in a store in Atlanta. If it's already stocked in a NAPA store, then it comes from NAPA's regular supplier. They're just charging me to get it from store to store..and it's not like it's overnight. It's 3-4 days. I'll order from Summit and get it shipped and all for as much as they want for shipping.

 

If the part is being special ordered, and it doesn't work out to go on their usual truck, then your paying the shipping, whether they tell you or not

 

Not only do you pay a percentage of the shipping ,you pay for workers wages, insurance,gov't charges,etc,it's all in there.Plus if someone serves you,you're expected to plunk down another 15 percent.

 

Not the point. You're confusing the costs of running a business with selling a product. I've been in business, I know the difference. Like I said, if they choose the build the shipping into the price of the part, so be it, if the price is still inline I'll pay it. But, it leaves a bad taste in my mouth when a local store expects me the buy a part and then pay to have it delivered to their store too. This **** is why the internet is flourishing, like it or not.

 

I agree. Never seen this with normal parts houses. Talking about charging for an item already in stock at another location of the same chain. I was an ***istant manager of one for a few years and we didn't do this. I'd buy it online if it was cheaper. I very rarely even go into auto parts stores anymore though. Most of them sell all kinds of junk and not enough parts for older vehicles.

 

I had NAPA try that **** too. As fast as Rock Auto or Summit ships, I'll just use them. There's always some other project to keep me busy for the couple days it takes my parts to arrive.

 

Yes. If they have to order the part from other then their own local warehouse/distribution center, they are charged shipping..therefore in order for the store to maintain the proper percentage of profit to keep the doors open, they have to charge you the customer. The competiveness in todays market place is such that, if they don't watch the bottom line, they simply will not be open in the future, and then they will be yet another business, that failed in todays economy.

 

Ain"t going to pay for no shipping to their store if they don"t have it won"t be back the next time for a part either.Our local NAPA stores here used to give good service,now when you walk in the front door all you see is the bling **** like Autozone.If you order something from some of the big truck parts houses and they ship the wrong part they are coming up with a restocking fee ,never buy from them again either Not hard to get along with but if I need a part I need it right and at the advertized price not with some ad on fees.

 

Are you talking about a normally stocked part? There's like 10's of thousands of parts,they can't have everything.The shipping may be excessive,you have the right to refuse to pay of course.Speciality houses,like bearing and seal suppliers have always charged for shipping on non stock items.The local non chain parts store will try to ask for extra on a "special order",happened to me many times and not just recently.
Like some of you say,just order online........

 

It's a Ballast Resistor. Pretty common part.

 

But not one they have in their warehouse. If they had it there and they could put it on their truck, then no shipping. If it has to be shipped from another store using UPS/FedEx, then you're gonna pay the extra shipping cost.
Larry T

 

I'm 20 miles from Atlanta I'll go pick it up.

 

doesn't NAPA stand for; never any parts available.?

 

The guy was trying to do you a favor by going out of his way to get you what you needed. I worked at Car Quest for 6 years,and a computer program sets the stocking inventory for EACH store(it changes weekly). There is Normal stocking for the STORE,and normal stocking for the regional warehouse. If the part you need is in the regional warehouse,there is no shipping,because a Car Quest truck makes a daily delivery. Parts obtained from another local Carquest store also has no delivery charge,(store truck goes and picks up part,my job). U.P.S. from out of region,YOU pay.

 

Well I appreciate the effort, but I'll get it cheaper elsewhere.

 

I am totally blown away by the carping of many on this thread and their totally self centered at***ude and total ignorance of how businesses HAVE to be run to remain there to serve YOU, the apparently unappreciative "customer".

Nobody with multiple locations can have everything in every store in the chain. High(er) turnover stuff, yes; lower demand, district warehouses; lowest demand, regional warehouses. Like others have said, if they have a truck running daily or even weekly, and you can wait a bit, no additional charge. You want it NOW......who do you think should pay....oh, wait, you already said.......somebody else. Get Real!

BTW, how much would YOU charge to drive 300 miles or more and get a part for me? $6.00?? I'l take that deal anyday.

Ray

 

If it was a ballest resistor that was a special order part your shopping at the wrong store.
Kinda funny though, I needed one just the other day. As much as I hate to shop there I have a Pep Boys 1/2 block from my shop. I was in a hurry so I ran in to get it. After 5 minutes of expaining to the guy what a ballest resistor is so he could look it up on his computor, same thing, "special order only, we don't stock it". They said they could have it in a few days, didn't say I'd need to pay extra shipping but quoted me $12+change. Drove across town to my normal "real" parts store, counter guy goes and gets it without having to look it up and charges me $7.99. Maybe Pep Boys was charging me shipping by adding it to the cost of part.

 

I can walk into the local Advance Auto and if they dont have it in stock they can have it by 4 oclock that same day 90% of the time, and never been charged shipping. Napa is good for a lot of the old stuff no one else has, I usually go in 2-3 times a week and had the parts man spend 30 minutes on a 50 cent part, thats a good parts man IMHO. Spike