Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire where do you like to buy your auto parts?

NAPA 'cuz it's 4 blocks away and is about an inch better at having parts than the only alternative which is a branch of an independent store about 40 miles south.

Whoever has the best price

Last time I was at AZ looking for windshield wiper blades they were way over priced, haven't bothered to go back since.

Sway bar connecting link on my wife’s Yukon were busted a few weeks ago. Found the OEM part number online, $46 shipped. Called the local dealer, $90+ tax. Told them I’d pay the $46 I found from an online GM dealer, “we can’t do that”. I hung up.

Was going to O Reilly’s anyway, made in America no name was $12 for the pair. Just a 5” long 3/8 bolt with 4 washers and 4 rubber pucks is all it was. If it breaks again, I’ll buy another set from OReilly.

Depending on what it is, I’ll stick with OEM. But finding the part number and a little google research often finds it cheaper.

In a hurry, it’s OReillys it Autozone.

With all the electronics on the newer ones, not knowing what you're doing can cost you a lot of money. I don't screw with anything electrical beyond changing a fuse or something.

i like napa and auto zone because of the hours. theres a hole in the wall mom and pop auto parts near me that has an unbelievable inventory for such a small shop but their hours are ridiculous. i give them biz when i can even though their prices are a tad higher. hard to beat napa.

there's a auto parts near my camp that sells everything you'd want plus guns and ammo and plumbing and electrical stuff. they're in an old GC Murphy store that still has that old time smell and squeaky floors. you can go in there and ask them guys just about anything and they know how to do it. went in looking for brushes for my starter and they guy said i'd have to bring it in so i did and we rebuilt it right at the counter while drinking free coffee.

amazon beats any auto parts store lots of times by 50% or more. two day shipping no brainer.

On our current vehicle I've bought a few new parts off Amazon that I knew would most likely be hard, if not impossible, to find in stock at local parts stores. Things like wiper blades, headlamp bulbs, filters, and the like I generally buy at Walmart or a local parts chain. The few parts I've either bought or priced for some past vehicles from a dealership parts department when I couldn't find them elsewhere were often proprietary and were only sold new at authorized dealerships and almost always cost the proverbial arm and a leg. Some were so outlandishly expensive, especially considering what they were, I usually just walked away and Redneck-rigged it. One such part was a positive battery cable "harness" for a '99 Ford Escort, dealership priced at over $100

it looks like it could pay to shop around, like with nearly everything.

autozone is closest to me. when i was doing lot's of shade tree mechanicing on my vehicles i utilized a local independent parts store.

it just seems like everything has changed a lot.

I haven't bought anything from autozone since they fired their employee for using his CCW to save his boss and stop an armed robbery-F those clowns. I'll order from rock auto if I have time and run to advanced for anything else.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.da...yee-who-stopped-armed-robbery-with-a-gun

I have NO answer to the question posed but I do have two Tundras.

It pays to shop around online too as the identical parts can often vary in price a fair bit. Sometimes shipping cost alone can make a cheaper listed priced item more expensive than a higher listed priced part with free shipping. Last two parts I bought from Amazon were listed by several different vendors and their prices varied as much as 30% - 50% for the very same identical in every way part.

I used to shop NAPA when I drove Fords and such. I’ve been driving Toyota p/u’sthe last 20 years or so. Now when I drive by parts stores I wonder how they stay in business.

I don't do any maintenance work on my vehicles. I trade every 3 to 4 years and do all required maintenance work at the dealership.

My son works at Autozone part-time as a HS Senior. We get the employee discount. My son installs a lot of batteries. Honestly, until he started working there, I didn't realize they install a lot of parts.

Local owned Bumper to Bumper affiliate.
They are a professional type parts house, with delivery trucks to garages, not a Wal-Mart for parts, like Autozone or Advance.
People that know parts, parts I need in stock, tons of nuts, bolts, clips, the little crap that can stop a big job in its tracks.
They run a little more sometimes, but you need to watch comparisons. Auto Zone will quote a great price, but on junk.
When you show up, they try to sell you the better stuff. Often it's as or more expensive than the pro place.
O'Riellys just opened a store 4 miles away, havent darkened their door.
I'm sure I willl for brake clean, or some other O'[bleep] item.

I really need one of them Tundra's.

They never need brakes, tires, wipers..........



Or their owners just need a dose of honesty!

I buy from a local auto parts store, Sturdevant's, in western South Dakota that has decent prices, stands behind what the sell, and great customer service.

I buy OEM parts for most things, but not all. I found out that most dealers have online pricing and parts counter pricing. I order online and pick up the part at the counter. I hate cheap junk parts.

I use Amazon for some things. Wal-Mart for oil. I get 20% off coupons from Advance Auto pretty regularly in emails, but that is for online ordering only.

Carquest which has become advance auto parts here. Get a damn good discount through my employer.