Rock Auto

Just received word that Rock Auto will (finally) be shipping me the missing parts from my order.  No word as to when, yet.

Not happy with Rock Auto

Occasional showers forecast all weekend, so maybe it's a good thing that the rest of my order from Rock Auto won't show up today.  I asked them a couple of days ago what the chances were of getting those items here by the weekend, and they basically told me that they could cancel the order and then I could re-order them.  Maybe I should have done that, I could then have O'Reilly's get them for me, I would have gotten them the next day and for less then what Rock Auto wanted to charge me for next day shipping.

I'm thinking that I will only order from Rock Auto when O'Reilly's doesn't have something on hand and if O'Reilly's can't get it next day.  I'm a bit disappointed with the Customer Service at Rock Auto.  I recognize that Rock Auto is in uncharted territory with their business model, but it's still not good service to argue that you shipped something when the shipping records clearly show that the product was not shipped.  And then to argue about it for 3 days before finally deciding to ship the product and not expediting the shipment or doing SOMETHING to compensate the customer is just not the way to do business, especially in this competitive climate.  Especially when every order I have placed with them has had some kind of screwup involved.  Granted, none were this big, but still.  I still think that Rock Auto has the BEST parts catalog and the BEST parts selection, but they need to work a bit to get some better customer service.

Over the top with the '89 Horizon

I hated to do it but I ordered the parts for the Horizon today from www.rockauto.com:

1989 PLYMOUTH HORIZON 2.2L 135cid L4 TBI (D)
AIRTEX E7000 Fuel Pump $ 44.79
MONROE 71767 Strut Assembly - Front 2x 28.79 $ 57.58
MONROE 901208 Lift Support 2x 10.82 $ 21.64
MONROE 71205 Strut Assembly - Rear 2x 25.79 $ 51.58
MONROE AK28 Shock Mounting Kit $ 6.07
SPECTRA PREMIUM ST37 Fuel Tank Strap $ 17.11
SPECTRA PREMIUM CR3B Fuel Tank $ 76.79
WALKER 17847 Muffler $ 25.79
WALKER 42591 Pipe $ 5.25
WALKER 44799 Pipe $ 9.64
WALKER 35344 Clamp 4x 1.09 $ 4.36
DORMAN 03128 Exhaust Bolt and Spring $ 9.44
Shipping $ 101.66
Order Total $ 431.70

Means the House Payment will be late, but that will cost me $25. I was going to wait, but the Fuel Pump for 82.79 went on clearance for 44.79. I figure it's worth it. I'm replacing the front and rear struts as well, means I will need to get the tires replaced and the alignment, but I can wait to install those until I'm ready to do the other work. Or, I will probably just take them in with the car to do the tires and alignment, the guy that does my suspension work is labor only, I always get the parts for him. That would work out better.

I generally like to buy local, but. Buying the tank locally was $130. The fuel pump was $160. The tank straps were $36. A generic muffler was $35. I didn't price the struts locally, but I saved more than the cost of shipping for the tank and pump alone.

All in all I think it was a good deal. And better than driving a car with a big hole in the gas tank 2 inches from where the end of the exhaust pipe is. And that does the jitterbug when you get over 55 mph.