Caution with Rock Auto Closeouts

[pghturbo88]

I love Rock Auto. The growing number of magnets on our refrigerator proves it. Often, I receive emails from RA about "closeout" items that they are offering at fantastic prices. I have even posted links to the Beretta list of closeout items. RA claims that these are wholesaler inventories that they have purchased at a fraction of what they are worth so that a supplier can clear their shelves. I have had pretty good luck buying things from the "closeout" category. Recently, I snagged some rear shoes and rear hardware kit for my Beretta for about $12 combined, and they work great. I have also bought some maintenance items (filters and the like) for my LeBaron with no problems.

If you decide on pursuing a "closeout" item, I am saying to proceed with caution. A few years ago, I purchased struts for my minivan from the closeout category. Monroe Sensatracks at a great price. When they arrived, for the heck of it, I opened up the packages. Turns out, both boxes had the correct part numbers on them, but one box had a strut in it for a previous generation of Mopar minivan. RA sent me a shipping label to return the bad one, and upon its return to them, they sent me a replacement, all at no cost. But imagine if I had torn the van apart and found out the error then. Yikes. It is worth noting that the box's original seal had been broken, meaning someone had been into it at one point or another.

Recently, I needed a coil pack for the van. They had a KEMParts coil pack listed on closeout. Never heard of KEM, but the price was below Advance. The first one shows up with one of the posts broken off. RA sends me another one, it arrives intact, and yesterday I put it in. Engine would not fire (it blew the feeder fuse). Replaced fuse, put in in the original coil, and the engine fires right up. Checked new coil with multimeter, and ohm readings were all within spec. Put it back in, engine fired for two seconds, and coil pack went up in a puff of smoke. RA gave me a refund, and later today, I am off to Advance to buy one there. It also appeared to me that this new coil had been previously installed, as evidenced by the scratch marks on the coil pack washers.

So again, if you can wait for a part, and you are willing to take a chance to save a few bucks, go for it. However, I think I am going to steer clear of electrical parts. I was also very nervous that the coil pack frying could have taken out my PCM, which would have been an expensive proposition. Again, love Rock Auto, but for closeouts, buyer beware.