Rock Auto (Counterfeit?)

[IRQVET]

I've been using Rock Auto for several years now and I have never had any issues personally. But I was watching a documentary on online parts companies that are found to be unknowingly selling counterfeit parts, which is why they're so cheap. Rock Auto was one of several companies found to be doing this. They said the counterfeit parts are very difficult to decern from the real ones.

Anyone experience this?

 

[Rusted Nut]

A family member is an attorney. According to him, counterfeiting is rampant. Not only smaller businesses, but large global businesses like Boing, Ford, etc.., are unknowingly getting caught up. There are some very sophisticated counterfeiters out there. Not surprised Rock Auto has been caught up in too.

 

[Wrench97]

Keep in mind Rock auto has no warehouses and they don't actually physically handle any parts it's it's all shipped and handled by existing parts distribution houses that sign up to fulfill orders and invoice RA at discount prices so you may get the same counterfeit part from the parts store down the street as you get from RA.

 

[Chuckster in NJ]

Sadly counterfeiting happens everywhere nowadays INCLUDING the drug industry.…….. Rocky, Auto Drone, etc, are all "unknowingly" selling these counterfeit auto parts to consumers.

BTW! I read an article years ago how "military spec" counterfeit nuts and bolts were being sold to the military.

 

[volaredon]

I got some counterfeit timken wheel bearings for my truck about a year ago. I got them from someone on eBay. Not RA. I figured they must have been counterfeit. I had to re replace one after only 6 mo. And I specifically went looking for either timken or skf brand specifically and these came up first.

 

[xjfish]

I don't believe I've purchased any fake parts on RA, yet. I'm pretty sure I purchased a counterfeit oil control solenoid for my Lexus on eBay, years ago now. Box and labels looked like the real deal, OE Lexus or Toyota. Part itself looked like generic china, with no markings.

 

[reader2580]

I bought a Mopar wheel speed sensor last fall. Rockauto was more expensive than ordering through one of the online dealer sites. The box shipped from a dealer, and I have to assume it is genuine.

 

[arrowhead]

Son bought new fuel injectors off Ebay that were "tested" by highly rated seller - engine ran lean and kaboom. Turns out they were counterfeit - but unknown by the seller. He had the injectors retested by a specialty shop and found they passed a typical operational flow test but not high flow at max capacity. Externally they looked spot on.

 

[dcg9381]

But I was watching a documentary on online parts companies that are found to be unknowingly selling counterfeit parts, which is why they're so cheap. Rock Auto was one of several companies found to be doing this. Anyone experience this?

I ran a business that sold specific auto parts for a vehicle that I happened to owned. They were "high failure rate" parts and the OEM part was very expensive. No, not a Honda, but a Toyota.

I worked with a company in China to reproduce the part and improve it. It was sold with the OEM part number (that's how people search for it) but in no way did I ever represent that it was a "OEM part". It was branded under my [company brand]. It's like any other part you might buy at autozone. I sold it for 50% less than OEM. And if you sent it back to me, I refunded your money. My return rate was under 1%.

I think it's only "counterfeit" if it's sold AS an OEM part.

Rock Auto, at least at the time didn't sell anything... They just connected drop shippers like me to consumers. If they had a warehouse, I'm unaware of it.

They kinda went the way of Craigslist. Their software was awful, no real innovation... But it could have been a multi-Billion dollar business.

They were ****** to deal with as a business owner. They wanted me to list parts with them at [lowest consumer price] and told me they'd pull the part if I wouldn't sell it to their consumers for less than I'd sell it to consumers directly. I was basically competing against myself.

Then the insurance industry got involved and it wasn't enough money to be worth my time anymore... Which was mainly the hassle it takes to get such things through customs and pay import fees.

 

[IRQVET]

I ran a business that sold specific auto parts for a vehicle that I happened to owned. They were "high failure rate" parts and the OEM part was very expensive. No, not a Honda, but a Toyota.

I worked with a company in China to reproduce the part and improve it. It was sold with the OEM part number (that's how people search for it) but in no way did I ever represent that it was a "OEM part". It was branded under my [company brand]. It's like any other part you might buy at autozone. I sold it for 50% less than OEM. And if you sent it back to me, I refunded your money. My return rate was under 1%.

I think it's only "counterfeit" if it's sold AS an OEM part.

Rock Auto, at least at the time didn't sell anything... They just connected drop shippers like me to consumers. If they had a warehouse, I'm unaware of it.

They kinda went the way of Craigslist. Their software was awful, no real innovation... But it could have been a multi-Billion dollar business.

They were ****** to deal with as a business owner. They wanted me to list parts with them at [lowest consumer price] and told me they'd pull the part if I wouldn't sell it to their consumers for less than I'd sell it to consumers directly. I was basically competing against myself.

Then the insurance industry got involved and it wasn't enough money to be worth my time anymore... Which was mainly the hassle it takes to get such things through customs and pay import fees.

What an insightful response, I had no idea, thanks for that.

 

[Chuckster in NJ]

I think if the wheel bearing has "TIMPIN" on it I would think it is a Chi Knees counterfeit bearing.

 

[JeepYJ]

They kinda went the way of Craigslist. Their software was awful, no real innovation... But it could have been a multi-Billion dollar business

Rock Auto went the way of Craigslist?
Their website is old but actually quite good and easy to use.

 

[The Cobbler]

I think it's only "counterfeit" if it's sold AS an OEM part.

selling copies of any product under any other brand name when in fact it's not that brand name constitutes counterfeit in my opinion, too

 

[Buckaroo5]

I buy a lot from Rockauto and have never got a part that I thought was counterfeit. EBay sellers and Third Party Amazon sellers are the biggest risk in my opinion/ Also, I think spark plugs and injectors are some of the biggest counterfeit targets so am very careful where I buy them.

 

[rust in the eye]

I ran a business that sold specific auto parts for a vehicle that I happened to owned. They were "high failure rate" parts and the OEM part was very expensive. No, not a Honda, but a Toyota.

I worked with a company in China to reproduce the part and improve it. It was sold with the OEM part number (that's how people search for it) but in no way did I ever represent that it was a "OEM part". It was branded under my [company brand]. It's like any other part you might buy at autozone. I sold it for 50% less than OEM. And if you sent it back to me, I refunded your money. My return rate was under 1%.

I think it's only "counterfeit" if it's sold AS an OEM part.

Rock Auto, at least at the time didn't sell anything... They just connected drop shippers like me to consumers. If they had a warehouse, I'm unaware of it.

They kinda went the way of Craigslist. Their software was awful, no real innovation... But it could have been a multi-Billion dollar business.

They were ****** to deal with as a business owner. They wanted me to list parts with them at [lowest consumer price] and told me they'd pull the part if I wouldn't sell it to their consumers for less than I'd sell it to consumers directly. I was basically competing against myself.

Then the insurance industry got involved and it wasn't enough money to be worth my time anymore... Which was mainly the hassle it takes to get such things through customs and pay import fees.

Since you have insight I am curious to know how much they marked up your product and what it was.

 

[dchawk81]

I ran a business that sold specific auto parts for a vehicle that I happened to owned. They were "high failure rate" parts and the OEM part was very expensive. No, not a Honda, but a Toyota.

I worked with a company in China to reproduce the part and improve it. It was sold with the OEM part number (that's how people search for it) but in no way did I ever represent that it was a "OEM part". It was branded under my [company brand]. It's like any other part you might buy at autozone. I sold it for 50% less than OEM. And if you sent it back to me, I refunded your money. My return rate was under 1%.

I think it's only "counterfeit" if it's sold AS an OEM part.

Rock Auto, at least at the time didn't sell anything... They just connected drop shippers like me to consumers. If they had a warehouse, I'm unaware of it.

They kinda went the way of Craigslist. Their software was awful, no real innovation... But it could have been a multi-Billion dollar business.

They were ****** to deal with as a business owner. They wanted me to list parts with them at [lowest consumer price] and told me they'd pull the part if I wouldn't sell it to their consumers for less than I'd sell it to consumers directly. I was basically competing against myself.

Then the insurance industry got involved and it wasn't enough money to be worth my time anymore... Which was mainly the hassle it takes to get such things through customs and pay import fees.

IMHO Rock Auto has the perfect website for parts lookup when you don't know the part number.

Don't care about flash or modern look when I'm trying to fix my vehicle.

That's as a consumer, not as someone trying to list and fulfill orders.

 

[u2slow]

In an industry driven by knockoffs and undercutting, why single out Rockauto as some particularly nefarious dealer?

I'm quite happy when they have stuff on clearance, and it ends up being NOS items mfr'd on this continent.

 

[Chuckster in NJ]

I like Rocky and have purchased a lot of parts from them over the years and never had a problem.…….. Most newer auto parts appear cheaply made compared the heavy parts of yesteryear.

BTW! You can always go to the "stealership" and pay double for their name brand parts.……. Even dealership parts could unknowingly be counterfeit.

 

[WildBill]

I just bought a bunch of steering parts off Rock Auto for my 67 cougar. I really like their website and how you can easily see all the different parts and brands available for whatever you are looking for. Plus they have awesome clearance prices, and their normal prices are generally some of the best as long as you can get everything from one warehouse so shipping isn't crazy.. Not sure why they would be singled out, they are not any more likely than any other vendor to get slipped fake parts. I bought a Bosch oxygen sensor at Napa recently that was clearly counterfeit, they agreed and took it back. So it can happen anywhere.

 

[rust in the eye]

Rock Auto is great when eveything goes smoothly which is most of time. If a problem they will reply a couple of times then leave you twisting in the wind.
There was a catalog error a couple of times they refused to acknowledge or credit for wrong item. that is the trouble with their policy of keeping a customer at arm's length and CS people unfamiliar with what they are selling.
Anyone suspecting they've been sent counterfeit parts should contact the manufacturer who will know how to discern theirs from fakes. Both the mnfr and RA want these schmucks selling bogus goods put down.

 

[volaredon]

I think if the wheel bearing has "TIMPIN" on it I would think it is a Chi Knees counterfeit bearing.

Mine wasn't labeled like that, it looked like every other "TIMKEN" logo I'd ever seen.
The seller did wind up giving me some of my money back, not all, but better than nothing

 

[CoogarXR]

IMHO Rock Auto has the perfect website for parts lookup when you don't know the part number.

Don't care about flash or modern look when I'm trying to fix my vehicle.

That's as a consumer, not as someone trying to list and fulfill orders.

I LOVE older websites that are just FAST and aren't loaded with BS scripts and ads. They are so rare these days. I hope RockAuto never updates, lol.

 

[CoogarXR]

Counterfeit stuff is everywhere. Electronic components too.

I ended up parting out a decent old Pioneer receiver because I ordered transistors from 3 different reputable parts vendors and they were ALL counterfeit. I had so much time and money wrapped up in logistics and bogus parts, I just gave up and parted the unit out so I could at least make some money off of it.

Same thing happened with a Fisher amplifier, now that I think of it. Except, in that case, it was those proprietary STK darlington amplifier packs. The market is so flooded with counterfeit STK packs. I won't order new ones anymore, period.

 

[Sumboodie]

Is it a race to the bottom?

I'd rather pay more and not replace it several times.
I've given up buying anything important for my Bobcat from other than Bobcat.

Bought a blower motor online, for $200 it's a PITA to replace. Had to modify it to even fit and while it worked, it barely blew air.

Ended up spending the $600 for the Bobcat one and fit right in and blew air better than new.

Coolant bottle. Wouldn't fit right. Wiper arm... broke a couple days after installation, and had to modify it to sort of fit right.

 

[Bert_]

I LOVE older websites that are just FAST and aren't loaded with BS scripts and ads. They are so rare these days. I hope RockAuto never updates, lol.

Yes. It's getting kind of rare to use a nice simple website that just works. I really like the RA site too. So much better than what the other parts stores have for online presence.

 

[u2slow]

There was a catalog error a couple of times they refused to acknowledge or credit for wrong item.

The catalog is not theirs. It is a compilation of data from the jobbers. You very likely get the same screwup on the same part no matter where you buy them.

 

[rust in the eye]

The catalog is not theirs. It is a compilation of data from the jobbers. You very likely get the same screwup on the same part no matter where you buy them.

Understood, the data is compiled from vendor catalogs so any errors there are passed on. I think the actual catalog on their site IS proprietary.
They consider the vendor catalogs gospel no matter how much you can prove it is wrong. The folks (I dealt with) responsible for customer service haven't a clue about the product and, I suspect are now "offshore", and couldn't give a rat's *** about some guy half a world away that has ZERO recourse. After two, perhaps three exchanges they will not reply at all.
Like I said, when everything goes smoothly its great, a nightmare when it goes south because they flat out refuse to communicate.

 

[u2slow]

They consider the vendor catalogs gospel no matter how much you can prove it is wrong.

That's the nature of the business. Nobody takes responsibility for a bad listing, and nobody makes money rewriting the catalogs to solve the last 3% of the errors.

I have learned to cross-verify parts through pictures and measurements. It helps.

 

[rust in the eye]

That's the nature of the business. Nobody takes responsibility for a bad listing, and nobody makes money rewriting the catalogs to solve the last 3% of the errors.

I have learned to cross-verify parts through pictures and measurements. It helps.

In the case of RA they don't bother to make corrections when the error is brough to their attention either. Trust me, I order carefully and know to specify the correct parts. Mistakes happen, I get it. Some own up to it, others not.

 

[u2slow]

In the case of RA they don't bother to make corrections when the error is brough to their attention either.

I don't imagine any vendor makes their own corrections to their jobber catalogs. They subscribe to 'lookup' software.

 

[dcg9381]

I hope RockAuto never updates, lol.

No argument against all the ads and ****, but if they don't update the underlying technology might as well leave the front door open.

Interestingly enough they are hiring a Director of IT:

RockAuto IT Director

Search our current job openings to see if there is a career at RockAuto waiting for you!

www.rockauto.com

 

[dcg9381]

Since you have insight I am curious to know how much they marked up your product and what it was.

From the off the boat cost (which was about 65% taxes, freight, and import fees) My mark up was 100-150% per part. That was probably 1/3 of what Toyota sold the OEM part for.

It was differential mount for 4-wheel drive SUVs. High failure rate.

 

[rust in the eye]

I am curious how much RA was adding onto their cost from you.

 

[dcg9381]

I am curious how much RA was adding onto their cost from you.

Off the top of my head about 20-25% was their margin on this part. They'd ship international and just dealing with their shipping interface and all the custom forms added a lot more time to how long it took me to package and ship a part.

But RA would not let me sell directly through my own website for less than their listed price. They required that my prices were 25% higher.

 

[rust in the eye]

So adding 25-33 % on top. That's a very nice margin for taking an order and cashing the check.

 

[dcg9381]

So adding 25-33 % on top. That's a very nice margin for taking an order and cashing the check.

And holding a staff, full tech stack, advertising, etc. I sold more through them than I did directly. I could always say "no".

 

[IRQVET]

Don't care about flash or modern look when I'm trying to fix my vehicle.

Couldn’t resist.

 

[Bert_]

No argument against all the ads and ****, but if they don't update the underlying technology might as well leave the front door open.

Interestingly enough they are hiring a Director of IT:

RockAuto IT Director

Search our current job openings to see if there is a career at RockAuto waiting for you!

www.rockauto.com

I'll be honest that I know nothing about website security.

All I know is I like their website. It has zero fluff. You can quickly enter what you need, the parts are grouped together and can be viewed very quickly.

Many other websites have you scrolling endlessly through options that aren't what you want. They put 20 listings in the same space rockauto puts 100.

Really my only complaint about RA is they are heavily year make model dependent. But they are hardly the only one with that problem. For example I cannot just view a selection of relays. Last time I needed that I went on standard's website and found part numbers to enter on RA.

I don't understand why an updated website has to mean it works worse. My electrical supplier updated their website a year to ago. Everything mostly looks the same but the search function went from decent to barely usable. I can type in the exact part number for a product and not see what I want until halfway down the page. It just makes no sense to me.

 

[Banjorear]

I purchase a lot of NGK spark plugs from Rock Auto. NGK has a portion on their website to identify counterfeit plugs. Thankfully, all of the ones I got from them were legit. I may get burned sooner or later, but I've been happy with their stuff so far. Every now and then, they have OEM Mopar filters which are a fraction of the price elsewhere.

 

[noid]

They probably get their parts from Worldpac just like everyone else; and so the propensity to get a counterfeit is about the same as from a local parts store.