Yeah so Im a cheap bastard I guess. How do they do it?. 4.0 fuel pressure regulator. RockAuto $60. Napa $154. Id guess if you have a "Napa parts pro shop" do a fix and they jack up the cost to what $300? + labor? Gimme a break.
How does NAPA justify their prices?
- Thread starter Gilaguy23
- Start date
They wouldn't be in business if people weren't paying those prices. So that's how they justify it, because people are willing to pay it 
AOSJ
TJ Enthusiast
I go through this every time I buy parts - I can always get them cheaper online, but sometimes I don't know exactly what I need and this is where the Advance or Napa or OReilly comes in handy, and I'm happy to pay the upcharge for their help.
On jobs where I know exactly what I need though, I usually get the stuff online - gaskets for a valve cover job including the intake ports were 4x more at parts stores than on Amazon
I'm just not sure where to draw the line, because I do want parts stores to be around for the rest of my life - I do think they need to lower their prices, because I'd guess their sales are not as good as they could be
Last time I did brakes for my truck I got everything at Advance, and they gave me so much rewards credit back I think it was pretty close to what I would've paid by ordering online
On jobs where I know exactly what I need though, I usually get the stuff online - gaskets for a valve cover job including the intake ports were 4x more at parts stores than on Amazon
I'm just not sure where to draw the line, because I do want parts stores to be around for the rest of my life - I do think they need to lower their prices, because I'd guess their sales are not as good as they could be
Last time I did brakes for my truck I got everything at Advance, and they gave me so much rewards credit back I think it was pretty close to what I would've paid by ordering online
The entire business model of the brick and mortar stores is based around the fact that it's a part you need NOW that you can't wait to have shipped from an online store. They aren't trying to compete with the online stores for prices, they know they are cheaper. They want the person who is stuck with a dead car 2 miles down the road that will pay the doubled price for the same junk China part as online so they can get to work Monday.
Brick and mortar retail CAN'T compete with online distribution on price alone. The math simply doesn't work out. What they offer is service, which includes getting it more quickly. But deliveries are getting quicker all the time.
People vote with their dollars, and the market delivers what people vote for. When there isn't enough support to keep local shops profitable they go away.
Are they the identical part or different brands? Our local NAPA chain took over our local jobber, the local jobber had high quality parts although at premium prices. I am hoping with NAPA we can still count on higher quality parts. When I replaced my pump and regulator I went with the jobber and I paid more than the $154 you found at NAPA, in total between the pump and regulator I paid a lot more with the reasoning that I didn't want to have to do the job again anytime soon. A do over negates any cost savings on parts.
Is that Napa price you mention online or at the store? The store price may be cheaper, ask for any discounts. I usually get 7% off locally. Watch online for discounts it is xmas time may be sales..plus I worked at Napa part time for a yr. Great discounts when you work there..
I'd like to beg to differ, I really really would.
Id like to know where you guys are finding parts in stock anywhere? Napa used to be my go to, but anything I'm buying parts for they need to order in. So, if I need to order it anyway, I will likely have it delivered to my door. My little town of 4500 people has a Napa, AutoZone, AutoValue, and recently we just got an O'reilly. I do like the fact that their online sites are tied into the inventory systems...I can do a bunch of shopping online, then just go to the store that A) has the part I need or B) has the brand or features that I'm looking for. Finally, I'll use price as a determination.
AOSJ
TJ Enthusiast
I have been able to find parts for my Ranger and my TJ at local stores, though I do have multiple decent size towns around so I'm not limited to the inventory at one site for each of the big parts chains we have around here (AZ, Adv, NAPA, OR) - at the same time though, i've not had to get anything major or weird (just hoses, sensors, filters)
We have Oreillys, Autozone, Advance, NAPA and a CarQuest (that one might have shut down). We also have a local MoPar dealership. My go-to is Oreillys, and they typically have my wanted part(s) in-house or can have it delivered from the local district warehouse within hours. My local dealership is almost always a special order, which I understand with 20+ year old vehicles. NAPA and Autozone are my backups if the other two can't come through, which hasn't happened in years since Oreillys here usually has what I want, when I want it. So to answer your question, my local Oreillys typically has parts in stock or located nearby. We do have a larger local population, probably 3-4X what you have, I'm sure that has some effect.
If I'm not in a rush, I'll shop around online but I'm weary of sources like Rock Auto or Ebay, and especially Amazon. I'm willing pay extra if needed for quality parts, perceived or real, and I've received questionable or just wrong parts from all of those, and Rock Auto is a bitch about returns.
Keep in mind Rock Auto is simply an online store front. Rock Auto does not produce parts or store parts, they have no storefronts or significant facilities or personnel, they simply provide an online network interface for consumers to source parts from, which is typically warehouse distributors/wholesalers. Parts sold are usually older stock parts that haven't sold for one reason or another, and can even be returned/reboxed (not used) parts that you don't know about. Distributors are in the business of moving goods, so if they don't move in a given amount of time they find a way to make them move. That's how Rock Auto has minimal reael cost and can offer lower prices.
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