Quote:
Originally Posted by Spuds
That is something I did not try. I didn't think AutoZone or NAPA would stock or order OEM Subaru/Toyota parts, it was my understanding that they would get an "equivalent" part, but usually at much greater cost than online distributors. Is my understanding incorrect?
This is specifically a problem with the Subaru/Toyota parts because they do not have good descriptions in some cases. If I wanted something "equivalent" I'd just hit up Rockauto or Amazon, which I did with the rotors. MSRP at a local dealership parts counter is way higher than what it costs online so I'd rather not go there if I don't need the part right away.
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I've got a Toyota dealer that I like to buy parts from, if there's confusion on which part calling up one of their employees on the phone can help sort out the problem since they have more information then gets put on the generic website.
Ordering oem online and picking up at the dealer on the way home from work or over to work on the car has been aces. Prices have been completely in-line with buying non-oem parts online + shipping. Like, I might spend less then 5% more vs. say exedy or bosch or ngk.
I hate interacting with people too, but dealership parts counter people aren't working on commission, they've got access to a regional warehouse and whatever profit the owner targets and that's that.
They're geeks too, guy was excited to hand truck out my shortblock lol.
I learned this about 10 years ago buying Nissan parts when they had weird stuff in stock nobody else could get and were cheaper too. A couple dealers slap insane markups on their parts and I had one or two Subaru dealers require a Subaru VIN which I didn't have so I just went down the block to Toyota.