The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Shipping gone wild

Did a search for front fenders today.... found this.... lol

1947-53 Chevy Truck Front Fender Right
High Quality Reproduction Front Fender Correct Style 1947-1953 Truck Fender EDP Coated To Ensure Rust Free Delivery Newer Tooling Design Superior Lines Over Worn NOS GM Tooled ...

$449.99
+$663.57 tax and $10,000.00 shipping
Arrives Jul 23 — Aug 4

Gotta be a typo. I don't know any place that charges 50% sales tax. 10K for shipping??? Gotta be a typo. Call them. Just for grins what company is this?

I asked a seller why the prices were so high on some items.

It was because they were out of stock and it was apparently easier to change the price than to start a whole new ad???

We order quite a bit from Rock Auto and there is something I have noticed: you NEVER get a bundled shipping price. I think they have stores in Ohio, Georgia, and Nevada. If you order two items you pay two shipping charges, three you pay for three, one shipped from each location. Surely if you get a distributor cap from Ohio they must also have a rotor.

I've found on the items I buy it's less expensive or about the same to buy locally than Rock Auto when shipping is added. Plus I get the part a lot quicker.

Luckily, I bought the parts that I needed (that Rockauto sold/sells) for my uncompleted 54 3104 restoration back in the days when Rockauto had free shipping.

I am wrong - I found a 2007 order - there was a shipping charge.

And you help keep you local FLAPS in business!

Rates have definitely gone wild for us mere mortals.
Within the last few months I got a complete used 216 valvetrain (rockers, shafts, everything) from another stovebolter and shipping cost $25 USPS.
Few weeks later I bought a used leather motorcycle jacket that shipped for $27, also USPS. (both shipped from east of the Mississippi if I recall)
Best shipping these days is definitely finding the right online retailer who can provide better rates than regular people can find.

Pffft, that's pocket change!

We have an old school NAPA in town.
They get most of my business!

Don

Rock Auto will tell you when items ship out of different warehouses. I forget how far into the process that notice is and I cancel the items that don't ship together. They've been good to me but they aren't stocking vintage stuff much. I haven't used them in the past few weeks but the last order was well worth paying the two shipping charges for a wheel bearing set for an HO72 axle. They beat NAPA by $125 after shipping charge. Same part numbers.

Old Air charged me $20 on a $16 part. Couldn't find it elsewhere.

Jim Carter won't tell you the shipping charge until you see it on the invoice when you get the part. My last order was for $60 and the shipping was $20. I suspect that they are having problems with shippers too.

RGM in the UK makes performance parts for Norton motorcycles and their website says they are having surcharges added by their "couriers" on international orders including to the USA. I got another item from Toronto shipped Canada Post via USPS for a few dollars. Customs declaration said "used parts for antique motorcycle." No duty that I could see.

I suspect Covid has had an impact on shippers. Vendors seem to be OK.

.....we simply have to do our homework.

I've been lucky with things from RockAuto. If you figure out the little icons that show on your order you can tell which parts ship from a different location. Once I do that I "weigh the odds" and buy local when I can.

....also have noticed, some time ago, that the priority boxes have been "downsized" drastically". I've used up the ones I had on hand and once I saw the smaller boxes i decided to send stuff on the "slow boat to China" , or regular post, BUT, there is very little savings there!
Plus I have found Priority means basically nothing these days. Regular post arrives just as quick.

Regarding JimCarter. I have not purchased anything there in quite a while but it use to be they would actually ship it the most economical way and only charge you the actual shipping charges.......but haven't inquired lately if that is still the case.

I have very good luck with NAPA, been in business for 60 years in this small town, started as an independent then became NAPA. It's odd that we still call it Persons. back 45 years ago they carried all kinds of Stovebolt parts. I just took out the rubber floor mat for my 3100 that came from NAPA, they all knew me and would call out when I came in the door the counter guys would yell here comes the NAPA special. They tried to talk me into putting their big plastic hat on the top due to the truck being painted John Deere yellow. Now when I come in the youngsters at the counter call out get ready for the NAPA special. The parts that I have received from Rock Auto have been good and fast as with LMC and Brothers. Good to know about priority USPS. Hey we are working on antique trucks guess we should expect antique shipping times. 1-Ton Tommy & 2-Ton, a friend of mine here in Kissimmee, FL has had very good luck with his 46 2 ton and NAPA finding NOS parts from older dealers. Doc.