I had no problems with AdvanceAutoParts.com
Written: Jul 3, 2012
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Once I moved the soon-to-be-classic 1988 Toyota Pickup out of the garage to offsite storage, I realized that it'd be a good idea to protect the old boy from the elements (mainly hot sun and bird poop) at the outside storage site where he's resting. I scanned the web for custom car covers, and found that the one I liked could be ordered online at AdvanceAutoParts.com, the "e-version" of the Advance Auto Parts chain, at a 20% discount. I noted in passing that I could return any unwanted items to a brick-and-mortar store, one of which is a couple of miles from the house here in Houston.
Advance is set up like any good auto parts store: for everyday wear parts, you can go straight there in the "aisles." This includes car-care products (wax and the like) and tools as well as wiper blades, etc. When it comes to replacement parts, there's a well-designed system for finding exactly the part you need - just like going to the parts desk in your local store.
The system works like this:
1) specify the mechanical system for which you need parts, e.g., power steering or clutch
2) identify your vehicle: make, model, year, and other identifying information: transmission, engine, trim, etc., depending on the mechanical system.
3) drill down to the part you need by using the "narrow your results" section
Your choice may be a single part or several; if there's more than one you'll get specs and a manufacturer's description to help you choose. Rebuilt, after-market and OEM parts are (usually) identified as such; and the price is prominently displayed. You'll also see an indicator of a "core" charge for recyclable parts that must be returned, including the core charge that will be refunded after the old part is returned.
For items like the car cover I ordered, you may see the notation "exact fit." This distinguishes the part from universal-fit or one-size-fits-none parts such as you might pick up in the aisles at Wal-Mart. You've been warned, in other words.
You can also shop by brand (Meguiars, Lucas Oil, OK Spark Plugs, etc.) or read advice articles like how (and why) to change your oil.
Like almost everyone else, AdvanceAutoParts.com uses the "shoipping-cart" model of checkout. You may create an account at Advance or check out without doing so. If you create the account, your vehicle IDs and shopping history get saved with your account ID. You can make payment by VISA, MasterCard, AmEx, Discover, PayPal, and BillMeLater. You can ship to your home or to a local store - even ship different parts to different stores. Shipping to stores is free for all but the bulkiest items. If you don't know where the stores are, there's a store locator routine on the website.
Shipping charges are based on the usual variables: size, weight, and distance. They offer the usual array: standard ground, 2-day air, and next-day - the latter two cost extra. At the moment, orders over $75 are shipped free of charge (standard only), shipping to a nearby store is almost always free and may be faster.
State sales tax is collected if there is a store in your state.
The Return policy is relatively liberal: you can return anything within 90 days if you have the original packing and a receipt. If you ship it back, you have to pay shipping (unless the return is because of an error by Advance). You can also return anything to a brick-and-mortar store for a full refund, without shipping charges. Take a copy of your original order confirmation with you - they'll use the order number at the store.
My experience:
Item bought: a Covercraft custom-fit cover to fit a 1988 Toyota 4Runner (my '88 shortbed pickup has a cap, so it's often confused with a 4Runner).
Price comparison: list price at Covercraft less a 20% discount for an on-line promotion. They seem to always be running a 10-20% discount - see the top of the home page (this week it's 15% off).
Shipping: it took about three days to verify the order, which then took three more days to arrive. I was emailed a tracking number for UPS when the product shipped. Shipping was free.
Return: after being told by the manufacturer that I'd ordered the wrong design, I returned the cover (still in its original shipping box) to a nearby store. They gave me a full refund less shipping (which I hadn't paid). By the time I got home, I'd been emailed a notice that I'd been credited the entire amount, though it took about four days for the credit to show up on my account.
Overall recommendation: I'l use them again without any complaints. I like the ability to return anything to the store if it's not the right part. Of course, I probably could've just gone to the store in the first place, but not at 9:00 PM on Memorial Day in my PJs.
My rating:
Merchandise selection: 5/5 – no complaints there
Merchandise quality: 5/5 – OEM parts and high quality available
Website navigation: 5/5 – more than one way to skin a cat, and they all take you to the same place
Security & Shipping: 5/5 – shipping was free, and you can’t beat that
Price (including shipping): 4/5 – not as good as it gets, but pretty close
On-time delivery: 4/5 - shipping took marginally longer than promised
Return: 4/5 – easy to accomplish, but the process was somewhat confusing
Overall rating: 4/5
Recommended:
Yes
What product did you purchase or try to purchase? custom-fit car cover
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