Just not my day for ordering parts online

[DynoDave]

1996 Saturn (daughters). Need strut assemblies for all 4 corners, preferably a brand name.

Start with 1A Auto, as they are a sponsor at another site, and were started by a past president of our Pontiac club.

Nothing but chinese junk there for assemblies. Also, when asking about strut bearings, agent disconnected chat. Nice.

On to Rock Auto. They have Gabriel and Monroe, and assemblies. I wanted Gabriel, got 'em in my cart, can't check out. Says there's an issue with my card. Call bank, and there is not. Try order again, fails again. Try PayPal, they link to spanish first. No chat or phone at Rock, so no help.

Screw this. I'll order from O'Reilly, and pick up locally. Or maybe not. They don't list Saturn as a brand.

Time to go home and have a cold one, after a stressful day of ordering parts.

Isn't eShopping great?

[DynoDave]

Stopped at O'Reilly on the way home. They used to carry Gabriel as Murray's, but under O'Reilly, no more.

Down the road to Auto Zone. They do carry Gabriel. Hooray! But they won't price match Rock, are $30 per corner more expensive, and just as in the Rock Auto TV commercial, they are out of stock, and don't know when they will get more.

Back at home, no reply yet to my email to Rock Auto.

But I think I have found my online dance partner. And it's probably the last place a lot of you would have looked. J.C. Whitney. Same part numbers as Rock, same price as Rock, same free shipping. Plus, I get regular coupons from JCW. Right now, I can come in $20 cheaper than Rock, but I've gotten better coupons. I'm goign to hold on for a few days and see if I get a better offer. If not, I'll pull the trigger on these.

FYI...I bought KYBs for my son's truck from them a year or two back, also the best deal at the time. Guess I'd better start looking there more often.

[Tom]

Glad I have a local parts hook-up 

Usually around 50% of local parts stores pricing

I can't remember the exact price....but I bought all 4 "quick struts" for my daughters Camry

Think it was around $250 for all 4

quick struts come fully assembled with new bearings, springs, etc etc

Parts are "store brand"....from Autopart International, so the actual manufacturer was unknown.

Given the price, I assumed Chinese manufacture.

[DynoDave]

I used to have a friend tat could get me into a local wholesaler to buy my parts. But we haven't worked together in some years, so I've sort of lost access to that.

Right now JCW has me at $275 for all 4, of their Ultra line, loaded, free shipping. So good price. 1A wanted that much for their "house brand" chinese parts.

[Tom]

I have always been amazed on how many people I see buying struts at the local U pull it's  **