Author Topic: PartsAvatar.ca experience (Read 1465 times)

blur911 · « **on:** May 10, 2022, 10:54:17 am »

Last week I ordered brake parts from Partsavatar.ca, immediately after I pushed the purchase button I noticed my 10% first purchase discount was gone. I tried to cancel the order but couldn't. I contacted them through chat and didn't get much of an answer, except that I couldn't cancel and reorder, but that someone from accounts would look into it.
Next day, still no reply, but an email saying they don't have the brake pads they said were in stock and could I clarify some details, which I did, and I again asked about my discount to no avail.

Nothing all weekend.
Today I get an email asking if I'd like to substitute different brake pads, still no mention of my discount.

We'll see how this goes...

ktm525 · « **Reply #1 on:** May 10, 2022, 12:16:05 pm »

Just did a quick browse. The prices seem cheap. Too cheap in fact.

Good luck

tortoise · « **Reply #2 on:** May 10, 2022, 12:48:51 pm »

And a 3.8 rating on Goggle doesn't inspire confidence.

TheHire · « **Reply #3 on:** May 10, 2022, 12:54:25 pm »

Maybe Dante already bought their entire inventory out to hoard parts for his 328!

Seafoam · « **Reply #4 on:** May 10, 2022, 03:02:33 pm »

I have bought a number of things from them,mostly for the old truck. Pads and rotors,plug wires,muffler ,etc.
I received the items. No discount offered though.

rrocket · « **Reply #5 on:** May 10, 2022, 03:11:57 pm »

My progression for parts shopping is as follows:

Rock Auto is always first.

Next is Parts Monkey in Ontario.
https://partsmonkey.com

Their stock of Mevo suspension stuff in particular (ball joints, tie rods, control arms, etc) is often cheaper than Rock Auto. Mevo is a Canadian company too.

For brakes I've been using MaxBrakes the last few years. I wouldn't necessarily put them on my sports cars, but for daily driver stuff I've been very pleased with what we've used. Someone here used them on their Cayenne. I just did the Prius with these. This is also a Canadian company. https://m.maxbrakes.com/en-ca/

Between these 3, I can usually get what I need in a timely manner.

blur911 · « **Reply #6 on:** May 10, 2022, 04:28:46 pm »

Quote from: rrocket on May 10, 2022, 03:11:57 pm

My progression for parts shopping is as follows:

Rock Auto is always first.

Next is Parts Monkey in Ontario.
https://partsmonkey.com

Their stock of Mevo suspension stuff in particular (ball joints, tie rods, control arms, etc) is often cheaper than Rock Auto. Mevo is a Canadian company too.

For brakes I've been using MaxBrakes the last few years. I wouldn't necessarily put them on my sports cars, but for daily driver stuff I've been very pleased with what we've used. Someone here used them on their Cayenne. I just did the Prius with these. This is also a Canadian company. https://m.maxbrakes.com/en-ca/

Between these 3, I can usually get what I need in a timely manner.

I'm replacing MaxBrakes on the Cayenne, they just got too rusty.
If I drove it every day, it would be fine, but let it sit for a week and it rusts, repeat several hundred times. They are the cross-drilled and slotted, that was probably most of the problem.

Rockauto had ok prices, but the shipping was over $200.

EV Dan · « **Reply #7 on:** May 10, 2022, 04:49:04 pm »

Last time I quoted rotors at RA their shipping was cheaper when sent by piece as opposed to the whole set. Was a few years back though...

Dante · « **Reply #8 on:** May 10, 2022, 05:02:18 pm »

Quote from: TheHire on May 10, 2022, 12:54:25 pm

Maybe Dante already bought their entire inventory out to hoard parts for his 328!

Ha, ha.... Not on my preferred vendor list....I only bought few widgets from them -bolts, wipers... nothing major.

For me is:
1. Rockauto (90%)
2. Germanparts.ca
3. FCPEuro (US)
4. Others (eBay)

As much as I would like to buy Canadian I find the customer service, parts variety and prices way behind the US-based sites.

Example - recently I purchased a part from FCP Euro and when it arrived to my door FedEx wanted a ridiculous amount of money so I refused delivery (at the FedEx driver advice). FCP Euro paid for the return shipping and fully refund me for the part cost. Now I know Amazon does this as well, but FCP Euro is not Amazon.

Dante · « **Reply #9 on:** May 10, 2022, 05:08:45 pm »

Quote from: blur911 on May 10, 2022, 04:28:46 pm

Quote from: rrocket on May 10, 2022, 03:11:57 pm
My progression for parts shopping is as follows:

Rock Auto is always first.

Next is Parts Monkey in Ontario.
https://partsmonkey.com

Their stock of Mevo suspension stuff in particular (ball joints, tie rods, control arms, etc) is often cheaper than Rock Auto. Mevo is a Canadian company too.

For brakes I've been using MaxBrakes the last few years. I wouldn't necessarily put them on my sports cars, but for daily driver stuff I've been very pleased with what we've used. Someone here used them on their Cayenne. I just did the Prius with these. This is also a Canadian company. https://m.maxbrakes.com/en-ca/

Between these 3, I can usually get what I need in a timely manner.

I'm replacing MaxBrakes on the Cayenne, they just got too rusty.
If I drove it every day, it would be fine, but let it sit for a week and it rusts, repeat several hundred times. They are the cross-drilled and slotted, that was probably most of the problem.

Rockauto had ok prices, but the shipping was over $200.

Wow.... got two sets of rotors and pads from RA last year and paid around $90 each time. Price+shipping+tax-discount still cheaper than locally for the exact same parts.

blur911 · « **Reply #10 on:** May 15, 2022, 08:04:39 pm »

I got an email today assuring me my discount has been applied and should show up within a few day.

Items are in the mail and should be here in a a few days.

blur911 · « **Reply #11 on:** May 18, 2022, 09:07:15 am »

Parts came in, didn't open all the boxes, but rotor looks good. That's the way plating should look. (paint can for scale)

I'll have to check and see if my discount comes through.

ktm525 · « **Reply #12 on:** May 18, 2022, 11:37:30 am »

Looks beefy. So from the box Bendix=Wagner=Napa?

EV Dan · « **Reply #13 on:** May 18, 2022, 01:43:25 pm »

It's all "Gyna"

Dante · « **Reply #14 on:** May 18, 2022, 02:04:11 pm »

Does it say where are made?

blur911 · « **Reply #15 on:** May 18, 2022, 02:38:40 pm »

Quote from: ktm525 on May 18, 2022, 11:37:30 am

Looks beefy. So from the box Bendix=Wagner=Napa?

Bremsen, German company. The other numbers were cross references.
https://bremsenbrakes.com/discs-and-drums/

The box doesn't say where they were actually made, fronts are 350mm (13.78")

blur911 · « **Reply #16 on:** May 22, 2022, 10:51:02 am »

They refunded my discount, all is well now.

So, good prices, but some policies that make it difficult.
If I could have cancelled my order and re-ordered the in-stock parts myself it would have been easier and more efficient.

I'll probably use them again, I'll just be more careful when pushing that buy now button

dkaz · « **Reply #17 on:** April 17, 2024, 04:15:53 pm »

I signed up for Parts Avatar three days ago and have had six spam e-mails come in. $20 first order discount so I might try them out.

aquadorhj · « **Reply #18 on:** April 17, 2024, 04:24:31 pm »

Quote from: Dante on May 10, 2022, 05:02:18 pm

Quote from: TheHire on May 10, 2022, 12:54:25 pm
Maybe Dante already bought their entire inventory out to hoard parts for his 328!

Ha, ha.... Not on my preferred vendor list....I only bought few widgets from them -bolts, wipers... nothing major.

For me is:
1. Rockauto (90%)
2. Germanparts.ca
3. FCPEuro (US)
4. Others (eBay)

As much as I would like to buy Canadian I find the customer service, parts variety and prices way behind the US-based sites.

Example - recently I purchased a part from FCP Euro and when it arrived to my door FedEx wanted a ridiculous amount of money so I refused delivery (at the FedEx driver advice). FCP Euro paid for the return shipping and fully refund me for the part cost. Now I know Amazon does this as well, but FCP Euro is not Amazon.

i thought car parts were part of free trade agreement, and would not be subject to levy (and therefore ridiculous shippers brokerage fees) but i had been proved wrong on many occasiona when i had bimmer. had to pay 80% part price as shipping/brokerage/duty a few times...
sad part is, often that was still cheaper than what canadian part retailers charged.

blur911 · « **Reply #19 on:** April 17, 2024, 05:59:29 pm »

Quote from: dkaz on April 17, 2024, 04:15:53 pm

I signed up for Parts Avatar three days ago and have had six spam e-mails come in. $20 first order discount so I might try them out.

I've bought from them a few more times, just got axles for my Outback and a fuel-pump check valve for the 911 a week or two ago, prompt delivery and great prices in this case. They email a lot, but a lot of it is discounts.