Strange observation: No one stocks our air filter

[Ozarkbeard]

yep, fairly normal these days. I averaged out the mileage all of my vehicles were driven in the past year and bought enough for a 3 year supply of what I would need for each of them. Stuck them on the shelf so I have what I need when I'm ready. Never had an issue with the local ford dealer parts dept not having the common supplies needed for routine maintenance. Easy Peazy

Easy if your dealer's nearby. Mine's over a hour away. Not gonna fight city traffic and waste gas to go there when I can have parts delivered cheaper and way before time for next oil/filter changes. Usually from rockauto or walmart.

I just don't use Amazon (learned by experience) - I've had to return counterfeit auto parts and other items.

Delivery makes living in the sticks so much easier.

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[OleFordGuy]

Easy if your dealer's nearby. Mine's over a hour away. Not gonna fight city traffic and waste gas to go there when I can have parts delivered cheaper and way before time for next oil/filter changes. Usually from rockauto or walmart.

I just don't use Amazon (learned by experience) - I've had to return counterfeit auto parts and other items.

Delivery makes living in the sticks so much easier.

Yep, get that, I wouldn't do that either. I had mentioned in my previous post of ordering direct from ford online in order to use ford pass points toward purchase. Like you mentioned, there are other good places to order online if that's more convenient. I'm fortunate to have 2 different dealers fairly close to home and I would imagine some members probably drive fairly close by dealers going to/from work etc. It's just a choice that would work for many and as you mentioned cure the issue of getting counterfeit parts.

 

[bgn]

Auto parts store? What's that?

Rockauto gets just about all of my money for parts and consumables these days. UPS just dropped off my transmission fluid...saving me at least 40 minutes of driving to my local dealer.

 

[Blinky]

It seems like just about everything has to be ordered these days. No matter what year/make/model. What exactly do the auto parts stores have on their shelves, anyways?

Around me they always have lots of oil, washer fluid and coolant.
And silly little chrome doo-dads, LED lights, cheap badges, chocolate bars and nearly any junk they can order from China and make a good profit on.

I've stopped relying on local stores to be able to stock anything, they always tell me they can order it in 2-3 weeks and usually 30% more costly than if I were to order directly from rockauto or wherever.

 

[AzureBlueBill]

Around me they always have lots of oil, washer fluid and coolant.
And silly little chrome doo-dads, LED lights, cheap badges, chocolate bars and nearly any junk they can order from China and make a good profit on.

I've stopped relying on local stores to be able to stock anything, they always tell me they can order it in 2-3 weeks and usually 30% more costly than if I were to order directly from rockauto or wherever.

Not quite that bad here. The local NAPA can get almost anything the same day, or at worst overnight.

 

[Blinky]

Not quite that bad here. The local NAPA can get almost anything the same day, or at worst overnight.

That's a reasonable turnaround time. I don't know why it's so bad here, I live in a city of a million people, not even out in the boondocks.
I've noticed that even the Ford dealers don't always have stock of simple stuff like air filters, I feel like they got a little crazy with the slim margin, just-in-time business model during covid and they haven't grown out of it yet.

 

[HeyBales]

It seems like just about everything has to be ordered these days. No matter what year/make/model. What exactly do the auto parts stores have on their shelves, anyways?

All the older car parts that fit so many more models that never got bought because of better deals online in non-emergency situations, which has caused them to re-evaluate keeping so much inventory now.
And seems to be causing them problems now.

 

[sva50233]

Well, at least by me. I went to two different auto parts stores, and its not something they carry. Both said they would have to order it. Yea, I can do that too...

Has anyone else noticed if part stores by them carry the air filter?

Sorry, just had to rant.

Rockauto, used 'em twice on this car

 

[Ozarkbeard]

...Rockauto gets just about all of my money for parts and consumables these days. UPS just dropped off my transmission fluid...saving me at least 40 minutes of driving to my local dealer.

I hear ya.
It's an hour & 10 minutes to my nearest ford dealer. I save money and two hours & ten minutes of driving, by ordering online.

 

[Egz]

Yea, I know rock auto. I just wanted one in person at that moment. I ended up ordering from Amazon because the shipping costs at rock auto was going to be too much.

Was just an odd observation. Every car I've owned before always were in stock.

 

[Glen Baker LLC]

Yea, I know rock auto. I just wanted one in person at that moment. I ended up ordering from Amazon because the shipping costs at rock auto was going to be too much.

Was just an odd observation. Every car I've owned before always were in stock.

I noticed the same thing.
Impulse purchases must now be planned ahead of time.
The marketplace has changed and will continue to change.
I guess we either have to get on board or be left behind.
I loved Fry's Electronics. You could go to their store and actually see, touch and hold a product, making sure it was what you needed before you bought it.
Sadly Fry's Electronics is no longer.

 

[dochawk]

Usually from rockauto or walmart.

I used to default to Rockauto.

And then I bought a couple of cases of transmission fluid labeled as Dextron IV. (it was going to need a couple of full fill/rinses)

They sat around a couple of months before getting to that cart; I was well past the return period.

And on opening the case, the fluid warned *not* to use in place of Dextron IV, but only to use in modern 8-10 speed transmissions.

So I'm now essentially than confident in their descriptions of what they're selling.

Whereas walmart gets me most things in a day, and nearly al the rest in two.

 

[MetalsGeek]

I've had pretty good luck with price & availability through RockAuto. Your point on checking what actually arrives is excellent advice, though. I bought an EGR valve from them once, and the part I received was clearly a used/failed one that had been fraudulently returned by a previous customer. Rock made it right, though. This situation exists with pretty much ALL auto parts suppliers so I don't necessarily consider them substandard.

 

[DoubleR]

Well, at least by me. I went to two different auto parts stores, and its not something they carry. Both said they would have to order it. Yea, I can do that too...

Has anyone else noticed if part stores by them carry the air filter?

Sorry, just had to rant.

I have gotten my air filters and cabin air filter at my nearest AutoZone.

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