On-line Vendor warning: PartsGeek.com

Hey all, just thought I'd share my experience with PartsGeek.com.

I ordered a lower control arm for my 04 TRD 4x4 doublecab. I'm troubleshooting a clunk (from another thread in tech chat), and I've determined I'm *pretty sure* it's the bushings/sleeve for the LCA. I decided to order a whole new LCA to save some hassle of burning the bushings out, plus, I couldn't find *just* the metal sleeves anywhere (that go inside the bushings - I have urethane ones on hand).

Anyway, I ordered this part (front right lower):
http://www.partsgeek.com/catalog/2004/toyota/tacoma/suspension/control_arm.html

Website says "fits '04 Tacoma 4WD". So I ordered it. Well, it came, but it's totally the WRONG PART!!!

I generally ignore the pictures, because they are hardly the *actual* part you're getting. Well, it turns out this is one of the times the picture is correct. The ball joint is wrong (no mount for tie-rod), and there's no mount for the sway bar on the arm itself!

THEN, to put icing on the cake, I'm liable for shipping it back to them - for a part they wrongly indicate will fit my truck. I expect to pay shipping for something I decide I don't want, or I mistakenly ordered, but this is 100% their fault. I sent an email to them, but all I got back was an automated return auth #. No "oh gee, we're sorry, we'll get you the right part" or "thanks for finding an error on our website, we'll get this taken care of..." NOTHING. Plus, I'll just assume they'll try and take out a 15% restocking fee... Which I will fight. I'll pay for the shipping, I'll consider it a dumbass tax, but I'm not getting charged a "restocking fee" for THEIR screw up.

Unless I hear differently from these guys: These guys suck balls.

EDIT: this is starting to look like a problem with Mevotech, not necessarily PartsGeek, as this is the same part number that several OTHER suppliers (autopartswarehouse and rockauto) indicate as being the "correct" part for my truck. I've contacted Mevotech for more details. The jury is still out on how PartsGeek handles the return, however...

 

wow, no call em. no need to pay for shipping, they need to refund you everything considering you ordered the correct part. did you order on cc or debit? cc is nice cause you can sometimes dispute it.

try rockauto, ive heard great things from them. i recently ordered from carparts.com, which is just a subsidiary of jc whitney, and took the two weeks to ship my tranny mount.

 

RockAuto. Bought parts from them several times; quick, friendly, with good prices.

 

Ship it FedEx or USPS ground. Should only cost about $15 or so. If you send me the specs I'll calculate it for you and find you the cheapest method. Forget UPS, they'll be about $10 higher than other two. Under 70lbs is usually USPS parcel, with FedEx right behind, but always best to check first. I ship everything everywhere. Sorry to hear about your experience.

 

I've only ordered once from Partsgeeks, but it was a great experience.

 

Thanks!

I'll give them a try, I always like going with vendors if I can.

 

According to PartsGeek:

18056-05046341

 

Oh, it's at work now, and I'm home, I'll look tomorrow.

 

same here.

i wouldn't hesitate to buy and deal with rockauto. they have great pricing, plus there's always a 5% discount code floating around. their customer service is pretty good when there's an issue.

just a tip, what i always tend to do is cross reference part numbers with other sites when in doubt. they usually start off with their own reference, but often enough the manufacturer's part number is linked in as well.

 

Yeah, I thought I did that. It appeared to be the same part as what Autopartswarehouse.com had, but it was $60 cheaper at PartsGeek. I had ordered form them in the past with no problems, but the price seemed too high, plus I was being cheap. That's what I get, I guess...

 

Okay, I found the actual Mevotech part number on my invoice that was emailed to me, the part # is:

MS86119

What's troubling to me is that this is the same part number as what is on RockAuto.com and Autopartswarehouse.com, and it's definitely for the front lower right control arm, which is what I need. But this is clearly the wrong part.

What the hell is going on here?! Anyone know anybody from Mevotech???

 

OP, if they won't play then just dispute the transaction with your cc company or bank and get your money back. Use the return number they sent after they send you a shipping label to return the incorrect part.

 

I had a very similar problem with these guys. I ordered a grill that said it was painted and even had the paint code on their website, but it came in black plastic. I told them i wanted my money back and they gave me the same jazz about the restocking fee and shipping back. I disputed with my credit card company and filed a BBB claim against them. After about 2 weeks I got a full refund. The BBB claim really got the process moving. Check their rating when you get a chance. There are a ton of complaints against them.

 

That IS what the part they shipped looks like, but that is NOT what my part looks like. That IS the part# they shipped (MS86119 RH), but that's NOT what my truck's LCA looks like, despite it being a 2004 4WD Tacoma. It's a TRD Doublecab, but that shouldn't matter.

This is what the ball joint is supposed to look like: This is what the LCA should look like: I took this pic yesterday. You can see the swaybar mount (red), and the tierod (green) that connects to the balljoint.