Sourcing parts for a vehicle restoration or repair project can often be a mixed bag of excitement and potential disappointment. Recently, while looking for Koni shocks for a newly acquired 99 Neon R/T, I encountered a particularly frustrating experience with online retailers, specifically involving Andy Car Parts, which I believe is crucial to share for fellow auto enthusiasts.
My search began optimistically. Koni, unfortunately, had discontinued the specific parts I needed, making the hunt more challenging. The goal was to find an online retailer with these Konis still in stock, and at a reasonable price. Initial attempts with various websites led to swift notifications of unavailability, often within 48 hours. In one instance, AJ-USA was remarkably efficient, refunding my money and removing the part listing from their site in under an hour, accompanied by excellent customer service.
Then came AndysAutoSport, which listed the desired Konis on their website. An order was placed on March 2nd, followed by several confirmations of shipment and promises of a tracking number. However, after nearly two weeks, on March 14th, the truth emerged – they never actually had the parts in stock. A refund was issued three days later.
Seeking another option, I turned to AutoCarParts. On March 18th, a call was placed to their sales department. Specifically mentioning Koni’s discontinuation of the struts, I requested a stock verification before placing an order. After a brief hold, the salesman confirmed they had the parts and assured me they would ship that day. However, on Monday, March 21st, a concerning discovery was made: AndysAutoSport had made a second withdrawal from my account, matching the amount of the AutoCarParts order.
Contacting AutoCarParts to verify the Friday shipment, I was informed that the parts had not shipped yet but were scheduled to ship that day. Questioning the connection to AndysAutoSport, and referencing their stock issues, I inquired if AutoCarParts, potentially being a subsidiary, might face the same problem. I was assured they utilized different vendors and there was no need for concern. I reiterated that stock had been verbally confirmed just days prior.
On March 23rd, a call came through stating a box had just shipped and a tracking number would soon follow via email. Days later, on March 28th, another call to AutoCarParts reiterated that the part was in stock, had shipped, and a tracking number was in my email.
Finally, on March 29th, instead of a tracking number, an email arrived with the disappointing news:
Unfortunately, the items that you’ve ordered are discontinued. Please take a look at our website and let us know what you would like to switch out to, please reply back to this email with a link or the part numbers to the items you would like to switch to. Please select more than one choice, in case your first choice happens to be discontinued or out of stock as well.
Notably absent was any mention of a refund. Furthermore, their website offered no suitable suspension alternatives for my Neon within the desired price range or specifications. The significant discrepancy between repeated assurances and reality raised serious questions. How could a part be declared “on its way” if it was never in stock to begin with?
The realization that AutoCarParts and AndysAutoSport might be connected explained much of the confusing and contradictory information received. Had this connection been apparent initially, AutoCarParts would not have been contacted after the AndysAutoSport debacle. A refund from AutoCarParts was promised by the week’s end – a promise yet to be verified.
While individual experiences may differ, this personal account serves as a cautionary tale. Before engaging in business with online auto parts retailers, particularly those associated with Andy Car Parts or AutoCarParts, it is prudent to consider this experience and conduct thorough due diligence. Verifying stock directly and researching retailer reputations could save considerable time and frustration in your auto parts procurement journey.
