Who stocks car parts these days?

[Jeff256]

I attempted to buy a clutch and dual mass flywheel for a Citroen C4 2.0 Hdi on Friday. Plus some other parts. I placed part of the order with GSF.

GSF promised deliver on Monday, if I ordered within 48 minutes. I ordered within 2 minutes.

When the order e-mail came through, it says "delivery in 2~3 working days". This is quite different to the promise on the website !

I phoned them and apparently two of the parts are shipped directly from other suppliers. They may be despatched today or tomorrow.
So whilst they promise delivery for Monday, they do not actually know when the parts will be supplied.

GSF managed to deliver the gearbox oil with approx 12 hours of the order being placed, but I cannot fit that until after the other parts. So it is of little use.

I have taken to ordering parts off Amazon, when a recognised brand is available, as they tend to keep delivery promises. However, there was no rapid delivery option for the clutch.

Is anyone else good for delivery ?

[zarjaz1991]

https://www.partsinmotion.co.uk/ seem pretty good.

[andrewcliffe]

Eurocarparts?

or CarParts4Less which is exactly the same company offering same range with different prices and discount codes.

[Jeff256]

Thank you.

The clutch, oil seal and gearbox oil are from GSF, who will not meet promised delivery dates.

I managed to order the DMF off Euro Car Parts on Friday. I have a tracker for delivery just after lunch, so they will be keeping the delivery promise. Unfortunately, when I added the clutch to the basket, the delivery date went out to Thursday.

Therefore, I ordered the clutch off GSF, on the basis of promises they have no intention of keeping.

Parts in Motion state: "Next Working Day ShippingOrder before 2:30pm Mon - Fri to receive the next working day"
However, looking further, it seems they use Royal Mail first class, which is far from guaranteed as next day. I have e-mailed them to ask.

Autodoc claim delivery for Wednesday. However, the only time I tried ordering from them, their website showed several parts in stock. After one week and several chasing e-mails, their website showed exactly the same number of parts in stock. I e-mailed them again with a firm instruction to send me a tracker if already despatched, or cancel the order. They cancelled.
AFAIK, these are based in Berlin, so unless they now have a UK site, I have doubts over 48 hour delivery.
They also advertise under several other brand names, which is a red flag.

[zarjaz1991]

I've used Parts In Motion a few times now, they've always managed the next day thing ok. Same with other companies and also stuff like clothing. As long as they ship it promptly it seems ok.

I think Royal Mail must prioritise commercial parcels, whenever I buy anything and it's delivered by Royal Mail it's very prompt, but domestic mail is far from that.

[andrewcliffe]

Autodoc is either really quick or really slow depending on where the parts are actually coming from. They also use Evri.

Parts in Motion are generally good as well.

Don't discount traditional local motor factors as well - they won't have a fancy website but should have an idea of their suppliers speeds.

[Jeff256]

andrewcliffe said:

Don't discount traditional local motor factors as well - they won't have a fancy website but should have an idea of their suppliers speeds.

A good point.
Around where I live, most of the motor factors I used to use have either closed or been taken over by larger companies with fancy websites. Looking more closely, there are one or two remaining. I will make enquiries.

I've been somewhat spoilt in recent years, with few repairs needed and even fewer that had the car off the road whilst waiting for parts.

[smallpaul]

I often find eBay sellers are obligated (by the system) to be reliable. Especially on car parts.

I have also used car parts in motion. Quick, easy no problems.

[Megaflow]

andrewcliffe said:

Eurocarparts?

or CarParts4Less which is exactly the same company offering same range with different prices and discount codes.

Car Parts 4 Less seem to have massively increased their prices for what I can see, been pricing up some parts for my wife's Mini, AutoDoc are selling Meyle hub/wheel bearings for £61.49 each, Car Parts 4 Less want £148.99 for a FAG unit!

[Mighty Flex]

NAPA are pushing hard at the moment, my garage owning friend is very pleased with them and their very helpful local rep, but ultimately you have to go around everyone to find the best deal/availablity.
I have often ordered via ebay from various factors: often cheaper than their local branch. Not an obvious choice,but Amazon has a reasonable amount of stuff, and their delivery can be very quick.

[danb79]

zarjaz1991 said:

https://www.partsinmotion.co.uk/ seem pretty good.

This - I use them a LOT for our BMWs and they've never faltered

Same with BMWmotormec and C3BMW

For other makes; as others have said, GSF tend to be good / ECP too (but can be bloody expensive); local motorfactors (General Traffic for me here in Preston, Lancs) and there are plenty of eBay resellers too

Just search via the part number where possible

[Smint]

Megaflow said:

andrewcliffe said:

Eurocarparts?

or CarParts4Less which is exactly the same company offering same range with different prices and discount codes.

Car Parts 4 Less seem to have massively increased their prices for what I can see, been pricing up some parts for my wife's Mini, AutoDoc are selling Meyle hub/wheel bearings for £61.49 each, Car Parts 4 Less want £148.99 for a FAG unit!

Yes i used to pre buy brake friction stuff from GSF or CP4L when they had one of their mega sales on, all changed now haven't bought anything from them for ages.

I've used car parts in motion several times, always correct parts always unbeatable prices.
Ferodo brake friction materials, my go to for many years, have to search ebay to find them.

It must be hellish for motor factors these days just like tyre suppliers, so many makes and models (and sizes) to stock, and you just know with anything French made it might have one of several different brands and designs fitted, for French brakes always have to remove the old pads and compare to the diagrams, bloke was so relieved thought i was going to get a man hug last time i took the old brake parts down to the motor factor for a French car.
They're not alone mind, family Mk2 Golf Diesel has unvented front discs but GTi size pads, anyones guess what caliper was used.

[21TonyK]

I've been using PiM for several months and the only issue for me is they use Royal Mail unless you pay extra for 24 hour.

I ordered various bits late 30 Aug which they dispatched next working day but they've been in the RM system since then, "Out for delivery" for 5 days.

What was ordered with plenty of time to spare is now needed for Wednesday AM.

[mikey_b]

21TonyK said:

I've been using PiM for several months and the only issue for me is they use Royal Mail unless you pay extra for 24 hour.

I ordered various bits late 30 Aug which they dispatched next working day but they've been in the RM system since then, "Out for delivery" for 5 days.

What was ordered with plenty of time to spare is now needed for Wednesday AM.

Royal Mail have turned to st in general. We haven't had a single letter through our door for a fortnight. I know there are some coming, because I ordered a replacement bank card 10 days ago and got a 'dispatched' notification two days later. People round here are missing all sorts of very important mail - like hospital appointments and so on, which don't turn up for weeks after they were posted.

[Den Den]

mikey_b said:

21TonyK said:

I've been using PiM for several months and the only issue for me is they use Royal Mail unless you pay extra for 24 hour.

I ordered various bits late 30 Aug which they dispatched next working day but they've been in the RM system since then, "Out for delivery" for 5 days.

What was ordered with plenty of time to spare is now needed for Wednesday AM.

Royal Mail have turned to st in general. We haven't had a single letter through our door for a fortnight. I know there are some coming, because I ordered a replacement bank card 10 days ago and got a 'dispatched' notification two days later. People round here are missing all sorts of very important mail - like hospital appointments and so on, which don't turn up for weeks after they were posted.

Yep, same round my way also, I've ordered bits and pieces that have been dispatched within a day and then waited a fortnight before they turned up, all via Royal Mail.

[Jeff256]

mikey_b said:

Royal Mail have turned to st in general. We haven't had a single letter through our door for a fortnight. I know there are some coming, because I ordered a replacement bank card 10 days ago and got a 'dispatched' notification two days later. People round here are missing all sorts of very important mail - like hospital appointments and so on, which don't turn up for weeks after they were posted.

I agree.
Incidentally, the NHS have no excuse, as they really ought to offer patients the options of communication by e-mail, which is faster and cheaper.
86% of adults had email in 2019 & the figure is probably higher now.

However, if I want to order physical goods, e-mail is not an option. The Royal Mail are just fine for cases where I can wait for them.
However, where a company promises next day delivery and the only option is the Royal Mail, I know the promise cannot be trusted.

[Richard-D]

Jeff256 said:

andrewcliffe said:

Don't discount traditional local motor factors as well - they won't have a fancy website but should have an idea of their suppliers speeds.

A good point.
Around where I live, most of the motor factors I used to use have either closed or been taken over by larger companies with fancy websites. Looking more closely, there are one or two remaining. I will make enquiries.

I've been somewhat spoilt in recent years, with few repairs needed and even fewer that had the car off the road whilst waiting for parts.

My local motor factors is always a safe bet. I think they have 3 deliveries from their suppliers every day, so as long as you call them early it's almost always a same day job. I had thought this was normal for motor factors but don't know that to always be the case. They recently stopped opening on Saturdays (previously opened on Sat mornings) so if you work normal office hours you're stuck. I presume they have found they just don't want to deal with DIYers.

[21TonyK]

Saw the postie earlier and he said they had a few issues locally and hopefully solved in the next couple of days.... great. 2-3 days (max) turns into 10+ days.

No issue with PiM, they have always been good but their choice in delivery method might need some thought.

[redbulletv8]

Never had much joy with GSF or Eurocarspares, either the parts prices are too high or as in your experience they can't deliver on time.
In the west midlands I have found a company called Car Parts Distribution who can get 99% of parts the same day in my experience if you ring them in the morning, prices are competitive too.

[Clad-Hach]

If you have a trade card Halfords is worth a look, I recently bought discs and pads for my van...they were cheaper than Euro car parts, who they get their parts from.