GMPartsDirect.com

[Steve Miller]

I am new at this game and was recommended to check this site for parts. The prices look good and I appreciate the referral. Anyone have a bad experience with purchasing through the site? Looks very professional and a good place to start a parts search.

Steve

[John H.]

Re: GMPartsDirect.com

Pricing is competitive, but watch out for the extremely high shipping charges - that's where they make their profits. It's actually a Chevy dealership in North Carolina - not affiliated directly with GM.

[Mark F.]

Re: GMPartsDirect.com

I recently bought a fuel pump from GMPartsDirect. Prompt delivery, exact part I ordered. Like John says above, watch out for shipping charges, they're murder. I'm not sure if you can lump several items together to save on shipping charges. Worth a looksee. Good luck.

[Jack Layton]

Re: GMPartsDirect.com

Yeah, It's a sucker deal. The large print giveth and the small print ( exorbitant shipping charges) taketh away. Try some of the regular Corvette part houses. Dr. Rebuild, Corvette Central, Mid-America ect. Even Price check your local Chby dealer. The Last Detail in Atlanta has given me some excellent prices on stuff that was still available from the Chby dealer. The actuator on the FX3 suspension from the dealer was $525 and The Last Detail was charging $125. Whoa ! Big discount there. My $0.02.

[Scott Marzahl]

Re: GMPartsDirect.com

I use them a fair amount as the prices are better than what my dealer will give me. I have taken a print out of the item and price with shipping and they will come close but then with tax it's back up in price. I haven't had any problems and I recommend them.

[Pete Whelan]

Re: GMPartsDirect.com

Steve,
I just received an order from them today. Everything that I ordered was in the box. As the others mentioned, watch out for the shipping and handling charges. I found that even with their S&H charges, I could do better than my local dealer. Do your pricing homework on the parts that you want to buy and then decide. You can use GMPartsDirect.com's website to calculate the total cost.

Pete

[Dave Suesz]

Shop around...

Last year I got a set of Delco shocks for my C1. My local dealer offer them to me for about $75 for the set. PartsDirect had a lower price, but the shipping hiked it to over $100. Most catalogs charge even more. BTW, that $75 included the tax.

[Joe L.]

Re: GMPartsDirect.com

Folks------

The prices advertised for any available part by GM PartsDirect are, basically, the dealer cost for the part (i.e. the price that the dealer pays to GM for the part not including any stock allowances that a particular part may also include). The "shipping and handling" charges include the dealer profit as well as shipping. The dealer HAS to make a profit over and above what they pay to GM for the part. If they sold the parts for what they pay GM, they would not be in business too long. Actually, I think that their pricing policy is VERY open and honest and I applaud them for it. They TELL you what they pay for the part (one of GM's "deepest and darkest secrets") and then tell you what the shipping and profit is (lumped together, of course).

Were it not for the fact that I do much of my GM parts business with a dealer that I have a very long relationship with and who gives me the same fine service and overall pricing competitive with GM Parts Direct, I would happily and without reservation do business with GM PartsDirect.

[Joe L.]

Re: Shop around...

Dave-----

Your dealer likely obtained the shocks through the Delco parts system. Parts available through the Delco parts system (llike shocks, for instance) are often considerably less expensive than the exact same part available through the GM parts system. I think that GM PartsDirect usually prices and accesses its parts through the GM parts system. That may be why they were higher than your local dealer on this particular item.

The dealer that I do business with usually gets me parts available through the Delco system from that system and passes the savings on to me. That's another of the advantages in doing business with him.

A word of caution, though: not all parts available through the Delco system are the same as those available through the GM parts system. If the long number is the same, the part is the same. If the long number is different, then the part is different. If there is no long number on the Delco part system part, then you don't know if the part is the same as the GM parts system part, or not. Usually, in this case, it's the "or not".

[Craig S.]

Re: GMPartsDirect.com

John - agreed on the shipping markup. I play them against Scoggin Dickey in Texas....their prices are higher but the shipping is reasonable, and when you buy lots of items, the escalation is minimal on shipping, whereas Flow Chevy marks each item up for shipping as if separate. You almost have to check out each item and then the whole enchilada as a complete order...see URL below.....Craig




Scoggin Dickey Parts Center

[Clem Z.]

Re: GMPartsDirect.com

the best way to get a discount at your local chevy dealer is to obtain a busness license and then get a sale tax exemption license from your state. you will then be able to buy at discount but you will have to file sales tax returns every 4 months.

[Jim T.]

Re: GMPartsDirect.com

On the Corvette Forum there has been discussions about GM Parts provider you mention. These buyers of Corvette parts recommend using another mail order GM parts person they recommend because they get the same parts but for lot less shipping and handling. Also in the very first area of the Corvette Forum discussion is a Chevy dealer from Montana that offers GM parts mail order that you can also check with.
Who I really miss is a GM parts place that was located in GA called Speciality Parts. I bought a lot of parts from them at a good price and they had free shipping for orders over $50 and even more of a discount if your order went over $500. I have tried to phone them and even sent a self addressed envelope to find out if they were still in business and have had no reply even though the letter was not returned by US Mail.

[Dave Suesz]

Shop around...

I'm quite sure they were through Delco, however, the exact same shock is typically $110+ from Corvette parts catalogs, before shipping. It was a very pleasant suprise, had them in 2 days for $50 less!

[Steve Miller]

Re: GMPartsDirect.com

Joe -

Even though I have been dealing with my local Chevy dealer for years, I never thought the Grille for my 66 coupe would still be available. It is, and my cost of $280 vs. about $315 at GMPartsDirect.com - once you add in shipping, etc. The major Corvette parts houses are at $400. So, from now on, my first place to check for a part will be the local dealer. Thanks for your advise!

Steve

[Steve Miller]

Re: GMPartsDirect.com

Joe -

Even though I have been dealing with my local Chevy dealer for years, I never thought the Grille for my 66 coupe would still be available. It is, and my cost of $280 vs. about $315 at GMPartsDirect.com - once you add in shipping, etc. The major Corvette parts houses are at $400. So, from now on, my first place to check for a part will be the local dealer. Thanks for your advise!

Thanks for everyones comments.

Steve