problems with Parts Geek?

Grrr.
Needed parts for the dodge dually. Tried Parts Geek for the first time. Two different parts shown. Same description, same photo, same price but 2 different part numbers. Called to find out what the delta was. On hold for 45 minutes and gave up. Completed on-line customer service form including part numbers. Thirty six hours later I get a reply that doesn't answer the question but tells me that I need to know if my truck is a Sport model or not [I do]. Tried to cut a follow-up form. Nope. Told me I already had one open. Resorted to the 800 number again. After another 45 minutes I get a human that tells me the delta is in manufacture quality: cheap or cheaper.
Off to a grand start.
OK. Vented now.
Sorry

I read some bad reviews about them and did not order from them last time I needed stuff.
Went with Rock Auto because so many have had good luck with them. I see the same problem with rock autos site a bunch of similar items listed and no way to no what's what. I have not tried to call rock auto so I don't know what happens if you do. That's the good thing about buying local but anymore the prices local are almost double for the same exact thing in some cases.

I do not spend a great deal on parts, but when I do, I usually end up having to do a good deal of research just to determine 1.)which parts are of decent quality 2.)best price on similar items. I would like to buy local, but I am NOT going to pay double for the same part locally, and it is very easy to do so, or spend double for inferior parts. I know some feel the need to support local businesses, but these days most of the local parts businesses are not REALLY local at all, but chain stores managed locally with warehouses with 24 hour delivery. I have been known to bring up pricing to local businesses, and simply tell them they can either match or I take my business elsewhere, and usually they will match to keep the business. These days, the only real issue is that buying online I have to wait, and cannot easily return if part is incorrect or if an issue. Recently I needed a starter for my son's car, and he was needing it on the road that same day if possible. As is typical now, only one store (an hour away) even had the starter and as is also the case, the starter was approx. $110 and I could have purchased one online for nearly half that and likely same quality (or lack thereof). Everyone else could either get one the next day or day after that (this was on a Saturday so I was surprised they could even get by Sunday). Floor mats, air fresheners, and oils they have.....starters, alternators not so much. But with the huge differences in vehicles today and very little interchanges now.....what else can we expect. But to your point on Parts Geek, I went through similar on a radiator. It was extremely difficult to determine which radiator I needed, and ended up ordering best guess based on measurements. I still ended up with one that was not a bolt on, but was able to slightly modify the brackets and make it fit and difficult to tell it was not correct for the application, and since the radiator was $50, it was not worthwhile to return.

I have used Rock Auto a bunch. They have excellent customer service. I ordered ball joints for my 06 Dodge truck. The kit was missing the hardware kit. I called Rock Auto they had me order a new kit and sent me a no charge return shipping label to return the bad kit at the same time. Maybe five minutes on the phone. I have found there are usually a bunch of different choices for each part on both Rock Auto and Parts Geek. Rock Auto seems to do a better job of explaining the differences than Parts Geek.

I worked at an auto parts store many moons ago. Production line changes within a model year, or multiple suppliers for the same part drove us nuts. Very few of the dang things used the same hookup brackets, plumbing, etc. It drove us stark raving crazy. At that time GM was the biggest offender, but from what everyone on here has been saying, it sounds like everybody else has caught up.

Hi, I ordered a clutch. I sent a postal
money order and after about 100 contacts, finally got it
3 months later, never again,..... ed will

rockauto seems to be the one with the least amount of problems for me!

One time when I had my body shop, I needed a driver's side outside door handle for a particular Toyota station wagon.

For the very same year and model, there were FOUR options for the driver's outside door handle.

On the flip side, some parts interchangeability is startling. When I was building and racing Chevy stock cars, I always put Corvette steering gears in a Chevy manual gearbox to speed up the steering.

I once built a Plymouth Duster stock car for a fellow I worked with. Upon looking at the Mopar steering gearbox, the outside casting was entirely different from a Chevy, but the input and output shafts looked awful familiar. Yep. Corvette gears fit right in.

I have ordered a few pieces for a MG from Rock Auto. Outside of that, their shipping charges put them on par with my local Napa store. It is worth a couple more dollars to me to have a face at the counter.

Rock auto , cheaper than Autozone even shipping rotors. Great selection of various quality and price. Closout sales like brake pads 6 bucks. And a fridge magnet. Can't beat it.

Hi, I ordered a clutch. I sent a postal
money order and after about 100 contacts, finally got it
3 months later, never again,..... ed will

GM as big offender on multiple choice of parts? Ever try to figure out a early 1970s Jeep after AMC got them? Distributor is it Delco/chevy-OR Motocraft/Ford? or the next years back to Delco? Wagoneer V8 engine- what is VIN on body to determine if it is a Buick or a Rambler engine- and it isn't a simple break at this number, some leftover Buicks stuck in the middle of the AMC engine numbered block. Chrysler got Jeep after AMC, more parts choices with odd leftovers in middle of series. Then comes the Daimler ownership. Not sure what Fiat will be doing- maybe bring back the CJ2 with a Abarth tuned 500 model engine? Makes the occasional Ford engined British army surplus antique real simple to figure out- just get out the supplement book from Kaiser, dust off the cobwebs and carefully open page to 'identifying what you have here' - if it has a boat hull and navigation lights you have???

That's what I was thinking too. I worked at a GM dealer until the big meltdown. Wasn't too bad to look up there parts as long as you could get a serial number from the customer !
Maybe his problem was because he was aftermarket and you really have to look at the option codes usually found on a tag in the trunk or glove box.