Autodoc / OnlineCarParts / et al CAVEAT EMPTOR

[RollingThunder]

Just a heads up for people buying parts from this German company (which has many variously named misleading '.co.uk' websites)...

I ordered a couple of parts from them last week, which arrived this afternoon. Amongst those parts were a pair of boot struts - they have a variety of brands available so I chose Magneti Marelli as a mid range brand. Upon opening the box I found the struts supplied were 'Stark' branded - I had not been advised of the substitution and no price adjustment had been made.

I've googled the Stark brand, and couldn't find out much about them - except the various webshops associated with Autodoc have been doing this to a number of people - ie substituting Stark products for other named brand items and not informing the buyer. It seems the Stark brand is the supplier's own brand?

I've contacted them and will let you know what they say. Needless to say I'm not happy with this sneaky swap, and have requested that they send out the items I ordered by return, and arrange for the collection of the Stark ones.

I should point out that I've bought many items from them before, without issue (apart from being a bit slow to deliver), however this unwanted substitution seems to be quite prevalent if you search the web...

[rudi dudi]

I've mentioned this previously regarding Auto Crock... it's always a roll of the dice with this lot.
They are cheap and sometimes it works out.. Deliveries are always an eternity so get your orders in now for 2021 delivery.
Always use as a last resort or if the price difference is massive (which sometimes it is and sometimes it isn't)

[eternal optimist]

Can’t say I’ve ever had a problem with them. Only ever ordered OE brands such as Sachs, ATE or SKF.

[sv70]

I had a similar problem around 18 months ago ordered a particular good brand only to get an inferior brand, in the end i sent the goods back at my own cost to get a refund, and 6 weeks ago ordered a pair of -FAG top strut bearings-which did arrive ok, so hit and miss, all you can do is stipulate when you order-if this brand isn't available-cancel the order to be safe.

[Fika]

I too ordered from them a while ago and it took a while for the delivery to arrive, I'm used to next day deliveries- call me spoiled. There was a swaparoo done on a part but I was informed via email about this in advance and any time an item was out of stock, I was refunded that amount.

I've not used them often so my experience is quite brief with them.

[Brimfull]

I have only used AUTO-DOC once and that was for a timing chain kit for a vag tfsi engine. I waited about 2 weeks for delivery only to discover that they had sent me a Chain for the Oil pump. It took a further two weeks for this item to be returned to them and then a further 3 weeks for the correct item to be delivered.

[cchidzey]

Same, I was stuck for some parts a while ago, commonly available parts online but not held at the local motor factors.
Bought from Autoparts.co.uk purely because they said they had the parts in stock, dispatched the same day if ordered before 5pm and used Royal Mail. Perfect when a motor is off the road and you need the parts quickly.

Items were dispatched the same day, from Germany, took a week to get here. The dot co.uk is purposely misleading as to where they're based.

[Thekilt]

I was concerned when I read the reviews and they were all mixed. But I took a punt and ordered my Bilstien kit and control arms from them earlier this year, as i had a really good discount on the parts and paid by credit card so i was protected if anything happened.

Delivery was pretty quick (4-5 days) as expected from a eruopean company and free delivery. all parts were correct and as ordered.

I always use credit card so im protected, and plus get points on it anyway.

[RollingThunder]

Just an update to this - three weeks or so later and I'm still waiting to hear back from them...

Caveat Emptor - you've been warned.

[Laird Scooby]

Another sneaky trick performed by these and some others is they advertise items at a really good price then ask for the reg number "to ensure correct fitment".

Online Car Prats nearly suckered me this way, i needed a new pair of front discs for my 760 and had measured them (dia and thickness) so knew what i needed. Found a pair on fleabay from onlinecarparts.co.uk - right size, nice price (about £40 the pair, delivered) and tried to not add my reg number as i've been caught this way before.

It wouldn't let me so eventually entered my reg, paid and waited.

Sure enough an email via ebay came saying they were the wrong size for my car and if i wanted to discuss the correct size, phone.

I phoned. Got the order brought up their end and they tried telling me the correct discs were available for ~£280 + P&P for my car.

I asked the dimensions and discovered they were larger diameter and thicker. I then requested them to confirm the dimensions of the pair i had already ordered and paid for. Those were still the right dimensions so i said i'd have what i'd ordered please as the ones they were "recommending" were far too big. They firstly tried to insist their recommendation was correct so i pointed out i wouldn't be able to fit both brake pads into the caliper with their disc. Please send me what i have already ordered.

"Sorry sir, we can't do that - they're out of stock!"

Since when i asked? Obviously caught them on the hop as they quoted about a month previously.

They were then more shocked when i asked for a refund! Can't think why!

A blessing in disguise for me as a few days later a pair of NOS discs, the right sizes came up on ebay for £20 delivered. I didn't need any prodding to hit the Buy It Now!

It all worked out well for me in the end but i wonder if someone maybe not quite so aware of methods like these and hadn't measured their discs would have been caught and stung for ~£300 - probably and likely they would have been one of many. Then they would have had the lengthy return process to endure while finding the correct parts and potentially being off the road as a result.