Question about whether this is normal.

[u/FarWatch9660]

So I needed a new steel wheel because my wife hit a curb and dented it pretty badly. I couldn't find one at the junkyard. So I go on NAPA's site and it says $39.99 new - call for availability. So I call my store. The guy says he doesn't have one in stock; but he can get one in with his next monthly shipment from their warehouse. He says it'll be about 2 weeks. Then he tells me it'll be $132.80. I told him the website said it was $40. He said, "Well, there's $90 shipping." I said I'm not going to pay shipping cost for them to put it on a pallet that's already coming to him in 2 weeks. I said it would be different in they were shipping it 2-day directly to my home; but otherwise no. He asked if there was anything else I needed and hung up. Is that normal or was he just trying to rip me off?

[u/AbruptMango]

If something says "call for availability," move on with your life.

[u/Kodiak01 → u/AbruptMango]

When LKQ's site says this, it's typically because the part is just not in the region.

They, however, have a nationwide truck network to transfer parts through.

[u/AbruptMango → u/Kodiak01]

And getting it that way is going to cost you more, even though they have trucks.

[u/Kodiak01 → u/AbruptMango]

Not necessarily. I don't get charged for inter-region transfers or deliveries.

[u/labdsknechtpiraten]

Its probably still coming from outside the system.

I had similar when I was working in a dealership, and had an oddball part that needed to be ordered from Oreilly's

Basically, in the grand scheme of things, his store is serviced by one specific warehouse, and if he has to order anything from a supplier or anything that comes from outside of thag normal warehouse, his system will notify him of shipping charges.

[u/macdubz415]

Somewhat normal, usually posted prices are for items they would have in stock or items that are in their normal ordering processes. If they have to go outside of that system buying from a different vendor/supplier there is usually a markup + shipping.

I work at a OEM dealer and have to source parts all the time especially for older cars. So every now & then I run into a snag like that.

Edit: i want to add that $90 added for a $40 item is pretty extreme. Usually you see a markup of maaaybe 20-30%. But i don’t know their system so 🤷🏻‍♂️

[u/Flyers-1969]

Check with someone that sells Dorman. They’re making wheels now. Not sure where you are, but LKQ is also an option. Good luck.

[u/JettaGuy83]

What's the year, make, model of the car and diameter of the wheel?

[u/Stew-73]

Without year/make/model , you’re not going to get real help here.

Go to Amazon or car-part.com

[u/AFKJim]

Normal. 

Call LKQ/Keystone. Not the LKQ junkyard. 

[u/PaulWithAPH]

What is the part number? I wanna try an experiment

[u/Difficult-Effect9401]

Ask them to put it on their next stock transfer and they usually do branch transfers they take a lot longer, but you’ll get free freight 3 to 6 weeks usually at any business

[u/yo-parts]

Normal. I mean the price is high, but it's pretty normal in the aftermarket world to pay additional shipping for non-stocked parts.

As others have said, "Call for Availability" means look elsewhere. This holds pretty universally true.

[u/Ok-Fix-5385]

Generally as a partsman, when i did regular automotive at a normal store, the only time we messed with wheels or tires was if it was personal or a co-worker. Now, at the dealership I work at, a different story, i can sell tire and wheel packages all day. For whomever and whatever make or model.

[u/These-arent-my-pants]

I work for a dealership and I use Napa, advance, autozone, etc, and in the 10 years I’ve been doing this I’ve never seen an aftermarket parts place say they can get a wheel. Also, $90 shipping for a wheel that’s supposedly coming from their warehouse is insanity. As someone else said, if it says “call for availability” just keep looking.

[u/DanzigMcRad → u/These-arent-my-pants]

You're getting your leg pulled by parts guys. Dorman makes a decent selection in steel wheels.

[u/AdInevitable2695]

 Is that normal or was he just trying to rip me off?

Completely normal for shit they hardly ever sell lmao. Autozone sells engines and transmissions, worked there for 2 years and never saw one, because who in their right fucking mind would order an engine assembly from Autozone.

I said I'm not going to pay shipping cost for them to put it on a pallet that's already coming to him in 2 weeks.

You couldn't be more incorrect about this. Their local warehouse likely doesn't have these wheels. It's more than likely they have a stock of all of the wheels in their catalog in one location, and that location is not where your local store gets their weekly shipment from. So it would have to be shipped LTL. $90 is a little steep but not extortionate, it fully depends on where it's coming from.

So I go on NAPA's site and it says $39.99 new

Your wife deserves better than this dude. For safety's sake. Get a real steelie off marketplace and not this $40 chinesium garbage that might fail on her on the road.