Amazon vs Advance... its a wash.. but Amazon FTW

[pfarber]

So my tire is cupping... bad sway bar link and shocks... so time to spend.

AMAZON:
2 Monroe 37081 Sensa-Trac Light Truck Shock Absorber - $66.06 2 day delivery
2 of Omix-Ada 18282.08 Sway Bar Link AND Auto Extra Mevotech MK3171 Stabilizer Bar Link Bushing - $49.01 2 day delivery
TOTAL $114.07

ADVANCE:
2 Monroe 37081 Sensa-Trac Light Truck Shock Absorber - $91.98
2 of Omix-Ada 18282.08 Sway Bar Link - $53.98
Auto Extra Mevotech MK3171 Stabilizer Bar Link Bushings - $14.99
TOTAL - $160.94 (less 15% off) - $136.80

BUT I also get a $25 coupon off next order... so you could argue that the 'total' would really be $115.80.. but I have to spend more money on parts in a VERY limited window of time for that $25 off. So I could literally be throwing away $25 if I go with Advance.

Add in that the links are not a stock item.. so I have to wait for it to ship to my home... if I ship all of it to my home then I get free shipping.. but no idea when they would show up.. Amazon will guarantee delivery date (or compensate me).

Also, and I HATE, HATE, HATE this... if I walk into Advance and buy the parts, THEY WILL NOT MATCH THE ONLINE PRICE. So even if I select 'Pick up at store', then go to the EXACT SAME STORE that I would buy at the counter, its $30 more to walk in off the street. If you want the discount/rebate you have to order online. Fuck you, Advance.

I went with Amazon as my Prime membership means I get known delivery dates (usually sooner) and if they miss the date, I get comped on my prime membership. Advance simply does nothing.. it gets there when it gets there.

[pfarber]

Oh yeah.. $115 for suspension parts for at 97 Jeep GC is a no brainier. The tires (30.5s) are $200+ a pop so making them last is a very real concern. They are slightly cupped now.. nothing serious and when I rotate them to the rear they should level out. They have about 25k miles on them... rated for 50k.

[pfarber]

Well this took a turn for the worse.

One shock has a bad bushing

shock1.JPG (34.07 KiB) Viewed 3507 times

So I ordered one from the local Advance and will send the other one back to Amazon. I could do the old switch-a-roo and put the bad one in the box and take it back to advance... but that's a shitty thing to do to the next guy... plus my luck I might be the one who buys it.

Price wise its not a huge difference. Total price for one shock is $41.44 and I get the $25 off thing my next order... I might buy brakes next month just to have them.