Rock Auto shipped pipe without a box. OK?

[ghostman]

I bought a few parts from Rock Auto. One item was a front pipe. I was surprised to find it at my doorstep today without a box. It's literally a shipping label on the side of the pipe. They did wrap both ends in tape, but the flex pipe portion and the rest is exposed.

It doesn't look damaged, but I don't know much about cars and how it is supposed to look. Stupid question, but is this OK? And is it typical of Rock Auto? This is my first time buying car parts (ever) and the other two shipments from Rock Auto came nicely packaged.

 

[jlee]

What sorta pipe? If it's not damaged, it's fine.

 

[ghostman]

The "front pipe" - part of the exhaust system that contains the flex pipe.
http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/moreinfo.php?pk=4796757&cc=1382127

OK. I don't mind, but thought it was odd finding the bare pipe on my doorstep. Seems easy to damage.

 

[PottedMeat]

The "front pipe" - part of the exhaust system that contains the flex pipe.
http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/moreinfo.php?pk=4796757&cc=1382127

OK. I don't mind, but thought it was odd finding the bare pipe on my doorstep. Seems easy to damage.

lol i think it's more likely the pipe damaged a bunch of other packages in the ups/fedex truck.

 

[weadjust]

The pipe will be under the car in exposed to the elements. Being sent exposed to all the other packages won't effect it's performance. They also ship tires with label tags only.

 

[twinrider1]

Amazon shipped a Y-pipe to me the same way. It was certainly an initial WTF! Damage wasn't a problem, but getting that tape off was a royal PITA.

(not my pic, but same part and it looked just like this, plus a taped on shipping label)

 

[Jimzz]

Yep tires and exhaust pipes are usually shipped with just the label. check for major damage and install.

 

[LTC8K6]

UPS has a special label for shipping a tire.

 

[halik]

UPS has a special label for shipping a tire.

Heh I usually just tape the shit out of the label on them and off they go.

 

[cbrsurfr]

I've never had an exhaust component shipped without a box. Granted I'm not buying stock replacements. Latest was a box about 6 feet tall, I had to pick it up too. I'm not sure how I even got that thing in the Evo. A small crowd gathered to watch me get it into the car without unboxing it. LOL

 

[JulesMaximus]

Flex pipe on an exhaust system?

 

[WT]

Flex pipe on an exhaust system?

You sound surprised at this fact. I had mine replaced last year in my SUV, bought it from RockAuto as well. Was 1/3 the price of the dealer - dealer quoted me $400 for it, RockAuto was $136.

 

[jlee]

Flex pipe on an exhaust system?

My MR2 has one.

 

[phucheneh]

All cars will either have a flexpipe or a connection with a 'donut' and spring bolts.

 

[JulesMaximus]

All cars will either have a flexpipe or a connection with a 'donut' and spring bolts.

:hmm: Maybe flexpipe isn't what I think it is?

 

[Raizinman]

If you worked in an auto parts store, you would know that exhaust pipes, tail pipes all come without a box. Mufflers comes boxed. To box odd shaped exhaust components would be much more costly as the length and width of the box would be much more than shipping the pipe without a box.

Likewise, what would you expect to get damaged? If a pipe 1/16" metal can get damaged what difference would it make if it was in a card board box? Exhaust pipe is always sent without a box.

 

[Doomer]

One way or another, they'll get it to you.

 

[jlee]

:hmm: Maybe flexpipe isn't what I think it is?

 

[BoberFett]

I worked in a UPS facility for a month between jobs one summer, unloading trucks early in the morning. You see a lot of that kind of thing come through.

 

[michal1980]

i'm surprised that ups & shippers allow this. Seems like a handling nightmare.

 

[bryanl]

The Rock Auto of the 20th century, J.C. Whitney (still in business), often shipped exhaust parts bare, and I never received a damaged one. However inspect the ends carefully and use an expander to straighten any ends as needed since even slight distortion will make sealing much worse.