‘He Tried To Explain’: Mechanic Tells Woman What Part She Needs. Then He Suggests She Buy It From RockAuto
'She knows ball.'
A woman is making people laugh after realizing her mechanic tried to explain RockAuto to someone who was already very familiar with the site.
TikTok user @idwttthmi shared the interaction after taking her car in for muffler work.
According to the creator, the mechanic installed a new muffler but told her the vehicle still needed another exhaust part to finish the repair.
“So he wrote down the part number and everything,” she says in the video.
@idwttthmi says the mechanic then started describing what RockAuto was and suggested she order the replacement part there.
That’s when she turned the camera toward a wall covered in what appeared to be RockAuto magnets and advertisements, suggesting she already knew exactly what the site was.
“He tried to explain what RockAuto is to me,” she says in the clip, sounding amused by the interaction. As of this writing, the video has generated just under 6,600 views.
What Is RockAuto?
RockAuto is an online auto parts retailer that has become especially popular with DIY car owners and mechanics seeking lower prices on replacement parts.
Unlike stores such as AutoZone or O’Reilly, RockAuto does not have physical locations. The company operates entirely online and ships parts directly from warehouses around the country, which is part of why prices are often lower than what drivers see at traditional parts counters.
The site is also known for carrying a massive selection of parts, especially for older vehicles and obscure repairs that can sometimes be difficult to find locally. Users can search by part number, manufacturer, make, and model, among other subcategories, making the site a go-to resource for people working on their own cars.
Even drivers who never actually order from RockAuto still use the site to compare prices, look up exact part numbers, or figure out which brands fit their vehicle before buying somewhere else.
That said, ordering from RockAuto can sometimes be frustrating if customers need a repair done quickly or if they accidentally order or get sent the wrong part. Since parts often ship from different warehouses, shipping fees can pile up fast, and returns are not always easy when there’s no physical store to visit.
Still, the company has developed something of a cult following online, especially among mechanics and car enthusiasts. Its magnets—which get included in many orders—have become oddly recognizable in car circles, which is part of why @idwttthmi’s TikTok landed with so many viewers immediately.
Viewers Hype Up RockAuto
Commenters who watched @idwttthmi’s video immediately recognized the RockAuto references, with many saying they’ve been longtime customers themselves.
“I first ordered from Rock Auto in 1999 shortly after they launched,” one man shared. “Real OGs know about that Rock.”
Another viewer joked that ordering from multiple warehouses mostly means collecting more magnets.
“Ordered parts for my neighbor’s truck yesterday,” they wrote. “It’s coming from 3 locations. That’s 3 more magnets.”
“My husband finally started ordering [expletive] from [RockAuto]. I FINALLY get to start my magnet collection. He has like 3 boxes coming this week, so hopefully I’ll be up to 5,” another commenter added.
Several people also admired the creator’s existing magnet setup.
“That’s a cute amount of magnets,” one viewer wrote. “I might have a problem, actually. I can fill the front of that fridge with my non-duplicates.”
“Girl know[s] ball,” another person chimed in.
Some commenters, though, were more frustrated than nostalgic, saying they have struggled to get parts shipped to certain states, particularly Arizona.
“I need about two or $3,000 worth of stuff from RockAuto, but they don’t ship to Arizona anymore,” one person lamented.
“Rock has stopped sending to AZ,” another viewer wrote. “It had a strong selection for my old car.”
Motor1 has reached out to @idwttthmi via direct message on TikTok and to RockAuto through email. We’ll update this story if we hear back.
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