What's become of Sunset Porsche parts?

Tom · #1

Back in the day, Sunset Porsche in Oregon was the go-to place for factory auto parts. They were one of (if not the only) place that sold factory parts at a discount, sold without sales tax, and shipped quickly. I recently needed a few factory parts and so thought I'd give them a try. Their prices are still good, although plenty of other dealers now offer similar discounts online, but when I went to check out, their shipping charges were out of control. Their system said shipping would be $188 for a couple of sway bar bushings. I thought it was a mistake, so emailed them and never heard back. To make sure it wasn't a software glitch, I just put a single aluminum washer in my cart and tried to check out. This is a part that would easily ship in a regular 1 oz. envelop for the cost of a forever stamp; so even in a proper mailer it's about $4 via USPS snail mail, or $9.95 in flat rate 1-3 day priority mail box. Sunset's options are $31.70 for 'economy', $65.65 for 'standard' and $155.59 for 'expedited' in each case for a small washer that costs $1.48. How can they expect to sell anything that way? I don't get it...

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blueline · #2

Tom wrote: Mon Jan 12, 2026 4:47 pm Back in the day, Sunset Porsche in Oregon was the go-to place for factory auto parts. They were one of (if not the only) place that sold factory parts at a discount, sold without sales tax, and shipped quickly. I recently needed a few factory parts and so thought I'd give them a try. Their prices are still good, although plenty of other dealers now offer similar discounts online, but when I went to check out, their shipping charges were out of control. Their system said shipping would be $188 for a couple of sway bar bushings. I thought it was a mistake, so emailed them and never heard back. To make sure it wasn't a software glitch, I just put a single aluminum washer in my cart and tried to check out. This is a part that would easily ship in a regular 1 oz. envelop for the cost of a forever stamp; so even in a proper mailer it's about $4 via USPS snail mail, or $9.95 in flat rate 1-3 day priority mail box. Sunset's options are $31.70 for 'economy', $65.65 for 'standard' and $155.59 for 'expedited' in each case for a small washer that costs $1.48. How can they expect to sell anything that way? I don't get it...

sunset.jpg

I don't know the answer but that was post 8000 for you!!!

edit: here's look-back proof since your post count is obviously now different!

: Post #8000 for Tom on Carpokes (sceenshot) 2026-01-12.png (214.65 KiB) Viewed 298 times

Arne2 · #3

Sunset is one of two semi-local to me dealers, and I did buy parts from them when restoring the '72 911T during the pandemic. They can be difficult to deal with. The good discounted prices are only available online. Don't call the parts desk and expect to get the same prices. Since I am 'only' 2 hours away, I wanted to do local pickup rather than pay freight. (Freight for the dash pad was crazy high.) No option for that online. And to order on the phone meant higher parts costs. I had to pull some PCA rank with the parts manager to get the online price with local pickup. (I was Cascade Region president at the time.)

Also note the pettiness in your cart for the single washer - "Tax" of 13¢. Oregon has no sales tax, but does levy a Corporate Activity Tax on corporations with more than $1,000,000 revenue annually. The tax is minuscule, $250 + 0.57% of revenue beyond the first million, which is exempt. But some Oregon businesses (Sunset is one) hate that tax and tack it on to all transactions, labeling it as if it is a "sales tax", I guess in hopes that customers will fuss to their legislators about it. Not sure how they get 13¢ out of that transaction, though.

Still, the ridiculousness of the shipping quotes you got are laughable. It could still be a systemwide software issue though. Might be worth a phone call to ask about that. (But not to actually order.)

Or... Maybe not worth the time. There are other sources like Suncoast, Gaudin, etc.

Tom · #4

Arne2 wrote: Mon Jan 12, 2026 5:21 pm Sunset is one of two semi-local to me dealers, and I did buy parts from them when restoring the '72 911T during the pandemic. They can be difficult to deal with. The good discounted prices are only available online. Don't call the parts desk and expect to get the same prices. Since I am 'only' 2 hours away, I wanted to do local pickup rather than pay freight. (Freight for the dash pad was crazy high.) No option for that online. And to order on the phone meant higher parts costs. I had to pull some PCA rank with the parts manager to get the online price with local pickup. (I was Cascade Region president at the time.)

Also note the pettiness in your cart for the single washer - "Tax" of 13¢. Oregon has no sales tax, but does levy a Corporate Activity Tax on corporations with more than $1,000,000 revenue annually. The tax is minuscule, $250 + 0.57% of revenue beyond the first million, which is exempt. But some Oregon businesses (Sunset is one) hate that tax and tack it on to all transactions, labeling it as if it is a "sales tax", I guess in hopes that customers will fuss to their legislators about it. Not sure how they get 13¢ out of that transaction, though.

Still, the ridiculousness of the shipping quotes you got are laughable. It could still be a systemwide software issue though. Might be worth a phone call to ask about that.

Or... Maybe not worth the time. There are other sources like Suncoast, Gaudin, etc.

I'm wondering if Porsche somehow permits/facilitates the online discounts, but not so much at the parts counter? The gasket I needed was $88 at most of the online dealers that discount, including Sunset. So I called most of my local dealers to see if I could save the transit time and pick it up myself, but got the same thing -- they wanted $146 for the same part (actually more than the system quotes as full retail). I gave up an opted for the $18 Victor Reinz version. The last one lasted 17 years after all... For the more recent sway bar bushings I really wanted the true Porsche versions, and ended up ordering from Marin Porsche -- about an hour from me. They had the full online 'discount' (same as Sunset) but with realistic shipping charges and the option to pick up in person.

zooklm1 · #5

I used to use Sunset a lot but then switched to Gaudin in Las Vegas. Here lately, the shipping prices have gotten absurd (for both) and I have been ordering from our local dealer, who gives PCA members a 15% discount and doesn’t charge shipping. I can usually get things in 2-3 days and drive by on my way home from work to pick up. I still get some things online, though.
Lee

Fejjj951 · #6

I have always found the shipping to be ridiculous from all online dealer parts discounters. I have had good luck calling the parts department and asking them to charge me reasonable shipping charges. They have always suggested the shipping charges in my cart.

dr bob · #7

FWIW, I took the Sunset quote to my local dealer parts counter. She couldn't match the prices but was within a few percent so I moved the business to the local store. They get everything 928 dropped in anyway. We had a discussion about shipping, since the part I was looking for is enough $$ to get free shipping from Sunset. Solved when I suggested that I wasn't in a hurry and it could come with their regular stock order.

Sunset is not "local" but is close enough that I could get over there in a pinch, the best part of a day in drive time. Nice drive too. I don't know where Porsche maintains parts depots any more. This is all part of aura that makes these "old" cars to own and maintain, magic to drive.

I contrast with my Honda Pilot winter driver, where the local dealer routinely marks up parts and pieces by 25% over Honda's MSRP. While online parts-discount dealer offerings are typically 20-25% under MSRP. I do work to keep the 928 in factory parts where possible, or exact OEM replacements. Again, contrast with the Honda, which has needed almost nothing beyond easy maintenance stuff. Wiper blades from Costco, oil and filter from the local WalMart shelves. Suspension bushings did come from Honda.

Tom · #8

dr bob wrote: Tue Jan 13, 2026 12:15 pm FWIW, I took the Sunset quote to my local dealer parts counter. She couldn't match the prices but was within a few percent so I moved the business to the local store. They get everything 928 dropped in anyway. We had a discussion about shipping, since the part I was looking for is enough $$ to get free shipping from Sunset. Solved when I suggested that I wasn't in a hurry and it could come with their regular stock order.

Sunset is not "local" but is close enough that I could get over there in a pinch, the best part of a day in drive time. Nice drive too. I don't know where Porsche maintains parts depots any more. This is all part of aura that makes these "old" cars to own and maintain, magic to drive.

I contrast with my Honda Pilot winter driver, where the local dealer routinely marks up parts and pieces by 25% over Honda's MSRP. While online parts-discount dealer offerings are typically 20-25% under MSRP. I do work to keep the 928 in factory parts where possible, or exact OEM replacements. Again, contrast with the Honda, which has needed almost nothing beyond easy maintenance stuff. Wiper blades from Costco, oil and filter from the local WalMart shelves. Suspension bushings did come from Honda.

How would one go about getting free shipping from Sunset? I just put a thousand dollar alternator in my cart to see if it's just a matter of ordering enough, and the shipping was $444.

I've never been one to pay enough attention to shipping costs when ordering parts, but Sunset currently has a screw loose somewhere....

dr bob · #9

I'll speculate that "shipping" now includes all those value-added subsidies the administration is blessing us with for imported stuff. I was shopping for fog light inserts and lenses, all before tarifflation became a thing.

This is a really slippery slope, and a potentially political discussion I don't wish to have here.

Or that's a really really heavy alternator....

Tom · #10

dr bob wrote: Tue Jan 13, 2026 5:17 pm I'll speculate that "shipping" now includes all those value-added subsidies the administration is blessing us with for imported stuff. I was shopping for fog light inserts and lenses, all before tarifflation became a thing.

This is a really slippery slope, and a potentially political discussion I don't wish to have here.

Or that's a really really heavy alternator....

Maybe, but $34 for a washer that costs $1.48 and weights less than envelope it ships in? Also, Marin Porsche is sending me bushings without the whacky shipping upcharge. I think the sun has set on my days buying from Sunset.

My hope is that it's a software or system glitch of some kind. I can't imagine many people knowingly paying those rates. I just checked, and it would literally be cheaper to fly there and pick up the alternator in person.

In fact, as an alternative to that $444 shipping, I could fly there for $159 round trip, bring it back on carry-on, try it on my car, then fly back to exchange it for a different one, and STILL have money left over for a nice dinner with Mrs. Carpokes.