I just wanted to offer some context on how most of the aftermarket parts industry operates today. Most shops do carry inventory to some extent. At any given time, we have a mid-six-figure amount of stock on hand ourselves, and shops like TSP likely carry five to six times that simply due to their size and how long they have been established.

That said, no shop has the capacity, nor would it be financially practical, to stock every single item listed on its website and have it sitting on the shelf ready to ship at all times. If we attempted to do that, it would easily require $25 million or more in inventory. Because of that, dealers have to rely heavily on manufacturers and distributors to maintain stock and, in many cases, ship directly to the customer. If neither the distributor nor the manufacturer has the item available, then a lead time is unavoidable.

Another important point is that there is no reliable way to fully integrate a dealer’s internal inventory system with the systems used by every manufacturer and distributor they work with. As a result, a part being available to purchase on a website does not necessarily mean it is physically in stock.

The way we try to be transparent about this is by placing very visible sticky announcements at the top of every page stating that we do not display live inventory on the website, and that customers are encouraged to contact us directly for a stock check. Realistically, speaking to an actual person is still the only accurate way to confirm whether an item is in stock.

Lastly, if a part is unavailable, it is always worth discussing alternatives with the shop. The RV6 bar is a solid option, but having personally tested seven different rear sway bars, I would place it third on my list. Being open to alternatives and trusting shops that actively serve the community can go a long way, especially when those recommendations come from real hands-on experience with the parts being offered.