Working on your car is hard enough, so buying car parts shouldn’t add to the issue. However, you may be noticing car parts availability, price increase and quality drop lately. So, what’s the secret on how to buy car parts with less hassle these days?
For me, every year for the past 12 or 15 years has been so frustrating when it comes to car parts. Even when it comes to buy car parts from a salvage yard, is aggravating.
Prices of everything have gone up, but car parts and especially automotive paints is a joke. The price increases might could be justifiable if quality was increasing, but sadly it isn’t.
The Main Issue
When you look to buy car parts locally, the first issue you often deal with is ignorance. Due to how employment and hiring has been since the Pandemic. There is no quality customer service, especially hiring people that actually know something. This makes knowing how to buy car parts today really important. It seems the customer has to be more knowledgeable more and more these days.
You go to the counter, and you tell the parts clerk what you are wanting. A much higher percentage of not understanding what the part is by the parts clerk is on the rise.
If you are asking for something that isn’t simple like a belt, spark plug or some hand cleaner. Well, plan on waiting for a while. If you need to bring something back, that is a whole other bag of drama.
The quality of the automotive parts is atrocious these days. Greedy American businesses, farm everything out to China and third world countries for manufacturing. The result is low to low quality control and short-life parts. This also causes the consumer to have the knowledge on how to buy car parts more than ever. The joke of it all, these businesses claim this business model gives us better pricing, so why aren’t we see it?
Pricing Brings Me to the Next Issue
Everything sold in auto parts stores, is way overpriced. It is pretty sad when you can go buy hand cleaner and car batteries from Walmart, far cheaper than you can from an actual automotive parts store. One crucial part of knowing how to buy car parts, is knowing where to shop for the best prices.
As an automotive repair shop, it actually cost me money to keep having to send parts back. I would say I have to send back at least 35% of what I buy locally. This is due to defective parts, just a completely wrong part or kit missing parts in them.
So the question is, how to buy car parts? What are your options, and what are the pros and cons?
To Buy Car Parts, Locally or Online?
No one wants to have to go out and make a repair on their car in the first place. But to deal with stupid people behind the counter, bad parts or the cost, that’s just too much.
Just trying to figure out how to buy car parts more efficiently with less hassle is ridiculous in itself.
The way of the world now, is to buy most everything online. However, there can be an issue with ordering car parts online. The biggest issue with getting parts online, is the time factor.
If you have a backup vehicle to drive while one is down, then online ordering is valid. However, if your repair is more immediate, then local is your best option.
There is also the hassle of returning a defective or wrong part. Although, most online stores have made that process much easier now.
Pros of Buying Car Parts Locally
The biggest advantage of buying a car part locally, is availability, provided they do actually have the part. Here is a list of advantages of buying a car part locally:
- Getting the part instantly
- Being able to return the part with some type of speed
- Compare your old part to the new part
- The ability to get help figuring out what part you need by part name and description
- Price Matching, to be able to get a better price from a competitor
- Additional benefits would include, Battery/Charging Check; Code Reading, Battery and wiper installations. Some parts stores still offer brake drum and rotor turning
Cons of Buying Car Parts Locally
Inflated and overpriced products
- Low quality and too many generic house-brand products
- Bad attitude from employees
- Employees that have no clue about automotive or parts in general
- Dealing with the hidden rules of warranties and getting hassled over returns or defective parts
- Many parts you need, have to be ordered, which can be “same day” to 2 weeks
- Local stores availability of new parts vs remanufactured are lower than online. Local stores carry more remanufactured parts than new. Parts like alternators, starters and similar type parts
- Remanufactured parts are usually higher than a brand-new part purchased online
Pros of Buying car Parts Online
- You get far better pricing online, often half of what a local purchase is
- Purchase of top name-brands that local stores no longer carry
- More options to buy the part brand-new
- Often better warranties and more options on warranties
- Hassle free returns and exchanges
- Usually, quicker shipping than ordering a part locally, including faster shipping options
- The convenience of never leaving your home to place the order
- Parts are shipped to your door
- Not dealing with employees with attitudes
Cons of Buying Car Parts Online
- Not being able to physically match your part to a new one
- The wait, the time it takes to get delivered to you
- Possible delays or aggravation of having to deal with a customer service department
- Not practical if you have a same day immediate need for the part
Knowing how to buy car parts isn’t rocket science, if you can use Google or any search engine, you have the tool. You have to weigh in some commonsense, and react to your urgency and situation.
How To Buy Car Parts
So, is it better to buy car parts online or locally? In all honesty, buying online is becoming the better option. Of course, factors can vastly vary depending on if you are a shop or an at home mechanic.
I am more of a specialty shop. So, for me, online ordering is best. The reason is, because I want top brand parts that aren’t inferior made. Most local parts stores, no longer offer a huge amount on name-brands.
I want to offer my customers great pricing. The cost of online parts is far cheaper than local, I can still make a small markup and still beat local store pricing.
Local parts stores still carry name-brands in belts and hoses, oils, coolant and many over-the-counter items. But when it comes to more major parts, they offer their unknown house-brands.
If you are unsure of how to find a local auto parts store. Go to Google and type in “by car parts near me”. The return will give you the big-name auto parts stores.
Most likely, you are an at-home DIY car enthusiast and trying to make a decision on which is better. To buy car parts online or locally.
If the vehicle is the only one you have and time is crucial, then buying local is your best bet. Just be prepared to spend the money.
However, if you have a backup vehicle and you want the best quality part for the best price, buy your car parts online.
Knowing how to buy car parts is really a matter of research, what your need and urgency is and your budget.
The Best Places to Buy Car Parts Online
I am frequently getting asked, where the best places to buy car parts online is. I have several places I order for my shop. However, for the at-home mechanic, I can tell you that the following are top choices.
Even though Summit Racing is more thought of as high-performance parts, they also offer regular parts as well.
At one time, eBay was the best place to get parts online. But they have gone up in prices but still a great place to look. Some of the eBay stores offer quality kits and good product brands most others don’t.
I would say I order the most from Amazon now. Their store owners are offering more and more top name-brands, and the reviews come in handy.
One of the things I look for besides quality is free shipping. The next thing is warranty and ease of returns. With that said, Carparts.com and NAPA are a great choice.
I have been sending a lot of customers that are doing auto body work, to Automotive Touchup. So far so good, my customers have been happy with the products.
For motorcycles, I personally use CMS Motorcycle Parts and I have been very pleased. They usually have everything I need and if they don’t, they have pointed me to who does. The have great customer service.
The Best Places to Buy Car Parts Locally
NAPA is about the last of the local parts stores that still sell quality products. However, they are at the mercy of hiring clerks that don’t know much about parts or cars.
Advance is one store left that will try to hire people that know a little something about cars. Now they, don’t offer the best brands, meaning most stuff is cheap made. But if you need a part that day, most of their employees can give you some decent help.
Discount Tire is one of the few tire stores that have a great review rating. Most of the local stores I have used, it has been a good experience.
You can order their tires online, often getting a really good deal or discount. Then they can be shipped straight to your local store and will schedule you a day for installation.
Buying Car Parts from a Salvage Yard
Should you buy car parts from a salvage yard? They’re again are pros and cons to this approach to buying car parts.
If you are needing things like brakes, belts, hoses, things that are normally replaced as a maintenance part. The answer is NO!!!! Don’t take a chance or waste your time and money.
For body parts, some interior parts, maybe even an engine or transmission. Then these are items that would be OK to get from a salvage yard.
If you want to buy car parts from a salvage yard, you really need to do some research first. For body parts, most of the time, you can buy brand new aftermarket panels for the same price or less.
Depending on the salvage yard. In most cases, it is a better deal to buy remanufactured with a good warranty, than to buy used from a salvage yard.
Many salvage yards offer warranties on their engines and transmissions, but beware. They have a catch to them that most do not disclose.
They may offer a 12 month/12000-mile warranty. But ask them about the hidden details. Most work like this: Once it is used within that time period, the warranty is over. So, if it is defective when you put it in, then there went your warranty.
Just be cautious when buying from a salvage yard. Make sure you ask detailed questions on sales and warranties. Also, be sure to compare prices and factor in how much of your time is worth.
When it comes to knowing how to buy car parts, especially used ones online. You need to do hard research and look up reviews.
Conclusion to How to Buy Car Parts
So, what is the best method on how to buy car parts? There are advantages to both buying car parts locally and online.
If your repair is immediate and you don’t have time to wait, you buy locally. The cost will be more than online, plus the quality will be lower. You can read more on Why The Decline In The Quality Of Auto Parts Are Today.
For high quality, top name-brands and the best pricing, not to mention you have time to wait. I highly suggest buying your car parts online. To know more about the best brands to buy, read What Are The Best Aftermarket Car Parts To Buy.
We are living in sad times when you going down to your local parts store isn’t the best option. This situation should be in reverse. You should get better products and pricing locally, not online.
I am a big advocate to support your local stores and shops. But when the local businesses are not trying to support the customer with better quality and pricing. In these times, you have to go with what helps you best.
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