Knowing a bit about the different part categories can help you find the right parts for your needs. When reading a repair estimate, you will see several different categories of parts. Being aware of these categories offers a good filter for understanding parts quality.
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OEM parts are generally considered the highest quality replacement parts in the marketplace. So, you should use OEM parts if you have a newer car or want to maintain factory quality on your vehicle. Also, OEM parts matter during the warranty period.
There are laws in the United States that protect the consumer’s right to choose their parts. But, automakers have no obligation to honor the warranty for aftermarket parts or parts that are damaged by an aftermarket component. So, there are advantages to using OE parts if your vehicle is under warranty.
There are a lot of different categories of parts, from very high-quality name brands to very inexpensive generic parts. In general, if reliable replacement aftermarket auto parts matter, you should look for name brand components. However, cheap auto parts may be right for you if you are keeping an older car on the road.
The part store you’re buying from can be a good predictor parts quality. Distributors carry the parts they can sell. So, in general, consumer facing outlets generally carry consumer grade product and wholesale focused outlets usually carry high quality parts demanded by auto repair shops.
So, if you want the same quality parts an auto repair shop would use when repairing your vehicle, go to a wholesale parts outlet. And if you want recognizable name brands and DIY focused components go to a retail replacement auto parts store. Both are great choices depending upon your needs and budget.
There are also great online stores for both DIY and wholesale quality parts at discount prices. Companies such as Rock Auto offer high quality parts that are drop shipped directly to your house. And a Google search will usually find car dealers offering parts with a significant discount off retail prices.
If you need parts right away or you don’t know what you need, go to a retail outlet near you. However, if you have time and confidence in what you are purchasing, buy your auto parts online. Physical retail stores are more convenient. But that convenience comes with higher markups.
Since selling online is more competitive, pricing tends to be cheaper even with shipping costs included. And eBay is a great place to find obscure automotive parts for older vehicles.
Repair parts are to keep your vehicle running as it was originally designed. Performance parts are to make your car go faster. Many performance parts need to be installed in groups, so do your research before customizing your vehicle or you could do more harm than good.
And if you need specific advice, ask a shop owner or friend who’s a motorhead. Customizers can give you good advice on what to do and not to do. And shop online. Performance parts generally have a higher markup than stock replacement parts. So, there are great online deals.
The need for top quality parts depends on your interests and your vehicle. If you have a brand-new car and you want to keep it running well, top quality parts probably make sense. However, if the car is 30 years old and just needs to be held together a little longer, the lowest cost parts probably make sense.
For me, it comes down to cost of the parts versus the value of the vehicle. So, if I have a $2,000 car for one of my college aged kids, I’m going to put in cheap parts. For my new cars I install only OE parts. And, for my 10-year-old average mileage car, I compare OE and name brand aftermarket parts and use the parts that offer the best value.
The key is to shop around. Check prices at several parts stores or check online for pricing. If you are taking your vehicle to a shop for repairs, ask for different part quality options.
And if you think you’re being overcharged, ask to see their parts invoice BEFORE they repair your car. Shops will generally seek a 50% gross profit on the parts, so you should see around a 100% markup off shop cost.
Also, you are less likely to be pay extra for large components than clips and fasteners. If every part on your invoice ends in .99, then parts are being marked up to the nearest dollar. So, for example, you could be paying 99 cents for a 15-cent clip. This can add up if your repair requires 20 clips or fasteners.
How long it takes parts to arrive depends on how close you are to the parts warehouse. Companies such as NAPA that have a large network of stores should be able to deliver parts same-day or next day.
On the other hand, parts ordered from a company with a single location may use auto parts dropshipping and could take longer. In general, you should expect to wait longer for performance parts, unique applications or parts ordered from an online dealership.
This depends upon 2 factors. Are you very confident that you are buying the right part? And how soon do you need the parts?
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If you need parts fast or require expert advice on which parts to purchase, go to a local auto parts store. However, if you are confident on which parts you need and can wait for the parts to arrive, purchase your parts online.
Karl Krug has been in the automotive industry for over 25 years. During his time in the industry, Karl has managed multiple product lines for automakers and aftermarket manufacturers. In his time in the industry, Karl has formed a unique insider perspective on the automotive parts and repair industries. Did you find this article helpful or want to hear more? Send us your comments.
Contrary to popular wisdom, cars can be a worthwhile investment. Although they’re known as one of the fastest-depreciating assets, buying a long-lasting, reliable vehicle pays off.
It all starts with the right auto part supplier. Choosing high-quality, durable parts and expert service can drastically extend a vehicle’s lifetime. For seven things to look for when choosing an auto part supplier, check out this list.
Stellar suppliers are open to negotiating prices with your business. They’ll also allow one-click reordering, preferred payment methods, and flexible payment terms.
The buying process should be as quick and painless as possible.
Any supplier you consider buying from should have an e-commerce system, no matter where it is. Preferably, it should have a B2B marketplace to make your transaction(s) easier.
Similarly, your experience as a customer on the supplier’s e-commerce site should be user-friendly and intuitive. You should be able to search by description, part number, or SKU.
Sorting, browsing, and finding what you were looking for should be as easy as pie. Regardless of your business structure, your purchasing processes, approvals, and access permissions should be supported.
Finding all of the above in a supplier requires researching suppliers. Rather than having to rely solely on word-of-mouth recommendations, you can look online.
Specialty websites exist so you can compare part prices and snag the best deal.
While suppliers should be able to serve you from wherever you are, the closer they are, the better. A closer supplier means spending less on shipping and saving delivery time.
You should also consider a supplier’s exchange and review policy, particularly if you’re buying used auto parts.
Any supplier you choose must have an exemplary track record of selling quality parts and providing unbeatable service. It should have a list of references proving its good reputation.
A supplier’s staff members should fully understand your company’s needs. They need to quickly and professionally reply to your messages.
Your auto part supplier must have shiny things: the latest and greatest technology in the automotive industry. More sustainable, better suppliers will have the newest parts and be trained in the most recent service techniques.
Ask the supplier if its staff attends trade shows, networks with industry connections, and does in-person demos. Those are the marks of a top-notch supplier.
Like with many things in life, the perfect auto part supplier doesn’t exist. There’s no perfection here, but if the price is right, you can approach it.
Your business needs uncompromising reliability from its vehicles. A faulty vehicle can mean the difference between business won and lost. Cost-cutting measures are even more common now in an uncertain economy.
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