If you are looking for car parts to rebuild an old classic or to just do maintenance on the family vehicle, then the internet is probably the best place to start. From auction sites, like E-bay, to independent shop owners, it seems that everyone is listing their parts online. Even dealerships and salvage yards are finding their niche on the World Wide Web.
There are some negatives to buying online. The first is that you can’t see the car parts in person. You have to trust the seller to be truthful about the condition (and even about the actual part). There are ways to protect yourself incase of fraudulent sellers, but if you’ve been looking for that certain part for a month, the disappointment is often more painful than the lost money.
Another downfall of buying car parts over the internet is the hidden fees. You may think you are getting a great discount on that distributor, only to find out that shipping is almost as much as the part. The weight and bulkiness of the parts often make shipping more expensive than you just driving across country to pick up the part. With the price of gas and postage continuing to go up, it is likely that shipping costs will follow.
Before you go to the expense and hassle of buying over the internet, check with your local car parts store. Building a rapport with them may be the best move you have ever made. It may also turn out that they can get the part shipped to them at a less expensive rate than you could personally – if you have to shop online. Plus, they may already have a relationship with some of the online dealers.
Finding car parts can be as easy as a click or two, but it is always a good idea to build a bond with local mechanics and car parts dealers. Sometimes these relationships are the best investment you can make.
Kathryn Lang is a freelance writer covering the automobile industry. She has written various articles on
car parts and regularly contributes to
car forums.
