Buying auto parts online

slobake

slobake

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Aug 6, 2011
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#1
Needed a new taillight assembly for my Honda CRV. The local auto parts guys referred me to the dealers. Didn't want to deal with the pick and pull guys.
The Honda dealers wanted $300 and more for the darn thing. Seems it is one solid unit. Looks like this:

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I never bought auto parts online before. Found it for around $100 and the site said it is OEM. I wondered because it is made in Taiwan. Took a chance and ordered it. Came yesterday and it fit right in to my car with no problems. Seems solid and came with the bulbs. Boy was I relieved. It also saved me $200.
 
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#2
slobake said:
Needed a new taillight assembly for my Honda CRV. The local auto parts guys referred me to the dealers. Didn't want to deal with the pick and pull guys.
The Honda dealers wanted $300 and more for the darn thing. Seems it is one solid unit. Looks like this:

View attachment 2308766

I never bought auto parts online before. Found it for around $100 and the site said it is OEM. I wondered because it is made in Taiwan. Took a chance and ordered it. Came yesterday and it fit right in to my car with no problems. Seems solid and came with the bulbs. Boy was I relieved. It also saved me $200.
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I'd warn you to check their return policy carefully before you order. Many of these on-line auto parts dealers have a 25% restocking fee buried in the fine print or on the last page if you want to return it.
 
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#5
elgecko said:
I've had really good luck with rockauto.com. They usually have several choices from budget to expensive for the same part. I usually try to stick with OEM but for some parts, I'll scrimp.
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Had a drummer ask me for help buying an A/C compressor, he'd never bought anything online before and so we ordered one from rockauto.com. Arrived exactly as presented and the installation kit made things easy. He couldn't have been happier.
 
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#7
I've been doing this for years now with Ebay stores (not private sellers). Brake parts especially. Even on my ATV's. I can get 3 full sets of brake pads for my quad for like $20, where at a dealer or parts store, it would cost me over $100. I just bought aftermarket racing A-arms for my quad at the same price a dealer/parts store sells the original OEM. You need to do your research though. Get the correct part number from the dealer or spec site, then search that part number. This will help ensure proper fitment.
 
#8
I would have checked out the local salvage yards first.

The only thing I've bought online for my vehicle is filters & once oil.
I'm not very comfortable having oil shipped to me, though, so it was just the once.

Now if I can't find what I want on the Walmart shelf, I order it from them online & then pick it up in the store.
I almost never go to an automotive store. Last time was to look for allen wrenches & I bought a feeler gauge.
 
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#11
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#13
The only auto part I ever bought online was the dash control unit for a dual zone climate control unit for an 02 GMC pickup. Claimed it was professionally pulled and tested prior to shipping and it was less than a third of the cost of a new one so I went for it. It arrived with one mount tab broken off and after going to the trouble to mount it up, it was DOA. When I called to see about returning it I was told I could but postage would be on my dime and they could not offer a refund on any electrical part, but they would send me another one. I finally got my head out of my YKW and went to a big junkyard about an hour north and got one for even less than the junk one and it worked as it as supposed to when I dropped it in.

Other than that I've bought tires online and that went really well. One was out of round but the dealer I had them shipped to found me a local replacement and had it delivered and mounted it, all at no extra charge. They said no prob, they would get a replacement from Tire Rack, but there was no point in my having to wait for that to happen.
 
#14
I don't know if this applies to lights, because they're mostly plastic, but for metal panels they make non OEM ones that are just a little bit thinner. Was much cheaper and no way to tell with the naked eye. I would trust ordering OEM online more, but if you're feeling adventurous in the future you might be able to save a few more dollars. Well, hopefully your car just doesn't get dinged. If it does though, think of all the savings! Best of luck.
 
#18
Killed_by_Death said:
I would have checked out the local salvage yards first.

The only thing I've bought online for my vehicle is filters & once oil.
I'm not very comfortable having oil shipped to me, though, so it was just the once.

Now if I can't find what I want on the Walmart shelf, I order it from them online & then pick it up in the store.
I almost never go to an automotive store. Last time was to look for allen wrenches & I bought a feeler gauge.
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For some parts I'll strictly use a salvage yard. Taillight being one of them. A good site I've been using for over 15 years is Car-Part.com--Used Auto Parts Market . Body parts, interior parts, lights, bulky parts that would cost a lot to ship.

Most mechanical and electrical parts I'll get right from the brick and mortar store. Anything not in stock for my almost 30 year old car they can get next day. They're not going to sell me a piece of junk, because they have to deal with it if I have to bring it back. I also can see the part first, make sure it's really the right part in the box (yes sometimes listings and things get mixed up). A real hassle if I'd have ordered it online.

Oil and things, it depends who's running a sale. Often the farm store has a good sale on Mobil 1 but not much for filters. And sometimes the parts store is actually cheaper for things like that. Even simple things like filters, wiper blades, they carry them at Walmart but you always wonder if you're going to come home emptyhanded when they're out of stock half the time. At the parts store they always have it so I don't have to waste my time. Besides I can get in and out of the parts store much faster than Walmart.

I typically go online for specialty things that nobody around here will order for me.
 
#19
buldog5151bass said:
This is the EXACT same issue as music stores. Brick and mortar stores have more overhead. Fail to support them and they will disappear. To me, there is also a value to being able to speak to someone who knows more than I, and seeing the product in person.
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That is partially true. I will still support local music sores and other small stores when I can. I will also buy at the big chain stores if they have what I want at a good price but I have no problem getting things online either. Some of the big chains played a big part in driving small independents out of business. I have little concern for them.
Books, car parts, music, etc, if an online company give me a better deal they will get my business over big chains.
 
#20
slobake said:
That is partially true. I will still support local music sores and other small stores when I can. I will also buy at the big chain stores if they have what I want at a good price but I have no problem getting things online either. Some of the big chains played a big part in driving small independents out of business. I have little concern for them.
Books, car parts, music, etc, if an online company give me a better deal they will get my business over big chains.
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Slo, Slo, Slo,. It's the exact same argument, and you know it. People buying their instruments and amps on line to save a few bucks is the exact same reason for 80% of us, all you have is GC and garbage music stores, who make most of their money renting trumpets to 9 year olds and giving lessons.

Yes shall reap what year see, and so forth.
 
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