How many times have you bought a product, soon after to realize, that it lacks some important features or has some minor flaws, which could have been easily avoided had you been more informed? Well, we all have been there and done that at least once in life.
And, especially with online shopping, this act is now a common thing to witness. And one industry that has undergone a rapid and drastic change with the advent and growth of online shopping is automobile spare parts industry.
Regardless of how easy our lives have become with internet, buying auto spare parts should never be a hasty decision as it can lead to wastage of money, time and effort. Therefore, knowing some points to note before buying auto spare parts is necessary to consider.
Here are six things to keep in mind while buying auto spare parts.
Know your seller
Before purchasing an auto spare part, it is highly important to know all the important information about the seller as well as his credentials, as there are tonnes of phishers out there trying to trick you.
And with online shopping, where from the plethora e-commerce sites it’s hard to identify the genuine sellers from the fake ones, it has become all the more important to make sure that you are dealing with the right website.
Hence, it is of utmost importance ta hat you buy product from not just a user friendly website that saves your dunntime, but also a reputable company with a tested record.
Remember, a genuine website will never ask for any details until the order is placed (minimum required for delivery).
If you get stuck and confused, you can always refer to your friends or go and verify from other buyers, of same seller are eyeing on, through feedbacks or customer’s reviews.
Compare Prices
Okay. So you’re planning to buy some part for your vehicle, but you don’t know the price. Well, then immediately compare prices online! Always try to avoid getting hooked instantly on a deal that seems too good to pass up.
It is always good to take some time to surf through several vendors’ stores and note down what each seller offers for the particular auto part you are seeking.
The ultimate rule is do not settle for the first option that you see because there is a possibility that another option is better and more lucrative in all aspects. Compare all the prices and weigh all consideration in order get the best deal of the transaction. You must know that a marketplace offers you a greater opportunity to compare prices between same OEM products (as of OEM websites) and aftermarket.
Also, there is a serious misunderstanding amongst customers about the delivery cost of a product. If you think you’ll be charged negligibly for the delivery of auto parts, well, you are mistaken!
Auto parts, unlike a simple mobile phone or handy products, are huge and their volumetric weight can reach up to 70 kg. To deliver such products, the vendors need to invest in their packaging, etc for which they will charge you highly. So be prepared for this situation.
Verify the genuineness of the product
Before you buy any spare parts, the most necessary thing is to verify the genuineness of the part, whether it is in proper working condition or not or the part meets your requirements.
The best way to differentiate between genuine and fake parts is to cross-reference with the OEM (original equipment manufacturer) website. If you see the part that you are looking for on an OEM's website, then you can be sure that it's genuine.
You could also go through the guiding manual to check for its genuineness. Always remember to check product details (like part number), description, compatibility information, etc as these aspects are difficult to overestimate in spare parts purchase.
Also beware, if there is a heavy discount on a product; there are chances that the product is fake. Because most of the times it is just a vendor trying to get rid of the existing stock.
Warranty/Guarantee/ return policy
Another thing to keep in mind while purchasing a spare-part is to check whether the parts come with Guarantee/ Warranty period or not, since it allows you to return or demand renewal if the product is within the promised period. It also works as insurance and also guarantees genuineness of the item.
Never buy anything that comes without warranty because in case of product failure, you won’t be able to return it and then you’ll have to buy a new one. So, to avoid such situation it’s better to purchase guaranteed/warranted product only.
If you’re buying a spare part online, don’t forget to go through the website’s return policy from which you are purchasing the spare parts.
Check for tracking option
This is especially for online buyers of auto parts. In dealing with online sellers, you need to keep in mind the distance between vendor’s warehouse and your home.
Regardless of which online store you are buying your auto part from, be sure to check about shipping procedure and the overall cost of having your purchased product sent to you. It is important to have some type of tracking system so that you always know where your newly purchased parts are at any given time.
Check for Installation services
Once a spare part has been bought, comes the installation part.
Customers can substantially save on installing many spare parts on their own, but some parts require technical knowledge and specific equipment or professional tuning. Hence, you must always go for a product vendor that provides you installation services as well. If you’re purchasing auto parts online then check if the vendor has a presence in your area, if not, then whether the vendor send an expert from its company or has local partners who could send a technician to your place to install your recently purchased product.