Online shopping offers many conveniences, but figuring out the best online auto parts store can be challenging. When making an online auto parts purchase, there are many factors to consider, from finding the right store to redeeming coupons to shipping costs.
With over 700,000 Google search results for “DPF parts online shopping”, it can be hard to tell which parts you buy from the website. These five tips will help you stay safe online when buying auto parts and ensure you get the right part at the right price.
What makes buying car parts online safe?
Tip #1. Make sure the website is secure
You shouldn’t have to be a cyber security expert to shop online but to make a safe purchase; you should ensure the website you’re visiting is secure. There are several ways to find out if a website is secure, but one of the easiest ways is to look for a closed padlock icon in the web browser’s address bar. If there’s no icon or if it looks like an unlocked padlock, then there is no encryption between your computer and the server hosting the website. In other words, hackers may be able to read personal information you send over an unencrypted connection. Whether you’re purchasing auto parts online or signing in to your email account, this can happen, so be mindful of this when browsing for car parts or anything else.
Tip #2 Search For Reviews
Other than reading this article and looking at pictures of fake websites, you can search the web to see if other customers have had good experiences with that retailer. After all, if you don’t find any reviews that reflect your experience, it could be a bad sign.
Good Reviews Usually Lead To Better Prices
Reviews also lead to better prices as customers, old and new alike, gravitate toward companies that offer quality products and services. The more positive reviews a site has, the more likely it will offer quality products and services.When searching for reviews, you don’t just have to think locally. Look at some of the local hotspots a town or two over and check out their reviews. There are some shops that offer great deals consistently. Whether you’re looking for New & Used Powersports Sales near Denver, something in Boulder, or want to venture further south for great deals, getting started with proper research will help guide you in the right direction.
Tip #3 Compare product prices among various online auto parts stores.
Compare between 10–20 items before placing an order to get the lowest price. But if you are buying more than one auto part, you can’t compare its prices. So, always compare the unit price (price per part) of the auto parts available by checking their cost individually on different sites.
Tip # 4 Compare product prices among various online auto parts stores.
If possible, use cash on delivery (COD) for all online purchases of car parts. This allows you to see the product you are buying before you pay for it, some companies may take customer information or bank details instead of taking cash on delivery, which means you won’t receive the goods and then you won’t be able to prove whether you gave them your data or not. Taking COD also allows you to see the quality of the products before you make your decision.
Tip #5 The Ask
Many online auto parts stores carry the same products for your vehicle. Some of these stores offer better prices than others, but all of them offer free shipping and handling on qualifying orders. You can choose the right store with a bit of research and ask the right questions before you begin shopping.
Different online auto parts stores will charge you different amounts for shipping, handling and restocking fees, so it is essential to ask about these fees in advance. Make sure that you understand how much it will cost for them to send your order and how much it will cost for them to process your return if you decide not to keep the items you ordered.
Tip #6 Check the Address
Be wary of an auto-parts seller that doesn’t share their physical address. This is a red flag for many online shoppers and is often a warning sign that an e-commerce site has something to hide. If a company hides their location, they are likely to sell counterfeit parts or have something to hide. Companies selling authentic parts have nothing to hide and will be happy to share their information so you can seek help if needed.
Tip #7 Choose a brand you know.
Source your part from a reputable manufacturer or dealer. Depending on whether your vehicle is foreign or domestic, you will have different options for where you can buy your replacement part. A fixture in the automotive industry is CarProducts.com or DpfPartsDirect.com, where you can purchase new aftermarket parts for domestic vehicles, imported cars, motorcycles, ATVs, snowmobiles, agriculture equipment, industrial equipment and power sports vehicles. You can purchase parts both on their website as well as on their eBay storefront.
Side note: It’s best to avoid using any new or unfamiliar online auto parts stores. Reputable online stores don’t pop up overnight, brick-and-mortar auto parts companies often own them, and they have been around for some time.
Tip #8 Choose an online store that offers excellent service. Free shipping is great, but it won’t help you if the company doesn’t offer excellent customer service or its website is hard to navigate. Some companies will charge you outrageous restocking fees, so it is essential to find out their policy on returns before making your final purchase. Asking about restocking fees ensures that you are informed about this critical issue before deciding which store to order your parts from.
Conclusion
Online car part stores have many benefits over retail auto parts stores. Online auto parts stores can save you a lot of time and money. There are a lot of automotive parts stores on the internet. Surprisingly, not all offer quality service. To get the best service from an online auto parts store, you should research and learn some tricks to shop online more effectively. When buying auto parts online, it’s essential to choose one that will be there every step of the way, from purchase to actual car repair.