5 must-know tips if you want to avoid buying fake car parts

Fake car parts, like most of the counterfeit items for sale, are cheap and are very easy to buy. However, their quality may not be close to those from legitimate manufacturers. If you don’t want to waste your money on fake car parts, consider remembering these steps from Philkotse.com whenever you need to go shopping for auto parts.

1. Buy your supplies only from authorized dealerships and retailers

This is one of the best ways to avoid being scammed when it comes to buying fake car parts. Remember that you should only buy from authorized resellers and distributors of the trusted auto-parts brand.

If you have doubts as to the authenticity of the products that a particular shop is selling, you can ask for certificates or any proof of guarantee that may be given to them by the manufacturer.

These dealers usually sell parts that are more expensive than what most sellers are offering on the market. However, not all expensive parts that are being sold are authentic so you may want to double-check both the items and the reseller. If you happen to spot counterfeits, you can always report it to the respective authorities for proper legal action.

Remember that you should only buy from authorized resellers and distributors of trusted auto-parts brand

However, if you’ve already managed to purchase a counterfeit part and you’ve already installed it on your vehicle, consider having it removed and replaced immediately. This is of utmost importance, especially if the part you bought is concerned with the performance of the vehicle or the engine.

>>> Read more: Tips for buying replacement car parts.

2. Ask for actual pictures of the product

This problem mainly involves the world of online selling and e-commerce. With the increasing number of the population comes the need to be able to shop right at the comfort of your own home.

This includes being able to shop for food, school, and office supplies as well as auto parts. Whatever you may need, you can find it right away on the internet. However, not everything posted online may arrive exactly as you expected it.

The internet has made it easy for people to sell things they don’t have at hand and this is the problem that most online shoppers encounter. Some sellers usually post photos of the product that they’re trying to sell even though they still have to order it from the supplier. However, these photos are usually just for “inspiration” purposes. This means that you may not be receiving the actual product that you’re seeing.

Before ordering a car part, ask for actual photos of the product

Before ordering a car part, ask for actual photos of the product. It’s important to know the dimensions, the actual features, the compatibility and that the product is actually working and damage-free.

Remember that sometimes, even though you may already be familiar or “friends” with the seller, he or she still can’t guarantee that you’ll be happy with the product that you’ll be receiving.

>>> Also read: Top 3 tips on getting the best deals on car accessories in Banawe street.

3. Ask for documents that guarantee the authenticity

Brands and manufacturers of car parts, whether a big or small company, usually provides some kind of document that confirms the authenticity of their product.

If the seller that you’re speaking to claims that he or she is selling purely original products, you can ask for proper documents that can support their claim. If you like, you can also ask for serial numbers or model numbers related to the product that you’re trying to buy.

You can then use this information and visit the manufacturer’s website to check whether the serial number exists in their database. If it does, it looks like you’ve found yourself a trustworthy auto-parts seller. If the serial number doesn’t exist or the seller can’t provide you with one, you can ask for other proofs of authenticity so you can pursue your purchase.

You can also ask for serial numbers or model numbers related to the product that you’re trying to buy

If the seller provides a particular proof via photo like a document, scan it by eye and try to notice if it’s legitimate or photoshopped. If you think that the document is a falsified file, you can comfortably back out of the agreement and warn other buyers about the seller.

If you think that the document is legit, you can go one step further with your authenticity check and ask to see the documents in person. If the meet-up goes smoothly, you can go ahead with the transaction and don’t forget to refer your friends to the seller or give him or her a good rating!

>>> Grasp your attention: OEM vs Aftermarket car parts: All you should know about its Pros & Cons.

4. Look for both online and offline reviews

With the growing competition in the e-commerce industry, it’s not impossible to find falsified or troll-generated feedback. This is where the assessment of the feedback proves to be necessary.

A tip when spotting fake reviews is skipping the surprisingly positive comments about the product with barely any negative factors to point out. These are the reviews that usually come with full five-star ratings.

When looking for legit reviews about a particular auto-part, sift the reviews with three or four-star ratings. These are usually the ones with legit buyer responses that come from people who are truthful about their product experience.

If you’re looking for reviews offline, you can always ask a trusted friend with the same interests when it comes to automobiles. A trusted colleague or relative can refer you to their favorite supplier that has already earned their trust – and who knows! That seller could earn your trust too!

Sift the reviews with three or four-star ratings

>>> Check out: Buying engine parts online: Yay or Nay?

5. Ask for consumer guarantee policies

If the product that the seller is truly authentic, they will be positive that you will be satisfied with their products. This is where the importance of customer guarantee policies will come in. These customer guarantee policies usually include return guarantees and an item warranty of some kind.

These customer guarantee policies usually include return guarantees and an item warranty of some kind

Sellers of fake parts that come from China manufacturing companies usually sell auto parts with low quality at an even lower price. Some sellers may announce that their products are purely counterfeit of the real thing. Some may even raise the price of their merchandise as close to the price of legit brands and claim that their selling legit items.

If they are really confident in their products, then there won’t be a problem with providing the buyer some kind of guarantee. Asides from that, legit manufacturers actually offer warranties with select items from their brand.