8 essential tips when buying car accessories online

You can basically find everything online these days, and online shopping has become a practical, convenient and efficient choice for everybody. Clothes, gadgets, and even car parts can now be ordered online and delivered right to your doorsteps. Gone are the days were shopping trips need to be plotted in the schedule because now, you can shop while on the bus or while eating lunch.

Although very convenient, online shopping for car parts, for instance, needs caution. We should always be knowledgeable and responsible consumers because it lessens the risks to problems and misunderstandings, or worst receiving a car part which is unusable. Philkotse.com prepared some useful tips when buying car parts online.

1. Know what you need

Similar to old school grocery shopping, we have a list, and the same goes for our online car part shopping. You have to determine the necessities between the wish lists.

Car parts are rather expensive so a thorough assessment of what you need and the budget involved should be on the very top part of your notes. After getting your list prepared, stick to your list. Impulsive buying is the most tempting aspect when it comes to online shopping.

Car parts are rather expensive so a thorough assessment of what you need and your budget

>>> Worth to note: Top 5 Unnecessary Car Accessories that You Shouldn't Buy

2. Do your research

Since you have your list, researching for potential suppliers and online stores are next. With traditional shopping, it might take a whole day to visit a list of vendors, but with today’s technology, you can compare prices and go through consumer reviews side by side.

You have to be aware of a vendor’s return policy or warranty and even those discounts in shipping and bulk orders. You have to invest a few hours before deciding to click that ‘Buy’ button. While the research is on-going perhaps, adding the items to your cart won’t hurt.

You have to be aware of a vendor’s return policy or warranty and even those discounts in shipping and bulk orders.

3. Go Legit

Fifty percent off is a super great deal, but sometimes deals can be blinding and misleading to not so genuine car parts. It is still highly suggested that your first stop is your car’s official website as normally there would a link available for car parts.

Always go for the genuine products as you will have the confidence of its durability and the reliability of the name itself. Almost all of the time, warranties are specified and set too.

Avoid those surprisingly and questionably cheap and almost always fake goods because yes, you’ve saved a few bucks but will end up replacing that same car part sooner than you know it.

Fifty percent off is a super great deal, but sometimes deals can be blinding and misleading to not so genuine car parts

4. VIN and OEM number

Pictures can be rather deceiving so not because it looks like your car’s compressor means that it is the one. Almost all online stores that offer car parts will entail you to enter your actual car’s details to ensure that it is the correct match.

You need to enter information like the manufacturer of your car, the model and series and sometimes even the engine type. One more piece of vital information is your VIN or Vehicle Identification Number or the Chassis number. Always use this information as it will lead you to the correct car part and not one that looks like it.

Always use VIN as it will lead you to the correct car part and not one that looks like it

5. Affiliates and Networking System

It will be such a bonus if the manufacturer of the car part that you order online is teamed up with local car services for installation and the like. It would even be more awesome if the vendor is affiliated because you would want the installation, removal, or upgrade of your car part to be done by an expert.

Alternatively, you can also refer to your local car experts and see if they’d have the experts needed to do the job so once the package arrives then you can go there straight without needing to explain much.

>>> Also check out: Top 3 Tips on Getting the Best Deals on Car Accessories in Banawe Street

6.  Know the Scope of Support

Each website has its own clear guidelines when it comes to customer service so just in case that you just bought a set of rotors and brake pads and only realized that it’s the wrong set, what do you do? Is there a number to get in touch with? Perhaps a chat support team that can help you?

Ordering online is already a matter of trust so be proactive and check the structure of customer support and any hotline numbers to get in touch with. Know your responsibilities as the consumer and also have a good idea of the scope of support of your vendor.

Ordering online is already a matter of trust so be proactive and check the structure of customer support and any hotline numbers to get in touch with.

7. Secure Payment and Tracking

You did it! You clicked that ‘Buy’ button and your new car part will be there in approximately 3-5 business days. Are you sure a steering wheel or a car carpet will be there in 3-5 business days?

Again, with so many fraudulent activities and scams right now online, always make sure that your transactions are secure. Only purchase from reliable suppliers who can communicate and won’t wait until you’ve sent 100+ messages before an automated reply.

Your supplier should readily provide an invoice and a tracking number to ease your mind and your credit card

8. Count the Stars

It pays to check the stars and the review. A lot of fellow consumers are now diligent in leaving both positive and negative feedback about a similar product. From the buying experience up to the delivery, reading through the feedback and comments can be an enlightening and even be a life-changing experience. Take the time to see the stars: 2.2 stars vs 4.2 customer comment then you know what to do even if it offers free shipping.

Being able to shop online for almost everything including car parts is such an innovative advantage. It provides us, consumers all possible options available. We can set our budget and can get parts from all over the world with a single mouse click and have it the next day or within the next five days.

It is convenient but always makes sure that you know what you want, and you’ve done your research before hitting that ‘Buy’ button. It might cause you a lot of extra hours but purchasing the wrong car part might lead to a massive headache because of all the return policies set in place.

>>> Click to get more tips and advice for all car owners