The more and more you hear about those building working on their projects... Price is always a concern. then comes the question of reliability.
Like many reputable builders mention, you can only choose two of the three important aspects when searching for parts.
Price, Quality/Reliability, or power.
Remember, those on a budget can only choose 2, what would you look for in a product?
Knowing me at the moment I would choose Price and quality because I'm in college and would rather make my trip back home in one piece instead of blowing something and leaving me stranded... in the middle of Missouri.
So when you finally decide to buy that part, you bring up another question. Would you purchase at a local over the counter parts store? Or would you visit eBay Motors? Now, choose one of those two.
It seems no matter which one you buy from today, the importance of quality comes to mind a lot after installation bringing the question, "How long will this last?" Most of the time it isn't the part itself that fails, but a combination of other things leading to the failure.
From my experiences I have not had problems with eBay (So far, so good). Only once I had to return a product back to the parts store because it turns out that part didn't need replacing (Remember! Always find the source of the problem to the best of your ability!). They both carry the same amount of risks because there are many companies out there that will build the part to "OEM" specs and requirements. That is my main concern, how well the "OEM" part was actually made because if it was badly constructed right from the start, then the parts from the store will hold the same quality. Until you come across an aftermarket brand that has found the solution, or the OEM company fixes their own design flaw.
I once talked to someone that would not by car parts from eBay because the stores selling the parts did not manufacturer them.... The local auto parts store doesn't build them either (May or may not be true in some cases). When buying on eBay always make sure the part fits the vehicle you are searching for. Also, be sure to check out the seller's feedback rating before making a purchase, you don't want to buy something then read that the seller takes forever to ship an item, then receive a broken item because they are bad at handling them. Also make sure to ask the seller questions! They usually have a knowledgeable tech support willing to guide customers to finding the right product. If they don't and give you a wish-washy response, it should be time to find another seller. Don't throw more money at your project than you wanted to.
Some stay away from eBay due to the low prices... Wait, really? I thought that was good?
Well, yes and no. Yes you will keep some money in your pocket. But no because the cheaper the price, the cheaper quality product you are buying on. That's not the case most of the time as most eBay stores don't sell their product by their name, rather the product.
A very good reason that could make all of the difference in your deciding choice along with the price is the warranty. Many companies like to factor in a warranty where if you don't have a problem after so many days, the product should hold up for the life of the vehicle. Others believe in customer satisfaction, if it breaks they can replace it for free and not be angry towards to company. Or my favorite, the "lifetime warranty," in case anything bad ever happens, they will replace it for however long you have the part or vehicle.
I have many eBay parts on my vehicle with a brand that's not
so well known and held up for 3 years and still going strong! The same
goes for the parts over the counter. When it comes to buying parts locally or online, always do your research first on the part to find out how well it holds up. Try looking for comparisons between the OEM part against the aftermarket one.
To sum it up, there are many solutions to find the right parts for your vehicle today. It just comes down to the facts of reputation, price, and quality that will attract your attention into buying the part you need.
Question of the Blog post:
Have you or anyone you know had a good or bad experience with a parts store or eBay?
No comments:
Post a Comment