Tips for Buying Vehicle Parts Online
by TERRY BOLTON
There are thousands of small auto parts dealers selling parts on the Web now. There are also a few dozen huge auto parts warehouses with online sales pages. Among the smaller auto parts dealers you have to be careful because many do not have a lot of actual knowledge about what they are selling. Many other apparent auto parts dealers are really just sales pages that run through drop shippers. Spend some time looking over any auto parts sales pages for signs of professionalism and experience before making a purchase. Read over their policies too. If a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is too good to be true.
If you are still not sure about an auto parts sales site, take some time to research the company. Feel free to ask about them at the Better Business Bureau in their region. Do a quick Google of their company name and see what others are saying. Sometimes it is worth paying a few dollars extra to buy from a company you know.
One of the things to pay attention to when buying auto parts online is how much detailed information a company supplies about the product. Scammers usually don't take the time to provide a lot of extra details. When they do provide details, they often misspell words and use bad grammar. Look for warranty information, especially if you are buying used auto parts or non-OEM parts. If there is a phone number, call it during business hours and see if someone answers.
Above all other things you can do to protect yourself when dealing with a new auto parts seller online is making sure you use a credit card for your purchase. By law, credit cards offer you some fraud protection. Some credit card companies offer better protection than that mandated by law, so you would do well to use one of these. Never use a debit card for a first-time transaction with an online seller, as you have very little recourse if someone wants to empty your bank account. Also, avoid using checks for first time purchases, in the event you find one of the rare online sellers willing to accept checks. The routing number on your check is a liability in the hands of a smart swindler. Obviously cash should never be used for any purchase in any amount you can't afford to give away. Paypal is a good payment option for companies you have done business with in the past when making small purchases. It provides limited fraud protection for some purchase types.
Terry Bolton is an internet publisher of automotive stuff. Read his useful and popular articles about getting cheap used car loans online and how to buy a used car cheap
