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The concentration for this topic is centered on the local auto parts retailer, whether a dealership, corporate store or an independent store versus the Online auto parts store. Concerning only main line automotive parts needed for replacing or repairing. This also ain’t about which Auto Parts Store is better than another. I wish to exclude the high performance aftermarket as well. I worked auto parts back in the late 80s through the late 90s to include being a parts driver and working the counter at the dealership and the local parts store. I have a local auto parts store I prefer to use when I go parts shopping, but I will not hesitate to use a competing store if I need to. For example my preferred store was out of stock on the items I needed to perform a brake job on my ’00 Silverado and I didn’t want to wait the three days it would have taken to get the parts I needed so I went to the competition down the street. I have also used the dealership a handful of times and I like how the counterman in the parts department will ask me for the VIN of my vehicles. I have ordered parts online as well. Also, since I know my vehicles I always look up what I need on the Part’s Store website so I know what I need before I leave the house.
It appears that with the rising prices and complexity of new automobiles more and more people are doing what they can to hang on to their older vehicles for a little while longer. Now, I am a DIYer with a small amount of knowledge of the workings of a car and fixing them. I enjoy working on my vehicles and it saves me a little money. Notice I said a LITTLE MONEY!
What has been your experience, good or bad, in dealing with the local auto parts store versus the Online auto parts store? Has ordering parts from an Online auto parts store really been cost effective? Especially for paying shipping, the faster you want the part the more you must pay to have it shipped. What has been more convenient, ordering the part and waiting for it to come to your door or driving to the local store to purchase your part, if it is in stock?
All in all for me personally I predominately use my local auto parts store. 1.) To support my local business. 2.) I know the counterman I deal with and his experience. 3.) The store is a mile and a half from my house.
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Interesting topic and very specific in your request. Cool. I’ll see what I can do to work something in. Thanks for the suggestion.
Well, I´m from Denmark and maybe the parts market is a tad different here, I dunno.
Usually, I only use the dealership as a last resort if the parts I need can´t be had elsewhere. Otherwise I try to plan ahead when doing any work on my own cars or the few people among family and friends that I help out. I go to ebay first, as it is often half the price for parts compared to any aftermarket parts store here. They are then my next choice and also if I need the parts fast.
Shopping locally is the my first choice as the chance of a wrong part is reduced dramatically while ordering parts online can lead to spare parts that don’t fit due to a labeling and description error on the items posting. Example Dorman Products has transmission cooler lines for 2nd gen Dodge Rams however they only fit the 98-01 rams since the 94-97 have a different end. One sight says it compatible while another says it isn’t.
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