Often times when a car owner is looking for replacement parts, the price they find is quite astonishing. A simple piece of trim can cost only a few dollars, but the markup from the car parts store will cause the price to skyrocket. Therefore, it pays to shop around for the best possible price.
Start with Proper Research
There are a number of websites that you can visit before heading to the car parts store for your replacement parts. This is a great way to find the parts that you need close to your home without paying the huge markup cost. You can also have them shipped straight to your front door. Some overseas sellers have replacement parts for bottom dollar prices, but it can take several weeks for your parts to arrive.
Verify the Parts You Need
Before you make your final purchase, it may be a good idea to check with a dealership to ensure you have the correct part numbers. By failing to make certain you have the right part number, you could be in for a world of hurt when you begin your repair project.
Some car parts are unique to specific transmission and engine combinations. Using the wrong parts can lead to trouble in a number of different areas, such as modules, computers, sensors, starters and alternators.
Haggle Politely
It is a common courtesy for a junk yard to match a lower price quoted by another car parts store in the same geographical area. However, there are a couple of important things that you need to keep in mind.
First of all, you cannot try to compare apples to oranges. For example, do not expect to get a price match for an engine with 10,000 miles on it as one with 100,000 miles.
Also, when you are haggling a price at the junk yard, be sure you have done your homework. Be honest when you are talking to the people at the facility. They will have access to the same information that you obtain over the Internet. Therefore, do not attempt to pull the wool over anyone’s eyes.
Keep the conversation transparent in order to get the best possible price on the replacement parts that you need. Otherwise, you may be better off going back to the car parts store and paying top dollar for the marked up items that they want to sell you.
