June 8, 2011 — A recent AutoMD.com phone survey of more than 125,000 auto repair facilities found that 48 percent were willing to install parts brought in by customers.
In another AutoMD.com survey—a 2010 questioning of “do-it-for-me” car owners—90 percent said they would buy their own parts and bring them to the repair center if they could.
The statistics were mentioned in a report providing tips to consumers about how to buy parts and work with repair shops to get them installed. It said consumers could save cash buying their own parts, but they should check with shops beforehand to make sure the parts will be used. And though some shops might install the parts, they might not warranty the labor, according to the report.
“Most repair shops/dealerships make a profit on the parts they use in a repair,” the report said. “Today, educated consumers are realizing significant cost-savings by choosing instead to buy the part at an auto parts store or online,” the report stated.
But the report warned that a low-quality part that fails could end up costing more if it has to be replaced.
The report also touched on the aftermarket vs. OEM debate, advising consumers that aftermarket parts can be just as good or better in some instances and will not void warranties. It also mentioned that remanufactured or recycled parts could perform as good as new.
AutoMD.com is a wholly owned subsidiary of US Auto Parts Network, Inc. For more information, go to automd.com.
