Wednesday, October 16, 2013

How To Buy Auto Accessories

By Michael Murrey


Considering the huge market and large number of distribution channels and manufacturers, buying auto accessories is not as simple as it used to be. It's a $1 trillion global market, with the US alone home to 4000 part manufacturers. Aftermarket sales amount to $215 billion per year.

Then there are the buying options. Vehicle owners usually start with a store located in their own city which carries parts for the make and model in question. If the part they need is not available, the next stage is to start looking at online stores. The last resort is to buy it straight from the manufacturer.

Of course, this is easier said than done. As a general rule, automobile manufacturers do not sell products directly to customers. Instead, visitors to the manufacturer's website are told to contact the local dealer for their zip code or city. So why not skip this round-about and go straight to the dealer from whom the vehicle was bought?

Of course, the end result may not be satisfactory in terms of the best price or instant availability. Manufacturer produced branded items are usually exorbitantly priced as compared to the aftermarket price. The same product without the official label on it will be half the price and still perform just as well, and with the same warranty.

All in all, buying auto accessories from online stores looks to be the best bet. The neighborhood store is good for quick-fix replacements without much choice in terms of price or brand. The manufacturer's appointed dealer offers a permanent fix, albeit one that won't be very economical. So the biggest range and best price is always going to be available online.

A small automobile parts website will carry more products than a massive brick and mortar mega-store. The vehicle owner can browse and shop for all types of auto accessories, from seat covers and floor mats to car covers and mag or alloy wheels. The shopping part is also quite easy, since buyers can start with the part name and filter the choices based on price, brand and the make or model of the vehicle.




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