The downfall of new auto parts is that they don’t stay new forever.
If you work on, or even routinely maintain automobiles, it’s inevitable that you’ll need to replace a part. You have a few choices as far as this goes. You could order a part through a dealer for an arm and a leg. You could go with a new aftermarket part for almost as much, or you could buy used auto parts for a decent price.
The dealer would tell you that the best option is to order a brand spanking new manufacturer part. An auto parts store will, of course, recommend one of their parts. They’ll both get the job done, sure. But consider that third option–the used part.
Buying used parts for your vehicle is just a smart thing to do. Recycling used auto parts has been going on for a long time, and automobiles are among the most recycled products in the marketplace of today. When you buy used parts, you are reducing the demand for landfill space that is getting scarce, you are preserving natural resources, and you are helping to reduce air and water pollution. You will save a lot of money by buying your part at a used auto parts location instead of a dealer. If you have a vehicle in need of a part, try a Google search using the words used auto parts near me to find the most convenient location.
Like most people, I take depreciation into account when I look at my purchase options for a vehicle. Nine times out of ten, this leads me to the conclusion to purchase a used vehicle. And wouldn’t you know, all of the parts in a used car happen to be used parts, and they work just fine. I have an example.
My friend needed to replace the radiator in her car. She tried ignoring the problem for a while, but I think we all know how that works out. When I suggested that she just replace the part, she would change the subject. As the problem started to get worse, her husband tried some stop-leak and those sorts of products. But eventually, they had to give in and replace the part.
The next time that we had lunch, she was driving her husband’s truck. I asked if the radiator had gone bad on the car and, of course, it had. She told me that her husband had called the dealership to have the replacement ordered in. I suppose I couldn’t contain the wince on my face because she asked what was wrong.
I outlined her options for her from most expensive to least expensive. Dealer, aftermarket, used. She and her husband had always used the service department at the car dealership, so she wasn’t even aware of the alternatives. I’m sure she can’t be alone. A lot of people are the same way. I asked how much the dealer was charging. I knew that it would likely be a lot, but I was shocked when she told me it would be over 400 dollars! I told her I would do some digging online and see if I could do better on the price. We paid the bill for lunch and went our separate ways.
I got a call from my friend later that evening. She had talked to her husband and he just wasn’t sure about a used part. I had her put him on speakerphone and explained that radiators get dirty with time. It was silly to buy something new and shiny when you could get something that had already been on the road and was broken in. He had to admit that I had a point and that he was fine if I gave it a try.
The next time she and I went to lunch, I had found a replacement part at a much friendlier price, 60 dollars. She was so relieved that she bought lunch for me that day. I even ordered dessert.
They took the car to a local mechanic who put the part in for them, and the car was road-ready within a week. This was a few years ago, and she hasn’t had any radiator trouble since. In fact, she’s had a few parts go in that time and she bought them used.
It’s important to keep your car in tip-top shape since prices are on the rise every year. On the low end, car prices are skyrocketing. If you want to save some money and keep your car on the road, consider a used part.
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