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By: Michael F. Adelman on Wed Mar 12, 2008

My days of scorching afternoons scouring through junkyards and scrap-heaps for camshaft lifters or pistons for my favorite time-waster (it's a '75 Gremlin X, with an interior in Levi's denim - hold back that envy) are, thankfully, a thing of the past, as buying auto parts online (classic or current, import or domestic, performance or stock) has exploded recently, and is now more convenient and cheaper than before with online shopping comparison sites like FindTarget Shopping and ShopRover.com.
As automotive parts are extremely specific items, it's not difficult for users to scout out the best deal.

Any worries you might have a particular auto parts shop or dealer's reputation can be assessed by taking time to check out their customer reviews. The experiences of other customers, satisfied or not, can assist you in finding a trusted and affordable dealer that you're comfortable using. Customers who have experienced poor service with shops will be quick to steer others away, and even point other customers in the direction of preferred and reputable dealer.

What holds true for mail-order holds true for online shopping as well: be absolutely certain that the part you're ordering is the correct model, even if the shop has a return policy. Don't assume year to year interchangeability, and only order parts that you're sure are made specifically for your car, whether they are OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) or made by a third party manufacturer. Keep on an eye on any of the various auto guides (Chilton's, for example) or run a quick online search for the part model number that you need.

Trepidation on the part of first-time online customers is natural - while it's new technology, many of the old rules apply: buy from someone you trust. Buying online and transmitting payment information is safe so long as the website you're using is secure. The easiest way to determine a site's security or lack thereof, is by the presence of SSL encryption (Secure Sockets Layer).... Take a quick glimpse at the bottom right-hand corner of your browser: If there is a locked padlock icon, you're on a secure site and you can make the transaction confident that your information will be safe.

Keep the above guidelines in mind, and you'll avoid getting burned and ensure many more happy transactions to come.


Michael F. Adelman is a restaurateur in Palm Beach, Florida. His Gremlin X was hip when he bought it at age 16, he swears.