Whenever you get into a conversation about what spare parts to choose, the cost always comes up as one of the major considerations. It doesn’t matter who you are or what type of vehicle you drive. We all want to get the best parts we can afford without burning a hole in our wallets.
Some people give in to the temptation to buy inferior spare parts. Still, most aren’t willing to settle for less. They insist on spending their hard-earned money on high-quality OEM parts.
But surely there must be some ways to reduce the cost of going OEM, aren’t there? As it turns out, yes, there are a few little tips you can follow to minimise spending.
Let’s take a look at what you can do to reduce the cost of buying OEM parts.
Why are OEM parts so expensive?
But before we jump into that, let’s remind ourselves of why OEM parts cost so much in the first place. OEM, as you may already know, refers to ‘Original Equipment Manufacturers’ parts. These are the same parts that car companies use to build vehicles that roll off their factory floors.
The only difference here is that car companies don’t make these parts themselves. Instead, they source it from third-party manufacturers (the OEMs) to build it according to their specifications.
So, you see, even though they don’t carry the car company’s brand name, they’re still some of the highest-quality parts you can find anywhere.
And what comes with high-quality car parts? That’s right! A hefty price tag. That price tag is enough to drive some buyers to look for aftermarket parts instead.
Despite that high cost, many people still opt for OEM parts because they’re designed to match their car make and model’s specs. They’re of the same quality as genuine parts, just slightly cheaper without having to pay for the car company’s brand name and logo on the product.
How do you reduce the cost of OEM parts?
So, how can you cut down on the total price you pay for OEM parts? Well, here are a few tips you might find useful.
1. Use the Internet
Okay, so this first tip might sound obvious to a lot of people. But believe it or not, there are still plenty of automotive enthusiasts out there who haven’t fully grasped how much the internet can benefit them, especially when sourcing for OEM parts.
Thanks to the internet, it’s become a buyer’s market. That means that buyers like you and I have access to so many sellers, and we can compare prices with nothing more than just a few clicks. Best of all, anything we buy will ‘magically’ pop up at our front doors within days.
Not only can you use the internet to find sellers from all across Australia, but you can also look as far as Japan and Europe if that’s where you want your parts to come from.
The fact of the matter is that OEM sellers have no choice but to be more competitive with their prices because buyers like you can find cheaper OEM parts elsewhere without even leaving your home.
2. Shop for Used Auto Parts
Remember: OEM spares are high-quality parts that you can rely on to do their job for a long time to come. So, even if you buy them second-hand, you can expect excellent performance for the remaining life of those parts.
Shopping for used auto parts is a fantastic way of cutting down on your car parts spending. Of course, you should only buy these OEM parts from proper used auto parts sellers instead of random people online.
You see, when you buy OEM parts from trustworthy used auto parts sellers, you can rest assured that they’ve done their homework on those parts. The seller would have tested those OEM parts as part of their standard procedures. If necessary, they would’ve also fixed any damage or fault that those parts might have suffered.
Bottom line? They’ll sell you used OEM parts that’ll serve you well for a long time to come.
Plus, used parts sellers also tend to offer warranties on those parts. Some will give you a standard warranty, while others may provide you with several warranty options to suit your needs.
3. Shop from Specialised OEM Sellers
If you still prefer your OEM parts to be brand new, then another useful thing you can do is shop at specialised OEM sellers. Some sellers only focus on these kinds of parts, which means that they can benefit from good deals with their suppliers and economies of scale.
What that means is pretty simple. If all they do is sell OEM parts, that means that they've probably got good arrangements made with their suppliers. It's highly likely that these sellers buy those parts in larger volume, which leads to lower total costs for them.
What does that mean for the buyer (i.e. you)? Well, if the seller gets those parts cheaper, typically they’ll pass those savings on to you in the form of a lesser price tag.
Plus, specialising in selling OEM parts means that they’ll have more product knowledge to answer any questions that you’d have.
Where do you begin looking for OEM parts?
In this article, we’ve explored three tips to reduce the cost of buying OEM parts: buy them online, buy them used, and buy them from OEM specialists.
So, where can you start shopping with those three tips?
You can use all three tips at Carpart.com.au.
Firstly, you can use the Part Finder on that website to find the perfect OEM parts from sellers who can offer you the best prices. All you have to do is fill up a simple form with all the details about the parts you want, and that request will go out to suppliers all across Australia.
Besides that, you can also browse the Marketplace to see if the parts you want are being sold secondhand.
Lastly, if you prefer to talk to a seller on the phone or visit their business, check out the Directory page. There you can locate all the sellers in your area and narrow them down based on the parts and services they offer.
All in all, Carpart.com.au has everything you need to find the OEM parts you want at the right price! Locate an auto part now!
By Ray Hasbollah