What is a "no name shop"? Just one that you haven't personally dealt with or one with a bad rep.?

 

So what do you mean by using Crutchfield as the example? Where do you draw the line on loyalty? You obviously have a set number or percentage?

Let's leave the used portion of the discussion for another time since this doesn't really have bearing on the original question.

 

Honestly, it's easier for me to email/call and ship during the week.

 

an odd question. whatever i'm buying i want to get the best price. certainly i don't want to risk money to not get what i'm buying but an internet supplier nowadays is no less reputable than a brick and mortar.

i'm certainly going with price if i trust the vendor. i don't care if the "parts" are going to be delivered after an internet exchange.

 

Gotcha. So you're willing to pay upfront for shipping and related expenses versus just going by the local shop?

 

Ok, so you're saying that you'll buy from whomever as long as they have the lowest price. Dime or a dollar, doesn't matter to you. (assuming all places are equally reputable). I can't say that I agree that the internet suppliers are just as reputable as the local shop, but that's just my opinion.

 

If a temp expense of $20-50 was going to phase me I wouldn't be modding the Z and wouldn't be driving one for that matter. Plus I can take care of shipping on my time (ex at midnight when the local shop owners are fast asleep).

 

For me it would depend on who the online site is and how much more the local shop is charging and how easy it would be for the item to get damaged in shipping.

If I could get a carbon fiber hood shipped for $700 or pay $800 in person for the same hood, I would spend the extra 100 bucks easy. That way if it's damaged I can shove it down their throat:-D

 

I understand what you're saying.

 

I have made the mistake of shopping by price. I ordered a cat-back exhaust system, and two months later, had nothing.

a. I want the item in stock, and shipped within a reasonable time. If the item is not in stock, tell me in the advertisement.

b. Stand behind your product. I bought it from you, don't tell me to call or send it someplace else. You sold it - you take care of it.

c. Charge when shipped and not before.

d. No surprise e-mails like “Oh BTW the advertised price is old. Our new price is $$$.”

e. No “Prices too low to mention” or “Call for best price” bologna. If your price is reasonable, then state the price.

 

What factors determine the online site? Let's just assume we are talking only about reputable places.

As for what the local shop is charging, what dollar amount is too much for you?

Anything can get damaged in shipping, so I don't really buy that as a factor.

 

Would you not buy the item if it wasn't in stock?


I fully agree, but there are always circumstances that don't allow for this.

Would you not buy then if you had to be charged ahead?

I agree with those too.

 

I will eat up to 10% to keep my money local (obviously higher on lower dollar items). I want to support the local shops because I want them around. But if it was something I needed like now, i would pay whatever it would cost me whether 10% or higher. If buying online tho, I will not just buy from any company. I have only purchased stuff here from reputable vendors. I am not going to take the risk of getting burned by a unknown vendor.

 

I like your thinking. Definitely someone who isn't worried about saving a nickel and who wants to support the locals.

 

Another thing to think about is whether you have someone doing installs on your parts. The more the local shops are beaten down by Ebay and the internet, the shorter the lifespan. If there isn't a local shop to install your parts, it defeats the fact that you got the parts cheaper.

 

Well it's hard to damge tires in shipping at least, which is where I bought mine and saved about 230 bucks on just two tires.

In general I hate mail order because I have been screwed so many times over the years. I seem to be batting about 500, which is why I cringe everytime I hit submit order. It's not just car or motorcycle parts but stuff in general. I'm ordering one more thing via mail order and should be my last mod via mail.

I actually like buying parts from ebay, like my wheels. You can read any negative feedbacks and make your own decision on whether they are good to buy from or not. I paid $1,275 for the wheels shipped to my front door, with lugs. hub rings and nuts. Any local shop would have charged me about 2 grand for the same product. So in that case I guess paying $700 was more than I was willing to fork out, so I took the chance and the wheels were flawless.

 

Which is the exact reason to support your local shops. I would hate to be in an area with absolutely no shops to work on the car if it was something that I could not handle. I enjoy having the shop that does my work being 15 minutes away.

 

People are always bothered when the shop that everyone loves is not close by. The only problem is that these same people nickel and dime everyone on parts which leads to fewer and fewer shops.

 

Also there are some items you just simply can't get in a local shop and you have no choice but to order online.

Once I went to the dealer and asked about getting replacement gaskets for my Nismo exhaust and he looked at me like I was from another planet. After 10 minutes of asking everybody in the parts building, he finally told me you can only order them online, we can;t get them for you.

Kind of hard sometimes to support and buy local when they can't or won't get what ya need.

 

Yeah but you have to exclude things like this since the issue is not price, but of availability of the given part. If a place can't get you the part, it doesn't mean their service or prices are bad.