5 Things to Avoid When Buying Car Parts Online

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5 Things to Avoid When Buying Car Parts Online

Cars are essential assets that must be cared for in the best way possible. However, maintaining a car is not that easy. It’s one of the greatest challenges most car owners face. You must be well-prepared for the maintenance procedures and costs. Doing this will have the car serving you for longer than expected. There are instances when you’ll be expected to purchase car parts as replacements for worn-out ones. You should be able to look for a reliable supplier where you can get high-quality parts. You need to buy car parts from trusted brands. This ensures that you get car parts that will provide extended service. Buying car parts is now easier because they can be found in online shops.

Avoid These When Buying Car Parts Online

The online market provides convenience to consumers which is why it has gained popularity over the years. The availability of car parts in the online market has transformed the shopping concept.

Earlier, car owners used to rush to reliable dealers like Honda car dealership in Florida. Dealerships have provided consumers a guided experience when choosing a car or its parts and the means to see the products before purchasing. But as we are moving into the digital world, the way we shop is changing too.

One downside of getting your car parts online is that you can easily end up with low-quality products. Sometimes, consumers can even end up with incompatible ones. So what should you look out for when buying car parts online?

In this article, we get you informed so that next time, you don’t fall into the trap of fake car parts dealers.

Car Parts

  1. Avoid Purchasing Counterfeit Car Parts

    Many car owners don’t know the difference between genuine and fake car parts. Parts designed to provide the same manufacturer replacements are known as OEM parts.

    OEM parts are approved by car manufacturers as replacements. Don’t believe a retailer just because they say they sell OEM parts. That is no guarantee. You have to do your research to find out if the dealer’s car parts are genuine OEMs or imitations.

    It’s also important that you know the language on the website. This will help you know if they have genuine or counterfeit products. Some retailers market counterfeits as approved replacements by the manufacturer.

    Websites that lie about the kind of car parts they have can cost you time and money. Ensure you can buy car parts from an authorized dealer. This option might be expensive, but it’s worth it in the long run.

    A lot of people are aware of counterfeits but still purchase them. Well, at least they keep your car moving, but it only fixes the problem temporarily.

    Always check for distinct marks to identify counterfeit part producers. Some brands fix distinct marks on the car parts. The marks will enable you to differentiate genuine parts from the imitations.

    Another effective way to know is to physically consult dealerships before purchasing online. Honda dealers Florida can give you a free consultation on car parts especially when you are buying parts for a Honda vehicle. This will help you determine whether you are buying a legitimate car part or counterfeit.

  2. Avoid Ordering Incomplete or Incorrect Car Parts

    Purchasing the right car parts can get confusing for a lot of people. The fact that there are many other options for a single car part can have you biting your nails.

    It’s important that before ordering, you have a detailed look at the packaging of your current car parts. If you lost the packaging, the car part should have the necessary details indicated on its label.

    Also, make sure to cross-check all the details that you have with those on the retailer’s website. Specifications are very crucial when purchasing car parts.

    You must also know whether you need to order a part, a set, or part of a set. So before ordering, confirm that you’re making the right order. It helps to ensure that you completely solve the problem you’re having with your car’s performance.

    There’s nothing worse than ordering a part that will not be useful. It feels more terrible to know that you made such an avoidable mistake.

  3. Avoid Buying From Unreliable Websites

    When selecting an online car parts store, pick one with good reviews. It must have a history of providing excellent experiences.

    It’s also necessary that you assess car parts websites. The assessment should be based on:

    • Experiences
    • Online reviews
    • Customer service responses

  4. Don't Buy Car Parts Without a Warranty and Refund Policy

    Make sure to check the warranty period before buying car parts. Car parts without a warranty can’t assure you of longevity.

    Note that a genuine car part seller will stand by the quality of the products they offer. That confidence can be seen on their website in the form of a clear warranty policy. It can also be reflected in form of transparent return and refund guidelines on the website.

    If a return policy is stingy, remember that there are many options and look elsewhere. Also, if the car parts don’t come with any warranty, steer clear of them.

  5. Avoid Paying Too Much

    A lot of people have experienced a situation where they pay more expensively for car parts. So you were looking for certain spare parts online, found and ordered them at a very high cost. Later on, you find out that there is another reliable website selling them at a lower cost.

    You must browse through different websites and make comparisons. But you must also steer clear of ridiculously cheap car parts.

    If you feel tempted to go for products at a very low cost, you must ensure they aren’t fake. Or, that you aren’t falling for the trap of suspicious sellers.

Conclusion

If you need car parts, make sure to look for reliable websites that sell quality parts at a reasonable price. Explore their checklist to find aftermarket and OEM products for your car.

Buying from trusted dealers gives you the confidence that you’ll get the best car parts and customer service. That’s because such dealers understand how important it is that you get exactly what you need.

It’s also important to stay informed as a car owner. Getting informed takes a little effort on your side and it will protect you from a lot of heartbreaks. It helps to ensure that you purchase quality spare parts for your car when the need arises.

Check the comment section below for additional information, share what you know, or ask a question about this article by leaving a comment below. And, to quickly find answers to your questions, use our search Search engine.

Note: Some of the information in samples on this website may have been impersonated or spoofed.

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Online Threat Alerts Security Tips

Pay the safest way

Credit cards are the safest way to pay for online purchases because you can dispute the charges if you never get the goods or services or if the offer was misrepresented. Federal law limits your liability to $50 if someone makes unauthorized charges to your account, and most credit card issuers will remove them completely if you report the problem promptly.

Guard your personal information

In any transaction you conduct, make sure to check with your state or local consumer protection agency and the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to see if the seller, charity, company, or organization is credible. Be especially wary if the entity is unfamiliar to you. Always call the number found on a website’s contact information to make sure the number legitimately belongs to the entity you are dealing with.

Be careful of the information you share

Never give out your codes, passwords or personal information, unless you are sure of who you're dealing with

Know who you’re dealing with

Crooks pretending to be from companies you do business with may call or send an email, claiming they need to verify your personal information. Don’t provide your credit card or bank account number unless you are actually paying for something and know who you are sending payment to. Your social security number should not be necessary unless you are applying for credit. Be especially suspicious if someone claiming to be from a company with whom you have an account asks for information that the business already has.

Check your accounts

Regularly check your account transactions and report any suspicious or unauthorised transactions.

Don’t believe promises of easy money

If someone claims that you can earn money with little or no work, get a loan or credit card even if you have bad credit, or make money on an investment with little or no risk, it’s probably a scam. Oftentimes, offers that seem too good to be true, actually are too good to be true.

Do not open email from people you don’t know

If you are unsure whether an email you received is legitimate, try contacting the sender directly via other means. Do not click on any links in an email unless you are sure it is safe.

Think before you click

If an email or text message looks suspicious, don’t open any attachments or click on the links.

Verify urgent requests or unsolicited emails, messages or phone calls before you respond

If you receive a message or a phone call asking for immediate action and don't know the sender, it could be a phishing message.

Be careful with links and new website addresses

Malicious website addresses may appear almost identical to legitimate sites. Scammers often use a slight variation in spelling or logo to lure you. Malicious links can also come from friends whose email has unknowingly been compromised, so be careful.

Secure your personal information

Before providing any personal information, such as your date of birth, Social Security number, account numbers, and passwords, be sure the website is secure.

Stay informed on the latest cyber threats

Keep yourself up to date on current scams by visiting this website daily.

Use Strong Passwords

Strong passwords are critical to online security.

Keep your software up to date and maintain preventative software programs

Keep all of your software applications up to date on your computers and mobile devices. Install software that provides antivirus, firewall, and email filter services.

Update the operating systems on your electronic devices

Make sure your operating systems (OSs) and applications are up to date on all of your electronic devices. Older and unpatched versions of OSs and software are the target of many hacks. Read the CISA security tip on Understanding Patches and Software Updates for more information.

What if You Got Scammed?

Stop Contact With The Scammer

Hang up the phone. Do not reply to emails, messages, or letters that the scammer sends. Do not make any more payments to the scammer. Beware of additional scammers who may contact you claiming they can help you get your lost money back.

Secure Your Finances

  • Report potentially compromised bank account, credit or debit card information to your financial institution(s) immediately. They may be able to cancel or reverse fraudulent transactions.
  • Notify the three major credit bureaus. They can add a fraud alert to warn potential credit grantors that you may be a victim of identity theft. You may also want to consider placing a free security freeze on your credit report. Doing so prevents lenders and others from accessing your credit report entirely, which will prevent them from extending credit:

Check Your Computer

If your computer was accessed or otherwise affected by a scam, check to make sure that your anti-virus is up-to-date and running and that your system is free of malware and keylogging software. You may also need to seek the help of a computer repair company. Consider utilizing the Better Business Bureau’s website to find a reputable company.

Change Your Account Passwords

Update your bank, credit card, social media, and email account passwords to try to limit further unauthorized access. Make sure to choose strong passwords when changing account passwords.

Report The Scam

Reporting helps protect others. While agencies can’t always track down perpetrators of crimes against scammers, they can utilize the information gathered to record patterns of abuse which may lead to action being taken against a company or industry.

Report your issue to the following agencies based on the nature of the scam:

  • Local Law Enforcement: Consumers are encouraged to report scams to their local police department or sheriff’s office, especially if you lost money or property or had your identity compromised.
  • Federal Trade Commission: Contact the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357) or use the Online Complaint Assistant to report various types of fraud, including counterfeit checks, lottery or sweepstakes scams, and more.
  • Identitytheft.gov: If someone is using your personal information, like your Social Security, credit card, or bank account number, to open new accounts, make purchases, or get a tax refund, report it at www.identitytheft.gov. This federal government site will also help you create your Identity Theft Report and a personal recovery plan based on your situation. Questions can be directed to 877-ID THEFT.

How To Recognize a Phishing Scam

Scammers use email or text messages to try to steal your passwords, account numbers, or Social Security numbers. If they get that information, they could get access to your email, bank, or other accounts. Or they could sell your information to other scammers. Scammers launch thousands of phishing attacks like these every day — and they’re often successful.

Scammers often update their tactics to keep up with the latest news or trends, but here are some common tactics used in phishing emails or text messages:

Phishing emails and text messages often tell a story to trick you into clicking on a link or opening an attachment. You might get an unexpected email or text message that looks like it’s from a company you know or trust, like a bank or a credit card or utility company. Or maybe it’s from an online payment website or app. The message could be from a scammer, who might

  • say they’ve noticed some suspicious activity or log-in attempts — they haven’t
  • claim there’s a problem with your account or your payment information — there isn’t
  • say you need to confirm some personal or financial information — you don’t
  • include an invoice you don’t recognize — it’s fake
  • want you to click on a link to make a payment — but the link has malware
  • say you’re eligible to register for a government refund — it’s a scam
  • offer a coupon for free stuff — it’s not real

About Online Threat Alerts (OTA)

Online Threat Alerts or OTA is an anti-cybercrime community that started in 2012. OTA alerts the public to cyber crimes and other web threats.

By alerting the public, we have prevented a lot of online users from getting scammed or becoming victims of cybercrimes.

With the ever-increasing number of people going online, it important to have a community like OTA that continuously alerts or protects those same people from cyber-criminals, scammers and hackers, who are every day finding new ways of carrying out their malicious activities.

Online users can help by reporting suspicious or malicious messages or websites to OTA. And, if they want to determine if a message or website is a threat or scam, they can use OTA's search engine to search for the website or parts of the message for information.

Help maintain Online Threat Alerts (OTA).

5 Things to Avoid When Buying Car Parts Online