You might hear people talk about all the great deals they got by shopping on Amazon or other online sites, but do these same “great deals” hold true for auto parts" How much will you really save buying car parts online, and how quickly will your order arrive"

And what about assurance" Will you get the same level of service online as you do from your neighborhood auto parts store"

We were curious to these and other questions, so we did some research.

Why Choose Parts Stores Over Online Stores"

One of the major advantages is time, especially if you are dealing with an unexpected breakdown. Assuming the local parts store has the item in stock, it’s only a matter of swinging by and grabbing it. You don’t have to wait for an online order to be processed. You have the part that day and can get started on your repair.
“Back in 2003, when I came out from class late one January afternoon, my old F-150 refused to start,” recalled Carl Anthony, Automoblog’s Managing Editor. “My stepdad and I went to O’Reilly’s, gave the employees the VIN number to my truck, and they had a starter in stock for a 5.0-liter V8. We put the new starter in, right there in the empty parking lot that night.”

In a traditional auto parts store, you can inspect the part, read what?s on the box, and physically compare the old part with the new one. Another advantage to buying in person is how ...