When you’re buying performance parts for your vehicle, it’s important to ensure that you’re following the right protocol during the purchasing process. Attention to detail for these parts becomes vital, especially when you’re working on such crucial upgrades for your vehicle. Installing these parts in the right manner can lead to optimum performance for your vehicle. However, failure to adhere to quality and the proper techniques can lead to monumental failure.
If you’re in the market for upgrading your vehicle and need performance parts, you’re in the right place. These are the top seven mistakes to avoid when purchasing performance parts.
Performance Parts
Performance parts are defined as any components that upgrade the overall performance of your vehicle. These upgrades can lead to increased speed, handling, acceleration, braking, turning, or any other vital area of your car. This process doesn’t have to be difficult, especially if you follow the right procedure when it comes to making your purchase. These are the biggest mistakes you want to avoid, regardless of whether you’re ordering online or buying in person.
1. Buying from Shady Dealers or Websites
This is a rule in business the majority of the time regardless of what you’re purchasing. In any retail situation, it’s important to be aware of who you’re doing business with.
New businesses and retailers surface on a daily basis, leading to hundreds of options at any given time for acquiring the items you need. However, there are also a lot of predators out there looking to scam a quick buck.
It’s especially important to be mindful of online parts dealers. You have no way of examining or looking at the merchandise, and it can be easy to get ripped off if you’re not careful.
Check all of the available customer reviews before making the decision to do business with any parts retailer. There should be a fair amount of information regarding how honest they are and the quality of their parts. If you can’t find enough information to make a smart decision, you should probably move on.
Also read: What to Look For When Purchasing a Used Minibus
2. Ordering Incomplete or Wrong Parts
Many car owners end up placing an order and even get as far as beginning their installation before realizing the order was incomplete. They forgot an important component or something vital that allows them to properly complete an installation. Even worse, ordering the wrong part altogether isn’t uncommon either. There’s nothing worse than getting excited to make that upgrade you’ve been waiting for, only to find out you have to wait even longer because you ordered the wrong parts.
This is easily avoided by double-checking your parts numbers and paying attention to compatibility. Double and triple-check all of your part numbers and orders before finalizing.
If you’re buying in person, have the clerk read the part numbers back to you two or three times. This will ensure that you’re receiving the correct part and won’t have to make an exchange later.
3. Overpayment
Normally when it comes to performance parts, you get what you pay for. This means that paying a little more than normal isn’t necessarily a bad thing because it leads to a higher level of quality. However, this doesn’t mean it’s not impossible to experience price gouging. Do your research regarding average prices based on quality levels. You don’t want to purchase a medium-quality part and pay a premium price. It’s important to stay focused on the brand and level of quality you’re aiming for.
Make sure you’re receiving what you’re asking for, and don’t end up with some sub-prime part on a bait and switch scam. Whenever you buy in person, always open the package and check the contents before you pay.
There’s nothing wrong with protecting yourself as a consumer. It’s also possible that a part was exchanged on a previous date, and you end up with the wrong item because things weren’t placed in the proper packaging. Avoid this by always double-checking.
4. Counterfeit Products
This is especially common when you’re ordering performance parts online, but it can happen in person as well. Counterfeit performance parts run rampant in the online retail space.
Unsatisfactory parts labeled with brand name stickers or logos are passed off for quality components every day. It’s important to pay close attention to the little details and make sure there’s some way to verify the authenticity of what you’re receiving.
Make sure you get a receipt and pay attention to the minor details of all of your parts. Ensure all of the serial numbers match and go with the part you’re ordering.
5. No Warranty
This is a crucial mistake to avoid. You never want to purchase a performance part that doesn’t come with a warranty. Anything can happen that may warrant the need for a replacement.
Parts can be damaged or have some type of fault when they come from the factory. Making sure you get a warranty protects you in the event of any type of damage or malfunction.
6. Too Good to Be True
If you see a deal on performance parts and it seems too good to pass up, most likely it’s a knock-off product, or it’s damaged. If something sounds too good to be true, most likely it is.
7. Universal
There are many parts retailers that make universal performance parts instead of make and model-specific components. If you go this route, make sure they’re going to work for your car specifically and be mindful of obtaining a warranty and receipt.
Take your time when you’re purchasing performance parts. Don’t rush into pulling the trigger, and double-check your parts numbers. You want to save money, but it’s important not to jump on the first component with a low price tag. Read all of your reviews and understand who you’re dealing with at all times.
Also read: The 6 Best Things About Buying a Used Car
