Whether you’re an installer, parts retailer, or parts distributor, it’s important to work with quality auto parts manufacturers that offer extensive coverage. That way, you can offer your customers assurances about quality and reliability, minimize returns and come backs, and save time hunting for products.
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Unfortunately, it’s much easier to say “work with a quality manufacturer” than it is to find one. Likewise, “extensive coverage” is a term that doesn’t seem to mean the same thing from one manufacturer to the next.
As one of the renowned global manufacturers of water pumps, wheel hub assemblies, u-joints, fan clutches, and fuel pumps, we’re obviously biased when it comes to this topic. Still, we think there are good rules of thumb for finding a quality parts manufacturer. Here are four rules to keep in mind.
Extensive coverage is the number one factor to look for in an auto parts manufacturer. Developing a long-term relationship with a single manufacturer is preferable to juggling a bunch of suppliers that offer limited coverage. When you work with one single manufacturer, you reduce the complexity of finding parts, ordering parts, dealing with returns, etc.
Of course, you can’t work with a manufacturer if they don’t carry the parts you need. At GMB, we cover applications as far back as the s. We’re also a global company, which means we have coverage for US domestic and import nameplates.
If a manufacturer doesn’t offer applications going back more than a couple of decades – or if they simply only offer limited coverage by vehicle brand – that’s something to carefully consider. If you have to find a new manufacturer every time a -something vehicle rolls into your shop (or someone looks for a part on your website), you’re going to waste a lot of time.
Product quality is important to everyone in the parts business. Unfortunately, quality is very much a subjective term.
A lot of aftermarket parts suppliers emphasize cost over quality. While this helps make their parts less expensive, it causes a lot of headaches down the line. If you’re an installer who has to deal with a comeback – or a retailer who has to deal with a return – the “savings” of a low quality part can evaporate quickly.
Therefore, you want to make sure you’re not comparing brands on the basis of price. Instead, we suggest evaluating parts manufacturers on the following basis:
While there’s a bit of trial and error involved in finding a great parts supplier, these questions can help you sort the good from the not-so-good.
Communication is key. You want a manufacturer that has a good line of communication open. If they discontinue a part or one of their parts goes out of stock, they should either update the information on their website or notify their customers right away.
A manufacturer that doesn’t communicate well puts you at risk of upsetting a customer when one of the parts they ordered turns out to be discontinued or out of stock. Such a situation wouldn’t be your fault, but the customer would blame you, and your business may suffer as a result.
Another factor of good communication is technical support. Does the manufacturer offer help to installers or consumers with a problem? GMB North America, has a live technical support line as well as online tech support for quick questions. We offer free technical support to any GMB customer – not every brand offers this.
Extensive coverage is the most important quality you should look for in a supplier. Here are a few good questions to ask them to gauge how big their catalog is and how they communicate any changes to their clients:
Even though the average age of vehicles is 11.3 years, you still want to offer parts for classic cars. You can’t get any better than a supplier that carries parts dating back to the s.
Generally, the more brands, the better.
By asking this question, you’ll find out how they’re going to communicate the information to you. If they dodge the question or give you a vague answer, take it as a huge red flag.
You’re going to score major brownie points with your customer if you keep updating your catalog with new parts or coverage as soon as these parts come out. You want a supplier that will keep you in the loop when they produce a new part or offer new coverage.
You will get efficient and thoughtful service from Hi-Great.
A supplier can spend all day telling you how great their catalog is, but you have to see it to believe it. Check out their catalog to see exactly what kind of parts your customers are going to get if you sign with them.
So, it’s time for you to purchase an aftermarket part. Maybe you’ve been in a collision, maybe your old part is checking out, or maybe you’re looking to upgrade your car, truck, RV, or trailer. Whatever the reason is, you want to be sure that the part you buy is high-quality and reliable.
Because the aftermarket is much more varied than OEM, there are some questions you need to ask of yourself or the dealer in order to get what you want. Below, we’ve outlined some important questions for ensuring the part you buy is going to work for you.
For more information, see OEM vs. Aftermarket Parts: Pros and Cons.
To begin, do a little bit of online research on the company you’re considering buying from. What do customers say about them? And, what do customers say about their products and parts? Are their reviews positive?
This might seem obvious. A lot of people google companies or businesses that they might buy from. But it’s critical to do your research and get a sense of what their parts are like based on what customers think. If customers say good things about the parts they bought, it’s safe to assume that the parts are trustworthy.
If price is a factor in your purchase (chances are, it is), then you might want to look at the price of the aftermarket part compared to a similar OEM part. Usually aftermarket parts are much less expensive than OEM parts, but with some dealers it might not be the case.
Also compare the part to the price of other aftermarket dealers. Because the aftermarket selection is so wide, you’re guaranteed to find varying prices on the same, exact part.
Depending on what you’re looking for, you should ask how the part compares to its OEM cousin. Is it of the same material and quality? What process does the manufacturer use to develop the product? Will it perform according to your needs?
Because aftermarket dealers often use reverse engineering to manufacture a part, they have the opportunity to build a high quality part from a certified engineering process. They might be able to construct a part that has superior quality, superior functionality, or both. Some companies also provide in-house assembly solutions, which takes care of labor involved with making the part or parts fit.
Remember, OEM parts are made to very high standards and to the vehicle manufacturers specifications. They are made specifically for the operation and fit of your vehicle. Be sure to check reviews of non-OEM aftermarket parts to insure others have found them to function well and to be compatible with your vehicle.
When a customer finds a trustworthy manufacturer or assembly solutions provider, they are able to develop a good relationship with them. With a relationship, a company will be able to better understand a customer and exactly what they’re looking for. A strong relationship like this is easy to develop when the company offers exceptional service.
Auto shops or other customers that regularly work with an manufacturer will be able to give you good insight on what their relationship is like with them. If they’ve stayed with the company for years, that’s a good indication that their customer service is exceedingly great.
Obviously you want to work with a manufacturer that you can trust, and one that you know will deliver a quality part specific to your needs, whether it’s the part itself or the time constraints and labor that will be involved.
OEM parts usually come with a warranty, and with aftermarket parts, it just depends. Maybe a warranty is not a huge deal to you. We’re not here to tell you what’s right and what’s wrong. And a lot of the time, it hinges on what kind of part you’re looking to buy.
If you’d like a warranty with your part, be sure to choose a dealer or supplier that offers it. For major parts and more expensive parts, it might be wise to get a warranty.
In the end, these questions depend on the exact part you’re looking for, so the answers will vary. But, they are important to ask because they may be the difference between you getting a shoddy part for your vehicle and you getting a quality, dependable, and affordable product.