Ideas for Buying and Selling Used-Car Parts
Anyone who has had to replace worn out, broken or used-car parts
knows how expensive they are. At the dealer, they must be
gold-plated, and at the parts stores, they vary from “We think an
awful lot of this part” to “Well, this is an OEM part,” meaning
original equipment manufacturer. Used auto parts are available from
a car manual to complete engines. Ebay has thousands of used-car
parts for sale and other Internet shops selling used-car parts claim
to have millions of parts. So who do you go with?
Got an old 73 Chevy half-ton rear axle that’s been sitting in your
garage for two and a half years now? Don’t haul it to the junkyard
and pay the man at the entrance. Instead, list it on an Internet
site, like eBay. You may be surprised what it might bring.
I just bought a set of rear-end gears for my 1989 Chevy Silverado,
used, off of eBay. From the pictures included, they looked like they
were in good condition, and they were the right gear ratio for my
highway traveling, which was important to me. I saved nearly $200 by
buying them used off the Internet. Sure, there was a bit of risk,
but the savings was worth it. And, by the way, the gears were in
good shape; they got me back on the road, thanks to UPS.
Cashing in on Car Parts
Can you make money on your used-car parts? That depends on how fast
you want to sell them. The more time you have to find a buyer, the
more money you can make. List your used-auto part on several sites,
such as eBay, Kijiji or Craigslist. Some offer free selling, where
the money is paid directly to you when the item is picked up, and
other sites offer a plan to handle the money, taking a small
percentage of the selling price. PayPal is one acceptable and safe
method of receiving money from buyers.
Briefly, this is how the process works:
- List your part, with picture(s), being sure to include the
asking price. Mention if your price is negotiable.
- If you are going to ship your part to the buyer, have a
means for the buyer to pay you, either by a personal check, a
cashier’s check, a PayPal account, or money order. Payment
methods that have no written proof of the transaction can be
risky.
- Know how much the shipping will cost ahead of time. Tell the
buyer up front about the shipping cost. You may want to include
insurance.
- Guarantee your used-car parts, especially if you plan to
sell a number of parts. A certain amount of trust is required in
this type of money-making endeavor. If you are not guaranteeing
them, specify that the parts are “as is, no warranty included.”
Be perfectly honest in your descriptions and photos. Provide your
telephone number. You want your buyer to be satisfied with the
purchase, so don’t leave any surprises for him to find out when he
gets the part. The used-car parts you sell are just what you claim
they will be.
Whether you are buying or selling used-car parts, the process can be
a thrill. By cutting out the middleman, you can save yourself a nice
chunk of change.
Related Articles:
5 Signs of a
Reputable Used-Car Dealer
Buying a Used Car with
Confidence
How to Find Actual
Used-Car Prices
Cheap Used Cars -
Yes, They Do Exist!
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