You probably consider yourself pretty Web savvy, huh? You spend way too much time at Tommy's Bookmarks, you've downloaded more than 50G of MP3s, and maybe you've even created your own Web shrine to your favorite JDM hairstyle.
And yet, you balk when it comes to enjoying one of the Internet's best features. No, we don't mean the clock ticking toward to the Olsen Twins' 18th birthday. We're talking about online shopping. For all the people who try to make a living buying and selling junk on eBay, there are still people who fear e-commerce. They're afraid of getting ripped off, that their credit card information will get jacked, or that the online business will go Chapter 11 before the parts ship. Or that the wrong parts will arrive, starting an endless nightmare of haggling with rude "customer service" representatives.
It doesn't have to be that way. Electronic commerce can be quick, easy, and incredibly convenient. To help you get the most out of your "click here to confirm your order" experience, we've collected tips and advice from several of the biggest online auto parts retailers on the Internet. They want your business, and they're trying hard to make the process as hassle-free as possible.
Step One: Buy from A Reputable BusinessA lot of what we gathered from our interviews was basic common sense. For example, to keep from getting taken, make sure you're dealing with a well-established business, not some smooth operator with nothing behind the cool-looking Web site and too-good-to-be-true prices. But as easy as it is to throw up a Web page these days, how do you tell the good guys from the crooks?
"Be wary of sites that don't give you a physical address for the business," said Ladona Hiell, director of customer relations for JCW Sport Compact by J.C. Whitney. "If the only way you can reach them is via e-mail, it's probably a good idea to stay away."
"A reputable site will offer information about the company," said Matt Dunshie, owner of Landspeed Racing. "We're currently redoing our site, and we'll post a dozen articles about our company, and have an area for customer feedback."
Another way to gauge the health of an online retailer is in your hands, literally. "It takes serious investment to conduct national advertising on a regular basis," explained Bobby Evans, NOPI's director of sales. If a company can afford to advertise, whether it's here or in other major magazines, it's a good sign the company will be around to fill and service your order.
If you still have doubts, contact the Better Business Bureau, Evans advises. "Or call the manufacturer of the part you want to buy. They'll be more than happy to refer you to a company that'll sell you its part."
Is it Safe?
One of the biggest online-buying fears is that credit card information is not secure. People are afraid it will get hacked, or that a bunch of unauthorized charges will start to appear on their statements. Web retailers work hard to keep hackers at bay by using encryption software and secure servers for credit card transactions.
"Any Internet site working through a secure server is actually much safer than handing your credit card to someone, like a waiter," said Cathy Milos, management information systems director for Stylin' Concepts. "Most people don't think twice about giving a credit card to someone in a restaurant, but we've heard stories of waiters having card readers in their pockets and scanning information while they're processing the food bill. Anytime you put your credit card in someone's hand, the information could get stolen," Milos said. When buying online, that doesn't happen.
"We update our site a couple of times a year to stay ahead of the hackers," said Landspeed Racing's Dunshie. "In eight years of doing business, we've never had problems with identity theft."