Buying parts for your semi truck used to mean a trip to the local dealer or parts store, flipping through catalogs, and waiting on deliveries. Today, the internet offers a whole new way to shop for what you need—right from your couch. But is this shift to online shopping all good news? Let’s take a closer look at the pros and cons of buying semi truck parts online, beginning with the pros.
The Pros of Online Shopping for Semi Truck Parts
Ease and Convenience
Like all things e-commerce, buying semi truck parts online means shopping from the palm of your hand or at the click of a mouse. Browse through extensive catalogs, read product descriptions, and make purchases at any time—even from your truck cab at midnight. This convenience is particularly beneficial for busy truckers and fleet managers.
Broader Selection
Local selection is limited by shelf space—and the more rare the part, the least likely it is to be in stock. However, online retailers of semi truck parts not only have huge inventories in their warehouses but can usually draw upon a network of inventory from various locations. Even when on the hunt for a peculiar truck part, there’s a good chance of finding it and having it in hand faster with an online parts marketplace.
Competitive Prices
Due to the ease of price comparison inherent in shopping online, online parts providers tend to have more competitive prices on items over brick and mortar stores. Part of this is necessity while another part is not having to maintain multiple physical locations. Furthermore, many online parts providers may offer other incentives to stay relevant above the noise—including further discounts, free shipping, or loyalty points.
Transparency Via Customer Reviews
Though it is quite possible to look up the reputation of physical truck parts stores, more often than not, most folks frequenting physical semi truck parts stores are Googling “semi truck parts near me” and care less about how a stranger’s transaction went. However, being able to hear from other fellow customers about their experiences and being able to immediately click over and buy from them is almost too sensible to pass up.
The Cons of Buying Semi Truck Parts Online
Part Accessibility
Though buying semi truck parts online means you’re shopping from any number of inventory warehouses from around the world, it still ain’t getting to you before until the next day—at the very earliest. Most of the time, shipping times can run from days to weeks if the part is out of stock and on backorder. At the same time, if the part is common enough, there’s a decent chance of going home with the necessary truck part today from a physical store. And in an industry that needs to be on the road yesterday, this delay in parts accessibility from online stores can be a major problem.
Quality Control Questions
When buying a semi truck part from an online marketplace, a buyer’s ability to review the part for quality often depends on the resolution of the part’s listed image. Furthermore, when a part is purchased online, its origin may be much less certain. While a physical parts store could rip off customers with inferior quality parts as well, online makes it easier for parts sellers to simply evaporate and not face the music as much for such shady dealings.
Return and Exchange Headaches
If the part is not quite correct or a simple return is needed, such exchanges with online parts marketplaces are not nearly as simple as swapping it out from someone in person. There is usually a form to fill out, packing it in a box, getting the shipping label, and all of the other parts of the dance of return shipping. This isn’t even bringing up what can occur if the return is contested or if there are necessary shipping or restocking fees.
A Lack of Guidance
Yes, online shopping has come a long way since just hoping a well-placed email was worded with the correct solution for online marketplaces. However, there are few replacements for speaking face to face with someone who knows a lot about the product they’re selling and the people who are buying it. While online communication of the chat or video variety are beginning to close the gap, many still prefer looking a helpful professional in the eye when discussing the parts they need to buy for their big rig.
Find the Buying Style That Works for You
So, are you the type who prefers to shop in a store or from the cab of your 18-wheeler? Do you not really care who sells you your parts or do you want to see the local shop stay in business? Or maybe you’re looking for the physical shop with a large online marketplace inventory? There is no wrong way to buy semi truck parts.
Either Way, My Little Salesman Can Help
Whether you want to support the mom and pop brick and mortar parts store who decided to expand to online sales, you want to buy OEM at the best price, or you’re on the other side and want to see semi truck parts online, My Little Salesman can help. As a leading online marketplace specializing in heavy equipment, commercial trucks, trailers, industrial equipment, parts, and much more, My Little Salesman has connected buyers and sellers with the gear they need since 1958.