Shop owners, techs favor traditional parts-buying channels

Dec. 16, 2013

When it comes to parts purchasing habits, auto repair shop owners and technicians prefer to do business the old-fashioned way rather than through online channels.

Bruce Adams

When it comes to parts purchasing habits, auto repair shop owners and technicians prefer to do business the old-fashioned way rather than through online channels, according to the Aftermarket Business World Online Purchasing Habits Study.

Nearly half (46 percent) of respondents said that never purchase parts online while 30 percent make online purchases from zero to 10 percent of the time. Only 3 percent said they purchase parts online all the time, and 71 percent said they bought the same amount online in 2013 as they did in 2012.

Some 28 percent use smart phones for work, 5 percent use tablets and 23 percent use both. But only 5 percent said they are using apps for parts purchases.

More than one-fourth (27 percent) said what they dislike most about online purchasing is the potential to order the wrong part, and 22 percent most objected to shipping costs.

Those who do buy online said they like the ease of comparing prices and options and the convenience it offers.

Marketers who want to promote online sales should target the 42 percent of respondents who said that online coupons, rebates, QR codes or other incentives would entice them to purchase more parts online.

Methodology: The Aftermarket Business World Online Purchasing Habits Study was fielded to readers of Motor Age via email. Results are intended to show general market trends, not statistical certainties.

Click on online purchasing habits to see the study.

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About the Author

Bruce Adams

Bruce Adams is managing editor of Aftermarket Business World magazine and content manager for the distribution channel at UBM Advanstar. He has been an editor with UBM Advanstar Automotive Group since 2007 and formerly was managing editor of ABRN, the collision repair magazine. Bruce is a veteran journalist and communications professional who worked 10 years in corporate communications and publications at The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company. He also worked as a senior editor at Babcox Publications and as a reporter and columnist for a daily newspaper in Northeast Ohio. He also is a former senior editor of Hotel & Motel Management Magazine.