The used car parts business is so complex that it has slowed down business methods used in other industries. Europeans sell twice as many car parts than us, so we have a lot of catching up to do. We have to reach the consumers.
Where are the consumers? On the net, most of them are on EBay. Any consumer who wants used car part eventually turns to EBay.
What are the advantages of this site?
It’s a sure bet. Whatever is that I want, I am sure to find it on EBay, unless it is on some negative list or something. Thus it’s worth taking a shot.
Photos are available: Whatever I want to buy, I want to see a picture. As I do not know from whom I am buying.
Apt description: Good EBay sellers will include a good description of the product, about all its features, pros and cons. This will whet my curiosity and anxiety.
It makes for Trust. With EBay and making payments with Pay Pal, I am reassured about the transaction because of the trust in the agency. For example, I have had the experience of returning damaged goods and being repaid in full within a few days.
It has got Feedback: Sellers are graded, so I am able to judge a seller by the feedback he received. For example, you feel confident to buy from a seller who has got 10,000 responses and is 99.5% positive.
Price is desirable: Price advantage is generally perceived and most customers are on EBay to make a bargain.
Simplicity is attractive: Click and pay is an easy, simple method to do business. No phone calls, no wait times make the deal simple and efficient.
Payment: Rather than give credit card numbers over the phone it is safer to do online transactions.
EBay is a giant market place which sells everything under the sun. It is a huge “Flea market” where you can buy real or fake, old or new, according to your taste and budget.
But there are three major problems with EBay with regards to used car parts:
1. Availability: There are only 280,000 used and new car parts listed on EBay. This amounts to the inventory of a single Yard with 1000 vehicles and 300,000 parts with 35% availability. Thus odds are that a user is not going to find the part he is looking for on EBay.
2. Used and New Jumbled up: EBay is likely to show cheap new Chinese parts when used parts are not available and the consumer will be taken in by the bargain.
3. Search is clumsy: Search terms may not match the exact part requirements. So by searching with the wrong words, the customer may not find the parts he is looking for.
EBay is still the best way for consumers to find used and recycled parts. But it has its flaws. The industry needs an alternative which has all the advantages minus the flaws of EBay. An intelligent solution is possible, but it will take time.
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