Should You Buy Your Spare Parts Online?

You may hear people talking about all the deals they got by shopping on Amazon or other websites but do these “great deals” hold true to crane parts? What is the amount you can save by purchasing crane parts online as well as how quickly will your order be delivered?

Are there any guarantees? Will you get the same service on the internet as your local crane parts retailer? We were interested in the above and other concerns and so we did some research.

Why Choose Parts Stores Over Online Stores

One of the main benefits is time, especially if you’re faced with an immediate breakdown. Assuming the local parts store is stocking the item, it’s only a matter of walking by and picking it. It’s not necessary to wait for an online order to be taken care of. You’ll have the crane part on the same day and you can begin the repair.

In the traditional parts retailer, you can inspect the part and read the information on the packaging, and then physically check the old part with the brand new one. Another benefit to purchasing from a person is the ability to meet face-to-face with a knowledgeable handler who knows the parts.

If you have any questions about the product, the shop will have guides (and computers) they can peruse for the appropriate part. They can order it in case you don’t have the necessary quantity. There’s no need to fret about endlessly searching for the part online, hoping that it’s the correct item when it arrives.

Trust & Transparency

This is what an old-fashioned parts store can offer. In some cases you might even be able to recognize the workers or the manager behind the counter , on a first-name basis. But unfortunately, if you’re an established and frequent client of a specific store it can be difficult to maintain.

Why Buy Parts Online?

When it comes to price the online stores are typically less expensive than traditional stores (like most other industries) principally due to lower overhead costs and streamlined distribution channels. Additionally, with a multitude of online crane parts shops, the wide selection of OEM as well as aftermarket parts provides more options at reduced prices.

While your local parts shop might have only just a couple of brands or choices for a specific part due to storage space or exclusivity agreements with parts manufacturers, you’ll find almost every option on the internet.

There are other situations when purchasing crane parts on the internet could be your only alternative. For example, online parts retailers might be better and more cost-effective option for people who live away from an equipment parts shop. While you will have to wait to get the part in the mail however, you don’t have to go out of the house!

How Do I Spot Fake Parts?

If you’re buying something online there’s no way to spotting an unauthentic part from a genuine one and fake parts are a persistent problem. With only photos and an account of the part you’ll have to look up reviews from customers for confirmation that the business you’re dealing with is trustworthy.

If you purchase from traditional crane parts store or their online counterpart, the likelihood of getting a fake part are low. Check for an part serial number even though you are shopping online. Genuine OEM parts come with an identification number on the packaging and/or the part itself. This is genuine replacements if it matches the old part.

You may find crane parts online that are not OEM ones however that does not mean they’re counterfeit or dangerous. There are parts that are made by third party companies that are perfectly safe to purchase. Replica wheels are a good example but do your research similar to what you would do when buying other things.

A final word of caution: Low prices for crane parts on the internet should raise alarms. There’s a distinction between cheap and high-end. Before adding items to your shopping cart and pressing the ‘Buy Now’ button, you must be mindful of these.

Can I Return a Bad Part to an Online Store?

If you’re looking to return a part at a regular store and you are there and talk to the employee at the counter, and ask for an exchange or a refund, and that’s all there is to it. You then have the option to walk out of the store with the right part or walk out with an entire refund. In most situations, you’ll need to show a receipt or proof of purchase to facilitate the transaction.

Returning a faulty/damaged/wrong part for repair to an online shop is a bit more complicated. You’ll need to reach out to the seller online or print a return shipping label and arrange for a pick-up or drop-off at the nearest post office. This all depends on the return policy of the site.

Online stores that are reputable offer returns on all purchases, usually 30 to 90 days. Learn more about the return policy before hitting the ‘Buy Now’ and ‘Buy Now’ buttons. Of course, you can communicate with the seller in advance if you are unsure about the part that concerns where it was made, what specific models it fits and the process to initiate returning the part that isn’t compatible with the model.

A majority of online stores have features that let you know if a part can be used with your crane or not. Or, you can search for crane parts by model, so you only see parts that fit your crane.