For many, Amazon is the first stop for… well, almost everything. From household goods to electronics, the online retail giant has become synonymous with convenience and competitive pricing. But when it comes to car parts, is Amazon a reliable source? Should you trust your vehicle’s critical components to a website known for books and batteries? As seasoned auto repair experts at cardiagxpert.com, we’ve put Amazon’s automotive parts marketplace to the test.
This in-depth Akwh Car Parts Review (Amazon car parts review) will address the burning questions every car owner has:
- Selection: Does Amazon truly have the parts I need for my car?
- Quality & Brands: Are these name-brand parts, or questionable generics? What about warranties?
- Returns & Reliability: What happens if I get the wrong part, or it’s faulty? Can I actually return it hassle-free?
- Price: Are Amazon’s auto parts deals as good as they seem, or are there hidden catches?
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll dissect the pros and cons of buying car parts on Amazon. We’ll give you insider tips on spotting genuine parts and avoiding counterfeits, and provide crucial advice for navigating Amazon’s vast automotive catalog. We’ll also compare Amazon’s prices to other major online and brick-and-mortar auto parts retailers to see where you truly get the best value.
Why Consider Amazon for Automotive Parts?
In our previous exploration of online car part retailers, we found ourselves frequently turning to Amazon for our automotive needs. While we explored numerous specialized online stores, Amazon often emerged as a compelling option, primarily due to price competitiveness. As we’ll demonstrate in our price comparisons later, Amazon frequently holds a price advantage, especially on commonly sought-after parts.
Beyond price, Amazon’s delivery speed is a significant draw. Amazon has invested heavily in its logistics network, even experiencing a profit dip in 2019 to enhance its delivery infrastructure. For Amazon Prime members, this often translates to same-day or next-day delivery – a lifesaver when you’re facing urgent car repairs and need parts quickly to get back on the road.
Let’s delve deeper into the advantages and disadvantages of sourcing your car parts from Amazon.
Amazon Car Parts: The Upsides
Extensive Selection
Back in 2017, Amazon made a strategic move to significantly expand its automotive parts offerings by forging partnerships with major U.S. auto parts suppliers. This initiative dramatically broadened their catalog, resulting in a vast selection that rivals even dedicated auto parts stores.
During our research for “Should You Buy Car Parts Online?”, we were consistently impressed by the sheer variety available on Amazon. Whether you’re working on a modern daily driver or a vintage classic, Amazon’s selection is surprisingly comprehensive. While specialized stores might still be the ultimate destination for extremely rare or obscure components, Amazon is a strong contender, particularly for parts for older vehicles that can be challenging to source elsewhere.
Competitive Pricing
One of the most compelling reasons to shop on Amazon is the potential for cost savings. Amazon’s platform makes price comparison straightforward, a feature we consistently leverage when sourcing parts. However, it’s important to understand that Amazon’s pricing advantage isn’t uniform across all car parts. The best deals tend to be concentrated in specific categories.
Amazon employs a dynamic pricing strategy that is both sophisticated and responsive to market demands. They identify high-demand, popular products and often price them aggressively low, frequently undercutting competitors. This strategy attracts customers and builds the perception of Amazon as the cheapest option. To offset these losses, they may increase prices on less frequently compared items or niche products.
Seasonal demand also plays a role in Amazon’s pricing fluctuations. A price that looks attractive today might not hold tomorrow. We experienced this firsthand when purchasing a K&N air intake kit for our Honda S2000. Observe the price difference in these screenshots:
This screenshot, captured in December, shows the intake kit priced around $73 lower (including an extra 10% discount) than when we actually bought it in January. We believe the December discount was a holiday season incentive to boost sales.
The subsequent screenshot, taken shortly after the holiday shopping peak, reveals a price increase to $322.65. While Amazon often offers lower prices on car parts, traditional retail seasonality and demand-based pricing still apply.
In retrospect, purchasing the K&N intake kit in December would have resulted in significant savings. This illustrates the importance of price tracking and being aware of seasonal sales trends, even on Amazon.
Amazon Car Parts: The Downsides
Lack of Physical Inspection
A major drawback of online car part shopping, in general, is the inability to physically examine a part before purchase. This can be particularly concerning for car parts, where visual inspection and tactile feedback can be reassuring. For some, the peace of mind of holding a part in their hands before buying is irreplaceable.
“My stepdad was a firm believer in physical inspection,” recalls Carl Anthony, Automoblog’s Managing Editor. “As a farmer, he fixed everything himself. He always insisted on taking things out of the box and inspecting them thoroughly, no matter what.”
While you can’t physically touch the part on Amazon, many sellers provide the part’s serial number in the product description. Always double-check these numbers for accuracy. Furthermore, utilize high-resolution product images, which are often available. Zooming in for a detailed virtual inspection can partially compensate for the lack of physical handling.
Risk of Counterfeit Parts
The rise of e-commerce giants like Amazon has unfortunately also fueled the counterfeit auto parts industry. While we haven’t personally encountered fake parts on Amazon, it’s a genuine concern that every online shopper needs to be aware of.
“Counterfeit automotive components are a highly profitable business for criminals,” states Sophie Peresson, Director of the Business Action to Stop Counterfeiting and Piracy (BASCAP), a division of the International Chamber of Commerce. “The volume of fake parts being produced and distributed is continually increasing, despite government efforts.”
BASCAP estimates that counterfeiting and piracy will drain a staggering $4.2 trillion from the global economy by 2022, jeopardizing 5.4 million legitimate jobs. The fake parts market is projected to exceed the annual GDP of major economies like Italy or Brazil by 2022. In Europe alone, counterfeit tires are estimated to cost the industry €2.2 billion annually.
“Our intention isn’t to instill fear, but to present factual data from credible research organizations,” Anthony emphasizes. “Our priority is to prevent our readers from purchasing parts that could compromise their vehicle’s safety.”
When browsing car parts on Amazon, it’s easy to mistakenly assume you are buying directly from the manufacturer or brand. However, this is rarely the case. Most purchases are made through third-party sellers or authorized retailers operating on the Amazon platform.
Protecting Yourself From Fake Car Parts on Amazon
The good news is that Amazon is actively combating counterfeit products on its platform. They are investing significantly in advanced machine learning systems designed to detect and remove counterfeit listings. However, vigilance on the buyer’s part remains crucial. Here are key strategies to minimize your risk of buying fake car parts online:
Tip 1: Know Your Seller
When shopping on Amazon, resist the assumption that you’re buying directly from the brand manufacturer. In most instances, you’re purchasing from third-party sellers or authorized retailers utilizing Amazon as a marketplace. This is not inherently problematic, but it necessitates due diligence.
While buying directly from the manufacturer’s official store is the safest route to avoid counterfeits, it’s not always practical or possible on Amazon. Instead, carefully examine the seller. Click on the seller’s name and thoroughly read the feedback and ratings from previous customers. Understanding who you are buying from is paramount, especially since multiple sellers often list the same product.
Tip 2: Scrutinize Customer Reviews
Customer reviews are an invaluable resource for identifying potentially fake parts or unreliable sellers. Prioritize sellers with consistently high ratings – ideally above a 4-star average. If you receive a car part that doesn’t meet your expectations in terms of quality or packaging, contribute to the community by leaving a detailed review.
Conversely, if you are satisfied with your purchase and the seller’s service, a positive review benefits both the honest seller and future shoppers. Remember to differentiate between product reviews (feedback on the part itself) and seller reviews (feedback on the seller’s service and reliability).
Tip 3: Inspect the Packaging
Packaging is your first physical clue once the part arrives. Substandard packaging, signs of tampering, or an already opened box are red flags. Genuine, legitimate parts typically come with professional packaging that includes brand logos, certifications, and often, warranty information. For many parts, you can verify authenticity by checking the serial number or part number against the manufacturer’s website.
Legitimate car parts will have identifying serial or product numbers and are often accompanied by a manufacturer’s warranty. Always conduct thorough research before purchasing car parts on Amazon.
Amazon Returns: What if it’s the Wrong Part?
An older article highlighted potential pitfalls of buying on Amazon, recounting a story about incorrect DOHC long-tube headers. The author discovered the seller wasn’t Amazon itself, but a third-party vendor based in China. Returning the part proved complicated, and ultimately, the author resorted to reselling the incorrect headers online.
While this anecdote is dated, it underscores the importance of verifying the seller and understanding Amazon’s return policies. For genuine parts purchased from reputable sellers, returns are generally straightforward. Amazon explicitly states in their returns policy: If you’ve purchased a defective automotive item, shipped from and sold by Amazon.com, that is covered by a published manufacturer warranty, Amazon honors the warranty. Amazon will either replace the item or refund the cost of the item for the life of the published warranty.
To minimize the need for returns in the first place, meticulous part verification is essential. Double-checking part numbers and vehicle compatibility before ordering saves time and hassle. Below are three crucial tips to ensure you select the correct car part every time you shop on Amazon.
3 Essential Tips for Navigating Amazon’s Car Parts Marketplace
Tip #1: Utilize “Your Garage”
Amazon’s automotive parts catalog is immense, which can feel overwhelming. The most effective way to filter this vast selection is to use the Your Garage feature. Simply enter your vehicle’s make, model, and trim. Once configured, Amazon will automatically filter search results to display only parts confirmed to be compatible with your specific vehicle. This significantly streamlines the search process and reduces the risk of ordering incompatible parts.
Tip #2: Take Your Time and Read Descriptions
When searching for car parts – for example, lowering springs for a Honda Civic – Amazon will present numerous pages of listings from various brands, sellers, and retailers. Once you find a promising part, resist the urge to immediately add it to your cart. Instead, invest a few minutes in carefully reading the product description.
Pro Tip: Comprehensive product descriptions, complete with high-resolution images, videos, and installation manuals, are strong indicators of legitimate sellers and higher-quality products. Reputable sellers typically invest in detailed listings. Take advantage of these resources to gain a thorough understanding of the part before committing to a purchase.
Tip #3: Trust the Reviews
We reiterate: customer reviews are paramount. This is particularly true when buying car parts on Amazon (and applies to virtually everything you purchase on the platform). Prioritize sellers with consistently high (5-star) ratings and products with overwhelmingly positive reviews. Make it a habit to check both seller ratings and product reviews before adding anything to your cart. Purchasing from highly-rated sellers with well-reviewed products significantly increases your chances of a positive experience.
With these considerations in mind, let’s compare Amazon’s pricing against other major online and offline auto parts retailers.
Amazon vs. Online & Brick-and-Mortar Stores: Price Comparisons
Price Comparison #1: Air Filter
We started by searching for a replacement air filter for a 2015 Honda Civic EX-L. On Amazon, we found a Spearhead Max Thrust performance air filter for under $13.
This filter boasted a 5-star rating with over 1,800 customer reviews. Spearhead Max Thrust filters are known for offering comparable or even superior quality to OEM and other aftermarket air filters.
Before making a purchase, we checked Advance Auto Parts, where we found a Carquest Premium air filter priced under $20.
Next, we visited O’Reilly Auto Parts and were presented with two air filter options at different price points.
In this comparison, Amazon emerged as the clear winner based on both price and customer-reported quality.
Price Comparison #2: Sway Bar Links
Our Civic also required replacement rear sway bar links. We first checked AutoZone and found a Duralast sway bar link for $26.99.
However, this price was per link. Since we needed a pair, the total cost at AutoZone would be approximately $55.
We then searched Amazon for the same part and found:
A pair of rear sway bar links for under $22, including free shipping, from Detroit Axle, a manufacturer and distributor of OEM and aftermarket parts based in Michigan.
Before finalizing our decision, we checked O’Reilly Auto Parts and found a Beck/Arnley stabilizer end link priced at $28.99 each.
In this instance, Amazon again provided the most compelling value, offering a pair of links for significantly less than competitors charged for a single link.
Price Comparison #3: Front Brake Pads and Rotors
For our next comparison, we sought a set of front brake pads and rotors. This time, we focused on online retailers, comparing Amazon, CARiD, and PartsGeek.
First, Amazon offered a Callahan front brake rotor and ceramic pad kit for under $67 with positive customer reviews. A decent deal, but we suspected better options might exist.
Next, we checked CARiD and found a Centric front brake kit for $91.45.
Further browsing on CARiD revealed a more budget-friendly option from the same brand.
Much better! However, the Callahan kit on Amazon included ceramic brake pads, while the initial Centric kit on CARiD featured semi-metallic pads. Ceramic brake pads are generally quieter and produce less brake dust than metallic or semi-metallic options.
While both were viable options, we continued our search and visited PartsGeek. We discovered:
PartsGeek offered a DuraGo front rotor and pad kit for under $50. This was a remarkably affordable option, especially considering it also included ceramic brake pads.
In this price comparison, Amazon ranked third, as CARiD and PartsGeek offered a wider selection of brake kits at competitive prices.
Price Comparison #4: Ignition Coil
Lastly, we needed to address a misfire issue in our aging 2007 Toyota Corolla, diagnosed as a faulty ignition coil (P0301 error code). We searched Amazon for an OEM ignition coil and found:
To our surprise, an OEM ignition coil was priced above $70. While OEM coil packs are known for longevity (often exceeding 100,000 miles), the price seemed steep. However, it had a 5-star rating, indicating customer satisfaction with the product. We decided to explore other retailers for better pricing.
We then checked RockAuto and found the same OEM Denso coil pack, alongside a range of lower-priced aftermarket options.
Focusing on the Denso OEM coil, we found it priced around $68 – only slightly cheaper than Amazon.
Still unconvinced, we visited PartsGeek and found:
Surprisingly, Amazon offered a more competitive price than PartsGeek in this instance. Ultimately, we purchased the part from RockAuto (every penny counts!), but Amazon proved to be a strong contender for online car parts purchases.
Final Verdict: Should You Buy Car Parts on Amazon?
Amazon’s automotive parts selection has significantly expanded and improved in recent years. Today, you can find a vast array of parts and accessories within their Automotive section. For many common replacement parts and accessories, Amazon is a convenient and often cost-effective first stop in our search. However, remember these crucial points before clicking “Add to Cart”:
- Prioritize Product Reviews: Always scrutinize product reviews to gauge the quality and reliability of the part.
- Verify Seller Ratings: Thoroughly check seller ratings and feedback to ensure you are buying from a trustworthy vendor.
- Comparison Shop: Always compare prices with other online retailers and local stores to ensure you’re getting the best deal.
Furthermore, for specialized or performance parts, dedicated auto parts stores that specialize in your particular vehicle make and model might offer superior expertise and selection. However, if you know precisely what you need, Amazon can be an excellent resource for finding parts and saving money.
Alternative Online Car Part Retailers
While Amazon is a strong contender, it’s not the only option for buying car parts online. As our price comparisons demonstrate, other retailers can sometimes offer better deals or a more specialized selection. Here’s a curated list of reputable online retailers we recommend, categorized by online-only and those with physical store locations:
Online-Only Retailers
- RockAuto: Known for extensive catalog and consistently low prices.
- PartsGeek: Offers a wide range of parts at competitive prices.
- CARiD: Specializes in aftermarket and performance parts, with a vast catalog.
Retailers with Physical Stores
- Advance Auto Parts: Offers online ordering with in-store pickup and a wide selection.
- AutoZone: Another major chain with online ordering and convenient store pickup options.
- O’Reilly Auto Parts: A well-established chain with online and offline presence, known for knowledgeable staff.
