Buying Parts Online with Credit Cards

Giving out your credit card information online is always daunting.  You can read all thepayment policies and privacy policies in the world, but the discomfort is stillthere. The higher the price and the more technical the product is, the scary itgets. The last thing you’d want is to pay a lot of money on a technical productthat does not work.  Pricey and technicalis exactly what auto parts are.  Althoughpaying with a credit card can seem suspicious, if you buy the right part from a legitcompany you can save a lot of money.

Before you ever provide credit card info, do a littleresearch on the company you’re purchasing from. Make sure they have those payment policies, and privacy policies statedclearly. Check out their online reviews.  See if they are a member of the BetterBusiness Bureau. You are about to give them a lot of valuable information about yourself.Thus, making sure you are dealing with a reputable company is very important.

Make sure you buy the right parts.  Online parts companies can only deliver thepart that you order.  If you get thewrong part, odds are they are going to charge you a restocking fee when yousend it back. You might first think this is unfair, but the company has to stopwhat they are doing and waste manpower and time to recheck your part back in, because ofa mistake you made.  A restocking fee is anindustry standard.  If you ever have a question about a part, feel free to call the company and talk to asales rep.  If the company is legit, itshould have a phone number clearly posted on the website.

If anything ends up going wrong, such as you receive thewrong part, or the part goes bad, then call the company.  They’re almost always willing to help you out,whether they replace it because it is under warranty or give you a deal on anew one.  I would never recommend thatyou do a charge back on your credit card. A lot of times credit card users think that all they have to do is callthe credit card company and cancel a transaction.  This may get the persons money back but whatthey do not know is that it is a red flag with their credit card company.  You only have so many charge backs beforethey cancel the credit card.

Another thing is that you need to make sure you have allyour credit card information right.  If you put downthe wrong billing information or type in the wrong credit card number, then the order may not getprocessed.  This could leave you with abroken car, wondering what happened to the part you ordered.

I know it seems a little scary to buy auto parts onlinebut if you do it right you can save a lot of cash. A lot of times the parts are exactly the same that you would get from the mechanic, but much cheaper.   Purchasingparts online is growing extremely fast and I highly recommend it.

The Truth About Auto Parts

During auto repairs it is one of those times when all logic goes out the window. It doesn't matter if it be your wheel bearing assembly, wheel hub assembly or even the turbo we all get a little out of whack when our car is not working. Car repairs are usually not something we have planned on and they end up costing a lot more than we expect.

Nowadays the first place we head for finding auto parts is the internet but what seems like a good deal may not be so good in the long run. Dealerships make the statement "no aftermarket parts will work no matter what you do" this of course is a lie. There are plenty of good aftermarket parts that are great replacement parts from many companies out there. Many times the dealership themselves will be selling parts that are considered aftermarket. All auto parts have a failure rate associated with them...from new OEM and aftermarket to Remanufactured parts they all have risks. Every part has a certain % of the parts that will fail no matter who does the install. That said there are steps that can be taken to avoid failures not related to this percentage.

Having replacement parts installed properly is a huge factor in the life of the part. While your mechanic down the street may be a good guy and your friend you have known of many years, it does not mean he knows every repair. Over the past decade alone the technology in vehicles has gone from being so basic that a child could build them to the point that a rocket scientist would have to take a step back. While your mechanic may have been working on cars for 30 years think of what a 1981 Buick really has in common with a 2012 Mercedez Benz.

The quality of an installed part plays a huge impact on the life of the part but it is not the only factor. Most parts now are built in Asia including many OEM parts and a lot of people will say "that's cheap Chinese crap" but the truth is you can buy cheap or quality from anywhere. What a part buyer will need to pay attention to is the quality standards of the seller and the quality of the installer. If a turbo is installed incorrectly or all the prep work is not does not matter if the unit is the best that Borg Warner has to offer it will fail. DO the research and read the reviews of a part or a company, if they sell cheaply made parts then they wont be around long.

The Amazing Auto Auction that is Barrett-Jackson

Every few months the automotive sales goliath that is Barrett-Jackson rears its head. This even is not like a mechanics special auction where all the cars need a new diesel injector or diesel fuel pumps, no these are classics. Well not all of them are classics, some are future classics.

Barrett-Jackson is a traveling auction that specializes in high end cars that private collectors and dealerships are looking to sell but would never reach their full potential if sold on a lot. Over the years this auction has seen cars from complete concepts to extreme race cars to the complete body off numbers matching restorations that fetch millions. Barrett-Jackson is basically every little boys dream car buffet we all had a car poster on the wall, for me it was the Countach.

The money that people are willing to throw down to get some of these rides is almost as impressive as the cars themselves. Some cars have cleared the 3 million mark and others don’t even hit the reserve, it all comes down to the buzz around a specific car. Unlike police auctions or estate sales this auction widely advertises the cars that are for sale and lets potential buys get all the info about the cars as well as documentation that proves numbers matching. Some cars sold have unique background such as movie cars or even classic James Dean driven cars. People will pay good money for cars that have a history and Barrett-Jackson is where these cars are sold. In other words if you have a classic car with a good history and you are looking to sell then this auction is the place for you to sell that car. 

“Bills Auto Repair” in Hiawatha, Kansas 66434: A Small Adjustment for the Customer!



Front Hub Bearing

Here is a review of "Bills Auto Repair” located in Hiawatha Kansas 66434 concerning small adjustments made for the customer. I was a bit appalled when it came to a quick 10 minute adjustment that was declined by this mechanic, Milton. First of all I will say this is only a very small 3 bay shop who is paid for by the great people of Hiawatha, Kansas. Hiawatha is the kind of town where a bad repair or a declined small adjustment will reflect badly on your shop if your customers become very unhappy with your services offered. Let me start off by telling you my experience in this review of Bills Auto Repair. I have over 28 years experience serving the people in the much bigger Kansas City and Topeka Kansas areas by staying late and trying to get them the best deals possible when it comes to their cars. While employed as a shop Manager and a ASE Certified Technician my main job was to build up confidence in our repair shops both for the technicians and most importantly for the customers who paid our bills. Not like the auto repair shop located in Hiawatha Kansas 66434 named, “Bills Auto Repair.”

The small adjustment I am referring to is one front hub bearing that went bad 9 months after the installation by, “Bills Auto Repair.” A adjustment is something a auto repair shop such as Bills can do for the customer to keep them coming back. It is usually a very small amount of labor required to fix a bad part that was installed. Some auto repair shops such as Bills located in Hiawatha can tell you to go get screwed or they can take ten minutes out of their time and fix your problem created by them installing your part. They did take the time to put the vehicle up on the lift and verify where the noise was coming from. Once they spent over 20 minutes verifying it they lowered the vehicle and said, “Sorry we did not buy the part you did.” Legally I have auto repair mechanic friends all over the state who can testify that the part I bought and had Bills Auto Repair Shop in Hiawatha Kansas install was installed incorrectly by them making them responsible for the repair. But I chose not to go that route.

I was told to bring the vehicle back in one week with my receipt for my part that was purchased from the same place they buy their parts from. Bring the labor charged to replace it again and then he can make the adjustment. From the time they had my vehicle on the lift and the amount of time he spent finding the noise he could of replaced my part and sent me away a happy camper! But the 30 minutes he took he dicided to turn me into a mad customer. With his power tools he could of listened to a 28 year mechanic and replaced that hub beaing in less than 10 minutes if he really wanted to. I just figured out if Bills Auto Repair Shop located in Hiawatha Kansas will do this to a 28 year auto tech. he will have many of field days with the every day customer here in Hiawatha Kansas!

So if all possible stay away from this, Bills Auto Shop located in Hiawatha Kansas unless you want to be nickled and dimmed to death over small adjustments that can be performed free of charge only if they see fit. For more auto repair savings tips and advice please visit my Blog at, “Auto Repair Savings And my Special Links.” -The Autodude

Keywords- Bills Auto Repair, Auto Repair Shop, Hiawatha, Kansas 66434, Cars, Autoparts

Auto Repair Shop Hourly Rates and Auto Parts Prices

Wouldn’t this be a nightmare seeing auto mechanics expanding out and opening auto parts stores combined with their auto service centers and their own tow truck service? It sounds kind of like a tongue twister if you sit back and think about this. Just the idea of a team of auto mechanics coming together and controlling prices for their parts and labor with tow truck service resulting in sky rocketing auto repair bills for you and me. That is the part that sounds like a night mare to me! Let me explain to you what I am talking about here.

Lets say a auto mechanic opened his own auto repair shop with his own money. First of all he or she can charge what ever they want when it comes to auto repair shop hourly rates. Depending on his automotive skill level and ASE certifications he might just want to charge his auto repair customers a high price of $200.00 per hour for working on their car or truck! And to make matters worse he or she now decides to open his or her own auto parts store. Now he has control of the auto-parts prices which he will charge you as his auto repair customer which he can double along with his $200.00 per hour auto shop rates. Keep in mind that auto repair shops across this country do charge their auto repair shop customers any where from $17.50 per hour to $200.00 per hour depending on their moods or how high they are strung out on themselves. Can you imagine how much money a auto repair mechanic who owns his own auto center plus his own auto parts store could make in one day of automotive repair business? But now he wants to add his own auto and truck tow service.

Example for a Normal Auto Repair Shop

I’m thinking now about that credit card commercial a normal auto repair shop would charge you as follows: tow bill $45, diagnostic $25 (time spent on finding your problem), $60 for rebuilt starter, $17.50 for labor to install starter. With a grand total of $147.50 for everything. Now this auto repair bill seems just fine to me and you right?

Example for the Expanding Auto Mechanic Who Has Everything

Keep in mind this auto repair shop bill could be the real thing! This is where the money is when you have your own auto repair shop, auto parts store and your own tow truck service. Here we go again! Tow bill $250-diagnostic time-$200-New starter-$400, 1 hour labor to install starter $200. With his grand total of $1,050.00 for everything. These prices could be you.

Which auto repair shop would you see yourself taking your vehicle into when your car or truck will not turn over with a bad starter motor. The auto mechanic could charge you either $147.50 or $1,050,00 depending on his location and how bad you need your vehicle fixed! I would guess with these prices he could call it a day after a few cars come into his auto service center and buy his auto parts after being unhooked from his tow truck. With all of this said keep in mind these examples could be you if you happen to stroll into his auto mechanics shop who owns his own auto parts store along with his own tow truck service!

Please visit my Auto Repair Savings Blog for more Auto Repair Stories and Advice!

Car and Truck Tune up Questions- Answered Now!

The things you need to know like what is a tune up, car tune up cost, tune up shops, and car maintenance will be explained here for women and first time car and truck owners. Car tuning is the adjustment, modification, or design of a car engine to create optimal engine performance to increase an engine's ability to yield power output, fuel economy, or durability. Car tune ups can be what you want it to be, either minor or major. A low mileage car or truck would be the perfect example for a vehicle needing a minor tune up. Let me explain to you what a minor and major tune up is and what you should expect for each of these two car services at your local tune up shop.

Minor Car Tune Up Information For Women and First Time Car and Truck Owners:

A minor tune up for a car or truck with low mileage would only consist of replacing the spark plugs on your car. What I mean by low mileage would be around 30,000 miles but check your owner’s manual to be more specific on the mileage. Your car tune up cost should be around $50 for a typical four cylinder car or truck engine. A minor tune up at most tune up shops will also include a free car maintenance inspection which means looking for anything that could cause you to have car engine problems. For example the auto mechanic will inspect your car belts, hoses, antifreeze, engine block for leaks, spark plug wires, distributor cap and ignition rotor, and all of your car engine fluids and top them off if needed. You may be charged for the lubricants and car fluids needed to fill them up. I hope this minor car tune up information will give you a better understanding of what to expect when you take your car or truck in.

Major Car Tune Up Information For Women and First Time Car and Truck Owners:

A major tune up for your car or truck would consist of replacing very important maintenance items such as your car or truck’s spark plugs, spark plug wires, distributor cap and rotor, gas filter, air filter, needed belts and hoses, adjusting your car or truck’s ignition timing and carburetor where applicable. Now if you really want to get the maximum engine performance out of your car or truck with high mileage you may also consider replacing your oxygen sensors, timing belt, and having your cooling system flushed and filled with new antifreeze. It would be well worth it but you would expect to pay around $1,200.00 for this type of high mileage major car tune up. You would not have to worry about another major car or truck tune up for an additional 90,000 miles. I hope this article was able to answer your questions on what is a car tune up is, car tune up cost, car tune up shops, and you received your answer.

For more car and truck care information for women and first time car and truck owners please visit my blog at, “Auto Repair Savings Blog.”

What is a Car Tune Up-Car Tune Up Cost-Car Tune Up Shops; Car Maintenance Information

All Season Tires

All season truck tires usually have no business going off-road, as their composition and tread designs are not built to handle beatings from off-road conditions. They do, however, provide long-lasting tread that excels on wet or dry paved roads and offers tremendous longevity. Most stock vehicles come equipped with all season tires. For vehicle enthusiasts adding larger truck tires just for show, all-season truck tires are likely the most efficient way to go. Granted, you won't get that aggressive look that's quite popular as of late, but that may be a small price to pay for truck tires that will last you tens of thousands of miles longer than more aggressive truck tires.

Sample Fender Flares

4X fender flares were made by the famous brand of WARN. This type of fender flare is best for all types of truck and vehicles that has larger tires and custom wheels. What's great about this type of flare it can be mounted inside the fender well using the unique styled screws together with heavy-duty 3M adhesive tape, these flares are also sealed to the fender rim. Using the durable construction of this fender flare, it keeps off moisture, dirt and also helps in having rust. The hardwearing materials used in this device is Warn's exclusive armor guard which is a high impact ABS co-laminate. It is actually the number one material to get maximum flexibility and durability for your rig.

Warn 30210 4X Front Fender Flares

Putco Stainless Steel Fender Trim

Body Lift

A body lift is a common and cheap method to run larger tires on a vehicle. It involves installing a puck where the body mounts to the frame in order to increase the clearance between tires and the body. This is often used to allow the placement of a larger motor for an engine swap. It is considered by many to be inferior to a well built suspension lift. The downfall to installing pucks for spacing is that over time the rubber in the puck tends to deteriorate. This causes the body to sag, and will eventually become unsafe. While the controversy continues about body lifts versus suspension lifts, a properly installed aftermarket body lift kit can give the desired effect just as safely as a suspension lift.

Complete source: Wiki

Ford Body Lifts:


Body lifts are 3" tall unless noted.