How to Sell Car Spare Parts Online- 7 Steps

Did you know that online sales of auto parts in the U.S. are expected to reach $19 billion by 2022? The auto parts market is huge, with a global value estimated at $378 billion and an estimated annual growth rate of 4%. In the past, you would go to your local mechanic store to buy a new auto part – but the future of auto parts sales will be largely online. More important to online sellers, however, is how sales of auto parts and accessories move to the internet.

Auto parts buyers are shopping online, whether they want performance accessories like upgraded alloy wheels, or replacement parts, whether you already have a brick-and-mortar store or are building a brand new business, you can sell online Auto parts without technical skills or huge cash investments. We’ll help you show the best way to sell auto parts online – just follow our seven easy steps!

Who’s Buying Spare Parts Online?

Online buyers are not just consumers. The Online Parts and Accessories segment serves the consumer and professional markets in Australia, with over 50% of online transactions ultimately being completed by professional mechanics*.

Consumers expect their online experience to be comparable to their offline experience, and they are turning to online sites like eBay and Google to research and find spare parts and deals.

Where To Sell Car Parts Online?

The biggest hitters in online sales of auto parts are eBay and Amazon. Some businesses can also successfully sell on their own websites, and Walmart is an emerging market in this category.

Selling Auto Parts Online With Amazon

Amazon auto parts seller requirements:

• You must be enrolled in a professional selling program.
• You must have compliant product images viewable on an independent website or image hosting website.
• All major brands must list a Universal Product Code (UPC).
• All certified refurbished automotive and power sports products must be warranted by the manufacturer or remanufacturer.
• If you plan to sell accessory-specific products (vehicle-specific products only), you must read the Automotive & Powersports Part Finder and Fitment Data page in its entirety.

Having a website is also an advantage, sellers say. For most private label sellers, this doesn’t matter for being accepted to sell on Amazon, but resellers often run into issues.

Businesses that sell their own manufactured goods tend to start with Amazon. Amazon is good for brand owners and white labelers because they own the brand, so whether they sell it themselves, or end up stockpiling by Amazon, they are selling.

Third-party auto parts sellers can also be very successful on Amazon, but their profits are squeezed by competition with other sellers and Amazon itself. Sellers must have a competitive pricing strategy and a strong supply chain to be successful. On Amazon, the buy box is everything, and sellers can win it by selling at the lowest profit margin, but then lose the buy box when they sell out.

Amazon Auto doesn’t have a “used” category for automotive products. You can browse the products in Automotive yourself and you’ll find that none of the products have a “used” option. Some have “refurbished” options, but even these options must be guaranteed by the manufacturer or remanufacturer.

Selling Auto Parts Online With eBay

Auto parts is a strong category on eBay, and they’ve been working hard to improve it later. Parts maps for U.S. buyers help customers with little or no knowledge of auto parts buy with confidence knowing they’ve selected the right product.

eBay catalog:

The Auto Parts category has a catalog listing that provides a clear and easy overview of the available quotes for an item.

Frooion eBay login software allows sellers to log auto parts to eBay using an ePID or MPN, and then use an eBay product-based shopping experience to find parts in the eBay catalog.

If the product exists in the eBay catalog, most login information will be pre-filled. Information that eBay can autocomplete:

• Product Title
• Description
• Product images (Stock)
• Category
• Item Specifics
• Weight & Dimensions
• Parts compatibility

The eBay catalog is large and growing rapidly, but if an item is not found in the eBay catalog, sellers can create that item and, if accepted, will benefit in search rankings.

When it comes to confidence in you as a seller, eBay customers will want a good positive customer feedback score.

Additionally, eBay allows sellers to apply fully branded designs to personal items. Professional design lets clients understand that you are a mature business and encourages trust. It also familiarizes customers with your brand. Phone numbers and links are not allowed in listings, so if you have your own website, branded listings are the best way to encourage customers to search for your brand’s website.

Selling Auto Parts From Your Own Site

Inventory organization and search functionality are the biggest challenges for auto parts websites. Frooion partners with the BigCommerce framework to build robust auto parts websites that are easy for sellers to control, safe and fast, and easy for customers to buy.

Buyers want to see large photos with high detail to ensure the product is correct. DIY buyers often want to see all angles of a product to ensure it looks similar to the part they are replacing.

Frooion solves these problems by providing additional detailed product galleries, 1- or 2-column layouts to maximize product photo size, videos in image galleries, and even 360-degree rotation of product images*.

Frooion partnered with auto parts data specialist PartsConnect to build a unique search function into the website.

By letting customers search by make and model, even small auto parts businesses can get the same buying experience as the largest auto parts sites.

If customers still have problems, they can be advised via the live chat plugin. Being able to immediately clarify issues and eliminate objections naturally increases conversions to sales.

Best Types Of Auto Parts To Sell On Amazon?

Brand owners and private labelers are great for all Amazon product categories, including auto parts and accessories.

Accessories and performance parts sell well on Amazon and are favored by many sellers before replacing parts. Remember, these products are optional and bought by enthusiasts, so they need to be marketed to a very high standard. The quality of product listings is paramount.

Think photos, including infographics and lifestyle photos, persuasive descriptions, and of course, renovation data. This is in contrast to replacement parts, which simply need to clearly identify which cars they are compatible with through photos and installation data.

Auto parts and high-performance auto parts are extremely competitive on Amazon. Even if you have your own brand, there are usually competitors with the same product. Reaching the top of search results with good Amazon SEO is crucial to getting people to your product pages. Once a customer finds your product, reviews are often a must for sale. Sellers also need to invest in PPC advertising in order to sell on Amazon and often need to advertise on an ongoing basis.

There is relatively little contact between buyers and sellers on Amazon, especially before making a sale. It’s best not to buy products on Amazon that require professional pre-sales advice, as shoppers are likely to lose the ability to contact you and end up making unwitting purchases. On Amazon, canceling an order is very unpopular and can quickly ruin your position in the market.

If you are a reseller of other auto parts brands, you may be very successful on Amazon, but you will be competing with other sellers and Amazon itself. Be prepared to lower prices and offer an extensive product catalog, as this will maximize sales at higher prices when competitors are out of stock.

You can’t sell used parts on Amazon, so if you’re in the salvage business, you’ll need to focus on eBay.

Best Types Of Auto Parts To Sell On eBay?

All types of auto parts are sold on eBay, but replacement auto parts tend to be the best sellers. Vehicles are constantly wearing out, so demand is huge. consider:

• Repair items such as filters, brakes, tires and suspension.
• Electrical items include light bulbs, starter motors, alternators, fuel pumps and injectors.
• Mechanical items such as bushings and engine mounts.
• Interior and exterior items such as wiper blades and door handles.

The possibilities are endless. Make sure to position your items clearly in the market, whether they are OE (genuine) or aftermarket. Take the time to identify your competitors so you can make sure you are competitive.

Most importantly, have OE part numbers, accurate assembly data, and clear photos ready. The first question on the buyer’s mind is “is this right for my car?” and they will use all the information you provide to make sure they’ve picked the right part.

Businesses that do well on eBay include Depop shippers and brick-and-mortar stores. Auto dealers are also expanding to eBay, as are professionals, such as those catering to off-road enthusiasts. Auto recycling and scrap dealers also use eBay.

Be extra careful if you sell very heavy or bulky parts, such as engines. Some people sell these items on eBay, but they take extra precautions, such as talking to the buyer on the phone before the transaction takes place. You don’t want to ship an engine across the country only to have it returned directly to you in a few days.

Performance auto parts and accessories are also sold on eBay, but for direct-to-consumer brands and private labels, Amazon is worth checking out.

How to Sell Car Spare Parts Online: 7 Steps

1. Select your product

Choosing your product is an important first step in building a successful business, and it’s not always as easy as it sounds

That’s a fair enough response, but to sell auto parts and get a long-term, profitable business out of it, you need a niche. Having a niche allows you to focus on a specific market – for example, you might focus on a specific make or model, or only sell a certain auto part (like lights or filters).

2. Purchasing products

Next, you need to ask a question: Where do I get my auto parts? You have a few options, which we’ll discuss in a moment.

But first, it’s worth mentioning that no matter how you decide to source your auto parts, it’s critical to make sure they’re authentic, reliable, and of high quality. The success of your business depends on the trust your customers have in you and your product. Don’t get caught up in the sketchy car salesman stereotype!

• From wholesalers

A wholesaler is a company that sells products in bulk to retailers, usually at a lower price. This means you can buy in bulk and then make a profit by charging a higher retail price when selling to customers.

This makes the most sense if you’re selling directly to individual customers rather than other businesses.

Some wholesalers even offer Depop shipping. This is where you place customer orders with suppliers, who then process, pack, and ship products directly to customers.

This Depop shipping business model is ideal if you’re just starting out and don’t have enough space to store a lot of inventory and don’t have the funds to rent a warehouse.

• From the manufacturer

One of the best ways to ensure high quality is to source auto parts directly from the manufacturer. This method works especially well if you specialize in a certain car type, as some car companies favor different manufacturers, making them the first choice for parts!

Buying directly from the manufacturer also cuts out the middleman, the wholesaler, which means you’re likely to find lower prices because the wholesaler doesn’t mark up.

Manufacturers will know more about their products and you can take advantage of them. You can also put yourself in a good position to assure customers that the parts you sell are reliable and genuine.

• Procurement of auto parts by yourself

Maybe you can look for auto parts yourself. Whether you’ve been collecting parts for years or have a yard full of unwanted cars, sourcing your own parts is a great way to keep costs down.

Using this method, however, leaves more room for inferior products to slip into your inventory, so be careful. Our number one piece of advice is honesty. If you’ve rummaged through your local junkyard, make this clear on your storefront, price your products accordingly, and always make sure the parts you sell are in good working condition.

This method works best if you’re dealing with more collectible auto parts or older models, rather than mainstream modern replacement parts.

3. Pick Your Sales Channels

You know what you’re selling and who you’re buying your products from, but where are you going to sell your auto parts? There are many places to sell auto parts online, we mentioned three above: Amazon, eBay, and your own site.

4. Showcase Your Car Parts

Now, you are ready to upload your product. No matter which sales channel you choose, you need at least two things to sell auto parts: high-quality photos and convincing product descriptions.

Take high-quality photos

Did you know that 75% of shoppers rely on product photos when deciding whether to buy?

• Avoid dark, blurry or cluttered photos. You should also avoid using flash, or adding any filters to your images. Instead, here are some quick tips for taking great product photos to win customers over:
• use plenty of light
• Use a high-quality camera (your phone camera is fine!)
• Take photos from multiple angles
• Try to show the size and size of the product
• Take some close-up photos to show the details

Remember, these photos are the only way customers will see the product before buying, so your photos need to provide a full picture of the product. Try showing the photo to a friend who is not very familiar with your product and see what feedback they have!

Write Informative Product Descriptions

Product photos show what the product looks like. But what about what you can’t see? When you write product descriptions, you should follow some key tips to convince customers to click to buy:

• Focus on benefits, not features
• Provide factually useful information (such as size, make or model)
• Keep it short and scannable – use bullet points!
• Be specific and confident
• Answer questions such as product history, care, instructions, etc.

5. Price Your Car Parts

Pricing can vary widely depending on the product, audience, reputation, and even where you sell it. We can’t tell you the price of a product, but we can guide you in the right direction.

• How much do your competitors charge?

Conduct competitor research to see what other auto parts sellers charge for products similar to yours. Ask yourself why they want these prices and how your product compares.

Can you price your product in a similar way? Or do you have an advantage, which means you can charge a little more? You want to make sure your prices are competitive but still profitable.

• How much profit do you need?

Finally, you need to make money selling auto parts online. Otherwise, what’s the point?

See how much you spend — for example, on sourcing parts, paying for the Amazon seller program, storing inventory, or paying for Depop shippers — and then figure out how much you need to charge to be profitable.

A good way to ensure profitability is to use the following pricing strategies:

Total product cost + markup % = final product price

The total cost consists of factors such as material cost, labor cost, and overhead. Markups are usually around 50%, but you’ll need to use your own judgment to see if this is right for you.

• Avoid competition to the end

On platforms like eBay and Amazon, your product competes directly with hundreds of other products, all on the same page, which means it can be a struggle to stand out from the crowd. This may entice people to offer cheaper prices than others in order to attract more sales.

There are several reasons why you shouldn’t do this.

First, it makes the golden rule of sales—profitability—hard to achieve. If you don’t charge enough to cover your costs, you’ll be at a loss, which is unsustainable. Other competitors may also lower their prices, forcing yours down even further, just to stay in the game.

Second, people don’t like products that are too cheap. Yes, shoppers love deals, but they also want high-quality, trusted products, especially when it comes to auto parts! Pricing your auto parts too low makes customers think they are of poor quality, making them more likely to avoid your product.

Don’t forget the true value of the product just because the price is too high. You shouldn’t be afraid to charge a little extra – as long as people trust your product, they will pay!

6. Set Your Shipping Strategies

Auto parts are difficult to transport. They are bulky, heavy, and awkwardly shaped, and have the potential to cause headaches. The shipping method you choose will vary depending on your business model, sales channels, and products you sell.

• Shipping and Fulfillment

If you simply don’t want to deal with the hassle of shipping, Depop shipping is a great solution. This is where your suppliers keep the product for you – you then send the customer order to the supplier, who packs the product and ships it directly to the customer.

This means you don’t have to worry about packing your product, finding a courier, or deciding what type of shipping your product needs.

The downside, however, is that you have no control over the shipping. Fast, reliable delivery is a must in order to keep your customers happy, so check out your satisfaction by placing a few practice orders before committing to your supplier.

Another similar option is implementation. Amazon operates its own fulfillment program called Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA). Here, you can send your products to Amazon and then pay Amazon to store them and ship them for you.

This is different from drop shipping because Amazon is shipping your products, whereas inDepopshipping, suppliers ship their own products that you sell to customers. Another big difference is that you have to pay for storage, which can get expensive.

Auto parts are difficult to transport. They are bulky, heavy, and awkwardly shaped, and have the potential to cause headaches. The shipping method you choose will vary depending on your business model, sales channels, and products you sell.

Shipping and Fulfillment If you simply don’t want to deal with the hassle of shipping, Depop shipping is a great solution. This is where your suppliers keep the product for you – you then send the customer order to the supplier, who packs the product and ships it directly to the customer.

This means you don’t have to worry about packing your product, finding a courier, or deciding what type of shipping your product needs.

The downside, however, is that you have no control over the shipping. Fast, reliable delivery is a must in order to keep your customers happy, so check out your satisfaction by placing a few practice orders before committing to your supplier.

Another similar option is implementation. Amazon operates its own fulfillment program called Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA). Here, you can send your products to Amazon and then pay Amazon to store them and ship them for you.

This is different from Depop shipping because Amazon is shipping your products, whereas in dropshipping, suppliers ship their own products that you sell to customers. Another big difference is that you have to pay for storage, which can get expensive.

If neither Depop shipping nor Performance appeals to you, then you most likely need express delivery to ship your products.

In this regard, setting up a store with an e-commerce platform like Shopify or BigCommerce is helpful, as they come with built-in shipping integrations. You can even get discounts on couriers who work with them!

Best to check with your courier:

Accept your car parts (some can be classified as “dangerous”)

have a good reputation

Affordable

Shipping to your desired destination

Partner with your e-commerce platform

Popular courier options include USPS, UPS, FedEx, DHL, and Canada Post, all of which are supported by BigCommerce and Shopify.

Customer collection

While it may not work for everyone, you may want to provide collection services to customers rather than shipping. This works best if you’re selling locally, as most people expect business to be delivered to them these days.

Shopify has a feature that allows you to set a “local pickup” radius. This means that customers within the zone you set up will see the option for customer pickup, but customers who shop outside the zone will not be offered pickup at checkout.

Auto parts are difficult to transport. They are bulky, heavy, and awkwardly shaped, and have the potential to cause headaches. The shipping method you choose will vary depending on your business model, sales channels, and products you sell.

Shipping and Fulfillment If you simply don’t want to deal with the hassle of shipping, Depop shipping is a great solution. This is where your suppliers keep the product for you – you then send the customer order to the supplier, who packs the product and ships it directly to the customer.

This means you don’t have to worry about packing your product, finding a courier, or deciding what type of shipping your product needs.

The downside, however, is that you have no control over the shipping. Fast, reliable delivery is a must in order to keep your customers happy, so check out your satisfaction by placing a few practice orders before committing to your supplier.

Another similar option is implementation. Amazon operates its own fulfillment program called Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA). Here, you can send your products to Amazon and then pay Amazon to store them and ship them for you.

This is different from Depop shipping because Amazon is shipping your products, whereas in dropshipping, suppliers ship their own products that you sell to customers. Another big difference is that you have to pay for storage, which can get expensive.

If neither Depop shipping nor Performance appeals to you, then you most likely need express delivery to ship your products.

In this regard, setting up a store with an e-commerce platform like Shopify or BigCommerce is helpful, as they come with built-in shipping integrations. You can even get discounts on couriers who work with them!

Best to check with your courier:

Accept your car parts (some can be classified as “dangerous”)

have a good reputation

Affordable

Shipping to your desired destination

Partner with your e-commerce platform

Popular courier options include USPS, UPS, FedEx, DHL, and Canada Post, all of which are supported by BigCommerce and Shopify.

Customer collection

While it may not work for everyone, you may want to provide collection services to customers rather than shipping. This works best if you’re selling locally, as most people expect business to be delivered to them these days.

Shopify has a feature that allows you to set a “local pickup” radius. This means that customers within the zone you set up will see the option for customer pickup, but customers who shop outside the zone will not be offered pickup at checkout.

Auto parts are difficult to transport. They are bulky, heavy, and awkwardly shaped, and have the potential to cause headaches. The shipping method you choose will vary depending on your business model, sales channels, and products you sell.

Shipping and Fulfillment If you simply don’t want to deal with the hassle of shipping, Depop shipping is a great solution. This is where your suppliers keep the product for you – you then send the customer order to the supplier, who packs the product and ships it directly to the customer.

This means you don’t have to worry about packing your product, finding a courier, or deciding what type of shipping your product needs.

The downside, however, is that you have no control over the shipping. Fast, reliable delivery is a must in order to keep your customers happy, so check out your satisfaction by placing a few practice orders before committing to your supplier.

Another similar option is implementation. Amazon operates its own fulfillment program called Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA). Here, you can send your products to Amazon and then pay Amazon to store them and ship them for you.

This is different from Depop shipping because Amazon is shipping your products, whereas in dropshipping, suppliers ship their own products that you sell to customers. Another big difference is that you have to pay for storage, which can get expensive.

If neither Depop shipping nor Performance appeals to you, then you most likely need express delivery to ship your products.

In this regard, setting up a store with an e-commerce platform like Shopify or BigCommerce is helpful, as they come with built-in shipping integrations. You can even get discounts on couriers who work with them!

Best to check with your courier:

Accept your car parts (some can be classified as “dangerous”)

have a good reputation

Affordable

Shipping to your desired destination

Partner with your e-commerce platform

Popular courier options include USPS, UPS, FedEx, DHL, and Canada Post, all of which are supported by BigCommerce and Shopify.

Customer collection

While it may not work for everyone, you may want to provide collection services to customers rather than shipping. This works best if you’re selling locally, as most people expect business to be delivered to them these days.

Shopify has a feature that allows you to set a “local pickup” radius. This means that customers within the zone you set up will see the option for customer pickup, but customers who shop outside the zone will not be offered pickup at checkout.

• Couriers

If neither Depop shipping nor Performance appeals to you, then you most likely need express delivery to ship your products.

In this regard, setting up a store with an e-commerce platform like Shopify or BigCommerce is helpful, as they come with built-in shipping integrations. You can even get discounts on couriers who work with them!

Best to check with your courier:

1. Accept your car parts (some can be classified as “dangerous”)
2. have a good reputation
3. Affordable
4. Shipping to your desired destination
5. Partner with your e-commerce platform
6. Popular courier options include USPS, UPS, FedEx, DHL, and Canada Post, all of which are supported by BigCommerce and Shopify.

• Customer collection

While it may not work for everyone, you may want to provide collection services to customers rather than shipping. This works best if you’re selling locally, as most people expect business to be delivered to them these days.

Shopify has a feature that allows you to set a “local pickup” radius. This means that customers within the zone you set up will see the option for customer pickup, but customers who shop outside the zone will not be offered pickup at checkout.

7. Promote Your Car Parts Online

Once you start selling, you want to increase the number of people watching and buying your auto parts. It’s a good idea to market your product in multiple ways, rather than relying on just one method. Here are some ideas to get you started…

• SEO (Search Engine Optimization)

Search engine optimization is the process of getting your website to rank higher in Google search results. The higher your position, the greater the chance that someone will visit your website, which will give you an edge over the competition.

There are hundreds of ways to optimize your store, from optimizing images to creating a mobile-friendly experience to using titles and custom URLs.

One downside of eBay and Amazon is that you have less control over where your products appear in their search results.

Our top tip is to start by getting as many positive, authentic reviews as possible, as this is a huge factor in gaining more visibility for these sales channels.

• Customer Reviews

People love to read reviews before buying. Encourage customers to give you feedback, leave reviews, and give star ratings to your products – this will encourage others to click and buy!

If you get bad reviews, don’t panic. Dealing with negative reviews in a positive and professional manner will actually increase the confidence of other customers in you. Don’t delete bad comments and don’t react defensively.

Always try to say “thank you for your feedback” and “sorry” – even if it’s not your fault!

• Social media

Social media is an excellent resource to market your products. You can reach a lot of people on social media, and customers can even buy products on your social accounts!

Try to choose a social channel that suits your product and target audience. Try not to be too showy about what you post or people will get bored and not follow you.

Invite customers to send photos of car parts they bought in action – it’s a great way to engage with your audience!

• E-mail

Email marketing may sound outdated, but you’re still six times more likely to get clicks from email than from Twitter. If customers sign up for your newsletter, you have the perfect funnel to lure them back to your store.

Talk about exciting new product updates, offer exclusive discounts, and offer personalized product recommendations based on their previous purchases to keep them interested in your store.

Summary

You can take your foot off the gas pedal – we’ve come to the conclusion!

Now, you know the key steps to selling auto parts online. You know exactly where to sell auto parts—Amazon, eBay, your own online store, or even all three—and how to start sourcing, displaying, and shipping your products.

Remember, anyone can sell auto parts online. Whether you’re growing a brick-and-mortar business or selling a personal collection, there’s a sales channel and audience.

Remember to look for reliable, authentic products and present them professionally. Reasonable pricing, safe shipping, promotions with energy – and soon, you’ll find yourself successfully selling auto parts online!