Yamaha OEM parts and Yamaha ATV parts are abundant on the web. Many of these sites claim they can save you a fortune but that is questionable. When I went looking on these sites seem to claim to contradict one another. One site claims they can save you 20% and another site claims that they can save you 70% off. When you put one site up against another its hard to see who really has the greatest price if any of them? At first glance this may appear to be a bunch of BS. Maybe none of these sites really offer you the best deal. Who can tell?
There are different places one can look for auto parts such as local specialty stores, online stores or auto parts auctions, and last but not least junk or salvage yards. Every place has its pros and cons.
The real problem comes from bad fits in repair jobs. The very minor differences can become critical, if they affect power or steering systems. From a purely mechanical perspective, a difference of a millimeter in parts can make the difference between working properly or working very badly. Those problems can literally be killers. If the parts are also in dubious or so-so condition, it means more problems.
Know the car component that you need. Nothing could be worse than purchasing a car part only to find out that it doesn’t fit. As much as possible, when you go to the store, bring the part that needs replacement to make sure that you get exactly what you need.
It also helps even if you are auto repair challenged, to keep a small tool kit in the car. A pliers, screwdriver, a set of jumper cables and some fuses plus a small wrench set can get you out of a lot of jams. Even if you don’t know what to do with the tools, there may be someone around that knows what to do with the tools. Many cars are now operated as much by computer as anything else, but if your battery goes dead, having a set of jumper cables can get you on the road sooner. Make sure your tool set is what you need either inches or metric. Check to make sure you have the correct type for your particular vehicle.
Most of the large old car use a system called a “Hotline.” If you call a junkyard and ask whether they carry a certain part, they’ll check their inventory database while you’re on the phone. If they don’t find the part you need in their inventory, they can use their Hotline to quickly check the inventories of neighboring junkyards. A quick tip about the Hotline: ask the junkyard that is checking other yards what that particular part would have cost if they had it in their inventory. You may be able to negotiate the price with the other dealer.
Advertise your car. If you’re not satisfied with the offers from the salvage yards, you may be able to make more money by selling it directly. You can advertise on Craigslist or some other website, giving details about your car. Include photos and be honest about the car’s condition. Put down an asking prices such as $500 or OBO for “or best offer” and wait for people to contact you. One man’s junk is another man’s treasure — you could be holding a classic that would be worth a mint once it has been restored.
Online, there are usually images of the used car parts that the websites are selling. Be careful when shopping online, because they may not sell you the exact part that you are looking at in the image. Sometimes parts are already painted, and they might not match the paint that is on your car. Sometimes, the parts are available without paint. If you are replacing auto body, the color of the paint is important because your car will look strange or unfinished if it is unpainted or if it is the wrong color. Talk to a body shop before you buy this type of part online.
Lastly, price is another great reason to shop online. This is due to competition. Auto parts dealers in certain neighborhoods simply do not have a lot of competition. When consumers have limited options, this means that those businesses can charge a higher price to benefit from this lack of competition.
You need not sit in your car just to go to a supermarket nearby. It will not only waste your fuel but will also cause unnecessary pollution. You can walk or use a bicycle instead.