As it turns out, there are MANY reasons why selling auto parts online is a great idea for dealerships aside from just driving more revenue. From eliminating obsolescence to increasing absorption rate, parts eCommerce can solve some of the everyday problems of the parts department.

Here are 6 ways your eCommerce can benefit the parts department, its staff, and the dealership.

READ MORE: How to Eliminate Obsolescence for your Parts Department

Expand Your Parts Sales with eCommerce Solutions

Adding online selling channels to your parts department can help you increase revenue, improve operations, and lower obsolescence. If you want to learn more about how to modernize your parts department, download our free guide, “Creating a Digital Parts Department.”

When you hear the words “Black Friday,” what immediately pops into your mind? Sales. Giant sales. Sales with big savings and sweet deals make consumers flock to any business. 

But did you know that Black Friday is more than just one big sales day? Black Friday is nearly a week of anticipation, discounts, and promotions. Black Friday and its increasingly popular sibling holiday, Cyber Monday, can span up to five days long, especially for businesses taking their cues from Amazon. 

It’s a BIG deal, and it’s better to be prepared for it sooner rather than later. 

Why Black Friday/Cyber Monday Weekend?

Black Friday and Cyber Monday are mostly seen as big sales events. While that’s true, they can offer your dealership more benefits than you might imagine. 

The Black Friday and Cyber Monday weekend is like the Super Bowl for retailers. Both brick-and-mortar and online retailers see a massive influx in sales during this time, even with prices at giant discounts. It’s become the most anticipated buying event among today’s consumers, especially among online shoppers. 

Studies in early 2023 show that up to 43% of consumers in the U.S. prefer to shop online rather than in physical stores. Almost half of the nation’s consumer population has a stronger preference to shop online. A strong eCommerce presence is essential to driving profitability during this sales event.

Just Take a Look at the Numbers!

In 2022, merchants using RevolutionParts recorded impressive sales of $6,565,736 during the Black Friday and Cyber Monday events.

Of the total buyers on dealership sites, 52% were repeat patrons, and the remaining 48% were first-time purchasers.

A significant 61.3% of Black Friday transactions occurred on mobile devices, with 36.2% conducted on desktops. This underscores the crucial need for optimized websites for desktop and mobile use.

The rise in eCommerce sales during Black Friday weekend has only increased since then. 

With more and more consumers choosing to make regular online purchases, having a strong eCommerce presence from the get-go is important to your dealership’s success. 

5 Reasons to Start Planning Now

The right eCommerce strategy can make all the difference in the parts department; having a robust one for Black Friday is especially beneficial. 

The eCommerce retail market gives you a few distinct advantages.

• Expand Your Reach: Attract nationwide parts shoppers and build a customer base beyond your local area. 

• Provide Convenient 24/7 Shopping: Make it easy for customers to order from you anytime, anywhere.

• Stronger Marketing Capability: Increase your visibility with digital marketing tactics. A strong Black Friday marketing campaign can create a sense of urgency and improve your online sales.

• Diversify Revenue Streams: Sell across multiple channels to maximize your reach and expand your sales capabilities beyond the confines of your parts counter. You can streamline the shopping experience, attract customers, and boost sales more effectively.

• Maintain a Competitive Edge: Stand up against the competition and establish your online presence to draw in more leads.

• Boost in Parts Profits: Selling parts online and capturing those additional online sales during Cyber Weekend will increase profits in the parts department.

These three advantages can help you create and streamline your Black Friday strategy. 

Reaching a customer base beyond your local area can help you increase sales, diversify your customer base, and maximize your revenue potential. 

The benefits are clear, but preparing for it now may not be as evident. Here are the reasons why you need to start thinking about your Black Friday/Cyber Monday strategy now. 

Parts Department Timeline for Preparing for Black Friday

You Need to Be Set Up For eCommerce ASAP

Black Friday and Cyber Monday are dominated by online retail. Your dealership might have an online presence, but your parts department may not be at the same level. If you don’t have the right eCommerce setup, you’re going to lose more money than you’ll make during Black Friday/Cyber Monday. 

Why do you need to get set up for eCommerce now? Getting the right eCommerce solution in place isn’t instantaneous. You need to get set up in time for Black Friday/Cyber Monday, which means you need to start getting set up now. 

To be ready, you need to:

• Get onboarded: This process can take up to 30 days to get up and running.
  

• Get your website ready: Once your web store is set up, you need to get it ready for the Black Friday/Cyber Monday weekend. 

• Get your inventory integrated: This part is simple, as your entire catalog can easily be added to your web store, Amazon, and eBay with the click of a button.

• Set up additional marketplaces to sell through: Selling on Amazon and eBay can help boost your sales.

Getting set up for the Black Friday/Cyber Monday shopping holiday is easy. RevolutionParts can help you get onboarded, integrate your inventory, get set up with a high-quality web store, and help you navigate selling on additional digital marketplaces like Amazon and eBay. We can help you get set up in time for Black Friday/Cyber Monday so you can take advantage of the increased parts sales. 

Create a Marketing Strategy

Getting your marketing right for Black Friday/Cyber Monday is crucial to your dealership’s success. Throwing a couple of ads online isn’t enough to keep up with the competition these days. You need to be on the radar of your current customers and your potential customers. You can’t do that without effective marketing tools and techniques. 

Not sure where to start with your Black Friday/Cyber Monday marketing strategy? RevolutionParts can help steer you in the right direction. Through RevolutionParts’ marketing services, you can create and implement an effective digital marketing strategy that you can apply to big sales events or even just year-round. 

How can RevolutionParts help you?

• Create and implement email marketing campaigns
• Improve PPC advertising
• Improve your website SEO to rank higher on search engines

Promotions Shouldn’t Until the Last Minute

Preparing for Black Friday/Cyber Monday doesn’t just require the right eCommerce solution. It also requires a great marketing strategy. Marketing can’t wait. You need to be promoting your Black Friday/Cyber Monday sales program as soon as possible. You’re too late if you wait until the week before your sale to promote it. You’re behind if you wait until the first week of November to start your promotions. Most companies start promoting their Black Friday/Cyber Monday promos as early as mid-October. 

Your Competitors Have Already Started

All of your competitors are planning their Black Friday/Cyber Monday sales strategy now. They’re testing their site speed, ensuring their ads are in place, and setting their budgets. This means that they already have a leg up on your dealership. If you want to stay on the same playing field as your competitors, you need to create and implement the right eCommerce strategy. 

You’re already behind if your customers have difficulty purchasing your parts and accessories. If potential customers aren’t aware of the sales you are promoting for Black Friday/Cyber Monday, they’ll flock to your competitors instead because they know they’re having a sale. By planning now, you can help ensure those potential customers shop from you instead of going elsewhere.

Your Consumers Are Planning For It

Most consumers are conscious of their buying decisions and will put off purchasing in the fall until the Black Friday weekend because they know they may get the same product at a better deal. Black Friday and Cyber Monday dominate the online shopping sphere every fall as many consumers base their buying habits on what benefits them the most.

Your customers are already planning for these sales. They’re setting their own budgets. They’re already looking at their buying options and which retailers can offer them the best deals. This is your chance to meet your customer’s expectations and deliver them the best buying experience. Customers who purchase from you have a higher chance of becoming repeat customers and returning to your store for their future auto part needs.

The RevolutionParts Difference

Having the right eCommerce strategy in place for Black Friday Weekend is dependent on your specific goals and unique needs. Every parts department is different, which means a one-size-fits-all approach to eCommerce doesn’t work for everyone. That’s why RevolutionParts offers a variety of eCommerce approaches that can be tailored to fit your unique needs. 

The RevolutionParts platform offers you a breadth of eCommerce tools and services that can be tailored to your specific Black Friday needs.

Through RevolutionParts, you can utilize:

Are You Ready? Don’t Wait!

The Black Friday/Cyber Monday sales surge can make or break your dealership’s sales goals. Without the proper preparation, strategy, and tools, you could sacrifice a major opportunity to increase your revenue. Start planning for your Black Friday/Cyber Monday sales strategy now and get the most out of the holiday season by getting set up with parts eCommerce as soon as possible. Talk to one of our parts eCommerce experts today to discuss how you can get your parts department online for Black Friday.

You’re ready to take your parts department to the next level with an effective online sales strategy, but you’re having trouble convincing your general manager to invest the money into it. 

Here’s an in-depth guide to how you can convince your GM to start selling parts online.

Set The Scene

Remember, this is essentially your pitch to your general manager. Just like any pitch, you need to give your GM some context about the current state of the parts department. This is where you need to address your concerns.

What do you feel is working well for you and your team? What do you feel isn’t working well? This is where you need to grab their attention.

Show Them What Your Competitors Are Doing

You can’t present an idea to your general manager without evidence to support your argument. So, what do you need to bring to the table when you have this discussion with your GM? 

First, you need to give them a competitor analysis. Competitor analysis is a breakdown of what your direct competitors are doing that successfully drives their online business. Knowing what the competition is doing successfully will help you determine the areas you need to improve and the key advantages your dealership has compared to them. 

What to Include in Your Competitor Analysis

• Top Strategies – What tactics are your competitors using to drive success? Are they selling on multiple platforms? Do they have strong social media marketing? How strong is their website SEO? Use all of this information as a benchmark to help you move in the right direction with your eCommerce strategy. Look at direct and indirect competition to get a baseline.

• Key Differentiators – What do your competitors have that you don’t have? It could be a customer loyalty program, a monthly newsletter, a personalized auto accessories tool, or something else altogether. Identify what gives them an edge and think about if you can effectively match them in that aspect.

• Market Trends – At the end of the day, your top competitors are responding to changes in the market. You need to know what those changes are and how your competitors are responding to them. If you can match them here, you stand a chance to increase your profitability.

Show Them What Your Parts Department is Generating in Current Revenue

Now that you and your GM have a baseline understanding of how your competitors are performing, it’s time to focus on how your parts department is currently performing. In order to show the value of a strong parts eCommerce presence to your GM, you need to show them the growth potential compared to where you’re performing now. 

What do you need to present to your general manager to give them a solid understanding of the business your parts department is currently generating?

Break Down Your Current Sales

You have to know where you are now in order to know where you’re going. It’s important that your and your general manager look at the parts department’s current sales. Break down your sales by category, customer type, sales season, and sales offers. If you can identify what sold well and what didn’t, you can better understand how your sales tactics need to change. 

Discuss Your Current Sales Tactics

It’s not enough to know what sells well and what doesn’t sell well. You need to know why something sells or doesn’t sell. What sales tactics are you currently using? Are they helpful, or are they harmful? Do your current tactics help you reach your goals? If not, make it clear to your GM that it’s time to reevaluate your strategy. 

What Factors Support Your Sales Approach?

Every parts department has a few key factors that contribute to its sales growth. You need to understand what yours are and why they help. An example might be a strong wholesale customer network. If you have wholesale customers who often refer your dealership for parts customers, implementing a referral program might be a good idea. Incentivizing those customers will help build upon existing relationships and grow sales simultaneously. 

What Limitations Are Impacting Your Sales Growth? 

Your GM isn’t going to see the value of a robust eCommerce strategy if you only focus on what’s going well in your parts department without one. If you’re going to convince them to invest in eCommerce tools, you need to show them the limitations your parts department experiences without them.

Introduce Software Could Increase Revenue

Now that you’ve given the full scope of your parts department’s current performance, it’s time to show them how you can transform it with an eCommerce strategy. This is when you present the solutions you think will best suit your parts department’s needs and tie them to your growth objectives. 

List the eCommerce Tools You Want

What are the eCommerce tools you need to achieve your goals? Do you need a website, a marketplace seller account, or a social media page? Identify the tools you need to align your sales strategy with these new eCommerce processes. 

Here are a few to keep in mind:

• eCommerce Selling Platform – An online platform that makes it easy for you to list, sell, and ship your products to parts buyers. This can be a website, a marketplace, an app, or all of the above. eCommerce platforms should be the first item you address with your general manager.

• Customer Relationship Management Software (CRM) – A software system that helps manage customer communication, set up appointments, reminders, and gather customer satisfaction data after the completion of a purchase.

• Email Marketing Software – Software that helps you craft, send, and track email marketing campaigns to market your parts business.

Provide Examples Of How They Work

If your general manager is unfamiliar with these types of tools, take this time to educate them. Show them examples of eCommerce tools that you want to use in the parts department. Look at any material that shows how those tools impacted the growth of other companies. Case studies, customer reviews, and testimonials can all work in your favor when presenting your argument. 

Bring Data to Back Up Your Argument

Bringing data to the table is essential. If you’re looking at specific solutions with a track record of success, bring their standard metrics to your meeting with your GM. How much revenue does their average retailer generate? What marketing service provider has the best ROI? You’ll need to do some intense research into each of the eCommerce solutions you want to use. From there, you can make final projections for your department’s sales growth.

Are They Not Sold On It? Don’t Panic. 

Let’s say after all of this; your GM still isn’t sold on eCommerce. Don’t panic. This is the time to answer questions, work through problems, figure out a budget, and determine the next steps in the process. 

Here are some common objections your GM might have and how you should respond to them.

I don’t see the value in investing in this just for the parts department. 

Your Response: Fewer people are buying new vehicles and opting to keep their older cars for longer. That makes them prime customers for the parts department. An eCommerce strategy will help us market our dealership to them, capture their business, and generate repeat business at the dealership to make up for the loss of vehicle sales. 

eCommerce tools are too expensive. 

Your Response: That’s not always true. It depends on how many new tools and solutions you bring on at once. If we want to test out the waters, we can get a custom web store or a website plugin that we can instantly start using at little cost to us. 

This seems like it will be a slow process. When do you think we’ll see real results? 

Your Response: With consistent training for our staff members, we can get up and running in as little as a month. With the right training in place, we can expect to see growth in (x amount) of months.

Grow Your Parts Sales Together

If you’re having trouble talking about an eCommerce plan with your GM, don’t worry. Use these points to outline a proposal that they can’t refuse. Come prepared with talking points, competitor data, and a list of resources you want your parts department to use. 

Want more resources to help you start this conversation? Get more insights into how to facilitate this conversation with the help of this free eBook!

While the online retail sector continues to dominate global commerce, many dealers grapple with the learning curve of their eCommerce capabilities. Indeed, transitioning to online sales isn’t straightforward, and the task becomes even more complex when you’re implementing a fresh eCommerce strategy within your dealership.

Taking your first steps in the online sales journey can often feel like traversing through a maze with hidden twists and turns. Determining what benchmarks to set can be just as challenging. How can you ascertain whether your efforts are indeed leading to progress?

Should you decide to embark on a more comprehensive sales strategy for selling auto parts online, here are some indispensable points to bear in mind.

#1 – Success Won’t Be Instant

Achieving success online is typically a gradual process. It’s important to remember that substantial growth won’t materialize overnight and will take time and patience. For most dealers, it can take a period of six months to a year before you start seeing optimal results. This may seem like a long time, but remember, you are building a new business. 

Think of it this way … 

If you start restoring a rusty 1965 Mustang today, you can’t expect a shiny, show-ready classic overnight. It requires weeks of detailed work, careful sourcing of parts, and meticulous attention to every detail. Similarly, launching your online parts store may take time to refine your website, build your reputation, and drive traffic to your store. But, like a restored classic, the result will be worth the effort.

In the meantime, enjoy the journey and relish in the small victories, as even these seemingly insignificant achievements are crucial milestones that bring you closer to your ultimate goal!

#2 – You Will Make Mistakes

Not everyone is an ace at online sales. Understand that you will make mistakes but that you’ll also be able to learn from them with all the available resources at your disposal. Some of the most successful entrepreneurs began their journey with a handful of mistakes, each one acting as a beacon, guiding them toward a stronger, more robust business strategy.

One of the best ways to create a successful business is through making mistakes and learning from them. Each misstep is an opportunity to gain insights into what doesn’t work and steer you closer to strategies that will. Remember, it’s not the fall that defines your business but the manner in which you pick yourself up and learn from it.

#3 – You Can Always Try New Things

Nothing is finite, especially when selling online. Don’t feel confined to a single sales strategy if it doesn’t yield the expected results. Continually experiment with different online selling strategies that align with your business model. 

Stay up-to-date with market trends and consider implementing new marketing techniques that may offer promising outcomes. Remember, as the online marketplace evolves, so too should your tactics. Don’t hesitate to take the leap and try something new.

The freedom to test, learn, and iterate is one of the most powerful aspects of online selling. If a strategy isn’t working as anticipated, there’s always room to pivot, reinvent, and try something different. Whether it’s varying your SEO tactics, shaking up your social media content, exploring a new pricing model, or even making tweaks your website with digital retailing, the digital landscape offers a vast playground for trial and error.

#4 – You Get What You Give

The time and effort you invest in your eCommerce strategy can be directly proportional to the rewards you reap. eCommerce isn’t a ‘set and forget’ model; it requires ongoing adjustments and fine-tuning. If you find some extra time, dedicate it to refining a report, initiating a new email marketing campaign, or analyzing sales trends. The well-known adage, “what you sow, so shall you reap,” holds true in the context of your eCommerce strategy.

For instance, taking the time to fine-tune your website’s user interface could significantly improve customer experience and drive more sales, much like an engine delivering better performance with careful tuning.

If you are determined to build a successful online business, then you will need to put some work into it. The more work you put into it and the more you nurture your online business, the more successful it will grow.

#5 – Your Platform Makes All The Difference

There are many platforms to choose from when selling online. These range from large online marketplaces like Amazon and eBay to creating your own website on platforms like Shopify or WooCommerce. The right platform for you will depend on your specific needs, budget, and technical abilities. 

RevolutionParts is one of the leading platforms used to sell auto parts online and for very good reasons. We are obsessed with parts, so we specialize in selling ONLY parts. Plus, our multi-channel platform makes selling on multiple selling channels easy, and uploading your parts catalog is a breeze.

Bottom Line

Selling online may not be simple, but it doesn’t have to be an obstacle either. With enough patience, discipline, and a willingness to innovate and adapt, you might find yourself surprised at how effectively you can expand your online auto parts business. Click below to talk to an eCommerce expert to learn more about selling parts online with one of the leading parts platforms in the industry.

Getting your parts department up and running online is an important step in modernizing your business model. While some dealers are utilizing some form of eCommerce, many are taking their first big steps into utilizing eCommerce to expand their parts and accessories business. 

For eCommerce beginners, this is a giant undertaking. Getting your parts department ready to deal with the changing landscape of online retail is essential to your dealership’s success. 

So, how can you ensure that you get your parts department off on the right foot?

Set Realistic Expectations

You can’t grow without knowing where you want to get to. Setting expectations for your parts department will help them ensure that they reach their goals. So be sure to define those goals crystal clear. 

What are you hoping to accomplish in one month, three months, six months, or one year? What are your sales growth goals? What are your customer acquisition goals? What are your customer service goals? 

Take all factors into account that directly impact your team. Listen to their feedback and concerns. If they see a goal as unrealistic for their department to attain, scale back on it until you reach an objective reflecting their reality. Start small and work your way up to larger goals. You may also find that you will need to adjust your goals as you go.

Train, Train, Train! 

Train your parts department effectively. Get down to the nitty-gritty of your training materials. Don’t just give them a once-over. 

Have each team member go through the steps on their own when using new tools and software systems. Give them SOPs that are easy to understand and available 24/7. Once they’ve got the basics down, it’s time to give them the reins.  

Ask them to train each other on specific tools or steps. If they can explain it, then they can do it. Do weekly or monthly check-ins to make sure they’re keeping up with these new systems and following SOPs accordingly. If you can equip your team with the knowledge to lead online sales growth on their own, you can help grow your parts business and provide employees with the chance to advance their careers and leadership skills.

Get Your Department Set Up Right

Your department should be set up properly to handle the business that comes through online sales. You need to ensure that you and your team are set up to handle online orders as efficiently as possible. What does that entail? 

If possible, designate computers to only handle online orders. These computers are the hub for inventory tracking, shipment tracking, emails, customer service chatbots, and more. It’s important that only your online orders are handled through these designated stations. Separating your online business from your in-store business will help you maintain sales growth.

Having a fulfillment station might be a good idea if you ship orders beyond people in your local market. This should house materials to help you package, secure, and label items to be shipped out. 

Having your parts department laid out in an efficient way can help you focus on multiple revenue streams without being overwhelmed.

Incentivize Your Employees 

To get your parts department ready to sell online, sometimes the best way to motivate your team is to incentivize them. Find ways to get employees actively involved and engaged in their goals. 

You can do this in a variety of ways. You can offer individual rewards, employee recognition, team rewards, catered lunches, and much more. Establishing an incentive ahead of time can help reinforce what it is they’re working towards.

Create Healthy Competition: Introduce friendly competition among team members by setting targets and offering rewards for top performers, motivating them to excel in their roles.

Personalized Incentives: Tailor incentives to match individual preferences and motivations, ensuring that employees feel valued and appreciated for their unique contributions.

Goal-Oriented Rewards: Align incentives with specific goals and milestones related to the eCommerce strategy, reinforcing the importance of achieving these objectives.

Show Appreciation Through Perks: Provide perks like catered lunches, extra time off, or other meaningful rewards to express gratitude and boost employee morale.

Celebrate Achievements: Celebrate both small and significant achievements along the way, recognizing the collective progress made towards the eCommerce goals.

Incentivizing your team effectively can significantly enhance their motivation, engagement, and commitment to preparing the parts department for a successful eCommerce venture.

Be Enthusiastic 

Above all, be enthusiastic about it. Be optimistic about these new opportunities. A highly infectious positive attitude will keep you and your team motivated as you ramp up your new eCommerce approach.

Here are some ways to share your enthusiasm with your parts team:

Cultivate a Positive Mindset: Encourage a positive outlook among your team members, highlighting the benefits of the eCommerce strategy and how it aligns with the dealership’s growth.

Lead by Example: Show genuine enthusiasm and confidence in the new approach, inspiring your team members to adopt a similar mindset.

Celebrate Milestones: Acknowledge and celebrate the achievements and progress made along the way, reinforcing the team’s enthusiasm and commitment.

Foster a Collaborative Environment: Encourage open communication and idea-sharing among team members to keep the momentum going and maintain a positive atmosphere.

Remember, being enthusiastic and optimistic can be a driving force in keeping everyone motivated and dedicated to making the eCommerce strategy a success.

Get Started On The Right Foot

Getting your dealership prepared for online sales expansion doesn’t have to be tough. Take the time to learn the new processes, teach them to your employees, test, strategize, and test again. You can grow your business effectively even with just a few hands. 

Don’t believe us? Get our free guide on how you can grow your eCommerce business even while understaffed. You’ll get in-depth insights into the power of parts eCommerce practices and ways to retain dedicated employees for longer.

As a dealership, getting as close as you can to 100% absorption through the Fixed Ops department is what you aim for. The higher your absorption rate, the less likely you’ll have to rely solely on new vehicle sales to boost the bottom line. Where should your dealership start when determining how to boost its absorption rate? 

It’s important to focus on streamlining processes between the parts department and service lane to help increase sales, diversify revenue streams, and improve customer service.

Profit & Service Labor Rates

Charging customers the right cost for labor is one of the most important elements allowing a dealership to cover fixed expenses. When it comes to maximizing the profit in your service department, determining labor costs based on the market average is a good place to start.

The National Automotive Dealers Association (NADA) advises that your customer-paid labor should account for 60% of your total labor sales, with warranty and internal contributing 40%. On top of that, the service department should strive for 72% or higher gross retention in every category.

If you can’t hit the market average, look at your local competitors’ average service labor rates to better understand what you can realistically offer. You don’t want to lose out on potential profit just because you’re not confident about the current labor rates. NADA suggests surveying the market every six months or so and bumping the rates up by a few dollars if you haven’t in a while.

Streamline Parts Requests in the Service Lane

Where do most parts sales come from at the dealership? The service lane. The service lane is the number one source of parts orders and requests for the parts department. However, it can also be one of the biggest contributors to over-ordering and obsolescence. 

When the service lane puts in a parts order request, the time spent on sourcing that part can often lead to a few different outcomes. One, the customer becomes frustrated by the wait time and/or price and finds a faster or cheaper alternative. Two, the customer is scheduled for a repair at the service lane but never shows. Three, the service lane puts in an immediate parts order request even if that part is already on the shelves, resulting in multiples of that part. 

In all of these cases, the parts department is left with parts that clutter the shelves, and the service lane makes little to no revenue. Streamlining parts requests and ordering processes can help reduce the number of back-order parts, ensure that parts get used at the service lane, and generate revenue between both departments. 

What approaches can help tackle these issues?

• Have an enforced appointment policy. When appointments are scheduled at the service lane, ensure that those customers fulfill those appointments. Whether through a down payment on the appointment or a non-refundable cancellation fee, this will help you avoid losing money due to appointment issues. 
• Reduce over-ordering by the service lane. Always make sure to check your parts inventory before submitting a parts request. If the service lane puts in an immediate parts order request, make sure not to order before you take stock of what you currently have. 
• Limit special order parts returns. A strong returns policy for special order parts can greatly help combat obsolescence. High obsolescence leads to a low absorption rate; these types of parts returns are the biggest contributors. Set strict policies on returns to help alleviate this problem. 

Expand Your Auto Parts Customer Base 

Even with the best processes in place to keep both the service lane and the parts department running smoothly, the best strategy is to diversify your revenue streams to help increase the absorption rate. One way to do this is to expand your customer base by selling online. 

The online retail market is the largest in the world. With access to a national customer base, dealerships can effectively increase and diversify their revenue streams. What options should dealerships consider when focusing on online car parts sales? 

They also offer a variety of additional services to help businesses sell online easily, like:

• Shipping carrier and fulfillment services
• Discounted seller account fees
• Customer communication service tools

Through online marketplaces, dealerships can expand their parts business beyond their local market and get built-in support to help facilitate the transition onto these platforms. 

A custom-branded web store for the parts department gives you a few distinct advantages: 

• Gives you brand control
• Provides easy navigation for customers
• Makes it easier to find your dealership online

Selling through a custom-branded web store can help you generate a brand identity that fits within your customer’s expectations and help improve customer retention rates. 

Some common selling channels included in an omnichannel strategy include:

• Online marketplaces
• Designated online store
• Mobile apps

Selling through all available selling channels at the parts department can help you expand your customer base, get ahead of the competition, and establish a strong online presence that helps foster customer loyalty. A strong eCommerce strategy can help you increase parts sales and move inventory faster. 

Tackle Your Absorption Rate Today 

Having an effective fixed ops strategy in place can help you improve your absorption rate, create more revenue streams, and streamline processes between departments. With the right strategies in place, you can help both departments effectively grow their business. 

Looking for more ways to help boost the absorption rate at the dealership? Here are five strategies to implement to help you do just that!

Online returns are inevitable. It doesn’t matter what your business is, product returns cannot be avoided. For parts sellers (especially dealerships), having the right return/refund process is vital to improving customer satisfaction, reducing obsolescence, and maintaining steady operational processes day-to-day. When dealing with auto parts, how should you handle online returns? 

Here are some expert tips to help you determine the best return policy for your parts eCommerce strategy and how to reduce overall returns.

Providing Product Info

Providing enough accurate information about the auto parts you sell is a great way to reduce returns. Customers need to know upfront what they’re buying and be able to check that the parts you have listed match their needs.

• Does your catalog provide all the important details? This includes the car model, year, part number, and one or more detailed diagrams or photos of the part. A major reason customers return parts is that they ordered an incompatible auto part for their vehicle. Including detailed product info is a good way to prevent customers from ordering the wrong part. The more details, the better.

• Is there anything else they need to know? Specific details, like if the part fits the left or right side, are something customers need to know. Also, let them know if the part comes alone or in a pair when appropriate.

By the way, RevolutionParts has detailed diagrams for most parts and also enables dealers to easily bulk upload their own photos of the parts.

Quality Shipping

Customers shopping online expect businesses to have a strong shipping strategy in place. A quick delivery timeframe and consistent order status updates are vital to maintaining customer satisfaction, but what else do your shipping processes need to have?

• Get your packaging right. Consider the visual impact of your product when the customer receives it—is the product well-packaged and undamaged? How about the box? A customer is more likely to return a purchase they see as old, damaged, or unclean. Make sure everything is packaged appropriately (especially fragile parts) so it doesn’t get damaged in transit. For high-value parts, it may even be worth your time to get shipping insurance.

• How long does shipping take? Having fast, hassle-free shipping will go a long way to deter customers from wanting to return their purchases. If they need the part right away, but the part takes too long to arrive, they might end up shopping at a brick-and-mortar location instead. Today, Amazon has set the standard with 2-day shipping, so give your customers fast shipping options.

• Do a final check of each order. Check an order’s details before shipping to avoid mistakes—especially for very large or expensive parts. If you package the wrong part, then, of course, the customer is going to return it.

If you’re dealing with a high volume of sales and struggling to stay organized, then it’s time you invest in shipping management software. By keeping all your information in one place, a shipping manager can speed up the shipment process for you by automating the details.

Creating the Return Policy

Handling your returns poorly could deter a customer from shopping with you again, while the opposite could gain you a loyal customer and help you sell more auto parts online in the future. Here’s how you can set the best return policy for your parts business:

• Set clear criteria in an easy-to-access location. Use bullet points to make the policy easier to read and understand. Don’t use legal jargon, and don’t try to intimidate your customer with extra strict policies. Chances are, all you’re doing is turning away future sales. Remember that kindness and understanding will convert shoppers into future loyal customers. Be sure to provide your return policy in a designated area on your website and make it easy for your customers to find.

• Weigh the future retention against current costs. Is it worth it to go through with the return, or even pay free shipping, if it helps you retain customers who may come back to purchase again?

What should you include in your return policy to make it clear?

• Condition for return. Will you accept used or installed parts? Is it okay if the package was opened, but the part was never used? Determining what parts and accessories you are willing to accept for returns will make it easier for you to work with customers when they initiate the return process.

• Timeline for return. Many retail stores offer a 14-day return policy. But because of shipping and processing, this is not a realistic timeline for auto parts eCommerce, especially when it comes to handling oversized parts.

• Who is paying shipping? Hidden fees are the worst and will likely discourage your customers from purchasing with you again. Tell them upfront in your policy who is responsible for paying return shipping. Sometimes it’s a good idea to pay for shipping under a certain threshold since it’ll improve the customer’s experience.

• Will you offer free shipping? Free shipping is a great way to assure your customers that they can purchase from you with confidence, but you also need to keep your margin in mind. Do the possible future sales from this customer outweigh the cost of free shipping? Also, keep in mind that 82% of customers are more likely to complete a sale if free return shipping is offered.

• How will the refund be processed? Will you refund your customer the full price or allow them to exchange for a different part? This should be very clearly stated in your policy.

Having a return policy is more important now than ever— Invesp shows that 67% of eCommerce shoppers view a retailer’s return policy before making purchases, further indicating the importance of returns in driving purchasing decisions. 

With the right shipping processes in place, you can reduce the number of parts returns, decrease parts obsolescence, improve customer satisfaction, and lower the impact of sales loss. Hassle-free returns can be a chance for your parts department to gain loyal customers that keep coming back to buy from you. 

Want to learn how you can maximize your profits online? Download our free guide “How to Reduce Chargebacks” to get expert tips on how you can identify fraudulent orders and reduce the chances of losing potential parts sales. Once you can master these, your parts department will be running like a well-oiled machine. 

Think you know what it takes to sell online? We’ve talked to countless dealers over the years and learned that there are many misconceptions about selling parts online. 

We recently sat down with two RevolutionParts experts to dispel some of these myths in a fun game of 2 Truths and a Lie: Parts eCommerce Edition. In the webinar below, we’ll discuss the top five misconceptions we hear when talking to dealers and the truth behind it all.

2 Truths and a Like:
Parts eCommerce Edition

Five Biggest Parts eCommerce Lies 

In a hurry? Here is a quick summary of the top misconceptions we cover in the webinar and what the truth really is.

🤥 Lie 1: Selling On Your Dealership = Selling On Your Own Store

Did you know that according to a recent RevolutionParts survey, 54% of dealers sell parts online? However, most dealerships selling parts online do so through their dealership website. While this is a great tactic to get started with eCommerce and cater to your local market, it is different from selling through your own dedicated parts web store. 

A parts web store is a website that is separate from your dealership website and is solely dedicated to selling parts. This is the best way to sell parts online at volume and attract customers nationwide. One reason is that you have many more parts marketing opportunities, and your web store is not at risk of interfering with your local business.

🤥 Lie 2: Selling Online is a “Race to the Bottom”

While it is true that selling online often means you have to price competitively, this does not mean selling online is a “race to the bottom.” When you stop focusing on margins and start focusing on volume, selling online can be a race to the top. By being more strategic with your margins so your parts can be competitive online, you can easily sell more parts. This can quickly lead to higher revenue and more profits. It’s not a game of margins; it’s a game of sales volume.

🤥 Lie 3: You Can’t Sell Online with a Small Staff

It’s no secret that there is a staffing shortage, and most dealerships are feeling the effects. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t sell online. Many RevolutionParts dealers find that they don’t need to add staff until they are averaging about $30k in monthly online sales. 

Why? Because the RevolutionParts platform doesn’t just help you sell more parts nationwide but also helps you run your parts department more efficiently by helping you improve operations. This means your staff will have more time on their hands that can be used to sell more parts.

🤥 Lie 4: Selling Obsolete Parts is a Lost Cause

Dealerships with a high obsolescence rate often don’t realize they have a strong revenue generator right under their noses. Due to the size of the online market, you can reach more parts buyers interested in purchasing those aging and obsolete parts taking up space on your shelves. With the right marketing tactics in place and the right tools at your fingertips, you can offload more obsolescence. 

For example, eBay is one of the first stops niche parts buyers go to when they are shopping, so it is a great place to sell your aging and obsolete parts. Plus, with RevolutionParts, not only will you get access to eBay without listing fees, but you will also be able to take advantage of the RevolutionParts Obsolescence Tool across multiple selling channels.

🤥 Lie 5: Selling Online = Instant Sales

One of the biggest misconceptions about selling online is that it requires no additional work, and once you turn it on, sales just start coming in. While we all wish it worked like that, there is a bit more to it. However, you can grow a thriving online parts business with a well-tuned strategy and a little parts marketing. 

Of course, to help get you there, RevolutionParts provides its dealers with full support along the way. We’ve spent years studying automotive parts trends and know online OEM parts consumers well. When you sell with RevolutionParts, you have the backing of parts eCommerce experts to guide you on your journey.

Bottom Line

Want to learn more about selling parts online? Schedule a demo with one of our parts eCommerce experts by clicking the button below.

Every year, the number of customers who want to shop online increases. After all, it’s easy, convenient, and often less expensive than in-store purchases. Dealership shoppers are no exception! Are you considering an online sales channel for auto parts and accessories?

If you’re not, you’re leaving money on the table!

Selling auto parts online is the trend of the future and a market opportunity that’s expanding at a ridiculous rate.

Experts say that the future of automotive eCommerce is bright, and thousands of customers are now buying auto parts digitally. With such an insane potential to increase your dealership’s profits, maybe you’ve considered expanding to reach the online community.

Exciting Statistics About Selling Auto Parts Online:

• More than $174 billion in auto parts and accessories sales will be influenced by digital in 2022.
• Auto parts and accessories sales, influenced by digital retail strategies, are projected to grow to $198 billion by 2025.
• Online sales of new auto parts will exceed $19.8 billion in 2022.
• The automotive eCommerce market projects up to $13.8 billion in mobile purchases in 2022.

Which eCommerce platform is best to sell auto parts online?

There are a TON of eCommerce solution providers available. You could sift through eCommerce providers ALL DAY trying to find the right one.

And guess what? They probably all claim to be the best.

Spork Marketing put together a complete list of auto parts eCommerce options, along with tips for choosing a platform. Check it out!

The catch? How many are experts in selling auto parts?

Selling auto parts online really can’t compare to selling clothes, books, or jewelry. The online automotive industry has very specific needs, so it makes sense that you need a specific automotive-focused eCommerce solution, too.

Generic platforms just won’t cut it. They can’t offer you a reliable OEM catalog, for one, and that’s an absolute must when it comes to running a parts website.

Each year, the parts eCommerce market grows bigger, and you need to dominate the market while it’s still young. To help you figure out which system is best for you and your dealership’s success, we’ve come up with this practical guide on how to find the right eCommerce solution to sell auto parts online.

1. What are your goals for selling parts online?

Once you’ve decided that selling auto parts online is a good fit for your dealership, take a moment to set some goals. This will help you choose a solution that can support your plans.

• ,Exactly how fast do you want your parts business to grow?
• Would you be happy with a few extra parts sales a month or do you need to grow sales aggressively?
• Do you want to sell across multiple platforms?

Local vs National vs Both

How you run and operate your online parts business changes depending on whether you want to sell parts on a local or national level.

The national level may have a higher payout, but it’s also much more competitive. This can also mean more time and effort to invest in staying at the top (but also a larger opportunity to make it big).

You also have the option of selling parts locally, with the help of an online storefront. If you’re still unsure about all this online business, you might be better off targeting customers in your local area who already visit your website, and then expanding nationally once you get the hang of it.

Finally, other selling channels like eBay and Amazon have some great benefits, too. No matter what you decide to do, find an eCommerce solution that can tailor its service to what you want. They should be able to meet your current goals and scale to meet your future goals, too.

Questions to consider:

• Do you want to sell on a national level, a local level, or both?
• Do you want to grow rapidly and aggressively or ease into selling online?
• Do you want to sell on your own domain or on a separate site?
• Do you want to sell on additional marketplaces like eBay or Amazon?

2. Is the parts website reliable?

If your website is down, you can’t sell parts. Simple as that.

Website downtime will cut into your profits AND make your company seem unreliable and unprofessional. You need to have an auto parts website that customers can trust.

The best parts eCommerce platforms will be completely transparent about your site uptime. In the rare case that something goes wrong, they should let you know when it happened, how long your site was down, and what caused the outage.

It’s essential that the parts eCommerce solution you choose has a history of reliable service and a reputation for quick fixes on the rare occasion that your website does run into problems.

Questions to consider:

• If your website goes down, what is your plan of action? Who can you contact?
• Does the eCommerce platform have reliable uptime?
• Does the eCommerce platform respond quickly and efficiently?
• Is the eCommerce platform open and honest with you about when and why downtime occurred?

3. Are you getting enough support?

If you run into problems while setting up or running your online storefront, you’ll need someone to go to for personalized and effective support—whether it’s tech support, advice, or just a quick question.

An eCommerce solution with a strong support team can move things along quickly and efficiently compared to one that takes weeks to respond to a simple question.

Every vendor will claim they have first-rate support, but not all will deliver on the promise.

When you’re looking at a platform, call other dealerships currently using the service and ask them what the support is really like. Or try calling the support line yourself just to see if they pick up!

Questions to consider:

• What kind of support does the provider offer?
• Is support included, or does it cost extra?
• How responsive is the support team? How helpful? How effective?
• How can you reach them? Phone, email, chat?

4. What is the customer experience like to buy parts?

If the customer has a poor experience on your website, they probably won’t come back.

While browsing your options, ask the potential eCommerce solution platform for a demo. You can also look at other dealer pages powered by that solution to see their work firsthand.

Customer Experience is Key

Customer experience is incredibly important and often the bottom line when it comes to building up your business and selling more parts online. Keep a happy customer in mind while choosing your eCommerce solution.

Put yourself in the customer’s shoes as you click through a sample website and “make a purchase.” Remember that the more steps it takes for a customer to find and purchase the part, the more likely they’ll give up on the sale.

Is the website frustratingly slow? Is it clear and easy to confirm that you’ve found the part you need?

Think Mobile-Friendly

In recent months, parts stores have seen a HUGE increase in mobile purchases. Make sure the parts eCommerce provider can provide a great experience to all your buyers, whether they’re on a smartphone, desktop, or tablet. As an added bonus, responsive designs can also boost your online visibility!

Not to mention Google’s mobile-first indexing. With a higher priority in high-quality mobile-friendly websites, your parts business could fall behind if you work with the wrong parts eCommerce solution. (RevolutionParts customers don’t have to worry! We build responsive websites that look great on all devices.)

⭐ RELATED: 10 Things the Best Mobile-Friendly Parts Websites Have in Common

You can check if your website is mobile-friendly using Google’s Mobile-Friendly test.

Questions to consider:

• Is the site easy to navigate?
• Do your listings have images or diagrams?
• How many steps does it take to purchase an item?
• Is it easy to add an item to the cart and checkout?
• Is the site mobile-friendly or responsive?

5. Can you make the parts website YOURS?

Since the design and layout of the web page is the first thing a customer will notice, it’s important to take this part into consideration. Customers should associate the site’s appearance with your brand and the type of service you can provide them.

So you need to make a good impression.

A clean, modern, user-friendly, and professional design will make your website the preferred choice over others. Familiarize yourself with what the best auto part website designs have in common.

At the same time, a lot of solution providers use the same template over and over for all the parts sites they power, without even bothering to change the colors or personalize it for you. You don’t want your website to look like a carbon copy of someone else’s, because that’s just awkward.

The freedom to make adjustments by yourself can be a powerful thing, too. Some eCommerce providers make you manually request each change, and then you have to wait days or weeks for the adjustment to go through. It’s much faster and easier if you can simply make the tweaks yourself.

Questions to consider:

• What level of branding and customization do you need?
• How much control do you have over customization?
• Are the provided designs professional? 
• Do the offered themes fit your company’s image?
• Do personalized designs cost extra?

6. Can you set custom prices for the auto parts you sell?

Some items need to be marked up more or less than others—that’s just common sense. When you sell auto parts online, you have a few options for setting prices on your online store. You can base it on an added percentage over the cost, or price it a little bit under.

Unfortunately, most eCommerce platforms force you to pick one pricing system over the other. A lack of pricing customization can cost you sales as some pricing methods make more sense than others for certain categories of parts or accessories. If your eCommerce platform forces you to price every part using the same method, it can result in some serious losses.

Creating the right pricing table (pricing matrix) is an extremely powerful way to make sure your prices are balanced. Otherwise, expensive parts skyrocket out of control, and cheaper parts sell too low to be profitable.

Here’s what a pricing matrix might look like:

Questions to consider:

• Do you know the best way to price each auto part?
• Can you create custom pricing matrices?
• Can you set your prices based on cost, list, or a combination of the two?
• Can you create unique pricing tables for parts versus accessories?

7. What tools are built into the software?

If the eCommerce provider you’re looking at only provides the basics and nothing else, you’ll be hard-pressed to sell car parts online.

Even though the market is still fairly new and not many parts departments are online yet, it can still be a competitive world. Having a few nifty tools and techniques in your back pocket can be incredibly helpful when it comes to beating out the competition.

This can mean built-in marketing tools like XML sitemaps or drift marketing campaigns, or time-saving tools like email templates and label printers.

These may seem like the “bells and whistles” of selling parts online, but they can give your parts website the edge it needs to stand out.

Questions to consider:

• Are there any built-in marketing tools (abandoned cart emails, Google product feeds, landing pages, custom promo codes/discounts, customer testimonials)?
• Are there any built-in tools for improving your SEO (custom pages, XML sitemaps)?
• Are there any built-in tools to save you time (label printer, automated email notifications, email templates)?
• Are the tools easy to learn, set up, and understand?
• Does the provider offer any marketing services and at what cost?

8. Does the software easily integrate with tools you already use?

If you’re currently using some online tools to reach your customers, picking an eCommerce solution that integrates well with what you already have is definitely a bonus. Some service providers may charge more if you want to integrate those tools, so watch out for added costs.

There are tools out there that can make selling auto parts online a million times faster, easier, and more successful. This can include shipping management software which can automate most of the shipping process, like order fulfillment and customer notifications.

You might also want to use a free emailing service like MailChimp in order to send out promotional emails to your customers and to help you drive sales and sell more auto parts online.

DMS integration can save your team a lot of time. If you’re interested in selling on eBay, for example, DMS integration can automatically update your listings based on your inventory, instead of uploading fresh .csv files each day.

Questions to consider:

• Which integration tools do you currently use (email, DMS, Google product feeds)?
• Which integration tools does the service provider offer?
• Do you have to pay extra for additional integration tools?

9. How secure are the platform and payment gateways?

Customers need to trust you with their credit card information before they make a purchase. Before signing on with an eCommerce service provider, look into how secure their system is and if they have a history of security breaches.

A key feature to look for in an eCommerce platform is a tokenized payment system, which removes the actual credit card number and replaces it with a token (a randomly generated number).

eCommerce platforms that use tokenized payment systems never actually store credit card numbers, so the fraudsters have no credit card numbers to steal.

You should also make sure the eCommerce solution integrates well with major payment gateways such as PayPal, Authorize.net, or CenPos.

Questions to consider:

• Does the eCommerce platform have a history of secure systems?
• Is customer credit card information stored in the system?
• Is the stored information kept in a safe and secure way?
• Does the eCommerce platform support popular payment gateways?
• Is the eCommerce solution PCI compliant?

10. Does the platform offer any fraud protection services?

How does the platform protect you from fraud? Fraudulent orders can incur huge losses for your parts web store, so the best eCommerce solutions will do whatever they can to help you stay safe. Some of them, however, leave you to fend for yourself. If that’s the case, make sure you know the basics of how to recognize fraud when it happens.

While you should still be aware of fraud prevention practices you can follow, ask if the eCommerce solution can do anything to help you spot fraud before it happens.

A tool like the built-in RevolutionParts fraud detector can help you identify fraud before you become a victim. It breaks down exactly what’s suspicious about the order, so you can make an educated choice about whether to cancel or fulfill the order.

Plus, when a RevolutionParts dealer reports known fraud, then that buyer will be flagged on every single website on the RevolutionParts network.

Questions to consider:

• Do they offer a fraud prevention service?
• How does the fraud prevention service work?
• Does it show the details of a potentially fraudulent order?
• What will raise an order’s fraud score?
• Does the fraud service cost extra?

11. How does the platform calculate shipping cost for sold parts?

Shipping is a major factor for any online retailer—and shipping auto parts can be tricky. With so many heavy, oversized, odd-shaped, and hazardous parts to ship around, calculating shipping prices can be an absolute nightmare without the help of a parts eCommerce solution that cares.

Many eCommerce systems use a simple formula based on the price of the part to estimate shipping costs, which can be problematic if you have a large, heavy auto part that sells for a low price.

If the calculation is too low, you’ll overpay for shipping, end up eating the cost, and take a major hit to your profits. At the same time, an overpriced calculation will scare away customers and lose your sales for good.

An efficient shipping system will also help you ship more auto parts without hiring more staff. If possible, you should be able to fulfill an order, get a tracking number, print a label, and email the customer all from the same spot.

Questions to consider:

• Will you be able to accurately estimate shipping costs based on the size and weight of each part for sale?
• Are shipping costs calculated automatically? How?
• Can you easily print shipping labels from the platform?

12. What is the cost of the solution?

Some eCommerce platforms are more or less expensive than others, depending on the quality, effectiveness, and features offered. Before rushing ahead with your plans, make sure you’re getting a deal that matches what YOU need to profitably sell auto parts online.

You Get What You Pay For

Evaluate your budget and don’t just jump for the cheapest option. Sometimes it’s best to pay a little more for a reliable platform, since a more effective website will sell more car parts and drive more revenue.

At the same time, do the math and make sure you’re not overpaying. Some eCommerce solutions charge 10% of sales, which can get incredibly pricey for high-performing websites.

Be careful of parts eCommerce platforms that have unreasonably high claims and can’t back them up with hard facts (hint: see if they can provide you with any case studies!).

Also, be wary of platforms that try to insist you need the most expensive package available. A good parts eCommerce solution will take time to listen to your needs and offer the best solution to help you succeed.

Questions to consider:

• What is the cost breakdown? 
• Are there any hidden fees (set-up fees, processing fees, integration fees, and additional theme or app fees)?
• Is it easy to start small and then scale your parts business as you grow more confident?

13. Is your contract clear?

Once you’ve chosen an eCommerce platform, you’ll likely be working with them for many years to come. If you’ve decided to work with an eCommerce platform with a contract, make sure you’re comfortable with the length and terms of that contract.

You don’t want to be stuck with a money-sucking eCommerce platform that isn’t offering very much in return.

Don’t rush into anything, and make sure you understand any and all terms of the contract. Some vendors offer risk-free month-to-month plans instead of fixed-term contracts so that you aren’t locked in.

Questions to consider:

• Is there a contract? 
• Can you choose between month-to-month or fixed-term plans?
• Are the benefits to a fixed-term plan, like reduced cost?
• What is the cost of ending a contract early?
• Do they make you pay for the entire contracted year upfront?

Great! What else can help you sell auto parts online?

From there, you can research eCommerce platforms that have cool extra features (like built-in marketing tools, bulk product uploading, custom products, and more), but these 13 make up the framework of a solid, reliable eCommerce solution.

The next step is to ask for a product demo. This is the best way to analyze their product and decide how many of these 13 points that platform meets, succeeds, or fails at.

We covered a lot of information here, but don’t worry!

Download this free eCommerce evaluation checklist so you can grade the eCommerce solution’s platform during the demo. It covers all the same questions and topics so you don’t have to worry about forgetting something important.

In the end, doing your research will pay off.

Conclusion

Setting up an eCommerce solution takes a certain level of commitment, and you don’t want to have regrets right after you start. Once you’ve decided on your software, it doesn’t take long to get your site up and running so you can start selling parts.

When you work with a reliable eCommerce solution that fits your needs, it’s not difficult to maximize your revenue. At the same time, picking the wrong platform could leave you with a costly and unsuccessful failure.

Want to learn more about how to successfully sell OEM parts online? Download our free guide on the 8 keys to OEM parts sales success and unlock your parts department’s full potential! Sell auto parts online the right way with a company that has your back every step of the way.

Have you heard the news? RevolutionParts launched a series of new product plans designed to fit your parts department’s unique needs and goals. This new structure will help you determine what price and tools are best for your department.

Not sure which package is best for your parts department? Don’t worry! We’ve broken down each plan specifically to reflect your needs at every level.

Become More Efficient With Local

Let’s say you’re running a small parts department and are looking for ways to grow your local wholesale business, improve efficiencies in your parts department, and provide a better customer experience for your parts buyers. Still, you’re not yet ready to expand your parts business and sell online to national customers. 

In other words, you’re looking to work smarter, not harder. The RevolutionParts Local Parts package may be the choice for you.

Our Local Package is designed for parts departments looking to optimize their local and wholesale business. If you’re trying to win more customers within your local market and you’re not yet ready to expand to a national level, the Local Package is perfect for you! With this package, you can put your focus on growing your already existing business.

Reach National Customers With Plus

If you want to take your parts business to the next level and sell your inventory to customers nationwide, the Plus Package may be right for you. Getting your inventory on today’s largest online marketplaces can be very time-consuming and is filled with expensive fees to do so. However, our Plus Package allows you to instantly upload your entire catalog to marketplaces like Amazon and eBay.

Our Plus Package is designed for parts departments looking to maintain growth within their local market and expand their national presence. If your local and wholesale business is strong, but your parts sales are starting to plateau, generating some national parts revenue is the next step in growing your business.

Dominate Online Parts & Accessories Sales With Pro

If your parts department is already a rock star, or you know it has rockstar potential, and you want to create a national parts business, the Pro Package is the only way to go. With this plan, you get a custom, branded parts web store and marketing to help drive buyers to your site. You also get all the tools necessary to grow your local business, along with easy access to today’s top online marketplaces.

Our Pro Package is designed for parts departments looking to maximize their business growth across local and national markets. With this option, dealers are able to generate and maintain revenue from multiple streams, grow a national customer base, and establish a national brand identity that consumers trust. And it is all managed from one centralized location.

Ready to Take Your Parts Department to the Next Level?