Car Parts Craigslist (2024)

FAQs

Why is it so hard to get car parts right now? ›

Pandemic-related supply chain shortages have become so normal that we've gotten used to them. The good news is the shortages are getting better, but not when it comes to car parts. Throwing an added wrench into the situation, factory shutdowns and labor shortages.

On average, car part retailers can earn anywhere from $500 to $50,000 per month selling spare parts and accessories online. Of course, this amount can vary depending on the type of auto parts you sell, your selling platform, and your marketing efforts.

Offering Discounts and Incentives: Offering discounts and incentives is a great way to sell more auto parts. Many people are always on the lookout for a good deal, and if you can offer them a discount or an incentive, they are more likely to purchase from you.

The shortage has been particularly acute for certain types of parts, such as microchips and other electronic components. These parts are essential for modern vehicles, and their scarcity has resulted in national back orders for parts.

How long will these parts shortages continue? No one knows for sure, but the imbalance between supply and demand for automotive parts is forecast to continue throughout 2023 and quite likely beyond that.

Where is the best place to sell auto parts? The best place to sell auto parts depends on your goals. eBay and Amazon offer vast marketplaces with high traffic and buyer trust, ideal for quick sales. A self-hosted website provides more control over branding and profit margins but requires effective SEO and marketing.

Many automotive business consultants suggest an overall 100% markup on parts in order to achieve an overall 50-55% profit margin. This markup is important to achieve a 30 to 35% net operating profit. Shops that fail to succeed often have net operating profits of less than 15%.

Selling auto parts on eBay can be a good way to increase revenue. While it's not necessarily the most profitable place to sell auto parts (most eBay retailers who drop-ship are earning just 2 or 3% profit margins), eBay offers the possibility of substantial sales volumes.

Online best-selling vehicle parts in the U.S. 2023, by revenue. Lightweight bumpers made of plastic are the most popular vehicle parts online in the United States. Between 2022 and 2023, bumper covers were the best-selling article in the segment, with a sale revenue worth over 4.1 million U.S. dollars.

Can you make money selling car parts? ›

Learning how to sell auto parts can be lucrative because cars are always in demand, and there's a vast market for used auto parts. Many people want to save money on repairs or upgrades by buying quality used parts rather than expensive new ones.

There is a wide variety of advice out there about how much to markup parts. Some experts suggest trying to maintain a 50-55% gross profit on parts, while some suggest keeping markups much lower and increasing labor rates. Many customers will not be sensitive to a large markup on a lower-cost part.

A global shortage of semiconductors has had a major impact on the automotive supply chain, forcing automakers around the world to cut production over the last two years due to the lack of these crucial parts.

The Ongoing Global Shortage of Car Parts

This shortage is the result of an unprecedented combination of factors, including increased demand for cars, supply chain disruptions, and a shift in global production. The demand for cars has been steadily increasing in recent years.

And because of a variety of factors—inflation, higher interest rates, a year's worth of new-car scarcity—demand for cars has cooled off a bit. Even so, availability and deals are still scarce for certain models. In other words, it's a time when those who have to buy a new car should approach the process carefully.

Shipping disruptions contributed to the increase. In 2022, the cost of parts sourced from automakers rose 10%, and aftermarket parts rose 17%, compared with the usual annual inflation rate of 0% to 4%. Many in the auto space think costs can't continue to rise at these rates.