17/02/2026
It’s hard enough working on vehicles these days with the quality of some aftermarket parts trending in a race to the bottom. But lately we’re seeing more and more vehicles come in from other shops where the “parts cannon” has been fully unloaded using eBay and Amazon components.
Because those parts are so cheap, it seems like some places are skipping proper diagnosis and just replacing everything in sight. The problem is, many of those parts are even lower quality than the standard aftermarket options we get from our local suppliers. Instead of fixing the original issue, it often creates multiple new ones.
We’re getting to the point where, when a customer calls and tells us they’ve already replaced half the car with bargain online parts, we’re hesitant to even take it on. In many cases, the only real solution is putting quality OEM parts back on and starting over with proper diagnostics. Unfortunately, not everyone wants to go that route.
It’s frustrating for the customer and for us. We want to fix vehicles correctly the first time, not untangle a web of questionable parts and guesswork.
For the other shop owners and techs out there, how are you handling this? Are you asking up front what parts have already been installed? We’re seriously considering making that part of every intake conversation.
As I often say, "it's hitting the stupid level!"
