Sunday, June 22nd
2025 Auto Parts Store Reviews
Auto Barn
- Prices for key items from $11.95 to $19.95
- Sales offered regularly
- 30-day return window
- Free shipping on $69+
Auto Barn has a rich history dating back to 1957 when it first started as H&M Auto Parts in Brooklyn, New York. As the retail DIY market grew during the 1970s, Auto Barn adapted by opening more stores aimed at both professional installers and DIY enthusiasts. Family-owned throughout their journey, Auto Barn has expanded online, now reaching customers across the United States, Canada, and beyond. Despite their growth, Auto Barn remains committed to their core principles of providing a competitive selection of brand-name auto parts and accessories at the most affordable prices.
Hard to find what you need
Auto Barn offers an inventory that includes a wide array of car accessories, auto parts, car care products, as well as oils and additives. However, one place that Auto Barn doesn't stand out is the website layout and text display. In general, the site comes across as old-fashioned and somewhat hard to navigate. For example, while you can browse by department or by brand, you can't browse your car specifically like at other retailers. This, more than anything, is particularly disappointing since it makes it hard to know if specific parts or items go safely into your particular make and model. This means shopping at Auto Barn requires extra research you don't have to do at other sites.
Missing inventory
To get an accurate price comparison across all auto stores, we decided to look at their price ranges for three areas of auto repair: replacement parts, performance parts, and oil and fluids. While we usually also check out the prices for an average car, we couldn't do that at Auto Barn due to the missing car search feature. However, starting with our regular price comparison, we found even more concerns.
Where's the pricing?
Auto Barn doesn't offer pricing on its own website. Instead, for things like brake pads, you have to navigate to the Auto Barn eBay store. At the time of this review, the eBay store was closed for one month, so the pricing wasn't available at all. The same problem occurred when we checked out the performance shocks. The only item we could find a price for on the website itself was oil which ran from $11.95 to $19.95. Given the fact that you can't buy many basic auto parts at Auto Barn (at least at the time of this review), it might be safer to go with a retailer that's more reliable.
Local shopping is limited
While there are local locations to buy, you have to be in the Brooklyn area to take advantage of it. And since the online shopping experience is lackluster and based on eBay, there's some concern about the authenticity of the items. Most sites that sell real OEM parts will have them shipped directly from the manufacturer. The fact that eBay is being used as a "middleman” of sorts raises a few eyebrows.
Regular discounts and promos
For the items we could find on the website, the majority of these listings are on sale, making their pricing competitive and reassuring for budget-conscious customers. During the time of this review, they featured a discount code providing $10 off for orders exceeding $99 as an additional option for savings. However, considering the limitations of many auto parts, it may not be worth the sales to browse here.
Free shipping on $69+
Auto Barn offers free shipping for orders surpassing $69, but orders totaling less than this amount incur a flat-rate shipping cost of $8. However, some customers have reported slow shipping times attributed to sluggish order processing, which could be an area for potential improvement. It is also possible that some of the options for shipping might change if you shop through their eBay store when it's open, so there's some confusion there.
30-day returns
Auto Barn gives customers a 30-day window to return items from the date of order receipt. However, to initiate the return process, customers must complete a "return authorization” form. Neglecting to do so can potentially lead to processing delays and may also result in a 20% restocking fee. This fee may similarly be applied if the returned items are received in a less-than-new condition, rendering them un-resellable.
Reputation is sliding down
Auto Barn used to hold an "A-” rating from the Better Business Bureau, indicating a relatively good standing overall. However, recently it has completely lost this rating and is now an "NR'' business instead. On top of that, customer feedback is less favorable. Some customers have reported receiving parts that do not fit their vehicles and have expressed dissatisfaction with Auto Barn's customer service, describing it as unhelpful. There is also a string of recent complaints about shipping times and difficulty with returns, so it may just be better to listen to the reviews and find an auto parts store that focuses more on customer satisfaction.
Missing features make this our lowest-scoring retailer
Considering all the problems we found at Auto Barn, it's clear that this retailer has a lower reputation for a reason. The slide from "A-” to "NR” is particularly concerning as well as the range of customer complaints about this site. Given that it doesn't have many items that are standard at other retailers, and no way to search for parts by your vehicle type or VIN number, it's probably safer to stay away from Auto Barn. Your road safety is the most important thing and getting the wrong parts for your car can make or break a build.
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If you own a car, you know at some point it needs maintenance and repairs. Many vehicle owners opt for the path of do-it-yourself repairs, drawn by the potential to save hundreds, if not thousands of dollars, over the course of their car's lifetime. And like a local mechanic, you, too, will require the appropriate parts and tools to make your favorite machine tick (or maybe to stop that irritating ticking noise!).
It used to be that you'd have to drive to the local auto parts store in the hope of finding the right parts for your job. If you're not an expert, auto stores can feel a bit overwhelming (and judgy, if you're a female car owner). But today, online auto parts stores have redefined the landscape.
Auto Parts Store FAQ
Continued from above...
Visiting an auto parts store online lets you find and check that you're getting the right parts for the right car. Using features like VIN number searches and helpful online search tools, you can take the frustration out of auto parts shopping and enjoy it from the comfort of your own home. Whether you're just looking for a new set of tires, a turbo kit for your already over-taxed hatchback, or the perfect wrench in metric sizes for those Euro cars, you can find it now at the click of a button.
You might be surprised to know that the auto parts you find online are often less expensive than the ones you find in a store - even if the website and store are the same company. That's because there's more competition online, and less overhead attached to the individual car part. And not only are the prices cheaper, you can have them delivered straight to your door.
Armed with your car parts, and your favorite car repair YouTuber, you can be on your way to DIY car repair in no time. However, it's important to recognize that not all auto parts stores are the same.
You want to make sure that you can find the best auto parts, whether you're looking at new "from the factory” or certified pre-owned items. You can find tons of deals online too, but making sure you can trust an auto parts store is important - both for your wallet and your safety.
Not sure where to start your online search for auto parts? Don't worry - we've completed a full review and ranking of all the best auto parts stores out there today. Here are some basic criteria that might help you narrow the field:
- Price. The first way to narrow your decision is pretty obvious: price. Different auto parts stores offer different kinds of deals or price match guarantees, so making sure that the store you choose fits your budget is important to get the parts you need.
- Return policy. What is the return policy like? Does the retailer you're looking at offer a warranty for their parts? Finding a company that stands by the auto parts they sell is as important as finding the parts themselves. You don't want to be paying even more for maintenance (or returns) in the future, so keep an eye on the return policies.
- Selection. Do you only want to buy OEM parts? Are you looking for something specifically for a European car? Making sure that the retailer has all the parts you need in stock, or has a decent selection of part types, can help you make sure you're getting the best deal. Plus, if you're looking to upgrade, you might need a wider range of parts and tools than the average driver, so selection is a huge deal.
- Customer satisfaction. The final piece of the puzzle relates to the experience of past customers. Checking into reviews and feedback can help you get a clear picture of a company's track record. Are they improving or getting worse over time? Do customers feel like they had good service from a particular company? The Better Business Bureau (BBB) can also serve as a valuable resource for gauging a company's reputation.
To make sure your car stays running smoothly, Top Consumer Reviews is here to give you all the insights on the best auto parts stores on the market. We hope this helps you get started with your DIY mechanic shop right in the safety of your own garage. Soon, your friends will be coming to you for the quick fixes, since you'll be an auto parts expert. Happy driving!
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