We use it to keep in touch via e-mail. We get our news from it, check the weekend weather, even rent DVDs on it. But have you really taken advantage of the Internet's power when it comes to improving your 4x4's performance? The world is literally at your fingertips when you're connected to the Internet, offering parts possibilities way beyond what your local 4x4 shop can keep in its inventory.
Here's a quick rundown of the most common places to find performance parts on the Web, along with some tips to help you use them like a pro.
Very few companies anymore haven't augmented their mail-order business with e-commerce. Yes, it's still easier to take a printed catalog into the throne room or out to the workbench. And yes, sitting at the computer isn't as fun as shooting the bull down at the shop. But no local retailer can match the depth of inventory available through online channels, or compete with the Internet's ability to process orders 24/7. And the convenience of having FedEx/UPS/DHL deliver parts directly to your front door can't be beat.
True, you pay for that convenience, and shipping charges can add up for heavy or bulky purchases like a crate engine or a set of tires and wheels. Then again, your local 4x4 shop had to pay shipping charges for those items too. You're just not aware of them because they were factored into the purchase price.
Shop carefully enough online and you can avoid paying freight charges at all. "We often waive the shipping charges through various promotions," said Kevin Rourke, 4Wheel Parts Wholesalers' director of e-commerce. "We encourage consumers to compare the net prices of what they're buying when they're shopping around."
Worried about the security of online business transactions? Or that you may be dealing with a fly-by-night outfit that's out to take your money and doesn't actually have the parts you're buying? Whenever you're making online purchases, make sure the transaction screen is a secure one. Look for things like a Web page address that starts with the letters "https"; the "s" means it's a secure page. Sometimes there'll be a locked padlock icon at the bottom corner of the page. A logo on the page from a company like VeriSign means the retailer has hired that service to secure its transactions.
How do you know your online retailer is on the level? Rourke offered these tips: "First look to see how easy it is to contact the company-convenient phone numbers, a 'contact us' page, or an actual physical address. Less reputable sites won't have that information. Look for indications that they offer secure transactions. You can also check independent sites that rate and monitor online businesses, like bizrate.com and the Better Business Bureau."