Are CAPA Certified Parts Better than OEM Replacement Parts?
Filed under: Aftermarket Parts, Auto Parts, CAPA Certified Parts, Ford, Headlamps, Original Equipment (OEM), Recalls
I recently visited an auto parts website called partstrain.com to shop for replacement headlight assemblies. I have a 1997 Ford Taurus with the nagging oxidation problem on the plastic headlight lens that Ford has allowed to continue for years. I located the assemblies for $65.15 each and was going to make the purchase. That’s when I noticed that they also listed the same part, from the same aftermarket manufacturer, with a CAPA statement in the description. The price for this part was $125.00 each. The only difference I could find in the descriptions was a letter “Q” at the end of the Sku number. All other numbers were the same.
I entered into a live chat session with their customer service and asked for the difference between the two items. The representative would not say that the CAPA part was made better or contained higher quality material. He would only say that either part would be a perfect fit. He would not say why the so called CAPA part had a price that was double the other part.
Is it common for the CAPA parts to cost so much more? Would the CAPA part eventually cloud over like the original factory part did? Or, do you think that this site may be using the CAPA name to collect an additional 100% profit on their parts? If the CAPA parts really are so superior, I would shell out the extra to keep my family safe at night.
Thank you for your time. I would appreciate your opinion.
Don
Cincinnati, OH
Which States Have Laws That Support Diminished Value?
Filed under: Diminished Value, First Party Claims, Insurance Companies, State Farm, State Specific Information, Third Party Claims, West Virginia
Is diminished value recognized in all states or just in Georgia and California as I have been told?
Diminished value, in my opinion, is a very legitimate auto insurance claim. I am one of a majority of people reflected on surveys who wouldn’t buy a car that had been wrecked unless I received a huge discount to compensate for the added risk and aggravation I would likely encounter. Some folks, I’ve found, don’t share my view. A few days ago my brother-in-law who is a retired insurance adjuster (someone who should know what he is talking about when it comes to auto insurance claims) says claims for diminished value are wrong and shouldn’t be brought against insurance companies. He says the premiums we pay for our insurance policies don’t take these losses into account. Please tell me he is wrong, and tell me which states accept diminished value claims so I can straighten out my insurance-biased brother-in-law.
Jo Ann
Charleston, WV
Insurance Company Direct Pays Body Shop Instead of Car Owner
Is it acceptable for an auto insurance company to pay a body shop directly instead of paying the person whose car was damaged?
I’ve had three car wrecks in the past five years. Only the most recent one was my fault. In every case where I had the damage to the car repaired, the insurance company gave the check directly to the shop instead of paying me. This happened both when my insurance company paid and when I got hit by someone else and their insurance company paid. In the end I never really knew the cost of the repairs, and I always felt like I was victim of an underhanded, backroom deal between the body shop and the insurance company. Is it acceptable for an auto insurance company to pay a body shop directly instead of paying the person whose car was damaged?
Ted
Cincinnati, OH