What Is PartsTrader?

What is PartsTrader?

PartsTrader is an easy-to use, online marketplace that allows collision repairers to seek competitive quotes and order parts from all types of suppliers – including OEM dealers, recyclers, and alternative parts suppliers. In this marketplace, repairers choose who to purchase from based on the best combination of quality, service, availability, delivery time, reputation and price.  If you’d like to know more about PartsTrader, click here

Does PartsTrader sell auto parts?

No. PartsTrader is a tool to improve the  collision replacement parts sourcing, quoting and ordering process. We are not a parts retailer. We facilitate the matching of collision repairers with replacement parts suppliers.  All  commercial transactions take place between the repairer and the parts supplier. PartsTrader does not handle the actual supply of parts or payment.

Why do we need a new online parts market?

Whether you are a collision repairer or a collision replacement parts supplier there are many strong benefits to using PartsTrader. We are the only comprehensive collision replacement parts market that allows repairers to find, price and order  parts from every type of supplier including OEM, aftermarket, remanufactured, specialtyand recycled.

Our long term goal is to raise the bar for service and professionalism across the entire collision replacement parts industry. Quality ratings and two way feedback mechanisms will increase accuracy and improve service.  A truly open quoting process increases transparency and creates a fair open market which benefits all market participants. 

How much does it cost to use PartsTrader?

There is no charge for repairers or suppliers to use PartsTrader through 2013. While PartsTrader has not yet finalized its future fee schedule, the following information is confirmed:

• Repairers will not pay to use the PartsTrader application
• Suppliers will be subject to a fee structure at some point in 2014 (exact date yet to be determined.)  There will be two components to the fee structure when implemented:

                 - A modest monthly subscription fee to participate
                 - A percentage fee on completed orders

• Suppliers will not pay a percentage fee on orders related to State Farm 

Can my product be integrated with PartsTrader?

We welcome inquiries from parts industry software providers wishing to integrate with PartsTrader, and are open to ideas on how to make the procurement process integrate seamlessly with other software being used by those using the application. PartsTrader has been designed using CEICA BMS industry standards for integration, and is committed to this standard. We will not transmit EMS files over the Internet in any form.

Contact us if you are a parts industry software supplier who would like to discuss integration possibilities.

How do quality ratings and feedback work?

• PartsTrader aims to raise the bar for service and professionalism across the entire auto parts industry. Repairers are able to rate parts suppliers on quoting accuracy, delivery time & accuracy, part quality, communication and business practices. They can also supply constructive feedback that the supplier being rated can review, but that will not be visible to other users on the site.  

• Parts suppliers are able to rate repairers on accuracy, communication, payment, and business practices. They can also supply constructive feedback that the repairer being rated can review, but that will not be visible to other users on the site.

The data collected as a company uses PartsTrader, as well as this feedback collected from their trading partners, will be combined to provide an overall rating to assist potential business partners in their evaluation .of the company for future business.

Who owns PartsTrader?

PartsTrader is independently owned by a small number of private investors, as well as a private equity firm. No insurance company or stakeholder in the collision industry supply chain has any investment or equity interest in PartsTrader.

Where is PartsTrader currently available?

Originally offered only to pilot markets in Birmingham, AL; Grand Rapids, MI; Charlotte, NC; Tucson, AZ, and Chicago, IL, PartsTrader will soon be available state-wide in the following states: Arizona, Texas, New Mexico and Colorado, and intended to become available to more regions across the United States throughout 2013-2014.

Thanks to the feedback received from both repairers and suppliers who have used PartsTrader in the pilot markets, the application has evolved and will continue to do so to ensure that it serves the users’ needs as seamlessly as possible. 

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Job Openings at PartsTrader

Is PartsTrader a bidding system?

No. PartsTrader brings repairers and suppliers together in an online procurement marketplace, not a bidding environment.  In the PartsTrader application, interested suppliers submit their best quote for the needed parts(s), considering delivery time, part quality, the specific repairer requesting the quote, and other pertinent factors.  The quote is submitted confidentially by the supplier, and is only submitted once.

By contrast, in a bidding system, buyers have visibility into one another’s quotes and compete back and forth in a reverse auction type process, potentially submitting multiple bids in an effort to win the business before the bid period ends.  PartsTrader does not operate in this manner. 

Repairer FAQs

We are happy to share some of the frequently asked questions specifically for collision repair companies. Click here.

Supplier FAQs

We are happy to share some of the frequently asked questions specifically for suppliers to the collision repair industry. Click here.