Aftermarket December/January 2023

DECEMBER/JANUARY 2023 AFTERMARKET 17 How is the programme progressing? It is progressing well. The customer satisfaction rate has increased significantly and the perception of buying second hand parts has improved from the customer's perspective, as they are showing their willingness and appetite to have green parts fitted. How is the initiative tapping into the awareness around sustainability? 77% of people who purchase green parts do so because of the environmental benefits. We are also mapping the carbon footprint of every part that is purchased so that businesses can report back what they have saved in terms of the CO2 impact. All the parts are held in the UK rather than overseas, so there is less need for transportation, and I think more than anything, the whole reuse rather than remanufacture mentality is spreading significantly. Our latest figures show that last year green parts equating to 190,000 vehicles were sold through eBay. How will this help businesses that use the parts? Firstly, the availability of parts means businesses can reduce key-to-key times for their customers by repairing vehicles faster and not waiting for parts to come from abroad. Secondly, there are usually cost saving benefits that are passed on to the customers. Thirdly, using green parts helps businesses meet their sustainability targets. The certification, the grading, the paperwork and recall process, the 12-month bodywork warranty and the three months mechanical warranty all give the customer extra confidence and peace of mind in the rare event that something should go wrong with a part. Will this help businesses that use parts sourced from the programme attract new customers? Yes, there are two target types of customers who are attracted to the scheme; Those who are attracted from a sustainability perspective and those from a money-saving perspective. We have launched the Greener Garage scheme with Who Can Fix My Car, where consumers who are concerned about the environment can find garages that have greener messaging. And for dealerships, green schemes such as this one often make it more affordable for customers to get their cars repaired. What initiatives is eBay undertaking to promote the programme? Several episodes of Pimp My Ride were recorded recently, with certified recycled parts being used to fix consumers’ vehicles. We actively promoted that in the press and now the series is live, we are showcasing the green parts on ebay.co.uk with initiatives, events, and discounts where people can shop from the sellers featured on Pimp My Ride. We collaborate with partners such as Who Can Fix My Car, who promote the programme into both the consumer and business worlds, and Audatex, who promote into bodyshops. The first thousand sign-ups to the programme receive a merchandise pack as well. What role can eBay play in this market? One of eBay's key values is we partner with businesses to help them grow. eBay itself does not actually own any of the parts. Instead, we bring together a number of parts sellers and provide a platform for them to sell on to workshops and garages in need of vehicle parts. This creates a circular economy, or marketplace, which has not typically been used in this industry before. In this ecosystem, eBay green parts for business offers a fair marketplace, where companies can continue to compete. Often, you can raise the profile of the smaller businesses in the UK that may not have the budget to market themselves directly to these bigger companies. There might be a parts business that is based in Scotland that can now sell to a bodyshop based in Bournemouth, purely by having this digitalized business-to-business purchase option. eBay are making the parts buying process more convenient and up to date, because as consumers we are familiar with shopping online, and the people who order the parts often go home and shop on eBay and similar platforms. So why make them pick up the phone? Times are changing, and we can help bodyshops and garages to become more efficient. For more information, visit: www.ebayforbusiness.co.uk