New Seller Verification Process for eBay Motors Airbag Sellers Adds a Measure of Buyer Confidence
By Caryn Smith, Editor, Automotive Recycling Stores and AutoRecyclingNow.com
eBay Motors is a popular marketplace for many in the collision repair business to find ROE quality recycled original equipment® auto parts to complete auto repairs. eBay Motors has recently sought to increase confidence in the buyer experience by qualifying sellers, specifically, of recycled airbags or airbag-related components. To accomplish this, an agreement was finalized this fall with the Automotive Recyclers Association (ARA), the industry trade association that offers two certification programs to measure automotive recycling facilities to the highest industry standards available today .
Those who are members of the ARA, who are Certified Auto Recycler™ and Gold Seal™ certified facilities have passed rigorous environmental and quality control standards and operate at the highest levels of excellence. This gives their customers a measure of assurance that ROE parts are handled safely using best practices and quality-based processes.
eBay Motors now requires all sellers of airbags or airbag-related components on their platform to be an ARA Certified Auto Recycler™ with a recall procedure in place. An ARA Gold Seal™ certified facility will not sell ROE recycled original equipment® auto parts that have safety recalls issued by an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) for reuse or repair of another vehicle. All parts and components known to be recalled, such as airbags, are also VIN checked for recall at the point of sale. “ARA is pleased that our certification program has gained the respect and approval of eBay as a solution to ensure that competent sellers of safety components such as airbags have the necessary qualifications and training to protect consumers,” says Sandy Blalock, ARA Executive Director. “We believe this level of quality assurance will allow collision repairers to continue to rely on trusted auto recyclers for auto parts in the procurement process.”
The professional auto recycling industry places significant emphasis on the importance of certification, and for over 20 years the ARA Certified Auto Recycler (CAR) certification program has provided professional auto recyclers with a set of standards for general business practices, environmental and safety issues. CAR certification is based on compliance with environmental and safety regulations, while the Gold Seal program focuses on excellence in customer service. The program is one of ARA’s cornerstones, and its industry partners recognize CAR and Gold Seal automotive recyclers as market leaders.
Collision repairers can refer to the ARA Certification Standards for Recalls at https://aracertification.com/recalls to see the recommended recall policy for certified facilities. This approved certification, along with their ARA membership, allows auto recyclers to sell airbags and additional restraint components on eBay. No other auto recyclers will be allowed to sell airbags under eBay Motors’ new policy.
To further ensure the safety of others in the shipping process, ARA also offers a discount program to their members through InfoTrac to meet DOT requirements for an emergency hotline service that is needed when shipping hazardous materials.
