As a customer service representative at Buy Auto Parts, I get calls every day from potential customers asking this very question. By providing you the information that you need I hope I can save everyone just a few minutes. At Buy Auto Parts we are always happy to help you and answer any questions that you have but if I could save you a couple minutes of your life and make your purchasing process that much easier…why not, right?
When you are looking for parts on our site, you generally are going to see a two letter code that follows each one of our part numbers. For example, if you were looking at an A/C compressor for a 2002 Honda CRV, you would see 60-00840NC, 60-00840NA, and 60-00840RC. The part number is exactly the same but the letters that follow it are different—why? That is because they are the exact same part, for the exact same vehicle but the CONDITION of the part is different in all three cases.
NC – If you see a part number followed by NC or ON that means that the part is a brand new OEM (original equipment manufacturer) part. This is the exact same part that was in your car when you purchased it from the dealership. It is also the part that they would sell you if you were to go the dealership to get your car fixed. Parts that are NC or ON are from name brand manufacturer’s like Denso, Bilstein, or BorgWarner.
NA – If you see a part number listed on the Buy Auto Parts website that is followed by an NA or AN, that means the part is a brand new aftermarket part. These parts are the Buy Auto Parts brand. That means that these parts are manufactured to the EXACT same specifications as the NC or ON, but they are built specifically for us. The manufacturing of these parts is directly overseen by Buy Auto Parts. We always recommend that you purchase our brand because we offer our aftermarket parts at a discounted price with the SAME EXACT warranty as the NC or ON.
RC – A part number followed by an RC or R means that the part is remanufactured. A remanufactured part means that a defective part has been taken from a vehicle and then rebuilt by a certified rebuilder so that it can be resold for use. Buy Auto Parts also offers the same warranty on all remanufactured parts. Remanufactured parts are a great way to encourage recycling, and they can save the consumer lots of money, especially on expensive parts like struts and turbochargers.
