Auto lifts are pretty essential to operating a successful auto shop. Whether you intend to focus on tires and brakes, exhaust work, or envision having a general shop where you do pretty much everything, you’ll need lifts to get those cars off the ground and into the air. Buying lifts can be a daunting experience, though.

There are many, many types of lifts (seven, not counting subtypes) and they’re not the same thing. There are also quite a few lift manufacturers out there, and there’s the need to make sure that whatever lift you buy is certified by the Auto Lift Institute (ALI) for quality, performance and safety. Obviously, you need to take a lot of care when buying lifts to ensure that you get the right model, at the right price, and don't get taken for a ride when it comes to certification.

These days, most auto shop equipment distributors have moved online, and feature virtual showrooms where you can browse through your equipment options (including auto lifts) and even purchase with the click of a virtual button. Is that the best way to get the right auto lift, though? Or would it be better to buy in person?

The Benefits and Drawbacks of Buying Auto Lifts Online

Before we discuss buying in person, let’s dig into the nuts and bolts of buying auto lifts online. There are both benefits and drawbacks here.

Benefits:

·       You can browse multiple types, brands and even suppliers from the comfort of your shop, or even at home on your computer, tablet or smartphone.

·       You can compare specs side by side easily.

·       You can easily compare warranty coverage.

·       You can buy with just a click, and most distributors offer free shipping for online orders.

Drawbacks:

·       You can’t get hands-on with the auto lift.

·       Buying online doesn’t really give you the best idea of the auto lift’s dimensions (it can be tough to visualize written dimensions as opposed to seeing them yourself).

·       You can’t get a good idea of the auto lift’s build quality.

·       There’s no guarantee that the auto lift you see online is what you’re buying, or what will show up at your shop.

The Benefits and Drawbacks of Buying in Person

While there are both pros and cons to buying auto lifts online, there are also considerations to be made if you intend to buy in person.

Benefits:

·       You can get up close and personal with the auto lifts you’re considering.

·       It’s easier to get a feel for dimensions in person.

·       You can more easily assess build quality (or at least structural quality).

·       You are less likely to receive the wrong auto lift when buying in person.

·       You can more easily ensure that the lift is ALI gold certified.

Drawbacks:

·       There may not be a physical showroom anywhere near your geographic location. This will require you to drive long distances, even inter-state.

·       Buying in person may mean paying more for your auto lift, as there is more overhead involved for the retailer/distributor.

·       Buying in person may limit your options when it comes to auto lift brands and styles.

As you can see, there are quite a few benefits and drawbacks to both buying online and buying in person. Really, there is no “perfect” solution here. However, you can use both methods to your advantage. Below, we’ll cover a few important tips to make the lift buying process simpler.

Tips to Make Car Lift Buying Simpler

Both online shopping and buying in person have their place, and each offers different capabilities. Combining the two may actually give you the best of both worlds, and the drawbacks of neither.

Online Shopping: One of the best things about shopping online is the ability to compare different lift models, capacities, styles and brands in just seconds. Use this to your advantage. Learn about the various lift types, what sets them apart, and how each might benefit your shop. Learn about the various brands out there, and use sites like ALI’s list of certified manufacturers to your advantage to avoid inferior brands and false certification claims.

Use distributor/retailer websites to learn about additional perks and benefits that can add value, convenience, or financial savings. For instance, many will offer free shipping, and others might also offer help with installation. Yet others may provide you with aftermarket warranty options that will provide peace of mind after the manufacturer’s warranty expires. The Internet allows you to compare all of these and make a more informed decision.

Buying in Person: Visiting showrooms in person can be an important second step. After narrowing down your options, you can pay a visit to a physical showroom to get hands-on with the auto lift(s) that you’re considering, so you can be more confident in your decision.

Buying in person, or at least seeing the auto lifts in person, can also give you a better idea of how easy to use a lift might be, exactly what you’ll need to install it in your shop, how the auto lift is operated, the configuration of the lift mechanism, the strength of any safety systems, and more.

Which Is Better?

Ultimately, both buying online and shopping in person can be beneficial. A lot will depend on where you’re located in relation to a physical showroom, the lift brands you’re considering, and the quality of the distributors/retailers that you are interested in working with.

In the end, a combined approach that mixes online shopping with in-person experience may be the best choice, simply because it ensures that you’re able to make the most informed decision possible, backed up by research and comparisons. It also allows you to become more familiar with the manufacturers in the auto lift industry, the styles auto lifts out there, and the features that you really want to see.