Couch surfing Banawe and Manila auto supplies

Canvass and get the best deals in Banawe without leaving home

Getting the best deals for a certain car spare part has been very easy these days, as the more common items are readily available on the many online shopping platforms. However, for the more critical items that need to be genuine, or a specific part number, or perhaps even one that may require a physical sample, then getting the best deal can mean only one thing: driving to Banawe Street in Quezon City.

Banawe Street is synonymous with the term auto supply. It has been the home of many auto suppliers that also import and distribute auto parts to other auto supply shops around the Philippines. As the mechanics say "If [insert local auto supply name here] doesn’t have it, then you need to go to Banawe."

The other option is Masangkay Street in Binondo, Manila. It is also the home of the more OG auto supplies here in the country.

The problem: Going to Banawe is a hassle, especially for first-timers as the whole stretch is littered with "agents". Many of these "enterprising individuals" are actually scammers luring buyers into getting their services under the premise of landing the best deal or getting that certain hard-to-find spare part because they "know" where to find it. Their service fee usually is twice or even more than the actual price of the spare part, plus many of them ask for a tip on top of the already expensive item they found for you.

In short, you don't save money.

Another hassle motorists face in Banawe (or Masangkay) is parking because there isn't much in Banawe. Some businesses may have but are usually full by the time you arrive unless you go really early. That said, the risk of being towed by the QC Traffic and Transport Management Department is quite high. And, depending on where you’re from, toll fees and fuel expenses could easily rack up the cost of getting that spare part.

Then there’s Mandarin Sky which offers great Chinese food in Banawe, so it’s quite mandatory to have lunch (or meryenda) there, making your vehicle’s spare parts a lot more expensive.

But what if you can scout beforehand? With a mobile phone and internet, did you know that you can actually couch surf Banawe and Masangkay streets to get leads on inquiring and getting that part you need?

Apps like Google Streetview offer people the opportunity to explore places without the need to leave the comfort of their homes or offices. Basically, Google sent out vehicles with cameras to roam the streets of every major city and captured images of these streets as if we were the ones roaming. To access Google Streetview, just go to Google and open Maps from the Apps tab on the upper right of your desktop.

On mobile phones, just open Google Maps from the apps tab. Once Google Maps is open, type in the street or place you want to look at, and once open, click on the Streetview on the lower right of the screen.

All you have to do is "walk" in Google Streetview and zoom in to an auto supply’s front signage to get their phone number to inquire about the availability of the part/s you need. Some auto supplies may have an outdated phone number posted on their signage. For these instances, you can just add the new prefix (for the new 8-digit numbers), and try searching for their new contact info via Facebook or Google. Sometimes the shop will have changed the name (usually for internal revenue reasons LOL) but most of the time the shop itself is the same. 

What you'll need to have ready is the make, model, and year of your car, as well as the name of the part you need. The best bet (especially if you're calling a specialist auto supply of your car's brand (there are many in Banawe) is to have a part number ready. That way, they can refer to their own book and search for it more easily. 

Repeat this process until you find the best price or deal. It's also helpful if you have something to write to compare spare part prices

Now, if the auto supply offers online payment, you may just send them the payment via GCash or bank transfer and then have services like Lalamove or Grab bring the item to your home or trusted talyer where your vehicle is being serviced. If not, at least you already know the specific auto supply you’re supposed to go to visually check and pick up the parts you need. No need to fall victim to those Banawe scammers.

Technology can make life easier for all of us and lets us avoid all the traffic and hassle brought about by driving in the busy streets of Metro Manila, all for one pesky part.