As a co-owner of a business here in Houston on MLK Boulevard, Cullen Auto Parts is a staple for our family-run business. If you read the "bad reviews" that sadly has given them a 3.6 ⭐ rating (when they should be at least a 4.5 ⭐ if not 5 ⭐) you you will find a common denominator, and that is (paraphrased): "I thought I was ordering one part, but I ordered the wrong one."
So how can we as consumers make sure that we don't keep making this mistake? Our VIN numbers! No one ever told us to check them! (That long number/letters is going to tell you everything you need to know about the part you need to order) I'm here to tell you that now: I'm going to need you to run your VIN number online before you call them to order any part. "But that number is so long!" (Trust me I know you're suffering because I have dyslexia). That's why I want you to go and use an app/site that will allow you to scan the barcode using any smartphone. I actually really enjoy using AutoZone's app for my VIN scan to find out all the information for said vehicle and then call Cullen and tell them what I need. Tee-he-he!
Now, back to finding the barcode, okay? You can find it in couple places. My immediate go to is on the lower door panel were those white stickers are (it could be on the literal side of the door or it could be on the inner part where the door shuts onto the actual physical part of the car). Sadly sometimes you're going to have to enter the VIN manually (letter by letter number by number and FYI, there is never the letter "O" there's only ever the number ZERO) on these apps because not all of the vehicles have a barcode (don't be embarrassed my dyslexic people to ask somebody to double check your VIN if you find yourself having to enter it manually, or just use Google translate and take a picture of it and highlight the portion that you want Google to copy for you and then translate. Copy and paste that and enter it into the app.
I guess my point here that I'm trying to get across is don't just take Google review ⭐'s as the businesses actual service capabilities. As I've mentioned in previous reviews, a person who wrote a 1⭐ review could have just been having a bad day. They might have just got screwed over by the mechanic. They may have just lost their job and spent their last $150 on the part and are facing a horrific week and they ordered the wrong part and now their skeevy mechanic is making them pay double labor when it was their responsibility to make sure that you were actually ordering the correct part (scandalous in my opinion on small repairs). And people, please do not just walk in thinking you know what's wrong with your car and order a part before you actually have the vehicle checked out by a mechanic.
Additionally....
As consumers we usually write our reviews with our emotions, because it is our money that we are putting on the table and we worked hard for that money. That's what makes my review different. I'm not really writing from a emotional perspective because I'm ordering parts for customers and I'm using VIN number scanners to double check my work before I even look up a part. And stop ordering from eBay. Please just use Cullen's.
If I can just say one more thing it's that you're not going to find a better quality used parts store with a 5 ⭐ rating from me and a more honest business than Cullen Auto Parts.
Thank you for all your help, Cullen Auto Parts. We couldn't make it without you and your great prices, and high quality used parts.