Frequently asked questions
If your question is not here, the contact form reaches a person.
01
Buying
- 1.1
Does it cost anything to use?
- No. Searching, comparing and requesting quotes are free for buyers, with no account required to see prices.
- 1.2
Do I buy from Sparehawk?
- No. You buy from the supplier. Sparehawk shows you who has the part and carries your request to them; the order, the invoice and the warranty are between you and that supplier.
- 1.3
Why do some offers not show a price?
- Because that supplier chose not to publish one, usually because the price depends on quantity or condition. The offer says “price on request” rather than inventing a number, and a request gets you the figure.
- 1.4
How current are stock levels?
- The part page shows when its suppliers last updated their stock, and price lists are re-imported on a schedule. Offers that a supplier stops refreshing are taken offline automatically until they are updated.
- 1.5
Can I request quotes for a whole parts list?
- Yes. Upload a bill of materials and every line is matched against the catalogue at once; one request then covers the whole machine.
02
Parts and conditions
- 2.1
What do the condition grades mean?
- New / OEM is factory-new stock from the manufacturer or an authorised channel. New surplus is unused stock sold outside that channel. Refurbished has been inspected, cleaned and tested by the supplier. Used has been removed from service; the supplier describes its condition, and nobody else has checked it. The guide on condition grades explains what each is worth.
- 2.2
Are discontinued parts still available?
- Usually, for years. Distributors hold residual stock and refurbishers keep boards in circulation long after production ends. The guide to finding a replacement shows where to look, and the obsolescence guide when to stop buying and migrate.
- 2.3
How do you know a part is discontinued?
- From the manufacturer where they publish it, with a link on the part page; from a member of our team who checked it by hand and recorded what they checked; or from a supplier or buyer. Every claim carries which of those it is.
03
Selling
- 3.1
What does it cost to list?
- The first 90 days are free, and up to 500 active listings stay free for good. Larger catalogues pay for a monthly plan based on the number of listings — see the pricing page. There is no commission on what you sell.
- 3.2
What do you need from me to start?
- A stock export in CSV or XLSX with a part number, a brand, a condition and a quantity. Everything else is optional and improves how often your lines are requested.
- 3.3
Who sees my prices?
- Anyone, if you publish them — that is what makes a line get requested. You can hide the price or the quantity on any line, and the offer then says so instead of showing a number.
- 3.4
Do you sell my stock list?
- No. We use it to publish your offers and match them to requests. We do not license it to third parties and we do not use your prices to help a competitor undercut you.