Serious question, is OEM parts really worth the extra cost or are aftermarket just as good?

I've been fixing washers and dryers for about 5 years now. Last month I had a Kenmore washer with a bad lid switch. The OEM part was $38 and the aftermarket one was $12. I went with the aftermarket one to save the customer money. Well two weeks later it fails and I have to go back out and swap it again for free. This time I used the OEM one and it's been fine. But then I did a Whirlpool fridge last week and the OEM evaporator fan motor was $85 versus the aftermarket at $30. I used the $30 one and it's been running smooth for 8 days now. So which way do you guys lean? Is it really always worth it to go OEM or are there certain parts where aftermarket is fine?

2 comments

2 Comments

rowan2629d ago

Man honestly it just depends on the part with aftermarket stuff. Things like lid switches and door latches are super hit or miss because they're mechanical and cheaply made. But something like a fan motor or a basic heating element is usually fine since it's just a simple design that's hard to mess up. I'd say go aftermarket for simple parts but stick with OEM for anything that moves or clicks.

sean_perry9d ago

Wait, "anything that moves or clicks"? That's actually a really solid rule of thumb honestly. I never thought of it that way but you're totally right, the mechanical stuff is where aftermarket always lets me down.