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OEM vs. Aftermarket: What's the Difference?

2024-10-22T11:53:00-05:00

Here's a question that we hear quite a bit -- what's the difference between OEM and aftermarket parts? Before we begin, let's first explain what OEM and aftermarket mean. OEM products, or "Original Equipment ManufacturerGÇ¥ products, come directly from the original manufacturer you bought your machine from. For example, if you bought a Toro mower, the OEM parts would be made by Toro. Aftermarket parts are made by a variety of manufacturers are normally sold by one supplier. For example, Stens is an aftermarket supplier of lawn & garden parts. Their products include replacement air filters, trimmer line, belts, blades and a variety of other items. We carry products from numerous aftermarket suppliers.

Now that we know what OEM and aftermarket mean, here are a few things to think about before purchasing parts:

Design & Quality

OEM parts were specifically designed for your machine and are usually an exact replacement part. These parts are guaranteed to be made to the exact specifications that were used when the machine was first built, whether your machine is a year old or thirty years old! The quality of an OEM product will be similar to or exactly the same as the product already on your machine. Aftermarket parts are often re-engineered parts. Because of this, the quality is often not the same. This means that the durability or the design may not exactly meet OEM standards. But don't give up on aftermarket parts yet GÇô we've found that some aftermarket parts actually come from the same manufacturers who are making parts for the OEM's GÇô meaning that the aftermarket part is identical to the OEM. But generally, the OEM will provide the best quality parts.

Price & Availability

Aftermarket products save you money. Here's why GÇô consider the supply chain of an OEM part: the manufacturer of a part sells it to an OEM. The OEM sells it either to a dealer or a distributor. The distributor sells it to a dealer, and then the dealer sells it to you. Every step in the chain creates a delay in product availability and an increase in price, because everyone has to make a profit on the part. Now consider the supply chain of an aftermarket part: the manufacturer sells it to the aftermarket supplier. The supplier sells it to a dealer, and the dealer sells it to you. Less middle-man means less cost, which saves you money! The aftermarket suppliers also carry a majority of the inventory, so product is available more quickly. But not every OEM part has an aftermarket product available GÇô aftermarket suppliers usually carry only commonly replaced parts for each OEM.

Warranty

Replacing a defective product is never a fun task, but it happens to all of us at some point. The moment you buy an OEM product, the clock starts ticking. OEM's typically have a short warranty period GÇô somewhere between 30 to 90 days. Different products carry different warranty periods, but you'll find that most aftermarket suppliers offer very generous warranty periods GÇô sometimes up to a year after purchase!

In the lawn care world, it is a generally known fact that OEM products rule. Because aftermarket suppliers only sell general maintenance and "wearGÇ¥ parts, the amount of OEM products is much greater. As many places do sell both, the one you're most likely to find more of is the OEM products. Here's a recap of the advantages and disadvantages:

Conclusion

	OEM	Aftermarket
+	Better quality More availability	Less expensive Better warranty No middle-man
-	More expensive Shorter warranty period	Often lesser quality Only certain replacement parts available

To sum it all up, OEM products are better quality, but aftermarket products are cheaper and they get the same job done. Now that you understand the difference between OEM and aftermarket products, you can be a wise parts shopper.

Now that we know what OEM and aftermarket mean, here are a few things to think about before purchasing parts:

Design & Quality

Price & Availability

Warranty

Conclusion

	OEM	Aftermarket
+	Better quality More availability	Less expensive Better warranty No middle-man
-	More expensive Shorter warranty period	Often lesser quality Only certain replacement parts available

What To Do When A Part Becomes Discontinued

2024-10-22T11:53:00-05:00

You may eventually find yourself in a situation or you may already have (and that's why you're here), where a part for your equipment is discontinued and no longer available for purchase. The manufacturer may have stopped producing the product because it would be too costly to manufacturer or they believe the product is too out-dated. This is considered the product's "end of life.GÇ¥ There are a couple of different options to consider as you go about looking for your discontinued product: Checking local dealers, browsing online, or getting your part fabricated.

Checking Local Dealers

Giving one of your local parts dealers a call can never hurt when you're searching for a part! Sometimes, places like these will still have the item in their inventory ready to be sold, even after the manufacturer stopped making it. It's pointless for the local dealer to throw away something just because the part is no longer available'someone like you might still need it! This happens on many occasions where dealers hold onto the part it until it runs out. If the part you are looking for happens to be a miscellaneous hardware item, such as a nut or bolt, a local hardware store probably carries it. The local dealer might also have used parts available.

Browsing Online

When browsing online, you have access to hundreds of different vendors from all across the globe, which may be supplying the exact part you're looking for! The chances of finding your part on the internet are a lot more likely than finding it locally. Online trading sites like eBay or Craigslist are great resources to search what you're looking for. Even a quick search on your favorite search engine can help you find a website that is selling the part you need. When you order online, it'll get shipped directly to you. It is common for online parts retailers to list availability for discontinued parts online without knowing that the part is discontinued. Because most manufacturers don't inform their dealers that parts have been discontinued, the only way for the dealer to know is to manually check. It is a good idea to contact the online retailer to see if the part is available before placing an order and assuming that they have the part in stock.

Fabrication

If you have tried checking your local dealers and have already looked online but are still having no luck, you could always have a new part fabricated. A local machine shop is the best place to try to have your item re-created. Creativity in this area is key!

If the part is nowhere to be found and it's unable to be fabricated, selling your equipment or trading it in for something new might be your last resort. Hopefully you'll never be in that situation, but sometimes it happens. Look at the bright side: If you have to make an investment in new equipment, it'll (most likely) be more up to date, so it'll save you a search for a discontinued part in the future. Happy part hunting!