Have you been debating on whether or not to purchase generic auto parts, or those that have a brand name? This is often a debate with people that like to fix their own vehicles. They know that generic auto parts are going to be much less expensive, yet they may wonder how long that will last. There could be other problems including the parts not fitting properly, and the length of time that it may take for those parts to be shipped to you.
If you do decide to go with brand name auto parts, you have the confidence that the manufacturer of the vehicle is also producing the parts that you will be using. However, if they are more expensive, you may decide to go with something generic just to save yourself some money.
Here are some additional pros and cons related to the purchase of generic or brand name auto parts that you may need for your vehicle.
Overview Of OEMs
The original equipment manufacturer of your vehicle, or the OEM, is an excellent source to get auto parts from. Since the manufacturer has created the vehicle that you are driving, it makes sense that they would have large quantities of every part that they have used in order to produce these vehicles.
Whether you are driving a vehicle that is only a couple of years old, or one that is a decade old or more, they will likely have the parts you are seeking. In this case, you can feel confident that every part that you order is going to fit properly because they were all cast from the same proverbial mold.
An additional benefit of getting parts from the original equipment manufacturer is that they are likely covered under your existing warranty. As long as your warranty is still in force, when you order these parts, they will likely pay for those parts as part of the warranty.
What Are Brand Name Parts?
Brand name parts are simply parts that are sold under the name of a well-known and reputable manufacturer. For example, if you are getting a carburetor, instead of it being a generic carburetor, it will come under the name of a well-known brand.
Most people understand that these are going to be more expensive. What you are paying for is the name that is on the part, not so much the quality of the part itself. That does not mean, however, that the quality of the parts is not good. They will be excellent. However, the prices are going to be much higher on these if you decide to get them.
What Are Generic Parts?
Generic parts are also manufactured by a company, but the business will not be as well-known. An example of this would be purchasing an alternator that is coming from a company you have never heard of before.
Many of these businesses originate from overseas companies, ones that have taken the original design and replicated the part to the best of their ability. In most cases, they are going to work just like a brand name part, yet because they do not come from a brand name company, you are going to save a lot of money when you place the order.
Pros And Cons Related To OEMs Brand Name And Generic Parts
Although the focus of this information is on the pros and cons of purchasing brand name or generic parts, it’s good to mention OEMs for a moment.
OEM parts are going to be the most expensive. For that additional price, you will always know that those parts will fit perfectly when you replace the old part for the new part. Therefore, if money is not a problem, and you want an exact fit, you need to get OEM parts of possible. Brand name parts come from well-known manufacturers of automobile parts.
Those that have the best reputation are able to charge more money because they have created a reputation that sells. These are also top-notch products, ones that may come with their own guarantee. These are the ones that people will often get if they have gone beyond their warranty. To save money, generic parts are going to be your best choice.
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However, there can be a few problems. They may not fit perfectly, or they may have distinct flaws such as an absence of threads which will make it impossible to install. There is a way of knowing if the generic parts are coming from a good company. This takes a little bit of research online. You will need to find comments that have been made by customers of these companies and find out which ones are receiving the best feedback.
Should You Choose Quality Or A Reasonable Price
There is really only one decision that you need to make when purchasing parts to do repairs on your vehicle. You need to decide whether or not you want to save money, or if you want the best part for your vehicle.
If you are the type of person that does not like surprises, definitely go with OEM or brand name parts. However, if you don’t mind taking a chance, and if you have done research to find the best manufacturer of generic automobile parts, you can order from them for less.
There are many people that enjoy working on vehicles. What they will not enjoy is having to fuss with parts that may not have a perfect fit. If that is the type of person that you are, purchase brand name parts if you are beyond your vehicle’s warranty.
On the other hand, if you are working with a limited budget, and you believe that you can handle small problems with parts you will receive, definitely order from a generic auto part provider. This could save you hundreds or thousands of dollars, and you will be able to do your repairs without incident, because you are ordering from a highly recommended generic auto part company like Car-Parts Direct.
