Generally speaking, when going to the Dealership for your vehicle, the parts being used are Original Equipment Manufactured (commonly shortened to OEM). So what is an aftermarket product? An aftermarket part is that of which was not rooted back to the specific car’s producer. This means, these parts may be suitable for more than one vehicle’s make and model.  Does this mean that aftermarket products are deemed less valuable than OEM parts? Not necessarily. Just because you may be purchasing a part that is less expensive than the original counterpart, that does not mean that the quality of the product is lacking—in fact, many people prefer aftermarket products once they are familiar with what to look for to receive quality parts.

As we are all aware, everything has its pros and cons. Let’s look into OEM products first:

Original Equipment Manufactured (OEM) -PROS

>> Part Selection Made Easy. It’s easy to know what part is for your car because dealerships have only one or two options for your make and model.

>> Quality Comes First. Most car dealerships are providing their clients with high quality parts, and since replacement parts are the same, you are almost guaranteed quality of performance.

>>Warranties. Who better to give a warranty than a manufacturer, especially one specialized specifically for your vehicle.

CONS

>>Price Point. These products are usually listed at higher price points than the aftermarket alternatives.

>>Purchased at Dealerships. Although nowadays we’re able to order OEM parts online, the only other way is through a dealership. Depending on the vehicle, this has its limits.

>>May not compete as greater than certain aftermarket products. That is not to say that the quality is not great, just not better.

Aftermarket Products – PROS

>>Most likely to be sold at a more affordable price point. However, be on the lookout for “too good” of a deal as the quality may be lacking.

>>It may function or perform better than OEM parts.

>>There are far more options to choose from as there are several companies manufacturing aftermarket products.

>>Easily accessible—Aftermarket products can be found at more than one retailer, which means it’s more convenient for buyers.

CONS

>>The quality most times is lacking in comparison to the OEM parts, especially when the price point is far cheaper.

>>Too much of a selection is difficult for clients who are not familiar with aftermarket products.

>>No warranty is issued with many aftermarket products to ensure affordable pricing.

Our company, on the other hand, believes in fair pricing. We do not usually use aftermarket products as most of our inventory is of OEM parts. Give us a call to get your free quotation today at 416 629 5636. Otherwise, feel free to contact our team via email at info@keymaxlocksmith.com. We can’t wait to hear what we can assist you with today!