OEM vs Aftermarket Parts: Your Need-to-Know Guide

Getting into DIY equipment repair can quickly land you in a sea of confusion when it comes to finding replacement parts.

In particular, you may come across items marketed as OEM parts or aftermarket parts.

They look basically the same, so what gives? Should you be using one over the other? If you're fixing your equipment, does the fate of your lawnmower, pressure washer, or leaf blower depend on it?

Never fear—The ROP Shop is here to guide you with this overview of the difference between OEM and aftermarket parts. With this knowledge, you’ll be better prepared to choose the right parts to keep your equipment running and potentially save yourself time, money, and frustration.

Remember the sea of confusion we mentioned earlier? Let’s dive in now and fish some answers from its depths.

OEM and Aftermarket—quick answers

We'll be covering these points in more detail (and there's a pros and cons list at the end), but if you’re short on time, here’s the 30-second version.

• OEM parts are made by the same manufacturer that made your equipment.
• Aftermarket parts are made by a different manufacturer or made under a different brand label.
• You can expect OEM parts to be the same quality as the original.
• Aftermarket parts have more variation in their quality: sometimes they're better than OEM, sometimes the same, and sometimes inferior.
• Aftermarket parts are typically less expensive and more easily available.
• You generally have a shorter warranty period for OEM parts.

What are OEM parts?

OEM stands for original equipment manufacturer.

This means that OEM parts are produced by the same manufacturer that made your equipment.

For example, let’s say you have a Toro lawnmower that needs a replacement part. You can purchase a part that has the Toro label and came from the same manufacturer that makes Toro mowers. This would be an OEM part.

What are aftermarket parts?

Aftermarket parts are parts that come from a different manufacturer than the one that made your original equipment.

While they may be compatible with your specific machine, they aren’t sold under your equipment’s brand label, and they might also work for other models or brands in addition to yours. You can think of aftermarket parts as just a generic version of a branded part.

Since aftermarket parts are “generic,” they can originate from a variety of different manufacturers.

Can OEM and aftermarket parts be the same?

While the definitions we’ve provided are simple, it can sometimes be difficult to tell if a part is OEM or aftermarket.

For example, it’s entirely possible that the manufacturer that produces those branded OEM parts also makes independent aftermarket parts meant for the very same equipment.¹

In cases like these, a part could technically be aftermarket despite being virtually the same as an OEM part if you ignore the branding (or lack thereof).

Furthermore, suppliers might sell a mixture of OEM and aftermarket parts. Just because you purchased an OEM part from a given store doesn’t mean that you couldn’t have also purchased an aftermarket version from them instead (and vice versa, of course).

The ROP Shop is one of those companies offering a mixture of OEM and aftermarket items. Combine our own quality products (along with those from other aftermarket brands) with our OEM parts from companies like Grasshopper, Toro, Ariens, Gravely, Simplicity, Echo, Kohler, Briggs & Stratton, and Kubota, and we are second to none!

Some of the OEM parts we carry on hand (such as Grasshopper brand items) aren’t even listed on our website, so feel free to give us a call at 1-844-697-6774 to see how we can help you.

Differences between OEM and aftermarket parts

So now you know the definitions of OEM and aftermarket, but what does that mean for the parts themselves?

We’ll highlight several key ways that OEM and aftermarket parts are different so you can decide which option might be better for you and your equipment.

You can also jump straight to our pros and cons list for a summary of these elements.

Part design and quality

Design and quality are fairly simple to understand when it comes to OEM parts. Since they were made specifically for your machine, you can consider them to be an identical copy of the part that initially came with your equipment. Therefore, you don’t need to be concerned about the fitment or quality being poorer than that of the original piece.

For aftermarket parts, you don’t necessarily have a guarantee that they will work in your machine or be good quality. However, with some consumer savvy, you can certainly purchase an aftermarket part that is comparable to an OEM one.

Remember that aftermarket parts are sometimes produced by the same manufacturers as the OEM parts intended for your machine. In those instances, quality and fitment become non-issues since the parts are ultimately the same.

At The ROP Shop, we offer a fitment widget on our product listings that you might find helpful if you’re curious whether a particular part will work in your equipment. (Here's an example.)

Additionally, aftermarket parts are typically produced through reverse engineering OEM parts. While there’s no guarantee the product will be high quality, it is actually possible that the quality will improve since that engineering process can help to “work out the bugs” in OEM parts.²

In fact, the Car Coalition goes so far as to state that “[t]he suggestion that aftermarket parts are somehow inferior or unsafe is untrue and is a disservice to consumers,” so don’t automatically think that aftermarket parts are inherently worse than OEM ones.

However, if you still feel uneasy at the prospect of purchasing an aftermarket part, never fear! The ROP Shop has a quality control program that tracks and monitors faulty items so that you can buy aftermarket products with confidence.

"Received in good condition, installed new part received and it fit perfectly. Thank you." - Michael P.

All told, the price difference between OEM and aftermarket parts can be significant.

A Quality Parts Coalition report from 2015 investigated the most frequently used collision repair parts that consumers used from 2009-2014 and found that independent (aftermarket) parts cost 27% less on average than OEM parts with a maximum cost difference of 68%.

Other sources indicate that OEM auto parts can be approximately 65% more expensive than aftermarket parts.⁵

Availability

Aftermarket parts tend to win when it comes to availability as well.

For example, let’s say you’re looking for a part for your Toro mower. If you only purchase Toro-branded parts, you’re limited to those suppliers that sell Toro products.

However, once you broaden your search to include generic parts, you suddenly have more options since there can be many manufacturers creating parts that would work with your mower and more suppliers selling those parts.

"Product arrived quickly and was good quality. Good price helped with the purchase." - Nan M.

Warranty

Replacing a faulty product is never a pleasant experience, yet it happens to all of us at some point. This means it’s helpful to have an idea of how long a supplier will have your back if something goes wrong with your equipment.

The clock starts ticking the moment you purchase an OEM product. OEM parts generally have a limited warranty duration, ranging from 30 to 90 days. However, most aftermarket vendors provide more extensive warranty periods, although that will vary depending on multiple factors. ²

Therefore, if you value the peace of mind of having a more extended warranty on your products, then aftermarket parts will probably be more appealing to you.

The ROP Shop offers a one-year warranty against manufacturer defects, regardless of the brand!

Pros and cons of OEM and aftermarket parts

Now that we’ve covered the differences between OEM and aftermarket parts, let’s sum everything up with a quick pros and cons list.

OEM Pros:

• Guaranteed quality—you’re buying an exact replacement.
• Simple selection process—you know the part you buy will fit your equipment, so there’s no guesswork.

OEM Cons:

• Price—be prepared to spend more on an OEM part.
• No potential for increased quality with the original design
• Warranty—typically the warranty period is shorter for OEM parts.

"Fits exactly as described. Instruction manual included. Customer service flyer with direct USA phone number also included. Item shipped 2nd day 24hrs after my purchase." - Nancy T.

"Great company to do business with. I made an online order and two days later I received the item. They sell high-quality parts for my lawnmower so I will continue to use them on future maintenance repairs." - Timothy H.

Final thoughts on OEM vs aftermarket parts

We’ve covered the meaning of OEM and aftermarket parts and four ways that they can differ: quality, price, availability, and warranty. Now there’s only one question left.

In the end, what’s better: OEM or aftermarket parts?

The answer is that it depends on you and your goals for your equipment.

Are you thrifty? Do you not mind a little risk (because if a part breaks in your lawnmower, at least it’s only your yard on the line)? Can you quickly tell which parts will work in your equipment? If so, then aftermarket parts could be a good choice for you.

On the other hand, if your livelihood depends on the performance of your equipment, you probably don’t want to take chances. You’re willing to pay more for guaranteed fit and quality because if something goes wrong, you’ll have a pile of problems on your hands. In that case, OEM parts would be a smart choice.

THE ROP SHOP ADVANTAGE

Whether you decide to go for aftermarket products or stick with OEM parts, we urge you to consider The ROP Shop for all your replacement part needs.

What makes The ROP Shop such a great spot to buy parts? Check it out:

• We offer OEM and aftermarket parts so that no matter which route you choose, you can purchase in one convenient spot.
• You’ll get a one-year warranty against manufacturer defects on your parts (regardless of whether they’re OEM or aftermarket).
• Our quality control program provides peace of mind for you by monitoring customer reports and checking products so that we can weed out parts that have issues.
• You can take advantage of our Rugged U blogs and videos to learn how to get the most out of your parts and equipment.
• Our stellar customer service department can help you verify fitment, answer your questions, and provide troubleshooting help.
• We offer free shipping to the Lower 48 States.

Choose the company that puts their customers first every time.

[EDITED 10/2023]