Genuine, OEM or aftermarket: which should you buy?
The same part number can be bought three ways. The difference is the box, the price and the paperwork, not always the part itself.
Sold by the vehicle maker in its own box, with its own part number, through its dealer network. The most expensive grade, and the one warranty work and some customers demand. Often made by the same company as the OEM part below.
Made by the company that supplies the production line, sold in that company's own box: Bosch, ZF, Valeo, Denso, Mahle and the like. Same factory, same specification, different label, lower price.
Made by an independent manufacturer to fit the application. Quality runs from OE-equivalent brands with long guarantees to budget lines. The grade and the brand are stated on every line we quote.
When genuine makes sense
Warranty and dealer work, safety-critical electronics, parts where the maker holds the only tooling, and customers who resell as genuine. Land Rover, Jaguar, Porsche and Mercedes buyers often stay genuine on these lines.
When OEM or aftermarket makes sense
Service parts, braking, suspension, cooling and most mechanical lines. Export buyers usually take OEM where it exists and a named aftermarket brand where it does not, and keep genuine for the lines their own customers insist on.
How we quote all three
Leave the grade blank and we quote the options on the line, with brand and price, so you choose per line. Ask for one grade and we quote that grade only, and say where it does not exist.
What we never do
Substitute a grade without saying so, or describe an aftermarket part as OEM. Every line on our list carries the brand it will arrive in.
Ask for prices
Upload your Excel or paste part numbers. Every line comes back with price, grade and availability within one working day.
Prefer another route?
- Open a trade accountUpload lists, see your prices, order online. For regular buyers.
- Email[email protected]
- Have stock to sell?List your parts stock with us and quote our buyers' lists.
Why buyers use Sparesdock
- Response
- Price and availability within one working day
- Company
- Sculf B.V.
- KvK number
- 94352828
- Response
- Price and availability within one working day
- Company
- Shoreditch Trading Limited, since 2019
- Company number
- 11839014