The Original Equipment Suppliers Aftermarket Association (OESAA) was bringing their message directly to mechanics at the recent Mechanex Show.

 

Representative from member companies were on hand at the busy OESAA stand, with actual component examples of the difference in quality of OE parts and some cheaper aftermarket alternatives, with many visitors shocked by the huge gulf in standards.  

 

The thrust of the message from OESSA was not just about quality, but also about the impact that parts choice can have on a garage’s reputation and its long-term business prospects.

 

There still appears to be some confusion about what represents OE quality in the aftermarket and the OESAA members are quick to point out, that as original suppliers to vehicle manufacturers, their products are the only true OE products, fully tested to vehicle manufacturer specifications. What this practically means to a garage is that these products are guaranteed to fit first time every time, because they are identical to the originals. This can mean a huge time saving for a garage, because it does not have to struggle with ill-fitting parts.

 

The point was also made that many aftermarket parts have design or quality compromises which will often mean they do not drive or feel like the original and the customer will notice a difference. With original parts from OESAA members, garages can have complete confidence in their quality and performance and can effectively fit and forget. This is a key point, because it means satisfied customers and minimises comeback and complaints, something that is essential in maintaining the all-important reputation of a garage business.

 

The OESAA message appears to be hitting home with more and more garages, especially in Ireland. Rural garages in particular, recognise that they have to operate within a relatively small potential customer base and so maintaining a reputation for high quality is vital. Customer satisfaction is extremely important, so the last thing a garage needs is a customer having to comeback because a poorer quality part has failed. A few cents saved in the short term could cost a garage dearly in terms of damaged reputation and the knock on effect of lost business, and this is why more and more appear to be choosing the peace of mind of original equipment.