Aftermarket vs. OEM Rubber Tracks

The “OEM vs. Aftermarket Parts Debate” probably began in ancient times when the first chariots were delivered to the first army. It’s easy to imagine that ancient quartermaster asking, “Do we buy replacement chariot wheels from the guy that made the original chariots, or should we save a few coins and buy them from the new “Wheels R Us” shop on the edge of town?”

The fact is that the answer—it depends! — probably hasn’t changed much in 4,000 years. And the pros and cons for each option probably haven’t changed that much either.

The internet now allows us to search out those pros and cons of every piece of equipment imaginable. And they all boil down to this: OEM parts usually have guaranteed quality, a warranty, and a higher cost. 

On the other hand, aftermarket parts, in general terms, have a quality that ranges from better to just as good to worse; a much wider selection which can lead to confusion for the buyer. Aftermarket parts usually have no warranty, and they almost always have a lower price. But remember, these are general guidelines that are usually footnoted with “depends upon supplier.”

Therefore, it is safe to say that an equipment owner will want to save money by going to an independent aftermarket supplier but will be anxious about finding the right one. 

At Dominion Equipment Parts, we can assure you that buying from us removes all the negatives that so many have experienced with aftermarket parts in the past. 

Consider the following four points:

1. You get a warranty. And not just any warranty—a non-prorated warranty. This means that if you purchase tracks from us and they fail you receive completely new replacement tracks.
2. Tracks that are basically the same quality as OEM rubber tracks. The number of warranty claims we handled last year was two-tenths of one percent of overall track sales.
3. The wide selection of replacement tracks out there can be baffling to a buyer. But when you call Dominion, you are not calling an order-taker. You are talking with a subject matter expert that helps you find just the right tracks for your machine.
4. And yes, the price is significantly less than the OEM replacement tracks.

Of course, as with any purchase of replacement parts, the question of shipping will arise. Our Parts Manager, Bryan Maul, has been with Dominion for 19 years, and he is proud to say that he can get replacement tracks or other parts to customers in most states in just one day. This is due to our network of seven shipping locations across the country.

Keeping all this in mind, we feel that we can definitively answer the age-old question, “OEM or aftermarket parts?” That answer is “Aftermarket, as long as the aftermarket we’re talking about is Dominion Equipment Parts!”

Who Not to Buy Online Tracks From