Original Equipment or Third Party Equipment?

What is your preference when it comes to having accessories and spare parts be OE of 3rd Party?

I work in an industry where a lot of eyes on are on the production and distribution of OE product. I understand how important it is for a customer to have certified product, but what if I told you that same product, just with a different name, is being sold as a 3rd party product for a fraction of the price?

No this isn't something I think about all the time. Don't think I just crunch numbers just to crunch numbers (although sometimes I am known to do that...)! I actually started to notice how many non-name brand applicances and electronics that I have around my house. This became painfully obvious theast time I had a guest over and they asked what brand my cold brewer was. All I knew was that is had a name I could not pronounce without a lot of practice,and that it was bought from Amazon. I was met with a strange stare.

The more I thought about that interaction the more I realized pretty much everything I have is from Amazon. Not exactly the best thing to be admitting because everyone seems to hate that giant, but that's not entirely the point of this post.

I never quite realized how much cheaper I was getting some of these items than if I HAD bought the name brand or the OE certified products. But on top of that, I haven't seen anything that had a lower quality than what was expected of the type of product.

Let me think of all the different things that I use daily that are from a strange brand that no one has ever heard of... In no particular order...

Cold Brewer, Beverage Tumbler(x2), Mop & Bucket System, Nintendo Switch Pad Controller, Nintendo Switch Hardshell Case, 100ft Ethernet Cord(x2), Septum Rings(😬), Detergent, Toilet Paper, Paper towels...

The list is pretty random but anytime I can find something cheaper to buy, I'll probably go for it. Like I said, I've never experienced lower quality from it so I might as well save some money. It just boggles my mind a bit that I hadn't noticed it even questioned it myself until others started to notice it.

I'd like to know how much I'd save for all the extra shipping hassle I've been doing, but I might leave that for a later financial project.

As for my favrotie gadget that I have right now, I'd have to say it is the Nintendo Switch Pad Controller. Essentially, you just slide your Switch right into this handset and your ready to go(there are a few settings you need to make sure you have on but other than that it works fine). I have out countless hours on that controller and it hasn't suffer any sort of physical fatigue yet. It looks and (probably) feels better than any similar type of official product that Nintendo has out right now.

Sometimes I feel bad not supporting the actual brands, but sometimes we must out ourselves first and looking out for my wallet is what I am going to do first and foremost. 💵

In the end, do you have a preference? Do you have experience with any good 3rd party products? Do you have experience with any bad 3rd party products? Please share with us! ☺️