Buying aftermarket parts for your appliance may save you some money upfront but may end up costing more money in additional repairs down the road. For example, I purchased an aftermarket drain pump for a Whirlpool direct drive washer. The unit was difficult to install due to some molding imperfections compared to the OEM (original equipment manufacturer) part. It was also noisy. Not trusting the part, I removed it and installed the OEM version. The OEM version is about three times more expensive than the aftermarket product, but I found it worth the added cost.
Websites selling appliance parts usually sell lots of aftermarket products, but you have to read carefully, otherwise you will believe you are purchasing an OEM part. Some sites bring you to their location by advertising original equipment manufacturer parts for Whirlpool, Maytag, Frigidaire, and o, but then direct you to their lower priced aftermarket versions. This is bait and switch, but it's common.
Some websites refer to their parts as “Exact Replacement Part.” In this phrase, the giveaway is “Exact Replacement” which indicates it is the exact replacement for the OEM part. Exact Replacement Parts are made for many brands including Frigidaire, Whirlpool, Maytag, GE, Roper, and Kitchenaid.
In conclusion, cheaper is not always better, and make sure you know what you are purchasing. If you have to have an aftermarket version, do some research to see what others have to say about it first. If you're looking for an OEM part, make sure to read the labeling carefully, in order to confirm that it is not an aftermarket part disguised with phrases like “Exact Replacement Part.”
