I was reading your reply " towmotor" regarding the pepsi issue and junk parts like u-joints, throttle cables, even park brake cables that last maybe a week or so. Wheel cyl assembled improper or wrong seals with no bleeders machined. My head is just buzzing thinking of all the issues

I'm at a dealer, so we use our parts exclusively unless working on brand X.
Many SMH parts for off brands will cross over to Raymond.
I have found some SMH parts are the actual original OEM part, re-packaged with with SMH part #....but a bit cheaper than the same dealer part. It's a hit and miss. Some aftermarket parts are fine with no issues. Many common parts are made exclusively by one manufacturer, and fit most forklifts. Take a deadman switch from any counter-balanced forklift out there. I have Daewoo, Cat, Raymond.....all come with the exact same deadman switch.....that you could buy at Sears for your lawn tractor! Take a close look at one on any seat from any manufacturer....you will find a warning that on the switch that reads " Be careful of spinning blades" So next time you are stuck waiting for a deadman switch, try Sears!

Multiple cylinders leaking, blowing seals. Even replacements with same issues. They have been good with sending replacements but not sure how long they will last. Good feedback

We have been having some Cam side shifts recently and they seem to be a fairly heavy duty well built s/s and have had no problems so far, have you had problems?
FYI, TVH now owns Cam, ( taking over the world!!)

Any issues with side shifters manufactured by Cam systems ( Italy) if so,. how recent and what kind of problems.

Had a on going issue with the quality of a certain aftermarket part, we reported this to the parts supplier.

They came & had a look, they agreed it was a manufacturing problem & the part was poor quality so the solution they came up with was they would stop using this manufacturer for this part & supply a genuine part instead for the same price from now on.

This is a little after the fact but has the quality of aftermarket parts increased or are "we" still the quality control for these companies. They expect us to report to them regarding problems and issues with parts while the cost of these parts continue to increase.
How many times can you afford to do the same job $$$, How many times do we have to report problems, sending things back for warranty $$$.
From what I have seen this is a full time part time job, guess the only cure is to use OE.
Does this problem exists everywhere and if so what are the components that are failing in your field.
I am looking forward for input to this frustrating, ongoing problem.

luvya ponykilla. SMH seal kits and starters (just to name a few) *** bug time. Seal kits arent even close and the starters get changed as soon as you put them in. OEM all the way if possible. Customer wants cheap, tell them it is gonna be cheap the first time, but (as Arnie said) "I'll be back!!

I hate to get anyother parts other than OEM , most custumers like the cheapiest even if the job gets done every other month. SMH PARTS ARE USELESS!!!

most of the time the customer requests specific brands/parts/etc. if not, the cheapest!!!!

We have had major issues with aftermarket starters. We've also had problems with mufflers where the pipe that are welded onto them are not the correct diameter and instead of the technician alerting us about it so we can return it, they mess with it for an hour and a half to get it to fit. Most of all we have good luck with aftermarket but we are selective about what and who we buy from.
There are some companies that will cross reference a temperature gauge for instance. Their feeling is that it is a temperature gauge and if it doesn't fit in the hole it doesn't matter, it's a gauge, that's what matters.

Where I work it usually pretty simple, If the machine is one of the brands that we sell, it will almost always be an OEM part. When it comes to other brands of equipment than we usually go after market, which usually means Total Source, since this is a very big company with a huge volume of parts sales T/S gives us a preferred customer discount (or so I am told, I'm a roadie, not a parts guy).
As a road tech I've learned that there are some parts, and some machinery brands that simply must be OEM no matter what the cost, and when I speak to our parts dept. people I make it very clear that I want OEM only.
We roadie's used to get a lot of resistance about the demand for OEM parts since it was cutting down our purchases from T/S, but after a few catastrophic failures related to poor quality after market parts, our parts dept manager finally realized that the roadie's do, in-fact know what's best.
There are times when after market is better too. For example, the radiators that we have been getting from our OEM sources over the past few years have been complete junk, and don't have a very long warranty. So for a few more bucks and twice the warranty length a radiator from T/S is a better deal for the customer despite the fact that it probably came from the same factory as the OEM source version.
I usually don't discuss the source of the parts with my clients unless there is going to be an extended delay in shipping or an outrageous difference in the price. I explain that the after market parts for this particular job are known to be of inferior quality, and that it will be penny wise but pound foolish to go the cheap route this time. That and the fact that the part may have a warranty, but the labor doesn't will usually make a hesitant client see things my way.

OEM Electrical parts yes, other aftermarket. Let just say bearings for example OEM or after market label the same,but someone mark up 400% OEM.I get to the point the customer calls in for himself and ask how much? o too much!! but they can't fix the unit and I wait 60days for my money, invested time.Time has made a service Tech impossible, demand is very high and customer cutting cost but the truck is new? Ha !!
Maybe a simple solution for services??

As a road tech for 20 years, I always tried my best to reserve the right to choose what part I used for repairs. Some applications require OEM, or you will be right back out there doing a warranty repair. Other repairs aftermarket works. Anything traction and control related your better off using OEM. Obviously if you work for an independant you could have an overzealous parts manager who buys aftermarket and marks it up to an OEM price. Long story short I was the guy touching the truck and on a number of occasions I had to remind not only the parts guy, but also the service manager of that very fact. "If you feel comfortable using an aftermarket part, don't automatically assume I am as well". This statement saved me numerous call backs and built my credibility with my customers. I also informed my customers of the fact that on this particular repair, I don't feel good about an aftermarket part, and they felt good about not only paying more for the part, but the decision I made to inform them of that very fact. Later.

I like to use OEM when possible.But for a Air filter oil filter ect I really dont mind.But like vaporizers some aftermarket have 1 that works on several.As most know working on late model trucks,It isnt that simple anymore.Id rather know its not the part I just replaced rather than replace a part to find out that change it made wasnt just a bad part replaceing a bad part.