Knock-off aftermarket parts

[DynoDave]

Obviously, I don't often link to a dedicated GM site for a story, but when it's one involving knock-off aftermarket parts, it's a story that impacts everybody.

Charging Forward: Chinese Knockoffs and the Modern Way of the World

GMEFI

[brigond]

Thanks.
Its really disheartening. Ive bought aftermarket trim parts (for my last GM car) from a well known parts catalog. They were pretty off the mark when it came to size. Likely Chinese made.

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[DynoDave]

Yeah, it is sad.

But it's also the old common sense, "if it seems to good to be true, it probably is". When you see ebay or Craislist sellers saving you a few bucks...to me, it's probably worth it to deal with the makes, or a well known vendor like Mancini's, Speedway, Summit, Jegs, etc.

[purplecharger]

I am starting to boycott Chinese aftermarket restoration parts

I see no value in fixing something you paid to be right

[charger440sixpac]

Oct 7, 2015 19:35:07 GMT -5 purplecharger said:

I am starting to boycott Chinese aftermarket restoration parts

I see no value in fixing something you paid to be right

I've been burned buying restoration parts from China. Unless they're original or Made in U.S.A., the greenbacks stay in my wallet.

[DynoDave]

100% 99%.

While no one is more "Buy American" than I am, there are a few exceptions where resto parts are concerned.

AMD would be an example. They have their own plant, controlling the quality, and that plant is in Taiwan (with whom the USA has a defense "treaty" of sorts). They have worked hard to develop a good quality reputation, and if not for the lower cost of tooling and production in Taiwan, I'm not sure a lot of those parts would be reproduced today.

And there are a few parts that are probably coming out of China that we simply would not be getting at all if they had to be made here. But regardless of where they are made, they should be of at least usable quality.

But yes, with things like heads, cams, tires, etc., if I can get a good quality USA made part, that's where I'm at.

[Deleted]

Knock offs and inferior quality restoration parts (most of which happen to be made in China) are really 2 separate issues.

With as little that seems to get done about the knock offs.....I'd venture to guess that palms are getting greased.
I suppose that becomes a political issues.

As far as reproduction parts.....I assume all of them, regardless of origin, to be of inferior quality until proven wrong.
But in some cases, you just don't have a choice....
As much as I would like to...It's not always practical to find mint used or NOS parts.

Before reproduction tail lenses were available....I bought 5-6 full sets of Rallye-R/T tail lights to finally get 2 real nice lenses.
Not a very cost effective move on my part.

[1ol74charger4me]

The really sad part is the biggest buyer of aftermarket parts and JUNK is our very own insurance companies. I've had to put aftermarket junk on 2015 models because that is all they would pay for. We restorers are a really really small part of who sponsors theses overseas companies. I guess for me I'm never disappointed that non original parts don't fit because i expect it but I am really disappointed when something made in America is not quality. I'm building a 1962 Impala SS at work and I got out a brand new hood moulding that was beautiful in the center but warped, twisted and UGLY on the ends. I thought surely this had gotten damaged so I called. The place says, " There is only one available that everybody sells and that is as good as it gets". It was American made. So now I'm hunting a NOS one. I guess to be my own "devils advocate", I did something I never said I would do and bought a item on eBay that was shipped from Thailand. I honestly never expected to get it. It showed up, 8 days later in a real flimsy but undamaged box and the part fit like a glove. Of course it was a set of taillight lenses for my TOYOTA truck. $15 for them and shipping. And when they start to fade as I'm sure they will, I will just clearcoat them like I did on my Chevrolet factory ones. Since I can't change the world I always try to focus on the person whose job I'm helping support and live in America and not who made the part or where my money eventually goes. If I focused on that I wouldn't pay taxes to the government. Since I'm up on this box with my American flag, "Support our troops!".

[Deleted]

ummm I consider it buying North American....

[brigond]

If there is no choice than you buy whats available.
I know that this is comparing apples to oranges but ;D . When we shop for produce, we purchase the fruits labeled (usa) grown and pay the price whether its more or less. Otherwise, we buy whats available.

I purchased a pickup coil recently and went with an ebay seller because it was half the price of the one Napa quoted me. It was automatic. I jumped at the better price. I dont know if the ebay coil is Chinese made or not. Im also wondering if Napa auto parts was going to sell me a chinese made coil.
The average person won't research this. However, i would have paid the premium if i knew from the start that one was chinese and the other was usa made. This is a good reminder.

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