Why is OEM so great?

[DSM IN MN]

OEM has very high quality control standards, and the highest quality materials. Thoroughly tested parts. And if there was an issue where a part kept failing, they would revise it.

I had an external door handle break on my car and found it was pretty expensive. I found one place selling them for pretty cheap locally, and so when I went to pick it up he tells me it's not OEM, it's aftermarket "just as good", he told me. There was a little dimple in the middle of the handle. An imperfect part right off the bat.

Well, I went with it anyway, and it just feels very cheap when I lift the handle, like it could break any minute. The plastic feels cheaper, the spring feels cheaper. I'm scared to even use it (passenger side). Again, it has a dimple in the handle as well (cosmetic flaw), not only that but it doesn't look 100% right (it's more flat). I'll probably replace it with an OEM part from the junkyard. Lesson learned.

I can vouch for the cheap ass aftermarket "as good as OEM" door handles. My dad thought it would be a good idea to hit up EBay for some new handles for my Talon (when we were giving it a new paintjob).

Now the door doesn't open unless you pull the handle hard and as far up as possible about 3 times in a row. It is just stupid. On top of that the handle doesn't fit correctly in the car. I can see into the door if I look at the right angle.