Compared OEM vs generic dryer thermostats, the 50 cent part cost me a return visit

Had a dryer that kept cutting out mid-cycle last month. Customer wanted the cheap generic thermostat since it was 8 bucks versus the OEM at 22. Installed it, tested fine, left. Three days later they call back, same issue. The generic one had a wider tolerance range, so it was tripping early when the drum got hot. Swapped in the OEM part, zero problems since. I get saving money, but for thermal parts I'm sticking with factory spec now. Anyone else seen knockoff parts fail in weird ways like this?

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henrygrant15d ago

The tolerance thing is the whole ballgame right there. I've seen cheap sensors read fine on the bench but drift like crazy once they actually get hot. A part can pass a basic test and still be garbage in real use. That 14 bucks you saved ends up costing you a callback and a pissed off customer. Thermal parts are one of those things where the savings just isn't worth the gamble. How many times do we gotta learn this lesson before it sticks?