Shoutout to the $150 universal ice maker kit that was a total waste

I bought a generic kit for a Whirlpool fridge last month, thinking it would save me time on a common repair. The parts looked right, but the whole assembly was just a bit off and the motor burned out after two days. I ended up having to order the OEM part anyway, costing me the kit price plus another $90 for the right one. Has anyone found a reliable source for these, or is it always worth paying for the factory part first?

4 comments

4 Comments

paigep8528d ago

That exact thing happened with my dishwasher last year. The cheap pump fit but the plastic was way thinner and cracked under pressure. Learned the hard way that those tiny differences in manufacturing really matter. Now I only buy the OEM part if it's something with a motor or that handles water. The extra cost upfront is still cheaper than doing the job twice.

keith90028d ago

You're right, @paigep85, those cheap parts are a lesson in fake savings. They look identical until they fail in the most dramatic way possible. Paying more once is always better than paying less twice.

wren63828d ago

Remember when everyone was buying those cheap phone chargers that would overheat? My friend's started smoking on his nightstand.

hall.joel28d ago

Actually, I've had decent luck with some aftermarket parts. It's more about checking reviews for that specific part number than always going OEM.