While shopping Victoriously on eBay you may have stumbled accross the words OEM or OEM Products and wondered exactly what that meant?

First, this confusing term has 2 meanings!

The 1st and original meaning:

Originally, an OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) was a Company that would manufacture and sell products for themselves and would also manufacture the same product but change the brand name for the resellers.

EXAMPLE: Whirlpool manufactured Washers and Dryers for Sears. Whirlpool Sells Washers and Dryers under there own name Whirlpool and also Sells the same Washers and Dryers to Sears under brandname Kenmore. Whirlpool and Kenmore Washers and Dryers would be considered OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer).

Basically the same product but with different names. Quite a few companies, suppliers and resellers continue to use this term and meaning today.

The 2nd and most popular meaning is used in the Automobile Industry:

OEMs are the Auto Industry's brand name Manufactures, such as GM, Nissan, Ford, Mercedes, BMW, etc. The definition of OEM in the Automobile Industry consists of a Federally Licensed Entity required to guarantee their products, unlike (Aftermarket) which is not legally bound to a Government dictated level of liability.

EXAMPLE: An OEM Mercedes Radio is a Factory installed Radio that Mercedes installs in their Cars/Trucks and Suv's. This Radio may or may not be Manufactured by Mercedes however it carries Mercedes level of quality and carries a full Mercedes Warranty while installed in the original Vehicle. Any automobile part for sale that says; OEM, means this part came stock or was an optional part in that Manufacturers new Car/Truck/SUV. Alpine makes quite a few Radios for Mercedes. You may see a Mercedes OEM Radio for sale that was factory installed by Mercedes in their Car/Trucks or SUVs however this Radio is Manufatured by Alpine. This Apline Radio is considered Mercedes OEM.

Unless otherwise noted by the seller, if you purchase a new OEM part it should come with the Manucaturers full service warranty. If you purchase a pre-owned or used OEM part most likely the warranty is voided since it has been removed from and re-installed in a different Vehicle.

Either way OEM stands for Original Equipment Manufacturer, however the meanings vary depending on the Industry.

I hope to have cleared up at least a little of what this confusing term means. If this was helpful, please take 1 moment to

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Thank you,

The-Auction-Near