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Meaning of OEM
While I know that 'OEM' means ink as supplied by the printer
manufacturer to most people in this newsgroup might I point out that it means something quite different in the 'computer spares' context in the UK at least. What OEM means to me is "as supplied *to* an Original Equipment Manufacturer". In other words it's a computer part (or whatever) in a bulk/minimal format with no retail packaging etc. If you look through the computer suppliers here you'll find quite a lot of "OEM" parts and they are significantly *cheaper* than the alternative (sometimes described as "Retail packed") parts. An OEM optical drive (for example) will come in a plain bag with no extras like software on CD or instructions whereas a "retail" one will have a pretty box, CDs of software, etc. So to a UK person buying computer supplies "OEM" tends to mean cheaper, without frills, not what it seems to mean here. -- Chris Green |
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Meaning of OEM
wrote in message
... While I know that 'OEM' means ink as supplied by the printer manufacturer to most people in this newsgroup might I point out that it means something quite different in the 'computer spares' context in the UK at least. What OEM means to me is "as supplied *to* an Original Equipment Manufacturer". In other words it's a computer part (or whatever) in a bulk/minimal format with no retail packaging etc. If you look through the computer suppliers here you'll find quite a lot of "OEM" parts and they are significantly *cheaper* than the alternative (sometimes described as "Retail packed") parts. An OEM optical drive (for example) will come in a plain bag with no extras like software on CD or instructions whereas a "retail" one will have a pretty box, CDs of software, etc. So to a UK person buying computer supplies "OEM" tends to mean cheaper, without frills, not what it seems to mean here. -- Chris Green Same in the US, Chris. Although the part is cheaper by virtue of bulk sales, less packaging, shipping, marketing, etc, it is the same part as others with the mfg's same ID number or name. |
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Meaning of OEM
As you mention OEM means "Original Equipment Manufacturer", as opposed
to a 3rd party product. It may not be MADE by the company that packages it, but it is the product that manufacturers supply to the public with their product. The term, for instance, is used with car parts. For example, Honda used Michelin for the tires sold on their cars from the factory. The tires usually are special order, made in huge quantities for Honda and may not be available to the general public as a part, even though Michelin make lots of tires that will fit Hondas. If your Michelin Honda tire were to fail during warranty, you may not be able to get a replacement from a Michelin dealer, but would be able to from Honda. Honda got the tires for less than an equivalent Michelin tire would be available to you because it is supplied to Honda in vast quantities, may have some features removed or adapted, and the packaging or labeling might be different. However, again with car parts, an OEM part made by either the car manufacturer, or their sub contractor, may actually been more costly than a 3rd party part. For instance, a Ford branded OEM shock absorber may cost more than buying a 3rd party shock absorber. As you stated, with computer suppliers, supplies to OEM manufacturers are often without some hardware, may have unique firmware, may have different mechanical specs, are often packaged in generic packaging without instruction manuals or software. This keeps cost down, however, when you, as an end user buy an OEM model of something, it may actually have NO warranty, or a much shortened or reduced one. Computer manufacturers often have contracts with companies they buy OEM packaged goods from, that they will absorb a certain percent of defective product, and handle all warranty claims. Since warranty is a major liability the product can be sold much cheaper is someone else takes the risk. So if a computer manufacturer buys a hard drive OEM, they may buy it with only a 90 day warranty, or maybe even a 10 day warranty. they test the drive themselves, and if it works, that may be where the liability of the actually manufacturer of the hard drive ends. If the drive gets installed and is sold in a computer, the end user gripes to the computer manufacturer, not the hard drive maker. These situations have occurred before. If average failures during the computer manufacturer's warranty occur, they eat it, but let's say 80% of the drives fail, then the contract may allow them to go back to the OEM supplier and demand they cover the replacements. In the case of ink, OEM means the ink branded by the printer manufacturer, and usually sold at a premium price. 3rd party are either ink formulators or distributors who sell ink under different brand names. It may actually be the same ink you get from the printer manufacturer, or a similar ink made by the same company, or a similar ink made by another company, or a quite different ink made by either. I hope that clarifies things, or makes them inkier still, as the case my be... ;-) Art wrote: While I know that 'OEM' means ink as supplied by the printer manufacturer to most people in this newsgroup might I point out that it means something quite different in the 'computer spares' context in the UK at least. What OEM means to me is "as supplied *to* an Original Equipment Manufacturer". In other words it's a computer part (or whatever) in a bulk/minimal format with no retail packaging etc. If you look through the computer suppliers here you'll find quite a lot of "OEM" parts and they are significantly *cheaper* than the alternative (sometimes described as "Retail packed") parts. An OEM optical drive (for example) will come in a plain bag with no extras like software on CD or instructions whereas a "retail" one will have a pretty box, CDs of software, etc. So to a UK person buying computer supplies "OEM" tends to mean cheaper, without frills, not what it seems to mean here. |
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Meaning of OEM
wrote:
On 17-Oct-2006, (Fred McKenzie) wrote: So to a UK person buying computer supplies "OEM" tends to mean cheaper, without frills, not what it seems to mean here. Beware of buying OEM, you may not get any warranty without a County Court action. Even if you can contact the manufacturer they generally say, "It's an OEM part, contact your comouter vendor" BUT you bought from a supplier, and they bought in bulk, OEM designated devices, because they are cheaper, and have a bigger profit margin. After a year they say "Not our problem, you must have mistreated it" So they give you the call centre runaround, at national call rates. Certainly for rotating devices. with lasers that tend to go sick, or hard drives I'd prefer to pay the few percent extra for the mfrs. warranty, even then you may still get the runaround. Since in the UK our rights are wholly with respect to the supplier from whom we bought the item and not at all against the manufacturer this isn't really an issue here. -- Chris Green |
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