What do we mean by OEM alternative? (and why it matters.)
09/06/2019
The OEM Alternative®. It’s catchy,
right? Whether you’re new to the Axiom brand or one of our loyal customers of
over 20 years, you may be wondering just what that means. This article will lay
out the answer but more importantly, it will explain why it matters.
As you may know, OEM stands for
“Original Equipment Manufacturer.” First used in 19671, OEM is a
broad term whose meaning has quickly evolved over time. In fact, its meaning
has flip-flopped through the years. At its origins, OEM referred to a company
that built a part or subsystem which was then sold to other companies to
rebrand and resell as part of an end product.2 So if Acme
Manufacturing made power cords used by IBM with their computers,
Acme would be the OEM.3 Today, however, the OEM is more likely to be
IBM. OEMs are now companies that integrate other manufacturers' products,
rebrand and sell these products as their own.4 Apple, Acer, Dell and HP are
among the best-known original equipment manufacturers in the PC industry. In
the realm of networking, manufacturers such as Cisco, HPE, Brocade and Juniper dominate
as some of the biggest OEM brands.
The current role of an OEM and who it represents,
helps in understanding why Axiom stands in contrast as “The OEM Alternative®.”
After investing in brand-name servers,
desktops, laptops and networking equipment, the need to expand system capabilities
perpetually rises – often sooner than later. The OEMs prefer that you upgrade and
expand with their brand-name components. They convince customers that their
upgrades are the only option to deliver the best performance and optimal
specifications. Sadly, many fall victims to the hefty price tag with these OEM upgrades.
Today the availability of “aftermarket”
or “third party” products presents a dizzying array of cost-saving options for
upgrade components. It’s no surprise that OEMs steer customers away from these
options, capitalizing on doubt and the unease of integrating components that
are not made by the original manufacturer. Too often, OEMs imply that non-OEM
components will fail to fit or perform as promised. Despite the prevention
through Federal legislation, some OEMs continue to claim that the use of third
party parts will void their service warranty. Businesses need not look any
further than the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act to rest assured that third party
parts by law will not void their service warranty.
However, there is in fact a degree of
truth to quality concerns surrounding some aftermarket upgrades that are
currently available today. Internet-fueled global marketing, sales efforts, and
the ease of online purchasing has filled the marketplace with more non-branded
IT upgrade suppliers than ever before.
But how is Axiom different?
Axiom has been providing truly
risk-free alternatives to OEM upgrades for over 20 years. With our history of quality
and service, we have built a strong list of satisfied resellers and end user
customers. It is because of this history that we are one of the fastest growing
memory, storage and fiber-optic connectivity upgrade providers spanning from the
corporate market to education and everything in between.
How can Axiom claim to be risk-free?
Because we guarantee it. Axiom only offers products guaranteed to be fully
compatible and are equal or higher performing than the OEM specifications. In
the rare and unlikely event that a customer experiences a problem with an Axiom
product, we replace it. It’s that easy and fast.
Behind the Axiom compatibility
guarantee are state-of-the-art quality control procedures throughout the design
and production of each product. We foster long-term relationships with leading
suppliers of Tier One components. Each design is developed to precisely meet
OEM specifications, while meeting or exceeding OEM performance requirements. In
some cases, the use of Axiom products will result in better performance
compared to a corresponding OEM part. Regardless of which OEM system you are
operating, Axiom will deliver what you need and when you need it.
We’re not just a great value compared to
the OEM; Axiom is a distinguished third party provider as a trusted, long-term
industry partner. We are known for quality, reliability and prompt, personal
customer service. This makes us the standout alternative to OEM upgrades in a
loud and crowded marketplace. When you choose products to keep your company,
school or organization’s systems running strong, you want products with a
proven history for dependability and quality. Choose Axiom and you’ll soon
understand why we have such a great reputation that has lasted for over 20
years.
Ready to talk about network, server and storage needs? Contact your Axiom Sales Representative today.
Call Us: 888-658-3326
Send Email: sales@axiomupgrades.com
1 http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/original%20equipment%20manufacturer
2 http://searchitchannel.techtarget.com/definition/OEM
3 http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/original-equipment-manufacturer-OEM.html#ixzz4AkVC0On4
4 http://searchitchannel.techtarget.com/definition/OEM
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