10/22/2026
Ever wonder why your body shop pushes back when the insurance company or a parts supplier wants to use an aftermarket bumper? Here’s a real example from this week.
Brand new aftermarket bumper cover. We prepped it the same way we prep every part, put sealer on it, and the factory primer underneath reacted almost immediately. Wrinkled and lifted. Nothing wrong with our materials or our prep. The cheap primer the manufacturer sprayed on it just isn’t compatible with real refinish products.
So instead of scuff, seal, and paint, this bumper is getting stripped to bare plastic, adhesion promoter, re-primed, and started over. That’s hours of extra labor that wasn’t on the estimate.
With an OEM cover we know exactly what primer is on it. Scuff, seal, paint, done. With aftermarket, it’s a gamble every single time. That’s what you’re really paying for when a shop recommends OEM.
If you’ve got a repair coming up and the estimate shows aftermarket parts, ask questions. We’re happy to explain the difference.
Call or message us for an estimate.