Rant: Had to choose between a cheap universal dryer belt or the OEM part for a Whirlpool

Got a call for a dryer that wouldn't turn. Found the belt was shot. The universal one at the supply house was $12, but the actual Whirlpool part was $28. I went with the cheap one to save the customer money. It snapped after about three weeks. Now I'm eating the cost and doing the job again. Anyone have a go-to brand for belts that actually holds up?

3 comments

3 Comments

jones.anna1mo ago

My buddy Mike tried a generic belt on his Kenmore. It lasted exactly 17 days before it shredded.

blake3221mo ago

Remember the time I tried to save a few bucks on a generic belt for my own washer. Thing sounded like a jet engine for a week before it just quit. Learned that lesson the hard way, same as you. Sometimes the extra money for the real part is just the cost of not having to do everything twice. Makes you wonder if the supply house even stands behind those universal ones.

patricialee1mo ago

My old Honda dryer ran fine on a universal belt for about six months. Then it started that high pitched whine and shook the whole laundry room. Had to take it all apart again to put the proper one in. Really makes you question what you're actually saving.