Paying top dollar for factory parts isn't always smart repair

I see a lot of talk about how only original parts from the camera company are good enough. I have to push back on that idea. Last month, I fixed a Sony mirrorless with a sticky aperture blade. The Sony part was quoted at a high price and would take three weeks to arrive. I used a quality aftermarket blade set from a supplier I trust, and the camera works like new. The customer was thrilled to have it back in two days. If we always wait for the branded part, we hold up people's cameras and charge them more. We should test and use reliable alternatives more often. It makes our service better and faster.