OEM, original and aftermarket: say what you mean
Shops and suppliers use these words loosely. Agree on definitions inside your shop and put them on the ticket:
- OEM / original-equipment style: Built to the phone maker’s design. Often the closest match for color, touch and sensors. Usually the highest cost and the strongest warranty you offer.
- Aftermarket: Made by a third party for repair use. Quality ranges from excellent to poor. “Aftermarket” alone is not a grade; you still need soft OLED, hard OLED, incell or LCD on the line.
- Pull / used original: A screen removed from another phone. Can be excellent or worn. Treat it as its own grade with its own warranty rules.
Never tell a customer “it’s original” unless you can stand behind that claim on the ticket. If you are not sure, say the grade you stocked.
Soft OLED, hard OLED, incell and LCD
Exact layer stacks change by model and year, but the labels customers and techs search for still matter at the counter:
| Grade (common shop label) | What customers usually notice | Typical shop use |
|---|---|---|
| Soft OLED | Closest feel to many modern original panels; flexible stack | Premium quote when the customer wants the best match |
| Hard OLED | OLED image, often stiffer glass or stack; good brightness | Mid-to-high quote; confirm touch and sensor behavior on that model |
| Incell | Touch built into the LCD stack; flatter look than OLED on many phones | Value quote; explain differences in black levels and viewing angle |
| LCD copy / low tier | Noticeable color and brightness gaps; higher failure risk | Only if you disclose it clearly and shorten the warranty |
Soft OLED vs hard OLED vs incell is one of the most common bench debates. Your job is not to win the debate. Your job is to stock clear labels, show the customer the price difference, and write their choice on the ticket before the phone is opened.
For a short comparison you can say out loud:
- Soft OLED: best match for many recent OLED phones when budget allows.
- Hard OLED: strong image, confirm the model quirks your shop has seen.
- Incell: lower price; expect different blacks and sometimes different touch feel.
- Cheap LCD: last resort, full disclosure, short warranty.
How to stock grades without chaos
- Pick two or three grades per popular model, not seven. A premium, a mid and a value line is enough for most counters.
- Put the grade in the part name your techs see: “Screen iPhone 13 — Soft OLED”, not just “Screen iPhone 13″.
- Keep a small test photo or note per grade (brightness, True Tone or color behavior on that model) so quotes stay honest.
- Receive parts into inventory with the grade in the SKU. If two grades share one bin, someone will install the wrong one.
- When a supplier renames a tier, update your labels the same day. Old nicknames on the shelf cause new arguments at pickup.
You do not need to publish your suppliers. You do need every drawer and every ticket to use the same words.
Quoting: always offer the choice in writing
Build the screen line on your price worksheet as labor plus part, with the grade named. A clean counter habit:
- Diagnose and confirm it is the display assembly (or glass-only, if you offer that).
- Quote at least two grades when you stock them, with the warranty length next to each price.
- Get a yes on one grade before ordering or pulling from stock.
- Print or write the grade on the intake and on the final ticket.
If the customer asks “which is better?,” answer with tradeoffs (match to original, price, warranty), not with vague words like “good” or “HQ.” Those words mean nothing six months later.
Warranty by grade
Your warranty policy should say which defects you cover for each grade and for how long. Common shop practice (adjust to your own rules):
- Longer coverage on OEM / soft OLED when the failure is the part, not a second drop.
- Shorter coverage on value incell or low-tier LCD.
- No coverage for a new crack, liquid or customer misuse, regardless of grade.
- Same labor rules for every grade so techs do not invent exceptions.
Write the end date and the grade on the pickup receipt. That single line prevents most “you installed a cheap screen” fights.
Training techs on grades
New hires should install and test each grade you stock on a practice phone before they quote live customers. Pair this page with your phone repair training path: intake, grade choice, install, QC, warranty explanation. If they cannot explain soft OLED versus incell in one minute, they are not ready for the counter.
Where RepairAmigo fits
RepairAmigo is free software for cell phone, computer and electronics repair shops, built inside a busy repair shop that has processed more than 50,000 tickets. Screens can be stocked by model, quality and color, parts deduct when a repair is saved, and the ticket keeps the line item the customer approved so the grade is never a mystery at pickup. There are no ticket or user limits. See cell phone repair shop software or read what “free” means here.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between soft OLED and hard OLED screens?
Both are OLED-style aftermarket assemblies. Soft OLED often feels closer to many original panels; hard OLED usually uses a stiffer stack. Behavior varies by model, so test the grades you stock and quote them as separate options.
Are aftermarket phone screens any good?
Some are excellent and some are not. “Aftermarket” only means a third party made it. Judge by the grade you stock (soft OLED, hard OLED, incell, LCD), your failure rate and what you disclose on the ticket.
Should a repair shop stock OEM and aftermarket screens?
Most busy shops stock more than one grade so customers can choose price versus match. Keep the labels clear, the warranties different and the choice written before the repair starts.
How do I explain incell vs OLED to a customer?
OLED usually shows deeper blacks and richer color on phones designed for it. Incell is a lower-cost LCD-style stack with a different look and sometimes a different touch feel. Show both prices and let the customer pick.
Is RepairAmigo free?
Yes. RepairAmigo is free software for cell phone, computer and electronics repair shops, with no ticket or user limits. You can stock screens by model and quality and keep the approved grade on the ticket.
Questions?
Read the setup guide, email support@repairamigo.com, or go back to More about RepairAmigo.
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