Wiper Replacement

I am usually a "genuine-part" person when it comes to car maintenance. But for wiper blades, I am beginning to think that 3rd party replacement wipers (those available from hypermarts and petrol stations) could give better value than the genuine replacement part from the authorized dealer!

I find 3rd wipers attractive for 2 reasons:

(i) their rubber formulation seems to better withstand our tropical environment in Singapore. The OEM part from my Japanese car manufacturer seems to be designed for temperate climate and degrades rather quickly when installed here, especially when I park my car in unsheltered carparks.
(ii) they are easier to replace. My car maker sells the rubber blade alone. During replacement, one needs to remove the old rubber and insert new rubber – big hassle (anyone needs advise on how to do this, just drop me a comment.). The 3rd party blades normally come as a complete wiper blade (rubber + metal frame). During replacement, just press the catch, remove and dump the entire old blade and click-on the new blade – negligible effort! Oh, in case you are wondering, the complete 3rd party blade is still cheaper compared to just the rubber from the car OEM!!
If I have sold you on the 3rd party way for wiper replacement, just remember to measure the length (in inches) and note the attachment method (there are a few types that car makers use) for your car before you go shopping for the replacement blades.