Honestly, what do you say when they still look worried after @thomas.eva's picture frame bit?

Used to think a microfiber cloth was fine for everything. Seeing those swirl marks under light totally changed my mind. Your straight wipe method with a fresh pad is the way to go.

Wait, TWO WEEKS?! That cheap pump died faster than my last phone battery! No wonder you switched to the real thing.

You said you spent 15 hours on it. That's a lot of work for a hundred bucks. For a food truck that's going to use that logo on everything, you provided a real business asset. Even for a first gig, your time has value. I'd have aimed for at least three hundred.

You're absolutely right to go with the OEM part. I had the same exact problem with a washing machine pump last year. Bought a cheap one that lasted two weeks, then finally spent the extra for the real deal. It's still running today. @lee582 makes a good point about trying to save money, but it just costs more in the long run when you have to do the job twice. The quality difference is real.