as the headline suggests, you get what you pay for.tldr version: spend the extra money for a quality filter.I did notice a slight chemical smell upon opening, but not any worse than any other filter I've used.the filters do not fit snug like oem and tend to fall out easily.the biggest issue i experienced was the drop in overall air flow after installing them. i would expect better air flow with new filters compared to the old dirty clogged ones they replaced.all said and done i wonder now if they even meet the .3 micron rating which i need to control spore levels in my home.