support local parts store or buy oil at Wallyworld

[FiremarshalRob]

I did some oil pricing around today. Just bought my wife a new 2008 Nissan Altima 2.5L "the gas-sipper" and I was deciding which oil to go with.

I found the PP on sale at AAP for $3.98 per qt. I went ahead and stocked up on 10 qts (2 oc's) and bought 2 Purolator Pure One filters.

At Wally world tonight, they carry PP in the 5 qt jug for $19.97 regular daily price. It ended up being the same price, but it just frustrates me. I really dont' like to support Wallyworld, but sometimes the savings are worth it. I know the rationale that if everyone shops there and doesn't support the local mom & pop stores and local auto parts stores that the only store left will be WM and they can control their own prices and monopolize the industry.

[censored], with Borden, Kleinpeter, and Smith's Creamery milk (as well as no name milks) reaching near 6 dollars/gallon and the price per gallon of gas, you should shop for the bargains.

I try to shop at my local NAPA, CarQuest, and AAP as much as I can. But most of the time those stores sale prices are WM's regular price.

Thoughts, opinions, concerns?

 

[Steve S]

It is your dollar an it is powerful. Spend it as you feel it does best. That is what I do I buy certain things from certain stores. Oil purchases go to the lowest prices. I try to avoid made in China stuff and I am picky about car parts.

 

[Mr Nice]

No doubt, Walmart is a great place to shop.

 

[wavinwayne]

W-M is good for price, and the automotive section is usually empty, so that part of the store is usually pleasant.

I still don't like W-M though, and I give an equal amount of my business to places like O-R, AZ, AAP, and to a lesser extent Napa. I love Napa, but I don't usually go out of my way to go in there. No particular reason.

 

[Mr Nice]

I like Advance Auto Parts for their closeout oils every 6 months, but I also like AutoZone for the 'rewards card'

 

[Mannix]

Who cares?

 

[JHZR2]

wal-mart is a terrible place. Filled with folks that dont speak english, and are rude, think they own the place, and who look at you funny for being there.

Then they assume before being proven guilty that every shopper is a criminal, requiring checks of receipts without explicit warning that shopping there constitutes an unwritten agreement that you will be OK with this.

Then again, oil is the lowest margin item in the store, so buying oil from WM minimizes their profit level compared to other stuff.

Ill uy oil there if its not available at other places (like rotella syn), or is significantly better prices (so theyre not making any money). I try to get my stuff at smaller shops, and what ive found with the better local shops is that they will extend a discount if you cite a price from elsewhere... then theyre at least moving product.

I try to avoid wal mart at all costs, ut oil is the only thing Ill sometimes buy there.

JMH

 

[paulo57509]

I buy oil and filers at Wal-Mart....IF it happens to be on the shelf. The two or three stores in my area always have large portions of the oil shelves bare (hoarders

)

I buy the gallon jugs of Delo at WM, then go down to the local parts store to get the 5th quart and a few quarts of Redline trans juice.

 

[kartracer55]

Originally Posted By: JHZR2
wal-mart is a terrible place. Filled with folks that dont speak english, and are rude, think they own the place, and who look at you funny for being there.

Then they assume before being proven guilty that every shopper is a criminal, requiring checks of receipts without explicit warning that shopping there constitutes an unwritten agreement that you will be OK with this.

Then again, oil is the lowest margin item in the store, so buying oil from WM minimizes their profit level compared to other stuff.

Ill uy oil there if its not available at other places (like rotella syn), or is significantly better prices (so theyre not making any money). I try to get my stuff at smaller shops, and what ive found with the better local shops is that they will extend a discount if you cite a price from elsewhere... then theyre at least moving product.

I try to avoid wal mart at all costs, ut oil is the only thing Ill sometimes buy there.

JMH


Thats just because your from New Jersey. Want a real culture shock? Go to the one in my neck of the woods... AKA RT22 in Union. I thought the same thing too until I hit a walmart in fredonia New York. It was one of the most well kept big box type stores I had ever been in, Customer Service, organization and cleanliness were rivaled only by wegmans.

I buy oil and DVD's at Walmart, and anything else they can not screw up too badly like brake cleaner and car wash. Occasionally I will stop by pepboys or AZ for that stuff if I see it is on sale in the sunday paper. For major autoparts, Its Thul's in Plainfield, and for oil filters or hard to find items, its a place called Jax in Westfield. Pricey but quality.

Jim

 

[mormit]

"Sale Price" and "Every Day Low Price" are just part of the retail shell game to make the consumer think they're getting the best deal.

Frankly, Wal-Mart is no better on price than anyone else. They draw people in with loss-leader items. But then their prices on comparable items are nothing to make a special trip over to compare if there might be a 50 cent savings. My time is worth more than that and Wal-Mart is just too irritating to waste my time with.

 

[ThirdeYe]

I avoid Wal-Mart whenever possible. I can always get oil on sale for equal to or less than Wal-Mart prices so I have zero motivation or need to take my business there. Every time I go there, I always regret it.

 

[Cutehumor]

support your local autoparts store and buy free after rebate oil there.

 

[NHHEMI]

I buy the items I need wherever they are sold cheapest. By that I mean specific items like RP oil, K&N oil filters, Techron fuel system cleaner, etc... Not the place with the cheapest item in general I am looking for. Specific item at the best price.

If Wal-Mart carries it seldom is it cheaper elsewhere. I buy all the time from Napa, AZ, PB, VIP, local parts chains( Robbins AP & Sanel AP ), etc... I end up buying items there because they have it and it is cheapest there. Example would be the $3.49 AC Delco oil filters for my Sister's car. The local AZ has them the cheapeast so I go there for them. If Wal-Mart had them for $2.99 I would go there.

I will suppoort Mom & Pop when it makes financial sense to do so but I won't spend more for the same thing there just so Wal-Mart doesn't get my money. That is cutting my nose off to spite my face. I work hard for my money and want to keep as much as I can. Especially since it doesn't go as far these days.

Makes me laugh that people despise Wal-Mart and won't shop there because of their business practices yetthey buy ExxonMobil products( ie; gas, M1 oil & filters, etc... )and they screw us as bad as any company on the planet.

 

[MrCritical]

Since, I've gotten older, I appreciate customer service. And I'm willing to pay a little more for it, when I can get it.

I like to shop where someone knows their product(s) and can help me if I have a real problem. I find that when my problem is borderline my fault/your fault, they often give me the benefit of the doubt. Which saves me money in the long run.

Plus I might browse in their business, and buy something I didn't come in there looking for. My goal if I must get something at Wally is to get in and out as fast as possible.

 

[01rangerxl]

The big chain parts stores like AAP are not going anywhere regardless of where you buy your oil. Don't worry about them, they are making plenty of money.

Now a small NAPA franchise or completely independant store may be a different story, and whether supporting them is worth paying more is entirely your decision. They are probably not going to go anywhere either though since WM doesn't have the rest of the stuff they sell. WM can take oil and filter sales and that's it, especially now that most WMs no longer carry things like PCV valves and fuel filters.

What bothers me about WM is the customer service and the general condition of the stores in this area. I live about two miles from a WM that is probably the worst one I have ever been to. At any given time, even on Saturday afternoons, there are never more than four or five people working the registers. Lines back up and it takes forever to check out. There are no self checkouts either. On top of that, the store is just a mess. It's falling apart, merchandise is thrown all over the place, selection is terrible, and it just is not worth the cost savings to go there. I avoid that store like the plague. I have not been there in a long time. Sometimes I go to the Super WM in Concord, NC, which is a little better. It is moderately clean, well staffed, and lines are not long. A lot of the customers there are extremely rude to other people in the store though and tend to be off in their own little world mentally. I go there if it saves me from having to make multiple trips to different stores, but I still try to avoid it if I can. I don't consider WM some evil empire or anything. Obviously they are serving some purpose or they would not be so successful. I just don't like shopping there.

The discount store I actually like the most is Dollar General. They have less of a selection of course, but they have the basic things that I go to WM for...paper towels, TP, cleaning supplies, laundry stuff, etc. They are cheap, the stores are usually clean, and I have never had a cashier with an additude there. I wish there was one close to me.

 

[leftlane]

I pay a little more for much less frustration by shopping local and even though it costs a little more I always walk out relieved that I didnt have to hassle with walkmart. The stress and aggravation isnt worth the few dollars I'd save plus I feel good rewarding locals for their good service and keeping as much of my money out of china ect as possible.

 

[Black Bart]

Every forum is the same nobody shops at Wal Mart at least not to hear them tell it but they continue to grow and make record profits.
Where are all the profits coming from if no one shoppes their.

 

[Mr Nice]

Quote:
Where are all the profits coming from if no one shoppes their.



From people like me and you that enjoy their everyday low prices and great selection of merchandise. Plus I love going to the deli and getting some Honey BBQ chicken tenders as I head to the register to pay for my 5 quart jug of Mobil 1.

 

[MrCritical]

They may be making money, but their stock sure ain't. And their selection sucks.

 

[JHZR2]

In ours it is more and more non-English speaking folks who likely should not legally be here... Though we are not allowed to ask.

I do know many folks who WILL NOT shop at Wal Mart regardless. For me, its to get an oil that is tough to find elsewhere... however the hassle to do anything beyond that, once in a while is too much... local shops that price match truly are the better deal.

JMH