Windshield wiper blade rant.

[cjd-player]

So I haven't replaced the wiper blades on my wife's van for about a year. Last time, I just bought some refills and she was good to go. She needs new blades this weekend for driving some teen girls to a church retreat.

Last evening I went to three auto parts stores (Advance, Pep Boys, Auto Zone) only to find out that they no longer sell blade refills. You have to buy the whole stinking blade at about $12 to $15 bucks each. Some are as much as $20 each. :shock: But they all do instal the new blades for free. I was too angry to buy any, so I didn't.

So at lunch today I was in Walmart and out of curiosity I went to the auto parts section. No refills, but the exact same blades were only $6 to $7 each; heck, just a little more than what refills used to cost. As much as I hate to support Walmart, I bought them. I guess the auto parts stores are doubling (or more) the prices of the blades to pay for the "free" installations. :evil:

 

[Bikerdoc]

Just for you Steffan

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LkHbJ-bbmOw

Peace

 

[littlesongs]

As the littlest Monkee once said, "And, uh, I'd like a glass of cold gravy with a hair in it, please."

Glad it worked out, but that version of "free" seems pretty steep for a five minute job.

 

[adorshki]

You have to buy the whole stinking blade at about $12 to $15 bucks each. Some are as much as $20 each. :shock: But they all do instal the new blades for free. I was too angry to buy any, so I didn't.
I guess the auto parts stores are doubling (or more) the prices of the blades to pay for the "free" installations. :evil:

Carl you're probably aware it actually goes a little deeper than that. I've seen the shift towards internet-only providers on many low-cost items in the last couple of years. The retail stores drop stuff that doesn't give a decent return on the shelf space, especially when the stuff is available at a discount on the net. SO they only stock the high-priced spreads these days. Latest commodity is my favorite "Stresstabs with Zinc". Have to buy it online at, you guessed it, Walmart...one of the few sources left. While I'd rather support my local merchant, this whole paradigm is a freight train comin', and it ain't slowin' down.
If you gotta have to have it NOW you gotta take what's on the shelf. But I have sympathy for the retailers who can't avoid looking greedy when thyy're just trying to survive on an unequal playing field.
A quick Google of "wiper Blade refills" shows a ton of stuff available on-line. So that shows they're still made, but they just ain't profitable enough for a human retail environment anymore.
Hope that at least mollifies your discontent somewhat.
Take-home lesson: Plan ahead as much as possible these days. You might have to count on waiting for UPS to get the price or even just the brand you want.

 

[dklsplace]

So at lunch today I was in Walmart and out of curiosity I went to the auto parts section. No refills, but the exact same blades were only $6 to $7 each; heck, just a little more than what refills used to cost. As much as I hate to support Walmart, I bought them.

I bought the walmart blades not long ago. They worked great the first time.......... :?

 

[kevin the bass man]

I have some fancy hi end german made bosch wiper blades. bought them at 2 for 1 at $18 or something like that at the local oreilly auto parts. I asked if I could buy one set for $9 and the guy at the counter said "you can either pay $18 for 1 set or 2. 2 for 1 doesn't mean half price." is it just me or does that logic make no sense. :?
fwiw I refuse to buy Wal-Mart anything. If I cant get it anywhere but, I'd rather live without. IMO their quality sucks for the most part, and I don't like dealing with crappy products.

 

[mad dog]

Last time I tried to buy blades, realized the stores no longer sell sets intended for specific brands. Apparently there's now such a proliferation of sizes and types, that is not practical. Or whatever. Net effect, I had no idea what to buy. My ride is a Nissan Versa, with one blade rather longer than the other. No tape measure in the car, so I passed. Had it done at the quick oil change place. They figured it out.

Just another way life is getting smarter, or I'm getting stupider.
MD

 

[Scratch]

Or you could move to south Tejas, Carl. We haven't seen good rain since September...