I view getting a car serviced at Walmart as somewhat akin to installing a trampoline in a rattle snake nest. You might come out of it unscathed, but it’s not bloody likely.
BTW, to set the “COSTCO” record straight, the ketchup bottles are normally-sized, you just have to buy two of them at once, for about the price of one of them at a normal grocery store. The laundry detergent is also the same size as you can get in the grocery store, but is cheaper.
Now, if you want a pie, I hope you have a flatbed to get it home in, because those things are huge.
I’ve worked on countless vehicles where the capacities listed in the owner’s manual are not entirely correct
There’s been several instances where the capacity listed in the book doesn’t get you up to the full mark. There’ve even been instances, where the book said 8 quarts, but it took 9 quarts to reach the full mark
Does that mean the tech who put in 9 quarts to reach the full mark, is somehow
cheating the customer?
LOL
I was taught that the reading on the dipstick always trumps the capacities listed in the book . . . because those capacities are guidelines
I realize there are cases where the manufacturer has later stated that the vehicle left the factory with the incorrect dipstick. But we’re not really talking about that
@shadowfax–Thank you for posting something accurate.
Yes, there are some oversized items at Costco (and other membership warehouse clubs), but the majority of the items are simply multi-packs of products that most people normally buy.
Yes, I could buy extra virgin olive oil 1 liter at a time at the supermarket, but I can buy evoo of equal or better quality at Costco in a 2 liter bottle for only a few cents more than 1 liter costs at the local supermarket. Similarly, I recently bought a 5-pack of Crest toothpaste at Costco, for about the same price as 3 smaller tubes of toothpaste would cost at the supermarket. I live alone and while it will probably take me over a year to use up all of that toothpaste, since it has an expiration date that is 2 years away…why not buy in bulk and save?
@VDCdriver Exactly. In my house, we shop there a lot because the quality is good, the prices are good, and we like their stances with regard to employment - i.e., they treat their employees like human beings rather than indentured servants by paying them very fairly, giving them holidays off, etc. We believe in supporting that kind of business model.
About the only thing I’d change is the nitrogen inflation in the tire shop - that’s just silly, and they could use plain old air and give me a few bucks off.
@shadowfax–And, just to bring this back to things automotive, their Top Tier gasoline is consistently the cheapest gas in town, and since I use their Amex card, I then get a 3% rebate on that low-cost gas purchase. What’s not to like about that?
And, in addition to treating their rank & file employees like human beings, their CEO takes a far lower salary than the folks heading other companies of similar size. Even their approach to executive “perks” is decidedly different. When Business Week did a feature article on Costco about a year ago, they commented that the conference room for the executives contained only low-end furniture and the entire office building was very ordinary and non-luxurious–unlike the headquarters of most other companies.
The only reason I used WALMART for oil and filter changes was convenience. They built a Super WALMART across the road from my work. I could drop off my car, walk to work, walk back, and pick it up. I did this for 7 years with no problems. Over 20 oil changes with no mistakes. The service on the Kia was post retirement but I was in the area. The tech did everything correctly. I know I am probably very lucky to emerge unscathed. It could have been worse. They could have built an “Iffy Lube” instead.
My COSTCO comments were from a tongue and cheek answer I give people who cannot understand why I am not a member. I tell them I have no need for 55 gallon drums of laundry detergent. I have been in COSTCO a few times with friends who are members and have actually seen 5 gallon pails of detergent and 2 packs of 64 oz catsup bottles.
Sometimes I forget that a few forum members are engineers and take things literally.
Nice enough store…I just don’t like the auto part. I’d go more often if the nearest one wasn’t 15 miles away…hard to justify the cost of gas vs savings on what I buy.
Engineers have a sense of humor. We laugh at a mean average 84.337% of jokes. There is, of course, a variation due to the hour-of-the-day coefficient of humor sensitivity. {
the same mountainbike You’re killing me!!! LOL! When I was teaching my 3 year old Grandson how to cross the street. I had him look left and right then asked “do you see any cars”? He answered “yes”. I had to then ask “Do you see any moving cars”? He will make a fine engineer!
Their batteries are competitively priced. A 3 year free replacement battery is usually 30 or 40 bucks more expensive at Autozone, for instance.
A neighbor actually bought a car through the Costco auto sales program. He says the no haggle price was quite competitive, and the transaction was relatively pain-free
The engine oil is quite often on sale there. I only buy it when it’s on sale, and then the price is very competitive. And I don’t have to buy huge quantities. I don’t have a diesel, but I hear that Delo 15w40 is pretty good oil.
I’ve seen those goodyear beam style wiper blades at Costco, but I’ve never used them. Anybody have anything to say about them?
Why is Costco allowed to sell Craftsman brand tools? I thought only Sears, Kmart, Orchard Supply Hardware, etc., were allowed to do that? It probably has more to do with how badly Sears is doing . . .
I use the beam type blades and I like them. They don’t retain snow or ice up in the winter, and they have less of a tendency to chatter down the windshield on the highway (less subject to lift due to the laminar flow on the windscreen). I used to use the rubber-jacketed blades to resist icing, but I like the beam type better.
the same mountainbike: Since I live in Western Oregon windshield wipers are important due to lots of rain and very possible freezing rain. I will check out the beam type wipers. My old 1963 Ford Galaxie 406 cu inch/405hp super high performance had factory downforce wings on the wipers to prevent lifting at it’s potential 140+mph top speed. Why any sane driver would go 140+mph in the rain on factory 8.50/15 bias ply tires and drum brakes is beyond my imagination!
Have a 91 Toyota MR2 Turbo, great car, but cannot find many 15" quality tires. Now use Michelin V/ F and H/R. It works fine. Just keep in mind the operating limits of tires when driving.
The tire dealer did not object to mixing speed ratings.
I feel your pain @nrs - I have a '93. I think the next time it needs tires I’m going to buy new wheels for it. I like the stock wheels, but tire choice has gotten really miserable lately. Finding performance tires for that thing is becoming next to impossible.
I think putting H and V rated tires on a car you are never going to drive over a hundred is just plain stupid. These tires are not only designed for speeds of
130 and 149, they are designed for sustained speeds of 130 and 149.
Allow me to run an extremely unscientific survey, and please do not take this as my thinking that speeds in excess of 100 are okay or safe. These speeds on public roads are extremely dangerous and should not be approached.
How many here have driven their cars over 100 mph? I have to admit that I have. You’re welcome to flambé me, because I deserve it, but I have to be honest if I expect others to be.
