Two weeks ago my wife and I went to my son's house for his twins first birthday.
On the way up my wife tells me that the one windshield wiper is coming apart. Typical, she has know this for over a week and just now remembered to tell me. I get it, we have been in a drought and not had rain for 3 months.

So we get to my son's and I can't stop thinking about it. I leave the party and go to the closest auto parts store Advanced Auto. Typically, I order my parts from Rock Auto, but in a bind will buy local.

Well an hour later and 3 different sets of wipers (each set was wrong, wouldn't fit right). Last set appears to fit. I had the counter guy install them as I have had problems in the past with her Subaru wipers. Gave the guy a $10 tip.

This past Thursday we finally got the much needed rain. Wife turns the wipers on while highway driving and they blew off the windshield. My bad, this is a job I could do but didn't. Went to Auto Zone and the counter person told me only one brand would fit according to his computer. Installed correctly, locked in place. That night I also ordered another set and a set for my truck from Rock Auto.

My luck, I threw out the receipt from Advanced. The Auto Zone guy told me Advanced would have it on file by my phone number. I guess I will find out!

Interesting. What kind of car was it that just one brand and model of wipers fits?

They're generally a combination between only about three different connectors and a half dozen sizes. Fairly universal.

2020 Subaru Forester.
Rock Auto had a selection of at least 10 choices.

Huh. I never had any issue finding wipers for my 2017 Forester.

Must have just been low in stock in that particular flavor, at those particular stores.

Well that was no fun at all.

The only manufacturer that I had been stuck with low clearance / dealer specific wipers was Pininfarina.

I think the adapters on Bosch wipers are model specific and not fitzall. Maybe they didn't have the right set in stock?

It is good that the problem was resolved and she is safely on her way.

Buying wipers is about as bad as buying toothpaste - a million choices.

I buy the OEM filler blades and replace them every year just before monsoon season. Each refill is $9 so that's $27 each year.

I don't like buying the blades from auto parts stores.

I buy from Walmart or a parts store . I don't get caught up in all of the latest and greatest hype . Wiper blades can be pricey and in my personal experience they aren't worth the price difference .

quote:

Originally posted by selogic:
I buy from Walmart or a parts store . I don't get caught up in all of the latest and greatest hype . Wiper blades can be pricey and in my personal experience they aren't worth the price difference .

Costco $11 a blade, sometimes on sale for less, Michelin Guardians, is what I buy, and it's always fun trying to guess what adapter for each vehicle.

Link

quote:

Originally posted by HRK:

quote:

Originally posted by selogic:
I buy from Walmart or a parts store . I don't get caught up in all of the latest and greatest hype . Wiper blades can be pricey and in my personal experience they aren't worth the price difference .

Costco $11 a blade, sometimes on sale for less, Michelin Guardians, is what I buy, and it's always fun trying to guess what adapter for each vehicle.

Link

In the work past I was buying the Michelins at Costco but the adapters don't for my truck.

Firstly, the name of the company is "Advance Auto" without the "d". A friend of mine actually owns the name "Advanced Auto", with a "d". That's the name of his shop located in Berwick, PA.

I guess I was lucky. Thirteen bucks and she came out to the car to put them on.
.

quote:

Originally posted by MG34_Dan:
Firstly, the name of the company is "Advance Auto" without the "d". A friend of mine actually owns the name "Advanced Auto", with a "d". That's the name of his shop located in Berwick, PA.

Okay. So what is secondly?

quote:

Originally posted by rtquig:

Okay. So what is secondly?

Auto Zone?