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Wiper blades. They got expensive.. Login/Join 
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Picture of rainmaker5505
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I own an auto repair shop. When you go to advance, pep boys, etc. (Don’t tell me you went to Auto Zone…), you have to ask for the “standard blades”. I can put blades on a car for $30, but you are hard pressed to find them on the floor for that price each. I don’t really understand what happened unless it’s the installation they are trying to make up for, but about 4 years ago, all the cheap wipers disappeared, and the premium lines went on the floor. I put the carquest xtra-clears on my f-250 ($7.00 my cost), and they seem to last and perform the same as the $50 a pop Bosch icons I was buying for a while. I think it’s mostly a fries and shakes kind of thing, sell only the premium lines, and triple your margins.



"America could use some turpentine, all the way from Hollywierd to New York City." -- Phil Robertson
 
Posts: 459 | Location: Oxford, PA | Registered: January 27, 2007Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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I just went through this with my truck, I found some cheap Anco winter blades that were the right size only to not get them to fit to my truck. I had to return them and buy some more expensive ones that would fit to my truck.
We have too many engineers trying to build a better mouse trap where it is not needed.


“Let us dare to read, think, speak and write.”

John Adams
 
Posts: 280 | Location: Land of 10000 Taxes | Registered: March 19, 2022Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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I've used Rain-X on my car windows for more than 15 years. I was initially impressed when I could see clearly through the windshield, as if it weren't there, while in a rainstorm in heavy traffic. However, be aware that if you ever anticipate having a stone chip in the windshield repaired, the repair tech informed me that they will not repair windshield treated with Rain-X as the repair material will not stick to the glass.
 
Posts: 282 | Location: Central PA | Registered: November 11, 2014Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Fighting the good fight
Picture of RogueJSK
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quote:
Originally posted by Av8nShooter:
However, be aware that if you ever anticipate having a stone chip in the windshield repaired, the repair tech informed me that they will not repair windshield treated with Rain-X as the repair material will not stick to the glass.


That's not really a concern. Any reputable auto glass repair place should be able to handle stripping Rain-X before repair. They should be thoroughly cleaning that portion of the windshield anyway before repair, and removing Rain-X from that area doesn't require any additional effort or special chemicals.

If needed, like you're doing the repair yourself or if the shop for some reason is going to charge you extra for the stripping and you want to tackle it yourself, you can easily strip Rain-X from a windshield using something like denatured alcohol or vinegar, or you can use a dedicated automotive glass cleaner, with Rain-X even selling one called Rain-X Extreme Clean that they recommend using to remove Rain-X when needed.
 
Posts: 32412 | Location: Northwest Arkansas | Registered: January 06, 2008Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Thank you
Very little
Picture of HRK
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quote:
Originally posted by OKCGene:
Costco. For sure.

Michelin on sale this month $6.99 each.
.


Yep best prices I've found on quality blades for years...



 
Posts: 23207 | Location: Florida | Registered: November 07, 2008Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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Three Nails To Protect Us
Picture of Black92LX
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My Tundra uses some stupid arm attachment!
I wish they just used a simple J Hook and I could buy the cheapo blades.

Got lucky when Meijer had Tricos buy 1 get 1 for $1.


————————————————
The world's not perfect, but it's not that bad.
If we got each other, and that's all we have.
I will be your brother, and I'll hold your hand.
You should know I'll be there for you!
 
Posts: 25340 | Registered: September 06, 2003Reply With QuoteReport This Post
7.62mm Crusader
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The Michelins came with extra plastic parts for other styles of arms. I tossed them as Sienna has the 9mm J hook. Very simple install. Noone had the darn Trico blades in stocks here.
 
Posts: 17890 | Location: The Bluegrass State! | Registered: December 23, 2008Reply With QuoteReport This Post
His Royal Hiney
Picture of Rey HRH
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quote:
Originally posted by snwghst:
I buy the inserts cost me $12 each last month

buying the whole arm is a scam


I, too, buy the OEM blade refills.



"It did not really matter what we expected from life, but rather what life expected from us. We needed to stop asking about the meaning of life, and instead to think of ourselves as those who were being questioned by life – daily and hourly. Our answer must consist not in talk and meditation, but in right action and in right conduct. Life ultimately means taking the responsibility to find the right answer to its problems and to fulfill the tasks which it constantly sets for each individual." Viktor Frankl, Man's Search for Meaning, 1946.
 
Posts: 19575 | Location: The Free State of Arizona - Ditat Deus | Registered: March 24, 2011Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Banned for
showing his ass
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+1 Costco ...
 
Posts: 3190 | Location: PNW | Registered: November 16, 2012Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Raised Hands Surround Us
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Picture of Black92LX
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quote:
Originally posted by David Lee:
The Michelins came with extra plastic parts for other styles of arms. I tossed them as Sienna has the 9mm J hook. Very simple install. Noone had the darn Trico blades in stocks here.


I bought some Hellas that came with all sorts of plastic adapter contraptions and could not get a single one to work. So I returned them.


————————————————
The world's not perfect, but it's not that bad.
If we got each other, and that's all we have.
I will be your brother, and I'll hold your hand.
You should know I'll be there for you!
 
Posts: 25340 | Registered: September 06, 2003Reply With QuoteReport This Post
7.62mm Crusader
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Rain storms coming in at 8:00 this evening. I'm gonna try em out..yes I am. Getting excited about wiper blades.. Big Grin
 
Posts: 17890 | Location: The Bluegrass State! | Registered: December 23, 2008Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Dances With
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Costco. For sure.

Michelin on sale this month $6.99 each.
.
 
Posts: 11811 | Registered: October 26, 2009Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Edge seeking
Sharp blade!
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The costco michelin blades didn't work well on my BMW. It seems the blade structure wasn't stiff enough and the end chattered. Unfortunately I found out at night in a driving rain storm on a 55 MPH two lane highway that needed to be restriped.
 
Posts: 7437 | Location: Over the hills and far away | Registered: January 20, 2009Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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Picture of smlsig
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quote:
Originally posted by OKCGene:
Costco. For sure.

Michelin on sale this month $6.99 each.
.


Yep this is where I get mine. Are they the best? No but they are the best for the money spent.


------------------
Eddie

Our Founding Fathers were men who understood that the right thing is not necessarily the written thing. -kkina
 
Posts: 6309 | Location: In transit | Registered: February 19, 2013Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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This is one item from Costco that I am not completely happy with the product. For the price yes, especially when on sale, they are so so. But usually, almost without exception, I feel that I can buy a product at Costco and it is a fantastic product that meets or exceeds expectations, but these blades are pretty so so. I would love to see Costco get Bosch to make a Kirkland branded set and sell them for 1/2 the price of Bosch.
 
Posts: 1994 | Location: DFW Texas | Registered: March 13, 2012Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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Long post warning. Recently retired parts guy here. Started as a teen in manufacturing, became a rep, then various regional sales and manager positions. Lastly part time outside sales, retail and whatever else needed doing at a large store.

Here's my take on wipers. Back in the day blades were pretty much the same and for the most part 18 to 22 inches long. So manufacturers could make a large qty of a few styles, sellers could have good coverage with few SKUs. Now there are a gazillion different styles and 26" or 28" blades are common along with various Aero styles, and BETTER materials. So now mfgs instead of making millions of a few styles have to tool up for smaller qtys of more styles for the same amount of sales. Sellers have to stock many more SKUs just to have decent coverage. All of this drives cost up. Adaptors are one way to get coverage with fewer part numbers. ie make a 22" blade that fits several applications. Low cost and low quality blades use adaptors the most. Adaptors SUCK.

To capture more market share, Mfgs and sellers offer blades at good, better, best price points. For example Bosch has 3 levels, as do many others.
I did not sell the cheap blades. I would recommend at least the mid grade. I realize that the top grade can cause sticker shock, but although you can be taken, overall you get what you pay for. I would also tell people to change their blades when they changed their clock or keep a record and do it at least annually.
It's just your Vision. Don't be the guy that saved $25 bucks then had an accident because he couldn't see shit, or even worse on a family member's car. Find a good blade from a seller that gives you a good price and buy them ahead of time. Not when they're falling apart and you're in a bind. Do you wait until your tires are completely bald before replacing them?

Done preaching but I believe this is a subject that's not taken seriously enough. FWIW I'm currently running BOSCH Icons but then I know a guy.
 
Posts: 112 | Location: Deep south | Registered: August 31, 2008Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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quote:
Originally posted by straightshooter01:
This is one item from Costco that I am not completely happy with the product. For the price yes, especially when on sale, they are so so. But usually, almost without exception, I feel that I can buy a product at Costco and it is a fantastic product that meets or exceeds expectations, but these blades are pretty so so. I would love to see Costco get Bosch to make a Kirkland branded set and sell them for 1/2 the price of Bosch.

Michelin offers 5 different levels of blades and they are made by Pylon who makes blades for many sellers. Costco carries the entry level blades.
 
Posts: 112 | Location: Deep south | Registered: August 31, 2008Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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Thanks for the reminder. Living in sw Florida I replace mine at the beginning of the rainy season which will begin next month. I’ve been using RainX Latitude for years and they have done the job for me since I don’t see snow, ice or frost. Of course being old and retired, if it rains hard I just stay home. Usually nothing is so important that it can’t wait a day.
 
Posts: 57 | Location: Southwest Florida  | Registered: September 16, 2019Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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quote:
Originally posted by Joe 5632:
Thanks for the reminder. Living in sw Florida I replace mine at the beginning of the rainy season which will begin next month. I’ve been using RainX Latitude for years and they have done the job for me since I don’t see snow, ice or frost. Of course being old and retired, if it rains hard I just stay home. Usually nothing is so important that it can’t wait a day.
Latitude is Rain X's Mid/Upper level blade. Good attitude about not having to go out in the rain unless you have to. Too many people driving at half the speed of traffic with a death clutch on the steering wheel, hunched forward because they can't see. Poor skills, lights, wipers, tires, bad news for themselves and everyone else on the road.
 
Posts: 112 | Location: Deep south | Registered: August 31, 2008Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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I have a Toyota Avalon that needs some oddball wipers. It's something to do with the way they attach and the wipers that go on sale never work. Last Fall I bought a pair from NAPA that were around $50 for the pair. They were a name brand - I think they were Bosch. They were complete crap from the first time it rained.

I replaced them with the cheapest blades I found on ebay - they were about $13 for the pair delivered. Brand name is Xukey. Easy to put on and no crazy adapter like I typically have to use. It's been a few months and I am completely satisfied with them.
 
Posts: 264 | Registered: September 12, 2021Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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