Personal sighting - Canadian Tire vs Lordco

[DeltaSierra]

Had to get some auto parts yesterday (brother doing some work on my car) and had stopped at Canadian Tire to pick up a new thermostat and gasket. First off they give me the wrong thermostat. Total was $20 for the thermostat, $10 for the paper gasket.

Since brother lives on other side of town, and near a LORDCO auto supply store, he calls them and asks if they have what we need. They do and I head over there to pick up the parts.

Thermostat was $5. Gasket was $0.58

When I take stuff back to CT, I price out the CORRECT thermostat and gasket - same prices I had already paid for the wrong ones.

$5.58 vs $30???? Needless to say, I won't be shopping for parts at CT anytime soon.

[PepperElf]

holy crap. same brands and all that?

[DeltaSierra]

Different brands, but should there REALLY be that much a difference in price?

[kpzra]

Heavy duty vs regular, there can be a difference.

[PepperElf]

It depends on what quality the parts are. I'd suggest looking up both brands online to see what kind of performance they give.

Sometimes it won't matter, but sometimes there is a difference in performance.

[Javarod]

Also can depend on the store's mark up. Back when i worked in an auto parts store, over the counter was a 50-60% mark up, our really, really good high order mechanics could get their parts for as little as a 30% mark up.