I almost feel insulted…. (Spoiler: Dealership Price Gouging)

[Not2Late]

Ok, so I am going to go into "grumpy old man" mode. They just don't make wipers the way they used to

Serioulsy, though, anyone else finding that wipers don't seem to last as long anymore. And, a decent pair is pushing $70 it seems. Last time I bough Bosch wiper blades at the auto parts store, I paid arounf $35/each. Could be due to everything costing more as well.

On a side note: I learned to never use the rain-x wiper fluid. I think it puts a film on the windshield and does something to the wiperblades. When I stopped using the fluid, the blades squeaked terribly and I replaced them.

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[WetWilly]

Free Jeep waves said the salesman to the fly ! This is why I don't want the free chit. I will do my own service and pay for my own oil, I don't care for the
"Here is what you need dance"

 

[Snake Eyes]

Chapman Henderson



??‍ I think it’s made out of the same stuff that used to be in Lake Mead.

I go to Chapman on East Sahara. They are awesome to this point. Holly So is a great advisor.

 

[MMMII]

I go to Chapman on East Sahara. They are awesome to this point. Holly So is a great advisor.

I can’t blame my Service Advisor at all. They just do what the CRM software tells them to do.

 

[SnazzGlad]

That’s crazy. When I was younger and dumber I would trade in vehicles before they needed new wipers lol.

 

[sass JT]

I once was sitting a shops waiting room near their counter, waiting on a alignment. There was a young woman at the front counter crying her eyes out on the phone. I overheard her say that shop said she need new brakes and rotors… it was near $1500 to replace. I felt pretty bad for her.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Last pair I bought at a part store cost me a bit over 50 bucks for the pair.

 

[NachoRuby]

I haven't had to buy new ones on my JT yet. Still work as good as the day I bought it. And it rains all the time here. Never thought about it until now.

 

[Hootbro]

…..also, my back alley neighbour is a private parts guy for all things Toyota. He had commented that dealerships charge 400% markup for parts

Yeah, I do not think that 400% quote is universal across the board. Maybe for few dollar or below part they may be charging it, but I doubt they are marking up 400% on bigger ticket items.

 

[Rusty PW]

That’s crazy. When I was younger and dumber I would trade in vehicles before they needed new wipers lol.

My younger days. Vehicles would last 18 to 24 months before I got rid of them. Now I hang on to them long as I can before mother earth reclaims them.

To me, it seems like the oem blades last longer than the replacement blades. OEM blades about 30 to 36 months. Replacements about 24 months.

On my Power Wagon and Grand Cherokee. I had to replace the washer fluid level sensors. From want I found out. Rain-X and other washer fluids like it will screw up the sensors. They will coat the probes over time.

 

[HooliganActual]

There is another motivator that has not been discussed:

I can't say this is true everywhere, although I suspect it probably is, but at my dealership here in Phoenix, the techs get a commission on each service item that they recommend and you have them perform.

So the techs are motivated to call out every little thing (and every big thing), some of which may be "made up"...like your battery needing replaced. Now that commission has to come from somewhere, and I doubt the dealership is digging too deep into their own pocket for it; so not only are you paying the exorbitant mark-up for the part and for that tech's actual labor and the dealership's piece of profit, somewhere buried in that ridiculous shop rate, you are paying a finder's fee...

 

[tabrods]

This thread makes me appreciate my dealer. I just mention I could use new wiper blades - under $20.00 last time, no labor charge.....

Tom

 

[BigDKY]

Never in my lifetime have I not put wiper blades on myself one of the only things I actually can do on a vehicle ? $70 seems like way too much. I do remember having to special order the back wiper blade from a dealer for one of my wranglers before and it was expensive to me at that time. Hard to believe before the pandemic I used to take mine to a place that had a weekly special on Wednesday of a $10 oil change they never hassled you about other stuff like this just changed your oil I really miss those days.

 

[Jason Oliver]

To me, it seems like the oem blades last longer than the replacement blades. OEM blades about 30 to 36 months. Replacements about 24 months.

I agree that the oem blades on my GladiaTrixxx have lasted longer than any other replacement blades I've done on other vehicles. But, my estimates for needing replacements are less than yours.

Aftermarket replacements on other vehicles I found to last 6 - 12 months. My OEMs on 'Trixxx need to be replaced at about 18 months now.

Granted, I don't wait until the rubber separates before replacing.

I've had great experience with Rain-X applications for years now. Thoroughly cleaning the glass before proper application is the key in my opinion, and I find the application and decent blades make driving in the rain much safer.

YMMV.

 

[Jefe1018]

Inflation bro.

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