I get my oil changed at Wal-Mart. I figure they cannot mess it up too bad. My regular mechanic would charge me more and tell me everything that was wrong with the piece of shit. The guys at Wal-Mart change the oil, make sure there is air in the tires, and let me go on my merry way. I like this, even though, every time I am waiting, they screw-up something on someone else's car. It usually has to do with tires, so I guess I am okay.
The beauty of Wal-Mart is that it has turned most everything into a disposable product. I buy a $8 shirt or jeans, I wear them for a while, but I do not care if they rip or get stained. They are only $8 and replaceable at a moment's notice. The other day I bought a $9 coffee maker. All I could think was as long as it made coffee 10-15 times, then it was worth it.
Now GGM will surely point out the sadness in all of this. I like quality stuff too. But right now, when times are tough, I am really thankful for $8 jeans and $9 coffee makers.
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I have been getting my oil changed at Walmart for years. I think they are best for full synthetic. I think I can get my oil changed with full synthetic (Mobil 1) at Walmart for less than the cost of the oil at some other retailers.
The issue with Wal-Mart is how long you have to wait. If it's a quick in and out it's worth it. If you have to wait longer than an hour I'll take it to the dealership and be out in 20 minutes. Of course, I also have an extremely high opportunity cost so it's worth it to pay the $10 and save 45-90 minutes of my time.
Everything is disposable. I just threw away TWO Dell Laptops that crapped out and couldn't be repaired. Even buying the third machine was still cheaper than breaking down and buying one solid Mac. It's either disposable crap or a luxury good.
you stumbled on a walmartism i agree with. the cheap clothes are good. public at first then turn into work clothes. can walk by and toss them in the cart just like you would some bananas. (i almost had an argument with the checker the other week when she told my 1x or 2x shirt cost more than the normal sizes because it had more material. talk about an expressionless moment of clarity and awe.) but I'd likely be indifferent to buying those there for $9 or going to main street and buy it from old man joe blow who's had a business for 30 years for $5 more. (but I'd buy fewer of them on main street).
I've got to disagree on the oil change. oil change there is only good if more or less your vehicle is disposable. they changed my oil in the galant 30 times, but for the last few I realized that they often don't even look to see what package you bought - they just drain oil, new filter, new oil, honk horn and gone. they tried to not give me the extra fluid package 3 different times. (with the galant near 200+ at the time, I would have been getting my money's worth on the fluids.
no longer use walmart with a new vehicle. go to dealer i bought it from who is oddly same price and they have ford specialists change it.
will be interested to see how the walmart model changes after 2 years of $4-5+ gas and we all start living off of pb&j and a steady diet of government cheese. this gas price is really angering me.
jason - with the gas price where it is, how do you feel about govt regulation now? as it relates to gas. how do you feel about speculators participating in the market and their effect on physical consumers? or have you put much thought to it.
ggm
I don't know how J-dilla feels but I've profited quite well from the rising gas prices and lack of government regulation. Sometimes it pays to speculate. I am, however, bummed that the housing bubble crash is going to erase any profits I've made in the oil spots. Though it will be nice to pick up a McMansion for pennies on the dollar after the Alt A loans finish resetting and the HELOC money disappears.
I'll never trust the people at Wal-Mart again for anything, let alone changing my oil.
Last week I made the very bad decision to go to Wal-Mart for anything, and this is what happened when they tried to change my oil: http://stonecipher.typepad.com/the_stonecipher_report/2008/06/a-quick-note-fr.html
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