Looks like things are interesting @WM....

[DieselTech]

That sale ends March 30th. It's not forever pricing at 3.99. Manufactures will incorporate deviated pricing to boost sales.
A lot of sales could be bring new customers into the swtore at which it's possible PU will be rolled out next.

 

[tenderloin]

Come on.. O'Reilly's is having a one month sale on PP @3.99 qt. What is their regular price on PP? $5+ qt? More? They as well as other chains have sales every month. Some are better than others, but this giant leap that O'Reilly's is undercutting Walmart? Geezz

As far as AutoZone going down?
Tuesday, March 02, 2010

AutoZone's Net Climbs 6.4%, Same-Store Sales Up 1%
By Ken Sweet
FOXBusiness

Auto-parts retailer AutoZone (AZO: 174.68, 1.08, 0.62%) saw its net income rise 6.4% in its fiscal second quarter, as the company improved its profit margins and continued to reduce costs.

The company, which has done well as consumers have tried to keep their cars running for longer periods of time in the recession, posted a profit of $123.3 million, or $2.46 a share, up from a per-share profit of $2.03 a year ago.

Sales at the suppler rose 4% to $1.5 billion while U.S. same-store sales increased a modest 1% from a year ago. The results were well ahead of the EPS $2.34 on revenue of $1.45 billion that analysts had expected, according to estimates provided by Thomson Reuters.

While sales did increase in the quarter, AutoZone was able to cut costs across most of its businesses. Operating expenses, as a percentage of sales, declined to 34.7% compared with 34.9% a year ago. Gross profit, as a percentage of sales, was 50% compared with 49.7% a year ago.

AutoZone opened 24 new stores in the U.S. and nine new stores in Mexico.

The company said it repurchased $88 million in stock during the quarter at an average price of $155 a share and said it has $517 million remaining in its current share repurchase program.

Shares of AutoZone were not actively traded in the pre-market, standing at $166 a share.


Walmart has talked about cutting many brands throughout the store as has been reported on various outlets and even a thread here.

Also Walmart does some strange things and can turn on a dime, possibly to pressure mfg into lowering prices. It was not that long ago the Walmart clearanced all their Motorcraft oil and filters...only to bring it all back a few months later.

For me Walmart for everyday pricing. The chains for their sales (when good) and of course I use rebates when offered.

While everyone likes B1G1F, for the most part they are losers to the stores. How many people here buy much more than the B1G1F oil?

It is nice having discussions, but a little REALITY is needed

 

[LS2JSTS]

Originally Posted By: daves87rs
.....On a side note, also found out Meijer's (here in MI) is wiping the floor with them here....


Love hearing news like that!

 

[Sayjac]

Originally Posted By: daves87rs
Like I said, it might be different for everyone. This is just for my local area, so far.
No knock on you intended here. Just seems/sound as though the local managers don't know much about oil marketing and sales.

The Wally's in this area have the best everyday prices, hands down, with the sales of their 5qt jugs, and large selection. Now, the qts may not be that much better, but generally, they too are still the best everyday price and they have matched qt. circular prices for me.

No one is knocking Wally out of the box on everyday oil pricing or selection around here.

 

[daves87rs]

Originally Posted By: sayjac
Originally Posted By: daves87rs
Like I said, it might be different for everyone. This is just for my local area, so far.
No knock on you intended here. Just seems/sound as though the local managers don't know much about oil marketing and sales.

The Wally's in this area have the best everyday prices, hands down, with the sales of their 5qt jugs, and large selection. Now, the qts may not be that much better, but generally, they too are still the best everyday price and they have matched qt. circular prices for me.

No one is knocking Wally out of the box on everyday oil pricing or selection around here.



That's okay, no harm done. Though I would have to agree with you though. I'm not sure if they know what they are doing.

Quite a few local reailers are catching WM here...

 

[Mystic]

The competition between all of them will benefit US.

 

[tenderloin]

Originally Posted By: Mystic
The competition between all of them will benefit US.


I agree. Autozone has responded to Walmarts 5 qt jugs by offering 5+ qt jugs. Their everyday price is higher, but their oil change specials for the most part are cheaper or at least competitive with Walmart.

Other chain sales can be very good as well.

 

[Oldwolf]

Delvac 1300 15W40 is already dirt cheap at $10.50 gallon at WM. Though, I still look around waiting for it to go on sale even cheaper.

 

[rszappa1]

Well around here Wal Mart wipes the floor with Meijers....

 

[daves87rs]

Every Auto parts place is going to have some increase! Many people can't afford to buy new cars right now. I know my local NAPA is making a killing right now. But beyond regular auto parts, what are they selling? Judging by the dust at my local AZ, I'm not thinking oil, that's for sure.


While I might be off in the real numbers, I've love to see the sales breakdown would be....

 

[daves87rs]

Agreed.

 

[daves87rs]

Originally Posted By: rszappa1
Well around here Wal Mart wipes the floor with Meijers....



Different in every area, I guess.



Then again, I've noticed a little backlash up here against WM anyways...hard to explain.

 

[tenderloin]

daves87rs

What are you talking about? Faced with the facts, you still hold on to your false premise that AZ sales are down. They are not. Maybe in your town, but this is a big country Dave.

"Beyond regular auto parts" Dave. AZ is in the auto parts business.

As far as AZ oil sales Dave. I posted they are running a AZ/Valvoline exclusive promotion that is hard to beat, assuming Fram ToughGuard Oil Filters are OK by you.

 

[rszappa1]

I will wait for a NAPA Syn. oil sale again and load up.......

 

[Johnny]

Dave is just posting what he heard at a Wal Mart meeting. I'm sure all parts stores are hurting in MI with the unemployment they have. His observations do not surprise me at all.

I personally would not give Auto Zone or Advance Auto the time of day. Buy my oil at Wal Mart and my parts if needed at NAPA.

 

[saberz]

I doubt any places around me will compete. [censored] PYB goes for about $5+ a quart at my local mom and pop places and even at R&S Strauss. The Synthetic PP is $8. Their 5qt jugs are pricier than Walmart's. For oil I will goto Walmart and continue to buy just filters elsewhere.

These places need to step it up, the last oil change on my Xterra I bought Mobil 1 0w30 AFE for about $4-5 a quart which wasn't bad, but 4 qt's for $20. Wallyworld would have given me 5qts for that price.

 

[Robenstein]

Around here all the auto stores are usually quite a bit higher than WM. Not to mention that at WM you can get 5 quart jugs for the price of a gallon at OReilly or AAP.

At least at wal mart I dont have some smug parts guy tell me I am buying the wrong oil like I dont know my butt from an intake manifold.

 

[suspiciousmind]

WM has a decent start on a decent automotive dept. right now....seems to me like it'd be a good idea to expand their offering and grab some business from AAP and AZ rather than go smaller....they could add some tire selections too....they actually provide some service whereas the others dont.

 

[EagleFTE]

Originally Posted By: suspiciousmind
WM has a decent start on a decent automotive dept. right now....seems to me like it'd be a good idea to expand their offering and grab some business from AAP and AZ rather than go smaller....they could add some tire selections too....they actually provide some service whereas the others dont.


The Wally's in my area peaked on automotive goods some time ago. They have rearranged the stores in the new big isle layout reducing shelf space. Automotive is now a fraction of what it once was. As is hardware and sporting goods.

 

[Stu_Rock]

I have heard that the parts stores make nearly no profit on oil, even though their prices are much higher than Walmart's.

For that reason, they probably don't care if you buy an oil filter without oil (and, they have you in the store so they can try to sell you other junk).

Also, what does this say about Walmart's oil prices? (1) They probably have one heck of a favorable buying arrangement with the manufacturers, (2) their distribution overhead is really low, and (3) they probably aren't making much money on oil either.

Not that it matters to me, since I don't have a local Walmart. I just have to shop the NAPA, AZO, or ORLY deals.