Obscure brands

[wemay]

Every time i visit PQIA, i am amazed by the amount of obscure brands there are. Are most of these oils just a spin-off from major brands? If not, how are they profitable in this very competitive market where even major brands are plentiful.

For instance, i've never heard of or seen brands like:
Essential
RK
Zecol Max
Proforce
Puratech

etc...

 

[bigt61]

It doesn't cost much to print a label. I'm sure most are generic knockoffs of SuperTech or something like it.

 

[zzyzzx]

What's PQIA??

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: wemay
how are they profitable in this very competitive market where even major brands are plentiful.

They are typically sold at places like gas stations where oil prices are fairly high, which means high margins. The well known brands are priced even higher at such locations.

If you drive an oil-leaking/burning clunker and notice you're low on oil while filling-up, you might just pick up a quart of whatever's the cheapest stuff on the shelf.

What I would want to know is how much of this no-name oil actually sells these days. Having high margin is one thing, but you also need certain amount sales volume to be profitable.

 

[panther427]

Originally Posted By: zzyzzx
What's PQIA??


Poor quality insured absolutely?????

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: zzyzzx
What's PQIA??

What's google?

http://www.pqiamerica.com/

 

[Kira]

Petroleum Quality Institute of America.


Beat me to it Pete.

 

[slacktide_bitog]

Most of them are made by WD/WPP, Warren Oil (not the same as WPP), and SSI/Smitty's, and some are made by the majors.

 

[wemay]

Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete


If you drive an oil-leaking/burning clunker and notice you're low on oil while filling-up, you might just pick up a quart of whatever's the cheapest stuff on the shelf.

What I would want to know is how much of this no-name oil actually sells these days. Having high margin is one thing, but you also need certain amount sales volume to be profitable.


Yeah, i can see a leaking vehicle having to buy the occasional Gas Station oil but your second point is what puzzles me too.

 

[rfeir]

Don't trust off brands of oil; ever! In tests in NYS many were found to be base oils without additives. Mobil oil had supplied the base oil in many cases. They are ordered off market in NYS and then sold in other states as multi-weight HD oil.

 

[kschachn]

Actually to be honest I'm surprised at how many of the obscure brands aren't bad at all. I mean you have the truly hideous stuff like Bullseye, but some of the weird brands PQIA tests are quite acceptable and meet the required specs.

 

[stchman]

There are just too many reputable name brand oils to trust some oils I have never heard of.

 

[Whimsey]

Originally Posted By: stchman
There are just too many reputable name brand oils to trust some oils I have never heard of.


Those are the oils that are used by non national discount oil change places or local garages. As long as it meets the API requirements then it should be fine for the 3-5,000 mile OCI. Sam's club sells Certified brand conventional oil which is made by Warren and is API rated. I'm sure it's fine for the 3-5,000mile OCI. But, I'll stick with brand name oils as I can get them reasonably at Walmart or on a parts store special.

Whimsey

 

[SirTanon]

Actually, I wouldn't consider Sam's Club's Certified oil as a 'no-name' brand - more of a house brand, just like SuperTech, True Value, etc.. To be honest, since it's Sam's house brand, I would tend to trust it based on the fact that they back it.

 

[wemay]

Originally Posted By: SirTanon
Actually, I wouldn't consider Sam's Club's Certified oil as a 'no-name' brand - more of a house brand, just like SuperTech, True Value, etc.. To be honest, since it's Sam's house brand, I would tend to trust it based on the fact that they back it.


I agree. I would trust house brands like SuperS, Advance Auto Parts, Auto Zone, Proline etc., those are not obscure. The other's, like Bullseye..., as mentioned by kschachn, are another matter.