Rock Auto pricing differential, single vs set

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Searching for spark plugs, single pricing is less than the 4 pack pricing.

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Noted. OK, buy them separate and be done. Things like that happen in retail. Take advantage where possible.

That reminds me of a story my mother used to tell. She grew up in Lebanon, Mo during the depression. The local grocer (only one at the time) would sell canned vegetables $ .08 each or 3 for $ 25. When sent to the store, grandmother gave her enough money to purchase only two at a time, to save the penny. Inaccurate (intention or otherwise) pricing has been around for a long time.
 
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Most likely they simply have an algorithm for marking up the cost of the items from the supplier. Keep in mind they drop ship everything from suppliers they partner with. Just order it however is cheapest for you.

Even brick and mortar pricing can be wonky sometimes. Sometimes they’ll raise the price on a cheaper product and the more expensive brand will end up the exact same price for a while. Or even cheaper which is always funny.
 
Maybe it's really expensive to make that extra cardboard box that holds 4 at a time?

At least I feel like Rock Auto is one of the least likely places to be selling counterfeit plugs.
Then they will ship in a much larger box for them to rattle around.
 
It is likely inventory control that they have too many single box left they want to clear out. In theory a low inventory just in time system can eliminate that and make them all equal, but reality is always reality.

I have also seen buying a set of 4 tires from Walmart end up having 3 sent from 1 warehouse and then the last one came from another.
 
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