Went to the local Target today. Rarely go in there (maybe three times a year). The automotive section is way in the back corner and is really small and really lacking. The local Dollar General store has a small, but much better automotive section with considerably better selection of motor oil, auto fluids, detail supplies and such. I realize that automotive is not Target's forte, but still it seems they would have a little better and larger selection of items in this section. Has anyone else had the same experience at their local Target?
Target automotive section
- Thread starter Electromotive
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I stopped buying Auto parts at Target a couple decades ago when they shrank the section to almost nothing. We both completely stopped shopping there a few years ago due to personal beliefs I can't mention on this site.
Local targets used to stock Mobil products from Mobil special to Mobil 1.
They now stock Pennzoil and Quaker State products.
Walmart and Meijer have actual automotive sections. Target is Janky.
They now stock Pennzoil and Quaker State products.
Walmart and Meijer have actual automotive sections. Target is Janky.
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In the 90's, the auto section at Target was actually 'decent'. I got some good deals on Castrol there. I used to have a "Target" oil filter on an engine sitting in the back of my garage. I have no idea who made it, probably Purolator.
We just had a target open here last weekend. I went to the auto section and it was a couple cans of WD40 and some Lucas products.
Forgotten about this. Remember buying a battery there probably in the late seventies. Had a Walmart level car facility.
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Off topic but what do the dollar stores sell ? car wise - do they sell smaller quantities of anything?
Originally Posted by edwardh1
Off topic but what do the dollar stores sell ? car wise - do they sell smaller quantities of anything?
Dollar General sells Pennzoil conventional, Castrol GTX, Valvoline conventional, and pre lawsuit they had DG brand motor oils in my area.
Last time I checked I only saw Pennzoil High Mileage conventional and GTX HM version in the green jug.
My Dad buys GTX there when they have their annual markdown. I think he said they lower it to $2.75qt or something...which isn't a deal IMO but he likes it.
I buy Turtle Wax products and Microfiber cloths at DG. I'm a fan of the turtle wax spray waxes, and DG near me has a good selection of detail products.
Off topic but what do the dollar stores sell ? car wise - do they sell smaller quantities of anything?
Dollar General sells Pennzoil conventional, Castrol GTX, Valvoline conventional, and pre lawsuit they had DG brand motor oils in my area.
Last time I checked I only saw Pennzoil High Mileage conventional and GTX HM version in the green jug.
My Dad buys GTX there when they have their annual markdown. I think he said they lower it to $2.75qt or something...which isn't a deal IMO but he likes it.
I buy Turtle Wax products and Microfiber cloths at DG. I'm a fan of the turtle wax spray waxes, and DG near me has a good selection of detail products.
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One local target has an "automotive" section that is more of a hardware section. They do not have any fluids except windshield washer fluid, yet don't have any wiper blades. It may have some car wash stuff, but don't remember for sure since I rarely go to Target, and never stop by that section.
A newer Super target does have a basic automotive section, about equal to what a corner convenience store would carry (and IIRC, priced about the same).
A newer Super target does have a basic automotive section, about equal to what a corner convenience store would carry (and IIRC, priced about the same).
JHZR2
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Originally Posted by Reddy45
Target's primary demographic customer does not do their own car work.
That's what I was going to say. After asking "what automotive section?"
Early 2000s wasn't much better, though they carried chevron oils and Mobil ATF that held an Allison rating.
Now around here they're moving to smaller form Target stores, essentially, as new fancier supermarkets get built, and older ones close, they make these neighborhood targets with a food, housewares, and clothing section, and it seems like only the food section is the same size as a regular target. But that's just my observation, going into a target maybe four times a year.
Living in the middle of affluent-ish suburbia, one observation is that target has done a good job of catering to moms who don't want to go to Walmart due to demographics and the optics of being there, but are too embarrassed to say so. Target gets them notional savings (though I've never seen it really), without the stigma or inconveniences (I'll certainly admit Walmart is a horrible store to shop at) of going elsewhere. Some people we know shop at target for almost everything - clothes, food, other stuff. It's like the convenience and supermarket go-to for a lot of folks. What I have heard/seen however, is that their kids clothes are better than what you get at Walmart or other discounters, without paying fancy store prices. Cat and Jack seems good - we do have some of their kid clothes and they seem to hold up well. We've bought clothes from all sorts of places, from low to high end, and the target stuff does seem pretty good for the price.
But that's clothing, something that seems to be more of what Target is orienting towards selling... not automotive.
The demographic that shops at target, men and women included, are not DIYers on any front as far as I can tell. And if they are, it's likely that other stores like HD are better served to it.
Target's primary demographic customer does not do their own car work.
That's what I was going to say. After asking "what automotive section?"
Early 2000s wasn't much better, though they carried chevron oils and Mobil ATF that held an Allison rating.
Now around here they're moving to smaller form Target stores, essentially, as new fancier supermarkets get built, and older ones close, they make these neighborhood targets with a food, housewares, and clothing section, and it seems like only the food section is the same size as a regular target. But that's just my observation, going into a target maybe four times a year.
Living in the middle of affluent-ish suburbia, one observation is that target has done a good job of catering to moms who don't want to go to Walmart due to demographics and the optics of being there, but are too embarrassed to say so. Target gets them notional savings (though I've never seen it really), without the stigma or inconveniences (I'll certainly admit Walmart is a horrible store to shop at) of going elsewhere. Some people we know shop at target for almost everything - clothes, food, other stuff. It's like the convenience and supermarket go-to for a lot of folks. What I have heard/seen however, is that their kids clothes are better than what you get at Walmart or other discounters, without paying fancy store prices. Cat and Jack seems good - we do have some of their kid clothes and they seem to hold up well. We've bought clothes from all sorts of places, from low to high end, and the target stuff does seem pretty good for the price.
But that's clothing, something that seems to be more of what Target is orienting towards selling... not automotive.
The demographic that shops at target, men and women included, are not DIYers on any front as far as I can tell. And if they are, it's likely that other stores like HD are better served to it.
Small. Expensive. But I keep checking in the hope they'll compete vs wm.
Originally Posted by edwardh1
Off topic but what do the dollar stores sell ? car wise - do they sell smaller quantities of anything?
The actual "dollar stores", i.e. Dollar Tree, yes, everything is smaller packaging as well as being brands I've never heard of. I've seen oil in 16-oz bottles vs 32-oz (1 quart) and maybe some fuel system cleaner. Otherwise, their "auto" stuff will be mostly cleaning products.
Stores like Dollar General, well, I don't consider them "dollar stores" at all. Just because "dollar" is in their name ? Dollar General sells the same stuff you can find at a Walmart, for example, albeit less selection. They sell many quality, brand-name oils at reasonable (??) prices although I never buy oil by the quart so their prices are high to me. $4-5/quart for Valvoline, Mobil 1, Pennzoil, and so on. They sell quart bottles of ATF, fuel system cleaners, brake parts cleaner spray, vehicle washing products, and even a small selection of wiper blades.
Off topic but what do the dollar stores sell ? car wise - do they sell smaller quantities of anything?
The actual "dollar stores", i.e. Dollar Tree, yes, everything is smaller packaging as well as being brands I've never heard of. I've seen oil in 16-oz bottles vs 32-oz (1 quart) and maybe some fuel system cleaner. Otherwise, their "auto" stuff will be mostly cleaning products.
Stores like Dollar General, well, I don't consider them "dollar stores" at all. Just because "dollar" is in their name ? Dollar General sells the same stuff you can find at a Walmart, for example, albeit less selection. They sell many quality, brand-name oils at reasonable (??) prices although I never buy oil by the quart so their prices are high to me. $4-5/quart for Valvoline, Mobil 1, Pennzoil, and so on. They sell quart bottles of ATF, fuel system cleaners, brake parts cleaner spray, vehicle washing products, and even a small selection of wiper blades.
Originally Posted by Electromotive
I realize that automotive is not Target's forte, but still it seems they would have a little better and larger selection of items in this section.
You said everything right there. I'll bet you no one goes to Target to get automotive supplies. They have those items for people that are there for other stuff and these fall under "impulse" buys, i.e husband and wife go to Target and one of them (not to be sexist !) ventures to that area. Maybe they have some car wash soap on sale or windshield scrapers or something that catches someone's eye....
I realize that automotive is not Target's forte, but still it seems they would have a little better and larger selection of items in this section.
You said everything right there. I'll bet you no one goes to Target to get automotive supplies. They have those items for people that are there for other stuff and these fall under "impulse" buys, i.e husband and wife go to Target and one of them (not to be sexist !) ventures to that area. Maybe they have some car wash soap on sale or windshield scrapers or something that catches someone's eye....
People who shop Target need oil could less about minutiae of brands, just oil in hopefully proper grades.
I prefer shop at target however WM for oil and softener salt.
OT ours pay a living wage of $14.50 / hr for our locale.
I prefer shop at target however WM for oil and softener salt.
OT ours pay a living wage of $14.50 / hr for our locale.
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