Is the Valvoline oil sold at Wal Mart the same quality as what I would buy from a jobber? Wal Mart has MANY suppliers custom make Wal Mart merchandise (i.e. "cheaper"). I cannot seem to get Valvoline to give me a straight answer on this. They (Valvoline) only says that it is their product in Wal Mart. The 5qt. bottles are labeled Wal Mart. Anyone know for sure?
Wal Mart oil
- Thread starter BuickGuy
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The only difference is they MUST supply a 5 quart jug to WALMART ONLY. That's why every other store is a 5.1qt jug.
Up here in Canada, it's exactly the same, including same sized bottles. The only difference is that Walmart marks up the price 100% from the distributors' retail prices.
JHZR2
Staff member
We think it is the same.
IMO...Why wouldn't it be the same?? Valvoline is Valvoline. Same product you buy at the auto parts stores. IMO...I'm not sure about the express lube joints.....if it's bulk then it's a toss up.
It would be interesting to know how much Wal-Mart pays for the oil compared to other retailers. I am thinking Wal-Mart just gets it for a cheaper price than other retailers.
Having Wal-Mart on the bottle may be a good way to associate Oil with Wal-Mart and they get a little advertising to boot.
Having Wal-Mart on the bottle may be a good way to associate Oil with Wal-Mart and they get a little advertising to boot.
Walmart simply contracts with the oil manufacturers to put a customized label on each bottle with the "recycle your used oil at Walmart" tag somewhere on it. They simply want you to return to the store with your used oil, presumably to build customer loyalty, so you'll return to the store for more new oil.
All the blending oil companies have a reputation that they really care about. If it got known that Valvoline at Walmart was 2nd rate compared to Valvoline at NAPA or other parts stores they would be in real trouble.
So Walmart and Sam Club can push any manufacturer to do custom quantity packaging for them, but the product stays the same. It would not help Walmart either if word got out that oil at Walmart was 2nd rate compared to other stores.
So Walmart and Sam Club can push any manufacturer to do custom quantity packaging for them, but the product stays the same. It would not help Walmart either if word got out that oil at Walmart was 2nd rate compared to other stores.
Same. This reminds me of when I was a kid though. For some reason I thought the 5qt jugs were some how a different product than the 1qt bottles.
Maybe it was the drastic price reduction of the 5qts that made me think they were watered down?
Question's been discussed here a number of times with similar resulting now predictable replies. I'm extremely confident the major's oil sold at Wally is exactly the same product sold at other reatil outlets like auto parts stores. The majors have a reputation to protect.
That said, some enjoy wearing a tin foil hat, still looking for them boys on the grassy knoll and believing in a staged moon landing.
The other common but perhaps related reason for injecting doubt is Wally haters are going to hate because that's what they do.
That said, some enjoy wearing a tin foil hat, still looking for them boys on the grassy knoll and believing in a staged moon landing.
The other common but perhaps related reason for injecting doubt is Wally haters are going to hate because that's what they do.
Let's put it another way:
I've been buying my PP at Wally's for quite a while now. We bought my wife's car with 87,xxx...now has 172,xxx. If the WM version of PP is inferior, it must still be pretty darn good as the engine is spotless and uses less oil now than when we bought it.
I've been buying my PP at Wally's for quite a while now. We bought my wife's car with 87,xxx...now has 172,xxx. If the WM version of PP is inferior, it must still be pretty darn good as the engine is spotless and uses less oil now than when we bought it.
The other thing worth mentioning is PQIA plucks it's oils to test off Walmart shelves sometimes. There random purchases help ensure we are getting what we think we are getting.
This is a good question. I purchased a name brand microwave oven at Walmart some years ago. After it was out of warranty the door latch failed, so I called the manufacturer's service number to locate parts. When I gave them the model number the rep told me that that was a model sold only through Walmart, and there is no parts or service support available for it. Must be one of the ways Walmart is able to aggressively control costs. I have never purchased an item of any significance at Walmart since.
I'm glad to hear at least the oil is the same regardless of whether it is sold at Walmart or elsewhere.
I'm glad to hear at least the oil is the same regardless of whether it is sold at Walmart or elsewhere.
JHZR2
Staff member
Again, we think it is the same. No way to ensure it absolutely is or isnt without $$$$ of analytical chemistry.
And blending finished chemicals, keeping track of all the products, changing batches, etc. is a bit more complex than swapping part a for part b in a consumer item on a production line set up for that kind of thing.
Depending upon how tankage and batches are handled, I wouldnt doubt that second tier price point sellers get some of the stuff that has a mix of something else (e.g. the blend tank was filled with product A, drain it to make a few batches of B, and the first one which still has residues goes to the lower cost bidder). But that happens all the time depending upon products, and it is why the specs seen on a PDS are always a range and not exact. Does it matter? Most likely not in the slightest.
I dont think we have any compelling basis to say that it is any different (though the walmart buying and product strategy for most anything else would justify the concern), but we also dont have the analytical chemistry to say it isnt... and that analysis is more detailed than what a used oil analysis will provide.
Splitting hairs probably...
And blending finished chemicals, keeping track of all the products, changing batches, etc. is a bit more complex than swapping part a for part b in a consumer item on a production line set up for that kind of thing.
Depending upon how tankage and batches are handled, I wouldnt doubt that second tier price point sellers get some of the stuff that has a mix of something else (e.g. the blend tank was filled with product A, drain it to make a few batches of B, and the first one which still has residues goes to the lower cost bidder). But that happens all the time depending upon products, and it is why the specs seen on a PDS are always a range and not exact. Does it matter? Most likely not in the slightest.
I dont think we have any compelling basis to say that it is any different (though the walmart buying and product strategy for most anything else would justify the concern), but we also dont have the analytical chemistry to say it isnt... and that analysis is more detailed than what a used oil analysis will provide.
Splitting hairs probably...
Originally Posted By: sayjac
Question's been discussed here a number of times with similar resulting now predictable replies. I'm extremely confident the major's oil sold at Wally is exactly the same product sold at other reatil outlets like auto parts stores. The majors have a reputation to protect.
That said, some enjoy wearing a tin foil hat, still looking for them boys on the grassy knoll and believing in a staged moon landing.
The other common but perhaps related reason for injecting doubt is Wally haters are going to hate because that's what they do.
Question's been discussed here a number of times with similar resulting now predictable replies. I'm extremely confident the major's oil sold at Wally is exactly the same product sold at other reatil outlets like auto parts stores. The majors have a reputation to protect.
That said, some enjoy wearing a tin foil hat, still looking for them boys on the grassy knoll and believing in a staged moon landing.
The other common but perhaps related reason for injecting doubt is Wally haters are going to hate because that's what they do.
^^^^Yep DB, one of my favorite conspiracy scenes.
Mr. Rate: "That's how a conspiracy works. Them boys on the Grassy Knoll they were dead within three hours, buried in the [censored] desert, unmarked graves out past Terlingua."
Nick Memphis: "You know this for a fact? "
Mr. Rate: "Still got the shovel..."
Mr. Rate: "That's how a conspiracy works. Them boys on the Grassy Knoll they were dead within three hours, buried in the [censored] desert, unmarked graves out past Terlingua."
Nick Memphis: "You know this for a fact? "
Mr. Rate: "Still got the shovel..."
So, from that video and recent posts... the JFK's assassination was orchestrated by Walmart Oil suppliers and that there are artificial, cancer-causing sweeteners in wal-mart oils?
[censored].
[censored].
Originally Posted By: R80RS
This is a good question. I purchased a name brand microwave oven at Walmart some years ago. After it was out of warranty the door latch failed, so I called the manufacturer's service number to locate parts. When I gave them the model number the rep told me that that was a model sold only through Walmart, and there is no parts or service support available for it. Must be one of the ways Walmart is able to aggressively control costs. I have never purchased an item of any significance at Walmart since.
This is more common than you think, and this is an industry trend, not specific to any one retailer.
Many electronics are this way (computers, printers, etc). Best Buy might have the Canon 123B, Target might carry the Canon 123T, and Walmart might sell the Canon 123W. They're largely the same printer, but with small trim and fascia changes. Same with many things like BBQ grilles, lawn furniture, consumer electronics and appliances, sporting goods, shoes, etc. Even tires many times. Ironically, if you want the true, generic, BASE product designed by the manufacturer, you often have to buy online. Almost every brick-and-mortar store has their own customized product line.
Believe it or not, even ceiling fans are this way. We bought a girly pink Hunter ceiling fan for our daughter's room this weekend. The one at Lowe's had cute little pink lamp shades on the three bulbs. The one at Home Depot had one central globe, but little pink frillies around the motor fascia and a different blade pattern.
Lowe's sells the 44" Dreamland model:
http://www.lowes.com/pd_227795-79-51026_...7597&rpp=32
Home Depot sells the 44" Annabelle model:
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Hunter-Annabelle-44-in-Indoor-White-Ceiling-Fan-52020/203806339
And both sell for 100 bucks. This is no coinkydink.
This post isn't mean to be pro-Walmart or anti-Walmart, but if you choose to avoid a store because of product customizations, you may find that you don't have many places where you can shop.
This is a good question. I purchased a name brand microwave oven at Walmart some years ago. After it was out of warranty the door latch failed, so I called the manufacturer's service number to locate parts. When I gave them the model number the rep told me that that was a model sold only through Walmart, and there is no parts or service support available for it. Must be one of the ways Walmart is able to aggressively control costs. I have never purchased an item of any significance at Walmart since.
This is more common than you think, and this is an industry trend, not specific to any one retailer.
Many electronics are this way (computers, printers, etc). Best Buy might have the Canon 123B, Target might carry the Canon 123T, and Walmart might sell the Canon 123W. They're largely the same printer, but with small trim and fascia changes. Same with many things like BBQ grilles, lawn furniture, consumer electronics and appliances, sporting goods, shoes, etc. Even tires many times. Ironically, if you want the true, generic, BASE product designed by the manufacturer, you often have to buy online. Almost every brick-and-mortar store has their own customized product line.
Believe it or not, even ceiling fans are this way. We bought a girly pink Hunter ceiling fan for our daughter's room this weekend. The one at Lowe's had cute little pink lamp shades on the three bulbs. The one at Home Depot had one central globe, but little pink frillies around the motor fascia and a different blade pattern.
Lowe's sells the 44" Dreamland model:
http://www.lowes.com/pd_227795-79-51026_...7597&rpp=32
Home Depot sells the 44" Annabelle model:
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Hunter-Annabelle-44-in-Indoor-White-Ceiling-Fan-52020/203806339
And both sell for 100 bucks. This is no coinkydink.
This post isn't mean to be pro-Walmart or anti-Walmart, but if you choose to avoid a store because of product customizations, you may find that you don't have many places where you can shop.
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