Walmart Oil Aisle Today

[f355spider]

Nearby Walmart had more Fram filters than I expected to see too and while I don't know a lot of common part numbers, I assure you they had no PH1A, 3614, 6607, 7317, etc remaining. I'm confident they are oddballs, which WM knows they're not big movers so I'm surprised they're not moved to the clearance section already. They're on the top shelf, removed from the 'premium' eye-level shelves too like shown in the picture.

Usually how it works in retail is the brand replacing Fram is asked to assist with either buying back the inventory (and selling to third party discount retailers) or offer a cash "off invoice" one time incentive to cover the cost of Walmart putting them on their clearance rack at their stores nationwide.

Since there may not be enough oil filter manufacturers with the product depth and manufacturing capability to handle the volume of Walmart, Walmart may not have had the negotiating power to do that in this case. But like you, I find it odd they would waste any shelf space on a product they cannot restock and what is left is likely "dead" inventory, unlikely to turnover soon.

 

[KCJeep]

How much did that used to be? I thought it was around $30 pre-run up in price.

Was about $26.97 here for a long time.

 

[User_19876]

How much did that used to be? I thought it was around $30 pre-run up in price.

I bought a box of three jugs in June of last year off Amazon for $21/jug.

 

[SC Maintenance]

Usually how it works in retail is the brand replacing Fram is asked to assist with either buying back the inventory (and selling to third party discount retailers) or offer a cash "off invoice" one time incentive to cover the cost of Walmart putting them on their clearance rack at their stores nationwide.

Since there may not be enough oil filter manufacturers with the product depth and manufacturing capability to handle the volume of Walmart, Walmart may not have had the negotiating power to do that in this case. But like you, I find it odd they would waste any shelf space on a product they cannot restock and what is left is likely "dead" inventory, unlikely to turnover soon.

I was in Walmart here again a few days ago. The oil stock is just fine. The filter section looks like the bread isle a day before a hurricane.

Clearly they have no supplier at this point. I am really surprised they didn't load up on more OEM or something. It truly looks abandoned.

Many suppliers don't want to work with Wal Mart. You have to guarantee supply, at low margin, and they can cancel the contract at any time. Fram was in a good spot because they had there 50 year brand name and likely had at least some leverage with Walmart. A new supplier would not and may simply not be willing to invest in production to sell to Walmart. We shall see.

 

[Snagglefoot]

Walmart 5w40 Euro is up 20% in Canada. It used to hang in at $28.88 CDN but in is now $34.88.

 

[morsk]

I did stop by my local Walmart today and checked out the aisle for a quick second. Pretty well stocked. Plently of motor oil. Pennzoil Ultra Platinum most weights ($40/jug), Mobil 1 ESP ($31, all weights aside from 0W-40), VValvoline Restore and Protect ($36, most weights), etc, and I saw a BUNCH of FRAM filters as well. I did not take a close look as to which filters were available as I am an OEM filter man.

It's the pricing that hurts. My guess: these prices are the new normal. $20-something jugs of the aforementioned will be difficult to find.

 

[JackWildfeuer]

A lot of people here still seem to think the price of motor oil will come down but they are going to be in for a rude awakening. It’s very unlikely that motor oil will ever cost what it did before the Iran war

I agree. I doubt we will get back to $22 5qt Mobil-1 jugs at Walmart ever or $19 a gallon 5W40. Unlike the price of egg's that in my area went from $2.48 to $22 during Covid-19 and are now down again but not bellow $5 I doubt we will see that same level of drop. I hope I am wrong but if bread and circus is acceptable most people will just eat the price increase on motor oil like they have traditionaly done with fuel prices and car prices.

 

[EvoMan]

I was at the grocery store today. Eggs are $1.99 at regular price.

 

[4wd]

I was at the grocery store today. Eggs are $1.99 at regular price.

Yep, under $2 here now …

 

[ZeeOSix]

I agree. I doubt we will get back to $22 5qt Mobil-1 jugs at Walmart ever or $19 a gallon 5W40. Unlike the price of egg's that in my area went from $2.48 to $22 during Covid-19 and are now down again but not bellow $5 I doubt we will see that same level of drop. I hope I am wrong but if bread and circus is acceptable most people will just eat the price increase on motor oil like they have traditionaly done with fuel prices and car prices.

Would need a major recession and for people to stop buying products to make prices go down, before some companies that can't survive the recession go out of business. Remember the last major recession in 2008 when Subway decided to do $5 foot long subs that were normally $7-$8 back then. That campaign actually brought tons of business into Subway.

 

[cheetah50]

Yep, under $2 here now …

$1.72 at the local store. I always just swap with my neighbor, he keeps chickens, One Circuit breaker swap ( after diagnostics) got me eggs for a year ( Not that I asked he just always left them). Local walmart today was gone of anything restore and protect no grades at all in stock, supertech was there but a bit sparce, Quaker state was plentiful.

 

[4wd]

$1.72 at the local store. I always just swap with my neighbor, he keeps chickens, One Circuit breaker swap ( after diagnostics) got me eggs for a year ( Not that I asked he just always left them). Local walmart today was gone of anything restore and protect no grades at all in stock, supertech was there but a bit sparce, Quaker state was plentiful.

Nice! The lady at the hardware store sells “homemade eggs” - 18/$3.
They look like Easter eggs with so many tones/colors …

 

[walterjay]

Eggs as low as 1.67 this week

 

[DCDG]

I switched to Amsoil Signature a year ago, from them "Meets or exceeds" gives me confidence. They have enough history where that has meaning.

What oil brands don’t meet or exceed?

 

[Wheel366]

I agree. I doubt we will get back to $22 5qt Mobil-1 jugs at Walmart ever or $19 a gallon 5W40. Unlike the price of egg's that in my area went from $2.48 to $22 during Covid-19 and are now down again but not bellow $5 I doubt we will see that same level of drop. I hope I am wrong but if bread and circus is acceptable most people will just eat the price increase on motor oil like they have traditionaly done with fuel prices and car prices.

I remember regular steaks at costco were $5/lb. Now, more than double. They never came back down after covid.