Where to buy 5qt PU?!

[yaris0128]

So Im sure we all know about PU being shutdown at Walmart and that being where most of us buy our oil is a huge problem for a lot of us. I am willing to just use PP but I just love the brainwashing that PU has done to me and I have to have it over PP. Pennzoil needs my extra money.

Anyway besides Walmart who knows a good major retail store where PU is available at a GOOD price. Nobody say Kmart, their prices suck.

 

[aquariuscsm]

I think Walmart has the "patent" per se on 5 jug containers.

 

[yaris0128]

I think you may be right on that. I have only seen the 1gal jugs elsewhere. Which is a rip!

 

[chubbs1]

Walmart. The only place I know of. It's on sale too...$23.50 for 5 quart jugs.

 

[JHZR2]

Originally Posted By: aquariuscsm
I think Walmart has the "patent" per se on 5 jug containers.


How can they have a patent on a 5qt jug?!? That is something that anybody reasonably skilled in the art of auto repair, packaging, etc. would see as a benefit, and I'd say that is verified by their sales...

I cant see that as patentable...

 

[demarpaint]

I thought Walmart had some kind of patent on it too. The other day I went to Auto Zone and saw Mobil Clean 5000 for $9.99 in a 5.28 qt jug. That had me thinking that there was the loop-hole to get around the Walmart patent if it did exist. Just wondering that's all. 5.28 qts seems odd.

 

[Patman]

Originally Posted By: demarpaint
I thought Walmart had some kind of patent on it too. The other day I went to Auto Zone and saw Mobil Clean 5000 for $9.99 in a 5.28 qt jug. That had me thinking that there was the loop-hole to get around the Walmart patent if it did exist. Just wondering that's all. 5.28 qts seems odd.


5.28 quarts is exactly 5L though, so they probably just use the same jug for the US market and Canadian market.

 

[musicmanbass]

5.28qts is 5 liters. That's whatt all of the oil change jugs at Autozone are; 5.28l jugs. Us silly Americans just aren't bright enough to realize that there are other forms of measure beside the English system we use. That's how AZ gets around the problem of WM's death grip on the 5qt jug. Plus, you get a little more oil at AZ.

I've only seen a very few stores that even carry PU yet. Only Wally has the jug. Some AZs and some AAPs in Mid TN have PU in qts... not sure about O'Reilly's. I believe AZ is running a special with five qts and some premium filter for $32 or so bucks. Not bad considering a premium filter is usually $10+ dollars, bringing the effective price of the oil down to near-Wally levels.

 

[demarpaint]

Originally Posted By: musicmanbass
5.28qts is 5 liters. That's whatt all of the oil change jugs at Autozone are; 5.28l jugs. Us silly Americans just aren't bright enough to realize that there are other forms of measure beside the English system we use. That's how AZ gets around the problem of WM's death grip on the 5qt jug. Plus, you get a little more oil at AZ.

I've only seen a very few stores that even carry PU yet. Only Wally has the jug. Some AZs and some AAPs in Mid TN have PU in qts... not sure about O'Reilly's. I believe AZ is running a special with five qts and some premium filter for $32 or so bucks. Not bad considering a premium filter is usually $10+ dollars, bringing the effective price of the oil down to near-Wally levels.


My point was it wasn't too hard to get around Walmart's so called "death grip". I don't shop at Auto Zone often and hardly ever buy oil in anything but 1 qt bottles, so this is pretty new to me. Actually the first time I bought oil that wasn't in a qt was Amsoil which was packaged in gallons.

 

[aquariuscsm]

Originally Posted By: JHZR2
How can they have a patent on a 5qt jug?!? That is something that anybody reasonably skilled in the art of auto repair, packaging, etc. would see as a benefit, and I'd say that is verified by their sales...

I cant see that as patentable...


That`s what Valvoline told me in so many words. That they make their 5 quart jugs *specifically* for Walmart only. I`d emailed them asking one time if they made their 5 quart jugs in 20W50,and they said they didn`t,and went on to tell me that their 5 quarts jugs were Walmart exclusives.

 

[demarpaint]

I recall reading the same thing.

 

[David S.]

5 US quarts equals 1 Imperial gallon. So the 160 fluid ounce jugs are not really an oddball size.

 

[aquariuscsm]

I hate the Autozone 5+ quart jugs because (at least at the stores here) it`s the same price as if you just grab the individual quarts off the shelf,whereas the Walmart 5 quart jugs give you a bulk quantity discount.

 

[demarpaint]

I never paid much attention to it. Seems it is a great work around to an exclusive that Walmart thought they had, if that is in fact the case. Honestly, I'd rather not have that .281 qt left over in that big bottle, since my Aerostar only calls for 4.5 qts. Usually when I buy oil it is part of a 5 qt special which includes a filter. YMMV

 

[bmod305]

I work for Napa and here is the story on 5qt jugs from our end. Yes, Walmart has had the exclusive rights to the use of 5qt jugs until earlier this year with their oil vendors. It wasn't a patent issue just a contract issue.

According to our oil factory reps, the oil industry is going to use qt bottles and 5qt jugs only in the future(for the US retail market). They are going to drop the use of 4qt(gal) jugs moving forward; this just covers major brands not unique brands like Amsoil etc. We just started to receive the Napa brand(Valvoline) 5 qt jugs this past week. We are going to retail them at $13.99 each. The old 4qt jugs retailed for $10.99. Our profit is a little over $2 per jug regardless of size.

For you guys that are looking for oil prices similar to Walmart at other retailers; it isn't going to happen other than the monthly oil deals in some sales flyers. Walmart buys/sells so much oil vs other retailers; they will always be cheaper. Our margin on most oils is only 5-10% so there is very little room to sharpen the pencil.
It would actually be cheaper for our 5 store group to buy name brand oil from Walmart than from Napa or other oil distributors.

Dave

 

[musicmanbass]

Great info Dave, thanks!

 

[yaris0128]

Originally Posted By: bmod305
I work for Napa and here is the story on 5qt jugs from our end. Yes, Walmart has had the exclusive rights to the use of 5qt jugs until earlier this year with their oil vendors. It wasn't a patent issue just a contract issue.

According to our oil factory reps, the oil industry is going to use qt bottles and 5qt jugs only in the future(for the US retail market). They are going to drop the use of 4qt(gal) jugs moving forward; this just covers major brands not unique brands like Amsoil etc. We just started to receive the Napa brand(Valvoline) 5 qt jugs this past week. We are going to retail them at $13.99 each. The old 4qt jugs retailed for $10.99. Our profit is a little over $2 per jug regardless of size.

For you guys that are looking for oil prices similar to Walmart at other retailers; it isn't going to happen other than the monthly oil deals in some sales flyers. Walmart buys/sells so much oil vs other retailers; they will always be cheaper. Our margin on most oils is only 5-10% so there is very little room to sharpen the pencil.
It would actually be cheaper for our 5 store group to buy name brand oil from Walmart than from Napa or other oil distributors.

Dave


That was really good info. Thanks