Windshield wiper blades when did they get so expensive

[Superb Bee]

It was time for blades, not sure about you guys but I am great for waiting until about 2 years after I need them to replace them. Its just one of them things I don't like to devote much brain power to, I always say "next time I'm in Napa, I gotta get wiper blades" well today it was a bit rainy on my way to napa, so I was reminded to actually buy them...

The entire thing is a mystery to me, some fit in a little hook, some have a push tabby thing, I don't know why they don't just have a couple screws that hold them to the wiper bar, but what ever, once you take one off and put the new one on, it makes sense and the second is easy...

I figured while I'm there may as well get a set for my wifes car, our the SUV, and my truck, plus the jeeper needs a headlight, so may as well get that while I am thinking of it. I went to napa to pick up a case of carb clean and a case of brake clean (sale my buddy told me about its like $1 a can when you buy a case this week, normally $5 a can, I bought the last 4 cases they had)...

The cleaners came to around $60, I paid separately for the wipers for the 3 vehicles and headlight for the jeep, it came to $175!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I was shocked, lol Even the teller was like "woah"... When did a windshield wiper blade start costing $20 each? Where have I been, I want the $2.18 replacement rubbers back... I could have bought parts for the charger with that money...

 

[MarPar]

rock auto, my friend...dont get me wrong, I go to NAPA for pretty much everything, but they are outrageous for some some things.

https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog...8l+v6,1444643,wiper+&+washer,wiper+blade,8852

 

[Dennis H]

Blades have cost a small fortune for some time now. I use Peak-Optix on both modern Mopars. Got the correct ones somewhere on here for the Coronet. Auto store says the rear blade for folks Toyota Sienna is proprietary and must be sourced through Toyota. I'm fussy about the windshield. Use rain-x and clean the blades with rubbing alcohol on occasion. They live in shaded mild conditions too which helps.

 

[BeeKool]

Not only are they expensive for good ones, they don't last. Especially if you have icy Conditions or they freeze to the windshield.

I replace them annually on the vehicles I use most

 

[wahya]

If you figure in your price per year that got out of them, they're not that expensive.

 

[BeeKool]

If you figure in your price per year that got out of them, they're not that expensive.

$50 per year for each vehicle that gets driven heavily.
I spend at $200 every year on wiper blades. That doesn't include the vehiclesame that get it replaced with a cheap blade every 5 years.
Gotta have visibility when moving snow

 

[WP29440SE]

I wouldn't buy a roll of toilet paper from Napa. They are crooks. Go to Walmart for blades geez

 

[wahya]

Yeah, I was figuring on the op's 4 vehicles and a headlight for $175, over a few year period.

 

[69a100]

Last year I needed new blades, figured I'd open the wallet as I've always had bad luck with any blade I'd buy, no matter the cost. Well after coughing $20 a pop a blade and them failing me in less than a year, I said "F" it and buy the cheapest ones at like $2 a pop. Just a simple, stock type, OEM replacement. It's been 6 months now and no ******* yet about them, will see how long they last?

 

[khryslerkid]

And the blades you buy now days don't last as long either!

 

[Superb Bee]

I wouldn't buy a roll of toilet paper from Napa. They are crooks. Go to Walmart for blades geez

I try not to frequent Walmart, they are the devil after all, lol...

The Napa stores around here are privately owned, the owner of the one 4 miles from my house works the register and is there everytime I go in, that kind of means something, well at least it used to. I had an issue with an alternator I bought for my rollback (2006 international 7400 320hp dt570 monster), I bought the alternator from him, 1 year coverage, $300 (hard to remember), had the truck since new and the original one lasted 7 years, I expected at least half that from the napa model.

It dies in 14 months, I brought it in and he said its out of warranty, and I said I bought the most expensive one you sold because I didn't want to wrench on this thing again in a year, and here I am..
He came out with a new one, and handed it to me and said he would deal with the exchange stuff...

If that was "Walmart" I would have been standing there with my dick in my hand... (not that they sell alts for dt engines..)..

So for the $100 a year I would save, I figure it will come back in some way.. I do tend to use Walmart, I just feel dirty afterwards..

 

[Dennis H]

I try not to frequent Walmart, they are the devil after all, lol...

The Napa stores around here are privately owned, the owner of the one 4 miles from my house works the register and is there everytime I go in, that kind of means something, well at least it used to. I had an issue with an alternator I bought for my rollback (2006 international 7400 320hp dt570 monster), I bought the alternator from him, 1 year coverage, $300 (hard to remember), had the truck since new and the original one lasted 7 years, I expected at least half that from the napa model.

It dies in 14 months, I brought it in and he said its out of warranty, and I said I bought the most expensive one you sold because I didn't want to wrench on this thing again in a year, and here I am..
He came out with a new one, and handed it to me and said he would deal with the exchange stuff...

If that was "Walmart" I would have been standing there with my dick in my hand... (not that they sell alts for dt engines..)..

So for the $100 a year I would save, I figure it will come back in some way.. I do tend to use Walmart, I just feel dirty afterwards..

Local Napa seems to be my best resource.

 

[Superb Bee]

Yeah, I was figuring on the op's 4 vehicles and a headlight for $175, over a few year period.

I was just shocked I guess, I will say if these wiper blades don't last 2-3 years I am going to be pissed, I ALWAYS flip them up before storms, scrape the glass, and run the defrosters..
I am not the type of guy to use the wipers as ice scrapers, and we get ice, I am never in a big hurry, so if the car is covered in ice, Ill turn it on and let it run while I drink a cup of tea and watch the ice melt...

You guys have me nervous now, I hope these things last longer than a year.

I feel like stuff is getting so expensive, I know I am old and bread isn't 29 cents a loaf any more, but I never remember such large leaps.

On the other hand, as my wife just reminded me, I was just saying how I cant believe how cheap TV's have gotten, 70" tv is $899, I paid double that for half the size a few years back...


Maybe I just need something to complain about today...

 

[Moparsmitty]

I've been using these NAPA OEM style blades for years on various vehicles without any complaints. I live in western Washington where it rains a lot and I still get several years out of these blades. I don't think $10 a blade is out of line at all.
https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/TRI60020

 

[steve from staten island]

What ever happened to just buying the insert and not the whole blade? If i could get more than a year out of a set of blades id be happy but even good ones dont last. When you get older and need glass's to drive and find yourself on the highway in bad rain or snow, i need good wipers

 

[metaldad]

i buy my wiper blades from costco, goodyear made in USA.
just looked at them in person 3 weeks ago, need more, cart was already at $4oo.
just looked at site, couldn't find them

 

[wahya]

It makes a difference where you live on how long they last.

 

[Superb Bee]

I've been using these NAPA OEM style blades for years on various vehicles without any complaints. I live in western Washington where it rains a lot and I still get several years out of these blades. I don't think $10 a blade is out of line at all.
https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/TRI60020

He didn't have them for all of the vehicles, I got the same brand for all of them, they are supposed to be good wipers, if that means anything, and they were not the most expensive he had some costing $33 each...

 

[mopar 3 B]

It erks me big time that inserts can not be bought for the factory originals. Instead they want you to replace metal with plastic just because the population got to lazy or stupid to put in inserts.

 

[Superb Bee]

It erks me big time that inserts can not be bought for the factory originals. Instead they want you to replace metal with plastic just because the population got to lazy or stupid to put in inserts.

Its not as easy as it looks, lol. I am not ashamed to say it takes a little thought to change new wiper blades I think the old ones were much easier.. I thought I broke a one, they are cheap plastic junk clips and fastener systems.

I did punch myself in the forehead taking one off the truck, you have to squeeze these 2 clips and pull up, well years of shoulder injuries has limited the directions I can pull things (luckily my dick doesn't mind), so I had to stand on the bumper and it was stuck of course letting go as my footing slipped socking myself in the forehead...

Don't get old, and if you do, make sure you are wealthy enough to hire some young people to do all the work

what am I talking about young people don't work, I have seen people take their cars to the shop for wiper blades..