[unruhjonny]

I know that in general everything has gotten expensive in the last couple years...

But this example is a little retarded.

This is about vehicle/engine thermostats.

What I am seeing is that thermostat which used to be $4-$6 at the local auto parts store is now $30-$80;
If you (like me) sometimes preferred to buy the overpriced one in a GM box, you might have paid $12 - but that one now is now over a hundred dollars...!?!

If you doubt me, here:



Rockauto isn't a whole lot better.

I have read that the QC on the aftermarket ones is slipping, and that's why I initially looked into getting one of these **GM** thermostats.

Now, as a counterpoint, on Rockauto, I can get an aftermarket one for as low as $14cnd - but when I include shipping, it again gets a little retarded...
The GM (no longer Delco, now (?)GM-Genuine) is $94cnd.

I decided to go to the local auto parts chain;
I don't go there often these days because I rarely am in need of a part right away, anyway, the ones they carry are Motorad brand and are somewhere north of $30 (this is the same one that is $14 on Rockauto; the employee didn't want to look it up, but told me it would be north of $30).

Does anyone know what happened here?

I was wanting to do a couple coolant flushes, but when a thermostat is exceeding the cost of a bottle of undiluted Prestone-dexcool - something seems woefully wrong.