I shop at all three, but don't can't really differentiate them much.
Which store is the best overall and ozbargain's favourite (aka…cheapest)?
What are your thoughts on things like customer service? prices? specials? membership benefits (eg - SCA card)? offered services (such as headlight changes)? and warranties?
Exactly
Super cheap Auto has an internet website
Autobarn is building a better internet website, right now you can Search car parts by Vehicle.
thats smart
R.E.P.C.P.O is stuck in the 1990s, they might as well stick to printing stuff on dead tress
Shop a lot more at Supercheap due to them having a working website.
Autobarn is ok in terms of website but doesnt have prices up for a lot of the stuff i want, good for audio stuff. other stuff it usually ends up being more expensive than supercheap / repco.
Repco only go if theres 25-30% off or something stands out in the catalogue
I've only got a repco and a SCA nearby. the SCA has far more range (the store is over 4 times larger than repco) so I go there.
Autobarn I find is better for aftermarket parts for performance cars.
Repco is like bunnings, just the regular overpriced shit
SCA is like a Falcodore brothel, I can find anything i need for the commo.
falcadore brothel….beautiful description :')
Repco charge $5 delivery for parts not in stock.
Supercheap have the best click&collect service out of any large retailer IMO, so definitely ahead in that department.
I find that supercheap has the biggest range, there's just way more shelf space and products in store, and in my experience they have the best deals. My local repco is a bit vacuous by comparison, even though they have roughly the same size floor space.
SCA are surely the biggest of the three by far in terms of revenue and market capitalisation. And even just in terms of store numbers?
I think Repco does have a lot of trade clients and supply a lot of local mechanics?
Mirroring what has been said above:
AutoBarn is great for audio but not much else
Repco is stuck in the past thus, despite often having good prices, are not overly accessible and require you to drive down to see their full range of prices
SuperCheap Auto isn't always the cheapest, but will usually price match, and has the best website with click and collect available. If an item that you just bought goes on sale, their membership will give you the difference between the price you paid and the new sales price, in the form of a store credit (I forgot how long this price guarantee lasts after your purchase date).
SCA - convenience, web pricing, click n collect, membership rewards, lots of stores
Autobarn - occasional specials from catalogue
Repco - catalogue items and occasionally the 30% off storewide is good - they sell oil in 20l drums which 'normally' works out best value
Local shop - located in Lonsdale (southern Adelaide) there is a stand alone shop called Car Parts Plus - their prices are typically lower than SCA everyday and you get decent service knowledge etc. it's amazing that they can compete on price. worth a phone call for those in the area when looking for spare parts outside of routine oil changes.
I find repco to have more knowledgeable staff.
SCA is mostly the cheapest.
I was told by a old fellow years ago Repco stands for
Rip
Every
Poor
C##T
Off
Bingo
SCA has generally been the cheapest for me, the few times they weren't they were able to price match.
I have used the SCA online shopping and delivery service and have seen gross incompetence at all levels ranging from their Distribution Center not sending complete orders, the call center staff who only tell you that there is not much they can (or want) do to assist you, and down to the retail outlets that employ local rednecks that have no idea how to differentiate a same day delivery from overnight express. Over 72 hours to get a parcel 30 kilometers away.
SCA - have a working website which is nice. But I've never had so many problems with service from a shop before. Plus most of the time they don't actually have the parts in stock. Even more so when you need mechanical parts and not just filters/brakes/oil etc
Repco. I go there sometimes when sca doesn't have the parts in stock. Though they are more expensive
Autobarn never been. Haven't seen any near in my area
There is also bursons and auto one
both seem to be run by people who actually know their cars and car parts, and they are more trade oriented rather than retail. I usually go there for car parts to make sure I'm getting the correct parts (Because I've been given the wrong parts from sca so many times now I have ceased to buy anything but oil when it's on sale from them)
when you need something, shop around for the cheapest at that time
if you have a car, you know when the next service is coming up, wait for sales then buy oil/filters etc… from whoever is cheaper
no 'one shop' is cheaper/better than the other