Saving money shopping

Since my wife is a teacher and she on spring break, I thought it would be a good time to inspect the car she drives. It’s an older model Honda CRV, we like it, and good car maintenance is important. I have my step dad mechanic to drive it and he gives me some good advice. Next day I go to the side of the road tire guy I have gone to for years. This time, he advises me that I need two rear tires. Then strangely he convinces me to buy two used tires costing $30.00 because it was a deal and he is a good guy. Cool.
Next order of business. Stepdad has recommended new shocks and struts. When shopping the price on the web it looks something like the dealer charges around $1,100, some places will do it for $750 or $800 (but I got a guy). My guy says he will do the labor for $180 and I know that is a great price.
I go to a couple of car places and they quote around $425 after taxes for the four parts. At this point it would seem to be $425 + $180 = $605 but no. Buying auto parts on the web I find two places that sell would I need for $160 with no shipping (and possibly no sales tax). My point
The range in consumer cost, I will be paying $340 but could have paid $1,100.

This takes me back to the time I took my young son to a pediatrician. He sent us next door to a pathology place to draw and test blood. When they said it would cost $800 and be coming out of my pocket as part of the deductible first deal, I kind of freaked because we don’t just have $800 for blood stuff at our house.
Drove away thinking about it. Saw a sign that said pathology lab 200 yards from the first place. Went in with son and said how much for this, they said $400. WOW so I said ok
Then because I paid cash they took 20% off.
I paid 320 and 200 yards back it would have been $800. The morale of my story.

Shop everything