...WHEN you can get a Toyota dealer that's willing to help find the part for you... If it isn't fluids, I haven't had luck getting things for our lowly Pontiac from the holier-than-thou Toyota.
The people here won't even try to help you unless you can give them a Toyota VIN. Last thing I asked for was a 1ZZ oil pan -- should be fairly straightforward, I doubt there were many possibilities for oil pans on an '03 1ZZ FWD Matrix but they couldn't look it up. Do Toyota dealers not have some sort of generic parts catalog where they can look things up? Sorry. </rant>
It does pay to shop around, you are correct. Even when it's the same brand it can be beneficial. When I need something for my tin can Hyundai, I check with different Hyundai dealers and also Kia to find the best price, some of the price differences are pretty astounding.