Paying for a Battery Warranty

[Bruce Wrenn]

I may be in the market for a new battery in the not to distant future. I'm looking a group 65 batteries, with 650 CCA's. Duralast from Autozone, north side of $100, Interstate from COSTCO, right at $100. Duralast has free replacement for three years, while Interstate has one year free replacement. Walmart Valuecraft, $50 with one year free replacement. Next level of Walmart, $98 dollars with two year free replacement. Third (850 CCA's) from Walmart $120 with three year free replacement. All are made by Exide for Walmart. Fifty dollar and ninety eight dollar look to be the same, except for stickers. They both weigh the same amount, which means they contain the same amount of lead. So most likely I would be paying almost twice as much for identical batteries with differing lengths of warranty. No matter which I choose, I will use CC that extends manufacturer's warranty another year, so most likely I would buy cheaper one. While in Costco, I noticed they sell Interstate lawn tractor batteries, 230 CCA for around $35, with 6 month warranty. Go to Walmart and buy 230 CCA battery for $22 with one year warranty. At Walmart, for $30 I can jump up to 340 CCA battery. It definitely pays to shop around when buying a battery. FYI previous batteries have been Bosch Professionals which last on average nine years. Our 1994 (made in Aug 1993) Areostar has had three batteries in it, including the original

[Myk Rian]

I never buy a 1 or 2 year warrantied battery. Always the 3 year.
For the autos I buy the larger/higher CCA if it will fit in the tray. Modern vehicles, with all the electronics in them, always have a draw on the battery.
Being cheap on a battery will cost more in the long run.

[Dave Lehnert]

I have a Walmart Ever Start battery in my ZTR. I noticed tonight it was purchased in 2012. 7 years old and still fires right up. I have had other brands in my mower that only lasted 2 years.

[Doug Dawson]

I have a Walmart Ever Start battery in my ZTR. I noticed tonight it was purchased in 2012. 7 years old and still fires right up. I have had other brands in my mower that only lasted 2 years.

Understanding what kind of cost-cutting pressures Walmart puts on their suppliers, I would never buy another battery from them.

[Jerome Stanek]

I buy all my batteries from Rural King they have Exide batteries and they seem to last a lot longer then the Walmart batteries I tried.

[Jason Roehl]

I buy my batteries now from an Interstate Batteries store. The last time I bought one (two, actually), I asked for one of their scratch'n'dent (they have another name for it that eludes me at the moment) for my truck, and, feeling generous, got one for my daughter's car as well. Neither of ours were totally dead, so I was able to wait for them to be shipped from their warehouse--I think they came in later that day. They're $40, and the warranty is short, but they both got through the north-central Indiana winter perfectly.

[John K Jordan]

Do you have a Rural King in your area? Two people have told me lately their price was the cheapest around. One store owner told me he can't even get batteries wholesale for their retail price. The other person said they were brand name, relabeld for Rural King. I thought he said they were Interstate brand but I can't remember for sure. Might check.

BTW, I've never bought an extended warranty since they seem to last so long. I just replaced the battery in my tractor after 16 years.

JKJ

[roger wiegand]

I've bought probably 100 batteries over the last five decades and have not yet had one fail in the first 2-3 years. Paying for a warranty to insure against such a small risk seems silly. Likewise for any extended warranty on anything-- they are always priced so that on average you will end up paying more than you will get in return-- the house always wins, as they say.

[Jim Becker]

There are only something like three companies that make pretty much all the batteries, regardless of the label. I don't recall the brand distribution, however. I typically will buy a battery from a local auto parts store or Costco. I don't walk in the door of Walmart. Ever.

[Ole Anderson]

I would never pay for an extended warranty on a battery. Extended warranties in general are guaranteed to make the seller money, just like slot machines. The odds are in their favor. Buy a decent battery and they will last five years or better. My go-to lately has been Deca made by East Penn Manufacturing right here in the USA. Huge manufacturing facility, 520 acres in Pennsylvania. Interstate is good too, made in Mexico IIRC. That being said, I had to buy two batteries for my boat in FL. The ones I took out were still going strong after 8 years, they were DuraLast from AutoZone, replaced with the same as that is what was available locally.

Edit: rereading the OP, he is not buying an extended warranty, he is using a CC that extends the warranty by a year, that is a good thing at no cost.

[Jerome Stanek]

I bought 6 batteries fro Walmart and they all failed at about 26 months. just after the 2 year warranty ended. luckily all my trucks and tractors take the same size battery so I could change them out to get by till I got a new one. No more from Walmart.

[Art Mann]

My feelings exactly!


. . . I don't walk in the door of Walmart. Ever.

[Jerome Stanek]

Speaking of batteries my truck was slow cranking just now time to get a new battery it is 7 years old.

[John Goodin]

What I like about Costco is that they keep track of the purchase date if you have a failure during the warranty period. They are truly no hassle. The last time they refunded me cash for the battery which would have allowed me to go somewhere else. I didn’t.

[Jim Becker]

Costco also is relatively lenient on returns, too, compared to many vendors when something happens just outside of a stated warranty period. They take very good care of customers because they make their money on folks signing up to be customers year-in, year-out. The products are sold at close to cost or sometimes even at cost or below cost.

[Ron Citerone]

I've been searching for a deep cycle lately. FYI Advance Auto has been popping up a 20% and 25% coupon on their website lately. I have had god luck with their batteries.

[Tony Pisano]

Speaking of warranties, we have a plumber who has been our "family plumber" for a long time. When we needed a new water heater, I asked about spending a litle more to get one with a longer warranty. He said they are the exact same heater, one with a different warranty sticker on it.

[Bruce Wrenn]

Speaking of warranties, we have a plumber who has been our "family plumber" for a long time. When we needed a new water heater, I asked about spending a litle more to get one with a longer warranty. He said they are the exact same heater, one with a different warranty sticker on it.Having had a P-1 plumbing licensee in a previous lifetime, I can tell you these WH are ALMOST the same. They contain a second anode, which converts warranty from six years to nine years. That's what I was saying about the two batteries from Walmart. Both are the same size and capacity, come from same vendor (Exide) and weigh the same, which tells me they are the same, only with different stickers, and warranty. Double the price of the battery, and free replacement goes from one year to two. One year battery doesn't carry any pro rated warranty, while two year does.

[Bruce Wrenn]

There are only something like three companies that make pretty much all the batteries, regardless of the label. I don't recall the brand distribution, however. I typically will buy a battery from a local auto parts store or Costco. I don't walk in the door of Walmart. Ever.Searching, I find that there are four major car battery manufacturers now: East Penn (Deka,) Exide, Delphi, and Johnson Controls, with Johnson Controls being the largest world wide. All sell "Private label" branded batteries. GNB has been bought by Exide, so they are no longer a separate company. I'm sure there are a few regional manufactures left. As a side note, I get tickled when I go into either Autozone, or Advance and hear a customer say he never wants another battery from the other brand of parts store, as they are junk! Both stores sell the same batteries made by Johnson Controls, just labeled differently.

[Jerome Stanek]

I am looking for a 65 series battery for my truck I see Rural King has a 65-72 850 cca for $75.00 looks like the best price right now. It has a 24 month replacement and 72 month pro rated Exide made

[Dave Lehnert]

I buy all my batteries from Rural King they have Exide batteries and they seem to last a lot longer then the Walmart batteries I tried.


Funny, At work everyone that got a battery from Rural King says stay away.
Like I have had good luck with Walmart but another said all his was no good.
Sounds like there are good and bad in every brand.

FYI I use to work on a receiving dock for a large local retail chain. When the delivery driver came in for car battery, all the battery in the truck were unlabeled. He would look at our order and see what brand we stocked and put that brand label on as he unloaded.

[Bruce Wrenn]

I am looking for a 65 series battery for my truck I see Rural King has a 65-72 850 cca for $75.00 looks like the best price right now. It has a 24 month replacement and 72 month pro rated Exide madeSame battery at Walmart is about $120. Unfortunately the closest Rural King is a 312 mile round trip from me. At Walmart, this battery comes with a 36 month replacement

[Jerome Stanek]

Just came home from Rural King with a 65 series 650 CCA battery for $59 plus tax

[Brian Elfert]

I got one of those $50 Walmart batteries for my standby generator after a little research. What I found online was that most of the savings for Walmart was in the short warranty. Walmart was seeing a lot of battery "failures" from unscrupulous buyers a month or two before the warranty expired. Walmart figured that a one year warranty would greatly reduce warranty expense.

[Kevin Beitz]

I buy all my batteries from the junkyard... People buy a new battery and something happens to there car and off to the junkyard it goes... I get any battery for $20.00. If it does not work I get to exchange it... I have been doing this for years. I got 24 things that take a full size battery. Most batteries only last around 5 years. That means I need to replace least around 5 batteries a year. So it's costing me around $100.00 a year for batteries.

[Bruce Wrenn]

I buy all my batteries from the junkyard... People buy a new battery and something happens to there car and off to the junkyard it goes... I get any battery for $20.00. If it does not work I get to exchange it... I have been doing this for years. I got 24 things that take a full size battery. Most batteries only last around 5 years. That means I need to replace least around 5 batteries a year. So it's costing me around $100.00 a year for batteries.Here batteries from junk yard (LKQ) are around $26.00. and carry a 30 day warranty. Refurbished (by Interstate) are right at $50 and carry a 6 months warranty.

[Dave Zellers]

I buy all my batteries from the junkyard...

Here batteries from junk yard (LKQ) are around $26.00. and carry a 30 day warranty. Refurbished (by Interstate) are right at $50 and carry a 6 months warranty.

This is very interesting. Is this junkyard battery buying thing, something that the rest of us can do? Good heavens, talk about a business opportunity!

[Bruce Wrenn]

[/COLOR]


This is very interesting. Is this junkyard battery buying thing, something that the rest of us can do? Good heavens, talk about a business opportunity!LKQ has a battery rack near the entrance to most yards, so you don't have to pay their entrance fee just to purchase a battery. If I bought a used battery, the first place I would go is to local auto parts store and have them check it with their "whiz bang battery checker." I was given two deep cycle batteries, both less than two years old which would not accept a charge. Put each of them on a $12.50 desulfator I picked up off ebay. (It's the "ORIGINAL" one that uses a wall wart for power.) After a week, took first battery to parts house, and it checked as being in good condition. Will take second in tomorrow and see how it checks. Remember, when I got them, neither would take a charge. Here on CL, we have a couple resellers of reconditioned batteries. Batteries range from $36.99 to $45.00, with a core, depending upon seller

[Dave Zellers]

I'll have to look into this locally to see if such a situation exists here.

Thanks for the reply.

[Bruce Wrenn]

Took second battery in today for testing. Showed 510 CCA's, which isn't bad for a a 600CCA battery that two weeks ago refused to take a charge.

[Jason Roehl]

Took second battery in today for testing. Showed 510 CCA's, which isn't bad for a a 600CCA battery that two weeks ago refused to take a charge.

Are you sure that was 510 CCA, and not just 510 CA? CCA = COLD Cranking Amps, which is measured at 0ºF for 30 seconds. I’d be surprised if anyplace had your battery down to that temp to test it this time of year. Sounds like you brought it back some, but it may disappoint come wintertime.

[Jerome Stanek]

When they tested the old battery it showed 120 ca and the new one that is rated at 650 cca showed 850ca

[Jason Roehl]

When they tested the old battery it showed 120 ca and the new one that is rated at 650 cca showed 850ca

This would be expected. The 850 CA are because the battery is warmer, accelerating the internal chemical reaction that generates the current, as compared to the 0ºF rating.

[Bruce Wrenn]

I got one of those $50 Walmart batteries for my standby generator I use the $21.99 ( 230 CCA) lawn mower batteries on my generator. Same size battery, Interstate brand, at Costco is $32.99. Last Walmart mower battery I bought only lasted 5 years. Sorry piece of trash, it should have lasted ten years. At time of purchase, I only paid $19.99, so I got what I paid for.

[Brian Elfert]

I use the $21.99 ( 230 CCA) lawn mower batteries on my generator. Same size battery, Interstate brand, at Costco is $32.99. Last Walmart mower battery I bought only lasted 5 years. Sorry piece of trash, it should have lasted ten years. At time of purchase, I only paid $19.99, so I got what I paid for.

I am simply using the group 24 battery size specified by the manufacturer.

[John K Jordan]

I am simply using the group 24 battery size specified by the manufacturer.

Completely off the Off Topic topic, but almost every time I see this thread title in the list my somewhat dyslexic brain changes it to "Praying for Battery Warranty." :rolleyes:

JKJ

[Bruce Wrenn]

Completely off the Off Topic topic, but almost every time I see this thread title in the list my somewhat dyslexic brain changes it to "Praying for Battery Warranty." :rolleyes:

JKJIt's the "off topic" forum, so it seems natural. Think about it, every time you put the key in, you pray for the battery to crank car.

[Steve Clardy]

I buy the 5-year wally batteries, and usually get 7-8 years out of them.
I've had one that went bad 2 months before the 5 years was up.

[Bruce Wrenn]

The battery that earlier this week checked out as good, checked out today. Replaced it with the Walmart $49.98, one year warranty battery, which I purchased using credit card that doubles warranty up to one year. Thought about next up battery (3 years free replacement and then 2 more years prorated,) but when placing core in bin, saw one of this series that was made in Oct 2018 in defective bin. Most of the time, we get between 7 and 9 years out of a battery. I do check fluid level regularly, even if it's a "sealed battery." Walmart sells three batteries, one year, two year, and three year free replacement with 2 year prorated beyond that. Price reflects the length of warranty, which was my original thought.