Battery Warranties worthless?

[ultrarunner]

43 months ago I bought a new Interstate 85 month battery for $122

Battery has a dead cell and confirmed by Dealer.

I received roughly half the advertised life.

Pro-Rate is based on battery list price of $240...

So I'm looking at $120 to replace my 85 month battery that died at 43 months...

I said thank you, but no.

Bought the same battery from a competitor for $124 and turned in mine for the core...


Back around 1980 J.C. Penny had a forever warranty... over 25 years I had 4 batteries... this is the only time I've ever collected on a battery warranty...

 

[CalG]

The warrantee essentially assures the retailer that you will be purchasing the replacement battery from them.

And you get to PAY for that privilage!

Ain't capitalism great! ;-)

 

[jerrybob]

Good thing you didn't buy the extended warranty! :laughing:

 

[ultrarunner]

Anyone buy from Costco or Walmart?

 

[Gary Fowler]

I buy all my batteries at Walmart unless they don't have the size I need. I have only one time had a problem with warranty and that was in Canada when the store didn't want to accept the warranty on a 48 month battery that died at 18 months. I had sales slip and warranty on the slip said free replace within 24 months but they said they had to prorate it. There was some fussing and cussing going on till most of the store was gathered round listening but they finally relented and I got a new battery. Their claim was that was the way they always did it. I almost got into a fight with the manager before I got my battery. Funny thing was a couple months later I rear ended a car that had dead stopped on a steel bridge. I slid into him and didn't do much damage but insurance totaled my car and they got the brand new battery.
Here in the states, I have never had a problem with them accepting the warranty.

 

[ultrarunner]

I might have to check Walmart.

When one opened I went in to stock up on Tractor Fluid and such... couldn't find it.

Store manager said inventory varies by region and I was not going to find much in a major metro area...

 

[davrow]

I have never found any manufacturer's battery warrantee to be worth the paper it is written on.

Store replacement policies generally work, though!

 

[JKR]

Tire warranty are not any better.

 

[Travelover]

Anyone buy from Costco or Walmart?

I have a Costco battery in my tractor. They give you a new battery if within 3 years and prorate after that. If you were a little sneaky, you could just trade it in every 3 years. They don't test them, at least at my store.

 

[beeforty]

I have a Costco battery in my tractor. They give you a new battery if within 3 years and prorate after that. If you were a little sneaky, you could just trade it in every 3 years. They don't test them, at least at my store.

I haven't had to try that with my COSTCO batteries yet. They have all lasted the full warranty period. Even my tractor battery that I would forget to turn off the switch after shutting down and cme back days later to a dead battery:laughing
Just recharged it up and kept going.