Why are batteries suddenly so expensive?

[ultrarunner]

I was charged with cleaning up at the old family auto sales property and turned in 31 batteries for $62 some years back.

With cores now ten times as much at $20 or more it’s close to what we sold new 6-volt Models A batteries at $29.95 and we made money.

 

[Hay Dude]

Wait until you have to replace 3 large batteries in a dump truck or large farm tractor.

 

[kenhar]

Batteries are about the same as water heaters. On average a 10 yr heater lasts about 10 yr and 3 months. A 3 yr battery lasts about 3 yr and 2 months. Basically you're just renting a battery. 4 yrs cost more than 3's, 3 yrs cost more than 2's. Some batteries will have just enough life left on the warranty to get you back in the store for a replacement. Wally world has about the best replacement scheme and if you are away from home when it won't start, there's a Wally not too far away. Same thing with tires.

 

[tjandrews]

OP: Where is your $200 battery made?

Hint - Tariffs are an imported goods tax paid for by consumers.

Even domestic manufacturers are raising prices because of tariffs. Pre-tariff prices were enough competition to keep domestic prices at their old levels. Reducing competition almost always results in increased prices.

 

[PA-Kubota]

I'm told there's only like 3 battery manufactures in the US and they just slap the store label on for where sold to. The pick you warranty period.

 

[Hay Dude]

Lots of Korean batteries making their way here. I have had pretty good success with them when there wasn’t an American alternative in stock. I buy batteries from a battery supplier. They carry pretty much all brands. He says the Korean batteries are just as good and about 10% cheaper than the American made batteries from East Penn and the other American companies.

 

[aircommuter]

Look no further than government restrictions. The Doe Run lead smelting shutdown by environmental restrictions. That accounted for 70% of the lead in this country. Nothing to do with tariffs. I don’t remember exactly but the galena belt was a huge operation. Not political just facts.
Optional method.

 

[Ceckert64]

The increase in battery costs occurred a little over 10 years ago and coincided with the shutdown of the last US-based lead smelter. The owner of the smelter, Doe Run, claimed that it was going to be too expensive to comply with the new environmental regs so they chose to shut it down instead.

While I won't claim the roughly doubling of battery costs was solely the result of the above, it certainly impacted the supplier's costs. Just like with the price of ammo in that time frame, supply/demand, plus the cost of environmental compliance, likely comprised the biggest share of the increase.

 

[QRTRHRS]

A blemished battery is simply a cosmetic defect.

 

[Mulemamma]

I just bought one for my daughters car, a Ford Fusion so a common size, $200.

I remember when they were $35 at Walmart. Guess that was around 50 years ago. Yes I’m pretty old.