Why are batteries suddenly so expensive?

[Oaktree]

what I do is go to a place here in Tampa Florida area that rebuild or sells Blem Batteries I pay $$38 buck s for a battery that is guaranteed for 2 yrs. they test the charging & starting system and install the battery. or you can bring your core and pick up a battery. this is all they do. I used to work for a Battery company that does this, I was the auto Electrician there,rebuilt starters and alternators. they dump the acid out in plastic barrels,wash the battery, add new acid to the barrel until it reads 12.75 on the hydrometer. then pours it back into the battery and puts it on a trickle charge with a special industrial charger for 3 days, this breaks any Sulfation loose. they load test the batteries then put them on the shelf. when I get one it usually last me 2.5 to 3 yrs. they also sell brand new batterys for $60 bucks,these last about 4 yrs. theres only like 3 batterie company's in the USA,one of them is interstate. . these companys make the batteries for all distributors and their put their labels on them.

Sounds like kind of a half-@ssed refurb to me. Maybe if I was just getting by I might be tempted but at this point in my life I'm not going to cheap out just to save a couple bucks. Maybe you can get away with it in Fla. where it never gets cold, but I wouldn't trust one of those for a New England winter.
As others have noted, I've also had good luck with Walmart batteries. The one Interstate I had lasted maybe 2 years. Not even sure who sells them anymore, haven't seen them in any of the parts stores around here.

He told me he was shutting down and retiring as it was no longer possible to keep the doors open and comply with all the new safety regs… same for the plating shops I use to patronize.

Neighbor of mine used to do custom autobody work, and he was always complaining about the difficulty of finding anyone who'd do a decent chrome plating job. The few left did jobs that were either full of flaws, or was so thin rust came thru within a couple years.

Speaking of inflated prices, has anyone checked out antifreeze lately? Had to pick up a couple gallons yesterday, right around $20/gal, and that was for the store brand stuff!! About double what it was 2-3 years ago.

 

[walnutman]

Is it a common size, or is it rare size today?

If item was $105 year 2000 it's about same as $200 in today's money.

Inflation calculator is here...

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Gasoline for $3 - 3.50 a gallon today is actually a bargain!


If in doubt, ask Europeans or Canadians

A lot of people don't realize that.
Gas here in East Texas... one station last night was $2.05
Others are ni the lower $2 range as well.

So gas is around 35c a gallon now.

 

[arto98607]

A little bit of it is "inflation" but the vast majority is just pure freekin' GREED.

..........snip.............

Today's $200 battery is equal cost to $105 battery in year 2000 due to inflation.

Time to readjust thinking.

 

[DarkBlack]

Cheap doesn't mean poorly made. Walmart EverStart are better than most in testing.

I’ve had consistently good luck with Walmart batteries

 

[DarkBlack]

theres only like 3 batterie company's in the USA,one of them is interstate. . these companys make the batteries for all distributors and their put their labels on them.

You sure about that?

From what I gleaned from the net:

“Interstate Batteries is a privately owned marketing and distribution company headquartered in Dallas, Texas, and does not manufacture batteries itself. Instead, it sources batteries from various third-party manufacturers under private-label agreements. The primary manufacturers include Johnson Controls (now known as Clarios), Exide Technologies, and Brookfield Business Partners.
As of 2025, some Interstate products, including those sold at Costco, are being made by East Penn Manufacturing”

 

[Reapoman]

What part of the trouble is the space given for the physical size of the battery limits our buying possibilities. For instance, at work we get sale flyers for semi's and heavy equip. The most recent flyer has semi batteries, 950cca, for $95. I'd love to squeeze a battery that size into my vehicles or bobcat for a Minnesota winter, but noooo!

 

[arto98607]

I have gotten very good very good service & life from batteries sold by Costco and Walmart, zero complaints so far.

Key to success is to keep them always plugged into small "smart charger" like Battery Minder, NOCO, AXtra etc., when batteries are not used regularly.

I know it's a bit of a hassle, but well worth it.

 

[Alan46]

You sure about that?

From what I gleaned from the net:

“Interstate Batteries is a privately owned marketing and distribution company headquartered in Dallas, Texas, and does not manufacture batteries itself. Instead, it sources batteries from various third-party manufacturers under private-label agreements. The primary manufacturers include Johnson Controls (now known as Clarios), Exide Technologies, and Brookfield Business Partners.
As of 2025, some Interstate products, including those sold at Costco, are being made by East Penn Manufacturing”

I’m a Costco battery buyer, have been for 35 years. I’m going on 7 years on my duel Interstate batteries in my F-350, except for some growth on the positive posts, which I will clean today, I couldn’t be happier with my purchase!!!

 

[Nagsheadlocal]

I noticed this with an older car I had. Today I'm trying to replace a 1979 VW Beetle battery and I'm seeing $200!
Are they filling batteries with gold now?


WTH ???

Had to purchase a battery for my '72 Triumph this past summer and even the Walmart Everstart was $240. Quite a shock, I didn't have the nerve to look up the cost of a premium DieHard. I did immediately go out and get a battery maintainer since I only drive that car about once a month.

The replacement battery for my New Holland TC-29D was also $200 from Tractor Supply. I guess that's just what batteries cost unless they are something extremely common.

 

[areid]

I just purchased a 2023 power booster F-150. Talk about electronics, almost drives itself, fairly annoying actually. With all that extra technology comes a high battery draw. The oem battery is around $360 Canadian.
(LITTLE SIDE NOTE) I was inspecting a home in a small town in Sk. Where the buyer was trying to buy the whole town. There were only a few houses left standing and the one I was inspecting was the only liveable one left of 42.
Anyway it was -36°C and windy. I shut the truck off and a few hours later went to start it. Red light of death shows on the dashboard and truck would not start. Very nerve wrecking out on the bald ass prairie. Something shut all systems down. I tried tge key about 20 times until she reset something and started. My guess it's the oem battery must have fallen below a minimum threshold. The absolute best battery I can get is 460 plus tax. Thinking I better get it. My truck only has 15,000km on it.
Never thought I'd consider paying $500 for a battery!