Why are batteries suddenly so expensive?

[flyerdan]

There is an odd little discount store in Salem called Wheeler Dealer, they have car batteries for $58. I got one in May '23 and it's fine, same price for all this time.

 

[greenie]

OP: Where is your $200 battery made?

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

Many/most (90%) batteries are built in the United States. Easily verifiable.

 

[Torvy]

How do increased prices lead to lower inflation? Isn't increased prices the very definition of inflation?

It's a bit more complicated than that.

 

[charlessenf]

I'm trying to replace a 1979 VW Beetle battery

Wow! 2025-1979= forty-six years!

Christ, what brand battery is that?

 

[Tpondel]

Wow! 2025-1979= forty-six years!

Christ, what brand battery is that?

The previous battery from O’Reilly auto was bought in 2019.

 

[JPRambo]

2 weeks ago I replaced the battery in my '13 Silverado for $169.+. This week replaced the battery in wife's '06 grand caravan for $159+. Both were last replaced in '19. Time wise not bad for a 4 year warranty battery. Cost was about 50% more than in 2019.

 

[jyoutz]

I miss the days of auto parts with free lifetime replacement.

Several offered their best batteries with lifetime replacement…

No doubt that was a loser for the stores. Batteries are by design a replacement item.

 

[jyoutz]

Oddly enough a case of beer is still $19...

For cheap beer.

 

[Bentrim]

The flooded battery most of you are referring to contain lead. I think I remember that all lead mining in the US was closed down due to pollution and other environmental issues. That plus it is only 3 or 4 battery manufacturers in the US does not help prices, especially when the manufacturers are hit with more regulations.
So all that added together plus the increased transportation cost doesn't make cheap batteries.

 

[ultrarunner]

Selling the top of line battery for a premium price knowing how often cars trade and people relocate and accidents happen plus people forgetting or loosing the paperwork it was really a numbers game.

No doubt not a profit center with me as customer because I still own cars bought in my teens…