Why are batteries suddenly so expensive?

[QRTRHRS]

Thanks for that answer! I asked the question - and as usual - I didn't think to simply check on google first!! Sorry about that!

That's fine. That's what "we're" here for

 

[Mtsoxfan]

According to another forum I'm on for my Ranger, the electrical gremins I'm experiencing is due to my H7 850cca battery about to fail, replace ASAP. This has been going on for two years. Said battery, best price I can find locally, walmart, is $189+ for a 3 year battery. Motorcraft is $249+

I carry jumper cables, so I'll roll the dice while I search out a better price.

 

[rScotty]

I think Batteries Plus or Interstate would be considered real battery stores. Interstate makes and sells. Batteries+, iirc, just sells others, but may have a 'store brand' (relabeled version of another brand).

I used to buy Oddysey and Optima premium AGMs, but both have been unreliable lately.

So....since a conversation I had with a battery distributor back in 2020, I started buying the same Interstate Batteries for most everything. Group 24, AGM, deep cycle marine type but with automotive terminals. I think they are MTX-24, but better check that. The one size size will work in everything we have from tractors to the Rv.

Cost is about $180 to $200 each depending on which shop has them. I just call up the Interstate distributor and ask which shop has that particular battery in stock

Around here - Denver - RV and boat shops both carry the Interstate group 24 AGM Marine deep cyctle type. So far we have six of them in service and It seems to be a consistently good battery.

It is rare for batteries today to last over 3 years, and the oldest of these Interstates is going on 4. I believe their warranty is about 2 years.

Yes, I remember back when all of our batteries - both wet cell and AGMs - often lasted 12/15 years. But that was years ago when they were made much better.

When I was a kid, some service stations would rebuild batteries. That was a vert different era.

rScotty

 

[Torvy]

^daughter and SIL are planning to move up that way 1st quarter next year. I have some cousins in DEN (grew up in the Springs).

 

[rScotty]

^daughter and SIL are planning to move up that way 1st quarter next year. I have some cousins in DEN (grew up in the Springs).

I bet they will love it here. All the more so if they like outside activities.
Texans and Colorado have a shared history that goes back a long time.
We live quite a ways back in the mountains, and often travel for work and shopping down to front range cities.

 

[Torvy]

Dad grew up in Pueblo. We moved here in '06, so not native Texan. In my lifetime, we've always had some family in CO.

SIL will be begging to move south after a winter or two. DEN isn't as bad as some places, but he tends to whine.

 

[randyjs]

According to another forum I'm on for my Ranger, the electrical gremins I'm experiencing is due to my H7 850cca battery about to fail, replace ASAP. This has been going on for two years. Said battery, best price I can find locally, walmart, is $189+ for a 3 year battery. Motorcraft is $249+

I carry jumper cables, so I'll roll the dice while I search out a better price.

The best price I found on my last two batteries was at the Ford Dealer.

 

[rScotty]

Apparently there isn't any profit in building a really good reliable battery. If there was, all of us would know about it....and we don't.

So we end up gambling on quality while comparing mediocre batteries by price and advertising hype..
There's got to be a better way.

 

[Eagle1]

I just buy the cheapest one I can and get same 4 or so years, some times I get lucky and they last 5.

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

I just buy the cheapest one I can and get same 4 or so years, some times I get lucky and they last 5.

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

 

[rScotty]

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

I agree, though I do wish for the old days when price was more closely related to quality. I haven't tried the Walmart battery, thanks for the tip. Right now we are using Interstate brand - which might even be the same. My suspicion is that many brands are made at the same manufacturing facility.

For awhile I stubbornly bought high dollar batteries like the high CCA types from Optima and Odyssey for our heavy equipment and big tractors...only to end up with a bunch of defective batteries and difficult warranties.

Right now we've found a better battery for half the price. But it won't surprise me if that changes too.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

It's funny how things work out for different people...

The best batteries by far that I've bought, are Interstate.

The worst batteries I've bought are from Walmart.

These days I mostly buy group 31 batteries, and right now I have Interstate, Deka and one from Sams, which is the cheapest of the bunch. We will see how it holds up!

SR

 

[Gregster613]

Apparently there isn't any profit in building a really good reliable battery. If there was, all of us would know about it....and we don't.

So we end up gambling on quality while comparing mediocre batteries by price and advertising hype..
There's got to be a better way.

rScotty, I used Napa Legend 8 volts in my golf cart for years as they lasted well past the warranty period - and just like that - they stopped being reliable!! I don't have any idea what changed but something sure did! I am now running Interstates and hoping for success. Have no clue yet as I just started with these this year.

 

[grsthegreat]

rScotty, I used Napa Legend 8 volts in my golf cart for years as they lasted well past the warranty period - and just like that - they stopped being reliable!! I don't have any idea what changed but something sure did! I am now running Interstates and hoping for success. Have no clue yet as I just started with these this year.

I just replaced an Interstate battery for a client. It only made it 2 years and a few months. It only had a 2 years warranty. No heat pad. Just saying

 

[ultrarunner]

We carried Interstate for decades and had a great jobber… even back in high school I was the battery guy.

Good batteries and good prices.

About 10 years ago we stopped… they just were not lasting as long but company said it was parasitic loads of modern vehickes…

Our jobber was not happy because company bought out his territory… he worked decades to build.

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

Walmart EverStart are manufactured by the same people as Interstate. Johnson Controls

 

[morgancl]

 

[DigDoug]

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 ???

If you are keeping the car, do yourself a favor and purchase an Interstate Battery, white base, green top model. It will last for many years and worth every penny.

And maybe it’s time you raise the prices on whatever service you provide, to keep up?

 

[DigDoug]

Walmart EverStart are manufactured by the same people as Interstate. Johnson Controls

Maybe the same cooperate umbrella but definitely not the same battery. The low end John Deere lawn mowers are made by MTD, also not the same. Sometimes you get what you pay for.

 

[Johnb0311]

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 ???

Bideneconomics