Battery: Confriming It's Bad (Or Good) Request
Senior Member
Joined: 03-29-2022
Posts: 1,241
From: Davison MI
The guys at the auto stores may not know how to run the test correctly. All their test equipment has a print function that writes a report of the test.
Make sure you watch them and ask for the test results from the machine.
Don't get mad at them they are not trained very well.
Make sure you watch them and ask for the test results from the machine.
Don't get mad at them they are not trained very well.
Platinum Member
Joined: 01-09-2007
Posts: 16,081
From: SE USA
Local advance auto's machine has no print function. & their "Load test" really hits the battery hard, which can kill a weakened battery.. Plus they don't want to show results, just verbally tell you. .
They know enough to re-label a 3 year old battery with NEW label. That was last straw for me with them..
They know enough to re-label a 3 year old battery with NEW label. That was last straw for me with them..
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: 04-20-2010
Posts: 33
From: Detroit
I guess the integrity of each auto parts store varies by location & person. I'm sure that there is pressure on them (or rewards) from management to "make numbers".
Once a counter person told me that if the battery is out of warranty or not a brand they sell, they automatically report that the results failed the battery. This causes a sale. If the battery is in warranty, they go by what the test said. But that is one person on one store. Others might be honest. (Probably are for the most part. I hope)
And, I find that the chains are very expensive when compared to Mom-And-Pop stores & Costco if they have the item. My new HHR battery was $126.00 less at Costco than at the lowest battery at a chain auto parts store in my area. That's more than half of the price. And, it has 3 year non-prorated warranty. (O'Reilly, Advance & Auto Zone are the local chains.) A Mom-And-Pop was also about $70.00 cheaper than the chains.
Walmart is the one that really failed to deal honestly on a battery. It was 92 days old and well in the warranty period. It failed their battery test. But, they refused to honor the warranty because they did not sell that brand anymore. Then, they would not let me take my old battery with me. (There goes the core deposit unless I buy new from them.)
I fought that one all the way to whatever kid was General Store Manager that day. I lost, so I went in the back and "stole" my battery back. Police got involved when I "shoplifted" my own battery.
Then I fought by letter with Walmart corporation & Walmart legal. I gave up after legal sent me a registered letter saying that I will have to file tort action for warranty. They have lawyers on payroll, so it would cost nothing for them to fight me and cost me more than the battery cost to fight them. I gave up.
(The only reason I had a Walmart battery is because the truck's previous battery failed on a winter Sunday evening where Walmart was the only place in walking distance of where I was that was open.)
No more Walmart shopping for my family. Ever. For anything. Any of their brand stores (Sam's Club, etc.)
On the other side, Costco has been very good about battery warranties. Their Interstate batteries' warranties are 3 years not pro-rated.
When you take the battery in, they give you cash at the current price of a new one. No receipt is needed. You can buy a new battery there or elsewhere.
Once the battery I brought in was just over 4 months past warranty. (I brought the old in for core deposit when I bought new.) I told the counter person that I think I wrecked it because it sat unused in winter for over 2 months. It froze had a bulge. (It was still frozen at the store on this (-) 10-F day)
The counter person saw the bulge and that it was 4 months + out of warranty and warrantied it for full cost anyway. In cash.
Paul
Once a counter person told me that if the battery is out of warranty or not a brand they sell, they automatically report that the results failed the battery. This causes a sale. If the battery is in warranty, they go by what the test said. But that is one person on one store. Others might be honest. (Probably are for the most part. I hope)
And, I find that the chains are very expensive when compared to Mom-And-Pop stores & Costco if they have the item. My new HHR battery was $126.00 less at Costco than at the lowest battery at a chain auto parts store in my area. That's more than half of the price. And, it has 3 year non-prorated warranty. (O'Reilly, Advance & Auto Zone are the local chains.) A Mom-And-Pop was also about $70.00 cheaper than the chains.
Walmart is the one that really failed to deal honestly on a battery. It was 92 days old and well in the warranty period. It failed their battery test. But, they refused to honor the warranty because they did not sell that brand anymore. Then, they would not let me take my old battery with me. (There goes the core deposit unless I buy new from them.)
I fought that one all the way to whatever kid was General Store Manager that day. I lost, so I went in the back and "stole" my battery back. Police got involved when I "shoplifted" my own battery.
Then I fought by letter with Walmart corporation & Walmart legal. I gave up after legal sent me a registered letter saying that I will have to file tort action for warranty. They have lawyers on payroll, so it would cost nothing for them to fight me and cost me more than the battery cost to fight them. I gave up.
(The only reason I had a Walmart battery is because the truck's previous battery failed on a winter Sunday evening where Walmart was the only place in walking distance of where I was that was open.)
No more Walmart shopping for my family. Ever. For anything. Any of their brand stores (Sam's Club, etc.)
On the other side, Costco has been very good about battery warranties. Their Interstate batteries' warranties are 3 years not pro-rated.
When you take the battery in, they give you cash at the current price of a new one. No receipt is needed. You can buy a new battery there or elsewhere.
Once the battery I brought in was just over 4 months past warranty. (I brought the old in for core deposit when I bought new.) I told the counter person that I think I wrecked it because it sat unused in winter for over 2 months. It froze had a bulge. (It was still frozen at the store on this (-) 10-F day)
The counter person saw the bulge and that it was 4 months + out of warranty and warrantied it for full cost anyway. In cash.
Paul
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