BATTERY PRICES

[HerrStig]

Originally Posted By: eljefino
Think about how many comparable auto parts are the same price (not even adjusted for inflation) they were ten or twenty years ago... brake pads, ball joints. How'd they cheapen those? How can you even see?

Buy a battery, you're buying shipping and a bunch of lead.
All the way from China.

 

[Nate1979]

Interstate battery from Costco ~$75 everyday low price.

 

[zach1900]

Nobody dare mention the EPA!

 

[eljefino]

In Dec 2011 I managed to snag an advance auto "econo" side terminal battery for $36 with coupons.

AA has a marine battery (of all things!) that lists at $72 that you can put coupons on. Group 24, link

Waaay back in the day (early 2000s) you could go to walmart for a DT-3N semi-universal battery, made by JCI, 2 year free exchange, decent longer pro rate warranty, for $42. Then cars got to weird packaging and you couldn't just dump anything in.

The DT-3N was perfect for my cutlass ciera, though.

I don't even know if they make it anymore, they're all more specific group number sizes.

 

[HangFire]

On the topic of the EPA, consider the higher costs of shipping the old batteries all the way to the recycling plants in Mexico.

http://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/lead-battery-recycling-has-moved-to-mexico/

 

[Vikas]

And they last only 5 or more years! How am I able to afford to spend $15 every year on a battery? Do you expect me to give up Starbucks latte for one single day??

 

[HTSS_TR]

Originally Posted By: bmod305
According to our factory rep, recycling and environmental issues are the biggest reason for increased battery costs i.e lead & acid.

Dave

I believe so too.

 

[wrcsixeight]

Another contributing factor to battery price rise has to be replacement under warranty issue.

Since modern vehicles have higher parasitic loads, if the vehicle sits for 3 weeks undriven, the battery is essentially being deep cycled.

The easiest way to destroy a battery without a hammer or baking soda, is to discharge it and let it sit discharged and never fully recharge it

Starter batteries do not do well when deeply cycled, and given the public ignorance concerning how lead acid batteries need to be treated to get respectable lifespans, at least some percentage of battery price increases are due to warranty replacements, that are not the fault of the battery, but how it was treated.

 

[eljefino]

This could also be where brick & mortar parts stores "get ya", as Amazon & Rockauto aren't mail ordering batteries at a reasonable price, yet.

 

[firemachine69]

Originally Posted By: Vikas
And they last only 5 or more years! How am I able to afford to spend $15 every year on a battery? Do you expect me to give up Starbucks latte for one single day??



I just want to point out, that particular attitude is why every single public sector department seems to be an abysmal failure. "It's just a few extra dollars"... And I tell you this as a public sector employee...

 

[bbhero]

Well said. There are so many electric gadgets in them now that really explains a lot. In more and more cars a deep cycle battery may well be the better option in some ways. I found one at batteries and bulbs store near me that sold for $230. Five yr free replacement. Made for automobile applications. Really nice but really pricy.

 

[Vikas]

I spend more on the gas for a vehicle in two weeks than the battery every five years.

 

[grampi]

Originally Posted By: Vikas
I spend more on the gas for a vehicle in two weeks than the battery every five years.


I think the issue here is how much prices have increased...what we are seeing now with battery prices is a lot like what we've seen with oil and tire prices over the last few years...it wasn't that long ago when dino oil could be had for $1.99 a qt...now most places are getting $5 a qt for the store brands...tires did the same thing...less than 5 years ago I could buy brand new tires for my car for $40 each...now those same tires are $70 or $80...prices are going to go up because of inflation and whatever, but when prices double or triple over a short period of time, there's something else going on besides just inflation...I think most of it stems from the fact that these manufacturers KNOW they can squeeze more money out of Joe Consumer and they're just gouging for record profits...

 

[CourierDriver]

This says it all

 

[artificialist]

The reason other parts have dropped in price is mass production. If they had to be produced the same way they were 20-30 years ago, their prices would rise more directly in proportion to the decline of the US Dollar.

 

[Vikas]

Wait until your battery is MIC and shipped here; it will be then $19.99 every single day. Would you prefer that??

 

[Silverado12]

Originally Posted By: Phishin
I don't care what a battery costs. I only buy Deka batteries. If you are close to a Costco, these top-of-the-line flooded batteries are re-labeled as Duracell.



Our Costco in Richmond, VA has Interstate batteries. IIRC they were under 100 bucks.

 

[bmwjohn]

I have several co workers that live in the country and shop at Rural King. They like their products and the battery prices are low. I'm just too far away to make the trip economical. I am really curious about lithium prices and features.

 

[maximus]

Thank you, Mr. President.

Think real hard why lead has gone up so much.














Mass hysteria. People now hoarding ammunition.

 

[dlundblad]

I have sold a lot of batteries this past week to all the people prepping their mowers. Everyone is asking the same thing.

Many have blamed the price increase of lead for reasons stated above. I bet that plays a huge part in the issue.

*But as said above, in the grand scheme of things, a battery is a small expense assuming your charging system is working correctly.