My 5+ year old NAPA Legend in my 2006 Buick Lacrosse finally died this week. It was a US-made East Penn. I looked around at pricing for a new one and found that Costco by far had the best battery for the best price- 800 CCA, 1000 CA 3 year pro-rated for $109.99 at Costco. Comparatively, the same battery from Advance Auto (which is where I work), sells for $219.99, and I get a 20% employee discount, so around $176 would be my price. I know Interstate sources batteries from all over, but does anyone recognize this one? I did not see any country of origin on it, so I'd assume it is foreign made.
Bought a New Costco Interstate today...
- Thread starter JoeDirt41
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Interesting. I'm guessing it's a Clarios battery? Doesn't look like an Exide.
Is the warranty really 3 years pro-rated? Is this a recent change? That's terrible if so. Every Costco battery I've purchased was free replacement no questions asked. My current Walmart battery is 4 year free, nationwide, no questions asked, "must test defective".
From what I understand, it is a recent change. Costco was getting known for returning batteries without testing them and replacing them with a new one along with a new 36 month warranty.
Personally, I'm not sure this car is gonna last three more years, so I'm not too concerned about it.
It's been a little over a year. Was discussed here is you care to search for it.
The giveaway with certain Clarios battery groups are the octagonal caps.
I typically need H6s, and those I've seen at the warehouse are now Exide.
Good deal!
I love batteries with removal caps so I can keep an eye on the acid level and add distilled water when needed.
I also keep a battery maintainer connected to the battery and keep'er plugged in overnight. The battery will last "seemingly" forever with good maintenance.
The marine/deep cycle battery for my back-up sump pump lasted over ~12 years and the battery for the Firebird in my signature lasted 20 years with a maintainer connected and good maintenance.
I love batteries with removal caps so I can keep an eye on the acid level and add distilled water when needed.
I also keep a battery maintainer connected to the battery and keep'er plugged in overnight. The battery will last "seemingly" forever with good maintenance.
The marine/deep cycle battery for my back-up sump pump lasted over ~12 years and the battery for the Firebird in my signature lasted 20 years with a maintainer connected and good maintenance.
They will last “forever” if they don’t start leaking acid all over the place. I’ve replaced at least 4 Johnson Controls/Clarios batteries for this issue. The EP ones just don’t do it.
This is a recent change. I have replaced two batteries in the last few months on the old policy and this is an unfortunate change
July of 2023...I remember as I bought a new Costco Interstate for my GMC under the old policy June 26, 2023 and I recall the thread on this Forum about the change
Bill
Bill
Probably true. People would trade their battery in every 3 yrs to always have a good battery. They were doing this with computers to always have the latest computer. That's why Costco had to restrict returns to 90 days.
People abusing warranties is frustrating... it just makes prices higher and warranties worse for everyone. That said, kinda glad Costco is refining their warranty processes and terms on these batteries as I know MANY people abused it.
Owen Lucas
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It's on Costco. I came in 3 years ago to warranty the already warranty replaced battery, I didn't know the replacement battery had no warranty. They gave me a new one anyway, no prorating or anything.
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I just got a 24F on Sat. Looked at it and couldn’t tell much. I think the word replacement was gone.
It’s interesting how the 24F went from $79.99 in 2016 to $123.99 in 2024.
Meanwhile, a 94R used to be $149.99, and a H6/48 used to be $139.99, and both of these also are $123.99 today.
Ps almost grabbed a 24 by mistake. Not sure what’s different
It’s interesting how the 24F went from $79.99 in 2016 to $123.99 in 2024.
Meanwhile, a 94R used to be $149.99, and a H6/48 used to be $139.99, and both of these also are $123.99 today.
Ps almost grabbed a 24 by mistake. Not sure what’s different
24F aka 24R is simply opposite terminal placement of a 24.
I think it's a matter of how common the batteries are. 48s and 94Rs are much more popular than they used to be. Used to be mostly found in high end Euro cars now it seems like half of modern vehicles use those sizes.
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There was a guy on the Lexus forum who said that. Bought one battery and got a new one every 2. I said that makes no sense you buy it once and are set for life. He said dunno my store does it.
Now I went to do it to test this theory. I am told you moron. You don’t get a free battery for life, that makes no sense. The warranty follows the original purchase date, not the battery itself. I said take it easy, I’m not cheating. I’m testing what someone said online
Ps I thought moron would make the story sound better. Of course Costco has excellent customer service so they didn’t say that. They explained how it works.
Here is the previous BITOG Thread on the change to COSTCO's battery warranty.
The difference between the 24F and 24 battery group sizes is the positive and negative terminal positions are reversed.
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I assume 24F is correct (I simply bought in 2016 what was already installed to replace it. My battery is near the right passenger firewall, and flipped around, the terminals line up. If not flipped around, regardless of the terminals, the cables wouldn’t reach…
Stupid me I reinstalled and then forgot the plastic sleeve. Had to remove it again.
Ps I like having handles like in wife’s H6 and the 94 R
Yes, but they did not get a new 3-year warranty. They could only do it during the original period.
People just gotta get over and the honest people pay the price for their behavior.
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