Walmart battery died after a little over 3 years, so manage to get the car started and take it back to the store where purchased. It was a "Maxx", so I have them replace with the same. Then when I get the bill I find that there are 2 choices: (1) Get about $30 credit on the old battery, which was in the "prorate" period, but then the new battery will only be covered by the remainder of the old battery's warranty, or (2) no credit from the old battery, the new battery gets its own new warranty starting today. Obviously I go with #2. I was told all battery warranties work this way, though somehow I'd never run into this before. My one previous experience with replacing a WM battery, which was about 6 years ago and a different state (CA), but same car and also WM "Maxx" battery, they did give me prorated credit on the old battery when I got a new one, and the new battery started a new warranty period.
Is this how battery warranties usually work?
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Yup. I've ran into the same thing, although only once or twice, because I've rarely had a battery fail in warranty.
The idea of the battery warranty is to restore you to the warranty period that you had initially been promised when you bought the original battery. It is not intended to perpetually extend the warranty period from one battery to another, giving you a fresh warranty at a reduced price. You are just fortunate that they were up front with you about it.
The idea of the battery warranty is to restore you to the warranty period that you had initially been promised when you bought the original battery. It is not intended to perpetually extend the warranty period from one battery to another, giving you a fresh warranty at a reduced price. You are just fortunate that they were up front with you about it.
Interesting, I thought they were only doing 3 year replacements, didn't realize they were still prorating them. That is how prorating works, though, I always thought of it as a bit of a ripoff, I never thought it should start until the free replacement period was over, because a sizable chunk of credit disappears the day after the free replacement period ends.
it's different policies based on vendor.
costco will treat all warranties as a return and new purchase so the clock always starts over.
I think sears will treat full replacement as an exchange so the clock keeps going. but prorated as credit towards a new (full price) purchase so the clock starts over on that scenario
your Walmart description is the least friendly as it keeps the clock on both full replacement and prorated scenarios.
costco will treat all warranties as a return and new purchase so the clock always starts over.
I think sears will treat full replacement as an exchange so the clock keeps going. but prorated as credit towards a new (full price) purchase so the clock starts over on that scenario
your Walmart description is the least friendly as it keeps the clock on both full replacement and prorated scenarios.
This is how WM works. Pro-tip, you can get a cheaper replacement battery. So if you have $30 in credit, get a $48 economy model for $18.
It's the same with "no interest for six months" deals; if you pay on day 181 you've accrued interest from the day of purchase.
It's the same with "no interest for six months" deals; if you pay on day 181 you've accrued interest from the day of purchase.
If new one fails tell them a story about lost receipt and they then go by mfg date code on battery. Hopefully you got a fresh one.
It is typically how it works with most batteries, but as stated, it varies with vendors and brands. Batteries generally have an expected, average lifespan of 4 yrs. Most of my cars over the years have lasted much longer, but I have found with newer cars, that is about what I get. Ironically enough, I just last week replaced my 2004 Dodge Ram Mopar battery. I noticed this spring it was struggling, but as it warmed up this summer, it was doing ok and I paid it no mind. Then my engine stalled in a drive through. I checked it with the multimeter and it was at 6.5. It stayed about the same after cranking the engine, so I knew it was finally toast. I was amazed that I got what I did out of it; about 12 years. It didn't owe me anything, that's for sure. I've had pretty good luck with 4-6 years out of the WM regular EverStarts ( not Maxx ), but I garage my cars and make sure I use a trickle charger if I know I won't be using the unit for a while if it is winter time. I did the same with the Mopar; obviously it pays off to maintain a battery if you can as trickle chargers are pretty cheap (have several for cars and mowers). I replaced it with a glass mat Exide. We'll see if I get 12 more; I bet not.
Originally Posted By: Donald
If new one fails tell them a story about lost receipt and they then go by mfg date code on battery. Hopefully you got a fresh one.
WM usually scans the bar code on each sale, so it probably won't work.
It might work somewhere else.
If new one fails tell them a story about lost receipt and they then go by mfg date code on battery. Hopefully you got a fresh one.
WM usually scans the bar code on each sale, so it probably won't work.
It might work somewhere else.
Just bought a new Dura Last battery at AZ yesterday. Counter gal said its 2-year free replacement warranty. Didn't say anything for it after a 2-year period. I think there was info on the receipt about warranty but haven't read into it yet.
My son bought an Ever Start battery at WalMart. It was going dead and he had no receipt. He called WalMart and gave them his info. They came up with the info as to when he bought it within the last two years and gave him a new one when he brought it in.
Learned something new, never knew this how battery proration worked for some batteries. Interesting. IMO, that makes to prorated period rather useless.
So option one means the new battery would only be prorated from the beginning of purchase, thus no full replacement period for new battery?
I'm skeptical that 'all' batteries with a pro rated period work this way. I'll certainly keep it in mind with next battery purchase though. That said, many batteries now only have a 2 or 3 year full replacement period.
So option one means the new battery would only be prorated from the beginning of purchase, thus no full replacement period for new battery?
I'm skeptical that 'all' batteries with a pro rated period work this way. I'll certainly keep it in mind with next battery purchase though. That said, many batteries now only have a 2 or 3 year full replacement period.
OP,
You got taken and lied to. When you PURCHASE a NEW battery, it comes with the advertised warranty regardless if it was discounted because of prorate credit. This is standard. You need to go back and see a manager. A shady employee pocketed your $30.
Errtt, regular duralast is 2 year replacement only. Duralast Gold is 3yr replacement + 2 yr prorate.
You got taken and lied to. When you PURCHASE a NEW battery, it comes with the advertised warranty regardless if it was discounted because of prorate credit. This is standard. You need to go back and see a manager. A shady employee pocketed your $30.
Errtt, regular duralast is 2 year replacement only. Duralast Gold is 3yr replacement + 2 yr prorate.
Originally Posted By: BHopkins
You are just fortunate that they were up front with you about it.
No, he was lied to and taken advantage of. Even if he received a $30 credit, he was still purchasing a new battery. A new battery comes with a new warranty. Period.
You are just fortunate that they were up front with you about it.
No, he was lied to and taken advantage of. Even if he received a $30 credit, he was still purchasing a new battery. A new battery comes with a new warranty. Period.
Originally Posted By: Kruse
Originally Posted By: Donald
If new one fails tell them a story about lost receipt and they then go by mfg date code on battery. Hopefully you got a fresh one.
WM usually scans the bar code on each sale, so it probably won't work.
It might work somewhere else.
Dude, really? The barcode/SKU is scanned to ring up the item, like a soda. It's not a serial number.
EDIT: whoops, WM does indeed have serial numbers in their batteries! Insane!
Originally Posted By: Donald
If new one fails tell them a story about lost receipt and they then go by mfg date code on battery. Hopefully you got a fresh one.
WM usually scans the bar code on each sale, so it probably won't work.
It might work somewhere else.
Dude, really? The barcode/SKU is scanned to ring up the item, like a soda. It's not a serial number.
EDIT: whoops, WM does indeed have serial numbers in their batteries! Insane!
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Originally Posted By: maximus
Originally Posted By: Sayjac
So option one means the new battery would only be prorated from the beginning of purchase, thus no full replacement period for new battery?
This was the lie conveyed to him by a [censored] employee.
I gotta say, it didn't/doesn't sound right to me either. Sounds like an unethical/uneducated salesperson, but these type protocols can change so fast, thought maybe I missed something.
Originally Posted By: Sayjac
So option one means the new battery would only be prorated from the beginning of purchase, thus no full replacement period for new battery?
This was the lie conveyed to him by a [censored] employee.
I gotta say, it didn't/doesn't sound right to me either. Sounds like an unethical/uneducated salesperson, but these type protocols can change so fast, thought maybe I missed something.
Call the consumer affairs office of your state attorney general. That is not how new battery warrants are written. Someone has figured our a way to con the gullible.
If he was buying a new battery, he would need to pay full price for it. Then he would have been fully entitled to a full warranty.
But he did not. He paid a pro-rated warranty replacement price - a fraction of the full battery price. At that price he was not buying a battery with a warranty, but a replacement for the failed battery, for which the warranty in it's original terms is still in effect.
But he did not. He paid a pro-rated warranty replacement price - a fraction of the full battery price. At that price he was not buying a battery with a warranty, but a replacement for the failed battery, for which the warranty in it's original terms is still in effect.
It makes sense to prorate the warranty on the replacement battery. It would be possible to perpetually get new batteries after the original purchase price. It is like people who live in a hard water area buying a coffee pot, and returning it for a new one after it plugs up. After the second plugs up, return it for a new one, etc, etc.
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Originally Posted By: BHopkins
Yup. I've ran into the same thing, although only once or twice, because I've rarely had a battery fail in warranty.
The idea of the battery warranty is to restore you to the warranty period that you had initially been promised when you bought the original battery. It is not intended to perpetually extend the warranty period from one battery to another, giving you a fresh warranty at a reduced price. You are just fortunate that they were up front with you about it.
Exactly.
Yup. I've ran into the same thing, although only once or twice, because I've rarely had a battery fail in warranty.
The idea of the battery warranty is to restore you to the warranty period that you had initially been promised when you bought the original battery. It is not intended to perpetually extend the warranty period from one battery to another, giving you a fresh warranty at a reduced price. You are just fortunate that they were up front with you about it.
Exactly.
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