This is why lead acid batteries have gone up so high in recent years. Many scrap yards will not sell lead to consumers. Only licensed smelters. Back in the 70's I could get scrap lead cheap most anywhere for casting bullets. Not anymore.
Walmart Batteries Are Getting Expensive
- Thread starter macarose
- Start date
I will start my reply is that Costco is a cult. Yes I go to Costco - my family makes me. They do have some things I like. If I can buy it at Walmart I do instead.
Obviously its where your at, but there are 600 Costco's in the USA and 3500 full service Walmart's (not counting the neighborhood markets). There are Walmarts almost everywhere now - unlike Costco which is major centers only.
The customers at both are jerks. The staff at both are fine if your nice -there both likely used to being treated like jerks so you can't really blame them. Walmart opens at 6AM so I can avoid everyone.
Costco doesn't have a cheap battery. The higher end costco batteries are the same price and same battery Walmart sells (Clarios) with a worse pro-rated warranty, a fact covered here countless times.
Walmart is still cheaper than the auto parts stores, Farm stores, and dealerships in my area by a fair margin.
I've had good luck with the batteries at O'Reilly Auto Parts. Our 2018 CRV's factory battery died last fall (5.7 years) and I bought a replacement for $243.
My 2003 Civic battery was bought in 2017 for $141 and it's still going strong over 8 years later. I realize it could die at any moment, but it still reads 11.5v after sitting overnight and over 12v after a 15 mile drive. I'm going to stay with it til it dies, however long that takes.
My 2003 Civic battery was bought in 2017 for $141 and it's still going strong over 8 years later. I realize it could die at any moment, but it still reads 11.5v after sitting overnight and over 12v after a 15 mile drive. I'm going to stay with it til it dies, however long that takes.
Sounds like it won't be long.
4wd
$50 site donor 2026
Been there … creepy as they get walking closer and closer and …The average price of a new car is $45,000. The price of a new value battery is $80. Pay $200 and you’ll get a three year free replacement and won’t be stranded in some dark parking lot where you meet new friends.
Finally saw the security badge and he jump started my truck …
$50 tip and we left BFF …
Just bought a WM Platinum AGM Group 35 battery for my Generac. 4 year warranty. $180. East Penn made.
The batteries are all the same, from either East Penn or Clarios.
$125 for an AGM battery ?
A few weeks ago I purchased a 230 CCA U1 tractor battery for about $29 at my local walmart. That same battery is about $35 or 20% more today. Tarrifs maybe?
Ironically there is a major battery factory less that thirty miles from my home but I don't think that they supply Walmart.
Ironically there is a major battery factory less that thirty miles from my home but I don't think that they supply Walmart.
That's the East Penn plant. They supply WM on the east coast in some battery sizes, not all and only the more expensive AGM ones. Walmart batteries with EP in the beginning of the serial number are made there. They make Yuasa powersport batteries there also along with Harley batteries. The WM U1's don't even have a serial # on them, I looked the other day when I bought a Platinum AGM one there.
Agree, but Walmart moves them faster than the parts stores around here. So they're fresh, and not as discharged from sitting.
3 years ago.
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Someone told me there's a vintage car hidden in this picture but I can't find it, yet I keep looking and looking.
Around here Walmart is still the best place to buy batteries. No one else is even playing the same ball game price wise. Needed an H7 for my Ram and Walmart was $110 with 2yr warranty vs $179 at the next cheapest place. I have noticed that Autozone is starting to have some reasonably priced batteries but only a 90 day warranty. I've had many of the cheapest Walmart batteries over the years and all have lasted 3-7yrs just like you'd expect (had one exception that died at 13 mo). Everyone that thinks the batteries at Walmart are inferior to what they're selling for 2-3x more at the parts store are kidding themselves.
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Im surprised that more cars haven't gone with a two battery setup due to all of the electronics.
4wd
$50 site donor 2026
Two years ago: lawn tractor was $80 and Jeep $200 …
One is up and one is down in price today …
Lowe's sells a U1 230 CCA made by East Penn for $60. Walmart sells a similar battery for $35 which is more than 40% less. I suspect that the Walmart battery comes out of Asia and a tarrif has kicked in.
East Penn supposedly has a factory store in Lyons but they don't post available models or prices online as best as I can tell.
I think $35 is really cheap for that battery. You sure the $29 price wasn't from it being on sale ?
Look where it's made. Then again, China is the largest supplier of plastic pellets which make the case but the lead is likely recycled in the US so no tariffs on that content would be applicable. The lead is probably the "main" component too (value / volume).
