What's the deal with shorter battery warranties and higher costs?!

[Oillover]

While perusing the cost of a new battery for one of my vehicles, I noticed the warranty is only 3 years (or 36 months).
On my current battery, it's warranty is for 5 years.
I used to be able to replace the battery for about 120-130ish CAD.
Now battery prices are averaging 190-230 CAD with a shorter warranty?!
What gives?!

 

[daves87rs]

Easy- more profit.

New batteries seem to be junky as well…..

 

[zrxkawboy]

The 3 year warranty is probably free replacement, while the 5 year is pro-rated.

 

[slacktide_bitog]

151R is a power wheels toy battery

Can a 35 fit?

 

[Learn Ya]

Everything seems to be decreasing in quality and increasing in cost. It's the new normal, unfortunately.

 

[Donald]

I think it's the pro-rated vs replacement warranty.

 

[eljefino]

Cars aren't charging batteries very well anymore to save gas. Even if yours does, as an aggregate, there are enough out there doing a poor job no battery maker wants to stand behind their product.

The higher price is mostly greed. At least there are some startup battery makers in Korea (?) looking to take on the "big 3" of Clarios, Deka, and Exide.

 

[Dave9]

Similar happened in the US, the two lowest cost sellers of common size automotive batteries, Walmart and Costco, dropped the 5 year on their premium flooded lead acid batteries, down to 3 years and the price went up, but not that much depending on what span of time you're talking about, price rose roughly 25% since 2019 for those I've been buying.

 

[I<3oil]

Shrinkflation

 

[dubber09]

Ifaik, Costco Canada still sells Kirkland batteries with 4 years free replacement and 100mos prorated warranty.

 

[Donald]

Similar happened in the US, the two lowest cost sellers of common size automotive batteries, Walmart and Costco, dropped the 5 year on their premium flooded lead acid batteries, down to 3 years and the price went up, but not that much depending on what span of time you're talking about, price rose roughly 25% since 2019 for those I've been buying.

I thought involving the ECM in battery charging as many cars are doing would have the alternator doing a better job of charging?

 

[97prizm]

While perusing the cost of a new battery for one of my vehicles, I noticed the warranty is only 3 years (or 36 months).
On my current battery, it's warranty is for 5 years.
I used to be able to replace the battery for about 120-130ish CAD.
Now battery prices are averaging 190-230 CAD with a shorter warranty?!
What gives?!
View attachment 278784

Not sure about in Canada but in California a large battery manufacturing plant closed a few years ago with no new production coming online. Also haven't lead prices crept up over the years?

 

[Dave9]

I thought involving the ECM in battery charging as many cars are doing would have the alternator doing a better job of charging?

I'm not sure if my post was the one you meant to quote, but ironically it's sometimes the opposite, that their goal isn't optimal battery health.

In order to eek out, maybe 3% MPG fuel economy improvement, some newer vehicles have their alternator mostly charging when they decelerate, and a set threshold of charge down around 80-90% instead of topped off, which isn't ideal for lead acid starter batteries.

 

[f355spider]

Ifaik, Costco Canada still sells Kirkland batteries with 4 years free replacement and 100mos prorated warranty.

Costco Canada is four years free replacement on flooded and five years for AGM.
Walmart Canada is three years free replacement on flooded and four years for AGM.

 

[f355spider]

Not sure about in Canada but in California a large battery manufacturing plant closed a few years ago with no new production coming online. Also haven't lead prices crept up over the years?

I think US manufacturers struggle with meeting more stringent enviromental regulatory costs. Clarios has been importing for several years from Germany, and more recently from Korea, Mexico and China. Mostly AGM type.

It must be still workable in the USA, as East Penn still exists, and Clarios flooded batteries are still made in the USA.

 

[2strokeNorthstar]

Shrinkflation

I thought that's only when it's cold?

 

[D1dad]

I just bought a couple of deka golds, same weight as the platinums. The farm store I bought them at had a scale, so my belief is it’s the same battery, minus a shorter warranty. Cost was quite a bit different. I was in that store the other day and the golds I paid $135 for are now $169..everything is more, except my salary. I’m going to squeeze every last amp I can out of these things.

 

[daves87rs]

I think US manufacturers struggle with meeting more stringent enviromental regulatory costs. Clarios has been importing for several years from Germany, and more recently from Korea, Mexico and China. Mostly AGM type.

It must be still workable in the USA, as East Penn still exists, and Clarios flooded batteries are still made in the USA.

Not for long.

Clarios plans to build in places like India and any other low cost (not China) country.

And East Penn is about to get bought by private investors….