Originally Posted by hallstevenson
......... Shipping is another reason. If they are 'dry', a) they weigh less. Scale this up to pallets full of batteries and truckloads full of batteries for weight-savings. Also, once a battery is 'activated', would it be considered hazardous material whereas in its dry state, it's not ?
Why would they weigh less? Every dry charged battery I've ever seen in the last 40+ years was shipped in a carton containing the acid in a separate container alongside it. And that includes automotive, marine, ATV, motorcycle, and PWC batteries.
And acid is acid. It's considered hazardous material regardless of how or what it's shipped in or with. I would bet anything Wal-Mart receives their batteries like all the other chain auto parts stores do.... Filled and charged. They're cheaper for the same reason everything is cheaper at Wal-Mart.... Massive volume buying the other stores cannot match.