prices of batteries
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The issue being is that guy may or may not be credible. But some reason only known to the universe-Youtubers have credibility whether they know whether they know what they are doing or not. And then there is methodology involved.
Don't worry-it's not personal.....If you feel I don't contribute you can avoid me. You may want to check out the "block" feature on this forum-I hear it works real well.
And yea-I don't drink the Kool aid.
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How could they do that? Don't all stores either punch out the month/year stickers or engrave it on top of the battery?
f355spider
$50 Site Donor 2025
Quality on Optima red top batteries has been poor for several years now. I had three in a row that started leaking after a year of use. I gave up on them. Their yellow top (plate type agm) still get good reviews.
f355spider
$50 Site Donor 2025
Battery testing is becoming difficult to validate with any retailer reselling Clarios supplied batteries. Clarios has factories all over the world and so the testing become irrelevant when they don't list the country of origin. I see Clarios batteries with Korea, Germany, Mexico, China, etc...Which one did they test? Also, based on testing from Consumer Reports, one brand and type in one particular size, does not correlate to the same brand and type in another size. For example X2 Power AGM where the highest rated in some sizes, while in one size it was a complete turd at the bottom of ratings.
Something like that is exactly my point. Methodology. But I don't contribute anything -according to the person who posted the video.
I'll add to that. I bought 3 batteries within a few months 18 months ago - for my 3 different vehicles. Just sort of worked out that way.
I went to WM early in the morning - with my little tester - and tested a few samples of the one I was buying. There was quite a range in state of health between the batteries, so I took the best one. All were 100% charged so at least WM is keeping them topped up.
I learned my lesson a few years ago where I brought home a new walmart battery and tested it when I got here, and the state of health was 80% or so. Lessons learned, tester now goes to the store on purchase day.
So, of the batteries he tested, where did they start out?
Exactly. Way too many variables to definitively say which is "best", especially in light of the battery health testing ala @SC Maintenance.
There are no good batteries anymore. My Dad's 72' Ford 4 door plain Jane came with a battery with a " glass eye" in one of the cells so you could monitor electrolyte. 11 pull off caps / 1 pull off glass eye cap. He would add tap water to it, because there was no distilled water. That battery lasted 12 years. Now, they make FLA batteries that you can't even add electrolyte to them, shortening their lives even more. Bean counters took over EVERYTHING ! Oh, pop tops ? Get rid of them. People can add distilled water and extend their life. Let's put less lead plates in them too while we're at it. They'll sulfate faster. And lets raise the price !!!!! Batteries are re-cycled for the lead. Their makin money hand over fist off us po folk. Walmart has the best batteries now ONLY because of their refund policy. If it fails within the warranty, you get a new one. No questions asked. No pro-rate, no charging.....For now.....
At least Ptoject Farm does not take any donations or allow any manufacturer to influence his videos. I can't think that about some other so called consumer reports out there. Especially some of the new vehicle reviewers.
His voice, constant volume, and the way he speaks, apparently iritate some. One of my friends wife won't let him watch Project Farm if she is around to overhear it.
Bean counters and company liability lawyers. Can't have anyone have access to acid. That opens Pandoras box, or as the legal type like to say, is a slippery slope.
Very good point. I didn't include this information.
The price difference for my situation was for the same tier of battery, AGM. Diehard AGM ($260) vs Everstart AGM ($180), $80 difference.
Sometimes you just need a battery, $110 for the basic Everstart. Advance doesn't have an option in this tier.
And if you can spend a few dollars more Everstart Maxx ($160) vs Diehard Gold ($230), $70 difference.
***This is for a Ram size battery, H7.
The Walmart Maxx gives you the most CCA'S. I buy those to save my starter and alternator in cold NY winters.. I think it's called " Starter Death" and " Alternator Death" when running a low battery. Batteries lose power in the cold as it is, and extreme heat is not good for them either. I also leave them on a tender overnight from those parasitic draws from computers.
f355spider
$50 Site Donor 2025
Another problem with Project Farm is his sample size is too small (one of each brand). CR buys many batteries and sourced from retailers all over the USA. The also test both flooded and AGM and in multiple sizes. This helps, but they still have the issue of not listing the country of origin. For example if they buy from WalMart...east coast are East Penn made...the rest of the country for WalMart are Clarios coming from one of several factories around the world.
They require AGM batteries. But they do last longer than flooded.
Usually stop start batteries are AGM and those cost more than flooded lead acid.
So Yes.
So I decided to go looking for historic battery prices. Found this old Sears commercial. Seems a diehard in 1993 was 49.99 after core. Adjusted for CPI that would be $114.00 today. So you can buy a battery from Walmart for that, but my guess is its not as good.
I think were paying quite a bit more than CPI says. I think that for many things.
I think were paying quite a bit more than CPI says. I think that for many things.
Walmart is a hair more expensive than Costco but with afar better warranty.
Mass market replacement batteries are commodities. What you're buying, and paying the difference for, is the brand/marketing/warranty/support.
It can be an East Penn, Exide (or whatever they call themselves now), or Clarios (which has its own international supply chains), they're all built to a generic size, spec (good/better/best), have the appropriate labels affixed, and put on the rack at the appropriate price. If they want to get fancy, they may task the manufacturer to fill the case molding machine with pellets in their specific colors, but basic black works fine for something few lay eyes on most of the time.
Whomever/whatever can fulfill the terms of the tender for a specific time/place/cost gets the purchase order, and fulfills it according to what is expedient, or logistically prudent according to the intended supply chain.
Might as well try to rate the oranges from different food markets. Some might prefer a Floridian orange to a Brazilian orange, or an orange from another growing region and say they can taste the difference, but the most important trait to the grocer is that it's an orange, regardless of who farmed it.
It can be an East Penn, Exide (or whatever they call themselves now), or Clarios (which has its own international supply chains), they're all built to a generic size, spec (good/better/best), have the appropriate labels affixed, and put on the rack at the appropriate price. If they want to get fancy, they may task the manufacturer to fill the case molding machine with pellets in their specific colors, but basic black works fine for something few lay eyes on most of the time.
Whomever/whatever can fulfill the terms of the tender for a specific time/place/cost gets the purchase order, and fulfills it according to what is expedient, or logistically prudent according to the intended supply chain.
Might as well try to rate the oranges from different food markets. Some might prefer a Floridian orange to a Brazilian orange, or an orange from another growing region and say they can taste the difference, but the most important trait to the grocer is that it's an orange, regardless of who farmed it.
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