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Date:         Sun, 28 Jan 2007 21:02:35 -0500
Reply-To:     Dennis Haynes <dhaynes@OPTONLINE.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Dennis Haynes <dhaynes@OPTONLINE.NET>
Subject:      Re: Interstate Battery Update
Comments: To: John Bange <jbange@GMAIL.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <6da579340701281711h75434359v827194d5e31fc9a@mail.gmail.com>
Content-type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

When it comes to battery warranties, Look for the free replacement period. If a battery is truly defective, it will usually fail in a few weeks or maybe months. After that it is usually miss-use or abuse that causes failure. Note that the pro-rated warranties are either credit towards the current selling price or a portion of the suggested retail or list price. It is possible for a warranty adjustment to cost more than the current sale price of a new battery.

Johnson controls makes the "Ever-Start" batteries for Wal-Mart. 2 year free replacement and often on sale for ~ $43-$49. Now here is the good part. If the battery fails during the free replacement period, they actually give you a refund. When you get the new one, the two year period starts again. Battery dead cause you left the lights on! Bring it back. No questions asked. Their meters will day its dead. Get the new one.

Now for quality, Interstate, AC-Delco, Douglas,(OEM) and maybe Exide are probably the best. If we weren't limited by the battery box, we could go for Trojan or Rolls Surrette if we wanted to spend money.

Dennis

-----Original Message----- From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of John Bange Sent: Sunday, January 28, 2007 8:11 PM To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM Subject: Re: Interstate Battery Update

> Many years ago (20?) Consumer Reports decided to check into car > batteries. They entered the study with the preconceived expectation > that all car batteries would be the same, and were planning on coming > up with evidence to support their idea that you should just buy the > cheapest battery, without regard to brand. > > One thing worth noting is that in retail situations, "brand" sometimes means little more than "sticker". When you go to the FLAPS and the plastic case of the Bosch battery looks just like the Energizer, which looks just like the "ProStart" no-name generic, only with a different sticker, that's because they are. The parts guy at my FLAPS informed me they all came from Johnson Controls and only differed in warranty. So in reality, at that FLAPS they only carry two batteries: Optima, and Johnson Controls. I opted for the Bosch because I figure I'll kill the battery somehow long before the warranty is up and get more than the $15 higher price from the prorated value remaining.

-- John Bange '90 Vanagon - "Geldsauger"


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