WTH has happened to the price of car batteries?

[BritKLR]

Did I miss something or maybe a decade?

When did a standard car battery start at $140 and go up to $250!?!

I mean, I clearly remember having a choice from $49 for a low end battery to $79 for the premium battery! Now, the basic battery is $140!

I’m still running some batteries from 2011 and before I moved here. The last battery I replaced was a big AGM for my camper and it was $99 from NAPA. But, today I was going to put a new battery in the TR6 and the cheapest at Costco was $149.

The battery in it now is easily 20 years old so it’s losing it’s umph but damn I didn’t realize I’ll need to spend over $300 for a couple of basic batteries for a couple of cars.

Wow…just stunned.

 

[Brucker]

I feel your pain. Been that way for a couple years. Hurts when your 3 diesel trucks take 2 each and the ambulance takes 4, and they only last about 2 years...

 

[Capriblue45]

And don't expect to get more than 3 or 4 years out of it.

 

[what now I broke it]

I just use the batteries from the Toyota stealership. I forget the brand name, but they work well and are reasonably priced. At least they were 1.5 year's ago.

 

[RayRay27]

I had to put a new one in my two year old electric car that's the same size as one in remote control car and it was over two bills after core charge return.

 

[Crash]

Of course, it’s not just batteries. We have a pair of matching window coverings in the bedroom and I had one restrung in February of this year and it cost $76. Not out of line with the price from three years ago for the same work. Had the other one restrung, same work, this week and it cost $94. Bought a pair of reading glasses at Costco last year, liked them so much I bought another pair this year. Same glasses but the price was 20% higher. It’s where we are out right now.

 

[Hulk]

We have a pair of matching window coverings in the bedroom and I had one restrung in February of this year and it cost $76. Not out of line with the price from three years ago for the same work. Had the other one restrung, same work, this week and it cost $94.

@Crash, where do you get blinds restrung? We have a very large, very nice set of wood blinds in our family room that need repair.

 

[what now I broke it]

Kind of a side question, but are Optima red top or yellow top batteries still worth it or is there a sealed battery that's around the same price and a better battery? I noticed a good amount of liquid coming out the lid things on top of my battery.

 

[Crash]

@Crash, where do you get blinds restrung? We have a very large, very nice set of wood blinds in our family room that need repair.

Blindsmithcolorado.com. Been using them for ten years or more. Always good service. Jeep folks but hey, we don’t talk about it.
If you should travel all the way up here let me know and we can meet for some cold ones at Jake’s Roadhouse right around the corner from Blindsmith. Cool, throwback kinda spot.

 

[BritKLR]

And don't expect to get more than 3 or 4 years out of it.

This!

 

[Crash]

This!

Last three Duracell - Deka - Group 31 and 27 have lasted me about twice that. They have been in city and wheeling conditions and they have been replaced somewhat preemptively. AGM and wet cell.

 

[BritKLR]

I loved Deka batteries! Back in KC I used Deka for years. My neighbor worked in their distribution center down in the bottoms that also had a city counter so you could walk in and buy one. The last one I replaced was in the 60 and it was close to 18 years old and still working, but weak.

 

[BritKLR]

@Crash, where do you get blinds restrung? We have a very large, very nice set of wood blinds in our family room that need repair.

Is it the pull cord(s) or supporting string structure?

The pull cords you can replace and is an easy, time consuming job. Amazon has the kits.
The supporting string structure is a little more fiddly but, also can be done.

Just had to redo one of large front window ones this year and it took about an hour.

 

[mcgaskins]

Costco carries Interstate batteries with a good warranty. I put a new battery in the 80 last weekend and flooded lead acid was ~$120 and AGM was ~$170.

 

[Hulk]

I’ve replaced the pull cord before. This one needs to be completely repaired.

 

[BritKLR]

Costco carries Interstate batteries with a good warranty. I put a new battery in the 80 last weekend and flooded lead acid was ~$120 and AGM was ~$170.

Thanks!

The current FJ55 battery is a Costco Interstate and it hasn't lasted much over 3 years and the warranty is 36 months so, I wasn't too happy about that one either.

 

[mcgaskins]

Thanks!

The current FJ55 battery is a Costco Interstate and it hasn't lasted much over 3 years and the warranty is 36 months so, I wasn't too happy about that one either.

I tend to get 4 years out of the Costco batteries so their warranty planning is quite accurate I went with the AGM variety this time, so hoping I have better luck.

 

[Hulk]

I've been buying batteries from Napa lately. If they crap out during the warranty period, replacement is a simple swap. I have done this a couple of times. It's weird that batteries don't last the way they used to do.

 

[RDub]

Not the same animal but I get 7 years or so out of the Costco 6V Golf Cart batteries in our motorhome. They stay topped up via solar charging when not in use, combined with a desulfation cycle once in a while. Replaced the first pair after 7 years not due to major degradation, but my concern that one could fail at any time since they were so old. Interstate makes them.

 

[SteveH]

Keep all your rarely-driven trucks on a cheap trickle charger (Harbor Freight). I often get 7-10 years out of plow truck and farm tractor batteries that are 100% on a trickle charger when the implement isn't being driven. I buy a lot of blem and Walmart batteries, so they lifespan certainly isn't a function of spending a lot up front!