Dealing With Wally World

[BrianX128]

So, yeah I bought two of whatever the best version of walmarts crap batteries are about two months or so ago when I was having starting issues that it turns out had absolutely nothing to do with my batteries. Figures, but I then got two giant good 1 year old batteries to put in my 150 and 250 and took the 4/5 year old batteries in for the core charge, so it worked out.

Now, it turns out one of them is crap after testing both batteries separately one just sucks. Took it to advanced to have them test it instead of just me with a volt meter, but they told me that the one is also for sure bad and the other as it stands is at best ok.

Both batteries had a three year replacement and then the pro-rated after that for 5 years. I'm curious how they handle this as I've never had an issue with it in the past because I'd like to just get two new ones at this point as they are only two months old. I'm curious if they have someone test them to see if they are suitable for replacement or how they decide these things or if they just take your word for it and you bring them in and you are done. In hindsight I should not have gotten these batteries, but I doubt I can just flat out return them at this point anyways so might as well at least try and get one year out of them.

Also this walmart does not have a service center, and there are four older women who work the customer service desk. Joy.

 

[93blklightning]

It's hard to tell how's your luck will be. As for me, I know that I'll be hard pressed to ever by an automotive battery from Walmart again.

I bought two for my truck, from my local Walmart service center a few years ago. One lasted for almost a year. More like spring, summer, and when it turned cold that was all she wrote. It had the same 3 year replacement, 5 year prorate.
They refused to replace it. They only wanted to prorate it. They said their policy had changed and the sticker was wrong, even through the battery tested to be crap.

So that'll be the last battery I purchase from those cons.

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

 

[crash-harris]

I won't buy NeverStart batteries. They call them that for a reason. For factory group sized batteries I'd only get Duralast or DieHard batteries. I do have a SuperStart or whatever the O'Reilly's brand is for Bruiser (largest one they had, 1080CA IIRC). They are flooded/sealed batteries, but even the new one seems to loose charge over a month or so even sitting in the garage (not connected to anything).

 

[A48WillyzGuy]

I used to run Everstart batteries in my old trucks. I took full advantage of their 2 year replacement warranty many times. They always swapped them out, no questions asked. That may not be the case at every location though. Most of the people that work at my local Wally Zoo's probably wouldn't even know what a car battery looked like without assistance. Lol

 

[homelessduck]

I've been running Walmart batteries for years with zero issues. The ones currently in my truck are almost 5 years old. Never had an issue with them. No lazy starts. The truck has been sitting since August and it just fired right up. I've never even popped the caps to see if it needed maintenance. I bought 2 batteries for a project vehicle.. 3 years later the project wasn't done and the batteries' warranty was about to expire..like the next day.. I took the batteries in and got my cash back for them WITHOUT A RECEIPT. I buy the marine ones. This is just my first hand experience with them , your results may vary.

 

[Waystro]

I'm running ever starts(Walmart) 2 reasons
1 easy to return
2 there's a Walmart everywhere and in most cases open later than the parts house.
I had a set of super starts that lasted about 2 months that was a fight to return them.

 

[pafixitman]

Hit and miss with the batteries and service.

I had zero issues in my Explorer.

My truck ... one actually started leaking. Took them both in to swap. Gal at customer service starts giving me a hard time about needing management etc. I proceed to pick up the battery that was leaking (more like sweating but hey...) and carry over to the counter as I inform her in a louder than normal voice I'll bring it closer so she can see it is in fact leaking battery acid. 5 minutes later I was out the door with two new ones!

Truck still had them when I sold it.

 

[needlenose]

Just took a battery back to Walmart that I ended up not needing. They told me they will only accept returns with a receipt. The warranty runs from the purchase date on the receipt. The little date sticker is just the manufactur date; it means nothing.

They took it back no problems.

 

[chris142]

There are only a few companies that make batteries. With the exception of Exide they are all Decent. They make them by the zillions and whoever buys them gets their sticker. I only run gel or AGM batteries. Under normal conditions I never have to clean a cable vs stupid flooded batteries that gas and make the cables corode

 

[homelessduck]

Just took a battery back to Walmart that I ended up not needing. They told me they will only accept returns with a receipt. The warranty runs from the purchase date on the receipt. The little date sticker is just the manufactur date; it means nothing.

They took it back no problems.

This can be argued, which I did. From the sticker date on the battery to the day I was returning them it hadn't been 3 years yet, which is what the warranty period was. They had no argument and handed me my money . It really comes down to who you get at the counter.

 

[ironworker40]

I have run wally wold batteries with zero issues since 1998. I know someone who works at a battery manufacturing plant in pa. I can't recall the name. There are only a couple of manufacturers in the USA who make all the batteries and put whoever's name on them. But that does not make them all the same. I will say that this person told me last spring that their company lost the wall mart bid to a Chinese company. So I expect the quality to go drastically down on their batteries. I always look thru all the batteries on the rack and find the latest manufacturing date when I buy one.

 

[OLDBULL8]

All you ever need to know about batteries.

https://www.batterystuff.com/admin/...articles/battery-articles&path=battery-basics

 

[Runningaford]

I quit using their batteries in my area, due to them at least in that area, only prorating.

 

[dunk]

I don't consider warranty when buying anymore. Very few companies actually stand behind their products anymore. Advance will gladly screw you on their warranties, so will Tenneco (Rancho/Monroe) among others. Remflex gaskets get an A+ from me in both quality and warranty/customer service. O'neill has done me right as well on board shorts. Summit has been good to me as well where I feel manufacturers would have screwed me.

Anyhow, for batteries I shop by weight. Group 31 is my choice. I found the heaviest battery in that size available locally (NAPA) and shopped for the best deal. They price matched tractor supply within a dollar or two when I mentioned they were $20 less per battery and was considering them.

 

[whiteboyslo]

Take it back to a Wal-Mart without a service center and/or take it to the return counter. I would almost guarantee they'll not bat an eye. I knew a guy who ran one of their batteries in his vette for a month, returned it for no reason other than he found out the old battery was good and just needed a jump, and they didn't question a thing.

I've run their batteries in my bikes for years. No complaints, but my bikes also live on trickle chargers due to their infrequent use.

Mike