My 95 Accord battery died. I went to Costco and their replacement charge is $100 - $9 (after bring back core) = $91

Does this seem a bit expensive? I haven't bought a battery in over 8 years, so I'm out of the loop.

Where do you guys go?

 

I go to work and get one. Why? Because the department I supervise assembles them. Tonight we just assembled 19,353 of them. Battery prices have sky rocketed in the past few years...why? 1) lead has become more expensive. 2) acid has become more expensive. 3) fuel has become more expensive (which is used to transport lead and acid). etc, etc, etc...
I might be able to get a HUGE discount on batteries, but it depends who you voted for...know what I'm sayin?

 

I remember buying a battery 8 years ago for ~$50 for an Integra. Damn near doubled in price! Fawk.

 

I remember when I could buy lawnmower batteries for like $9...now they're like $32.

 

Huh, never realized that was so expensive. I just replaced my mom's in her Lexus for $99. I have a $60 motorcycle battery in the Miata. I don't wanna know what the Lancer will cost, I hate stupid stuff like that.

 

When I was kid working in a gas station premium was 25 cents a gallon, just like milk. But then, I am almost 71

 

I'm using a lawnmower battery in the Miata, just like I did in my RX7. I think it is the U1-3 group size ~$30.

 

Went to OReillys and picked up a wet cell type battery for $90 (part number MIATAJ), hooked up the vent tubes and forgot about it.

 

This but I use the "Duralast Gold" brand.

 

The local battery recyclers are paying $.40 a lb for scrap batteries so if an average car sized scrap battery is worth $20-25 you have your answer.

Now I pay the core charge when I buy a new one as it's cheaper than I can scrap them for.

It's been the new copper around here. Thieves are stealing batteries from tractors and heavy equipment. The problem is they are stealing $500 batteries, cutting the cables which add another $100 in cost plus a lot of labor to run new cables into the bowels of the beast.

 

I picked up the same one you have for my miata back in the spring after you showed me it. The only issue I have had so far is if I let it sit to long in the cold it needs a jump. To me it is not a huge deal since I can just throw my trickle charger on it before I want to start the car.

 

I've had them in the past. They were neither durable, not did they last. I will never buy another one.


Your battery is 50 pounds?


Core charges generally are what the seller gets for them - i.e. they aren't making money on that part of the deal. Interstate, where I get my batteries (company discount) gives 5-10 bucks, depending on the size.

 

My Duralast batteries last at least 5 years on average.

 

Seems like there's been a lot of kerfuffel over batteries of late.

I'm still running whatever Duralast (non-Gold) battery came in my '90 when I bought it. I'm guessing it's 4-5 years old, and it's not even the correct Miata fitment (51R-DL, no vent tubes) but it's still working like a champ.



I'm done with giving a **** about fancy batteries. I've been through Westco and Optima, and both of them quit after 3-4 years in my '92. This Duralast has outlasted both of them.

 

Generally, yes, for my trucks, boat, tractors they are 50-ish, trolling motor batteries are 65 lbs each. Mitata, not so much. I've got about 400 lbs' worth under the workbench now. Need to take them in. It happens when you have a dozen vehicles, tractors, trucks, etc.

 

I'm going to try the old epsom salt trick. I've read good things about it...internet is truth!