Its official now. I have worked at Optima Batteries for 11 years. In 2000, Johnson controls bought Optima and immediatly began construction of a plant in mexico. We were told that our U.S. plant could not produce enough product so the plant in mexico would be to supply Europe. Slowly but surely, our product lines began being transferred to mexico. Then the week before Thanksgiving, we were told that the U.S. plant will be closed Jan.24 2009. Just thought you all would like to know.

http://cbs4denver.com/local/Optima.B....2.874937.html

 

Ron,

So sorry to hear your news and especially at this time of year.

Hang in there!

 

yea hang in there and sadly this is the way everything is going!!

 

Hey thanks for the kind words. Luckily, I have found work and wont be too badly affected by this. It just really steams me. Optima was a premier product that has been killed by greed

 

Well hopefully the quality won't fall down too much. Sorry to hear about the loss of a job I hope this new one is good for you.

 

The quality began decreasing drastically in 2000. I could tell lots of stories, but I am not sure they would be allowed here.

 

JCI almost always screws up everything they touch. They tried to take over the company my husband works at and if they would have he would have lost his job. I am glad to hear that you have another job lined up!

 

Don't buy those kind of batts, sorry to here about this!

 

I'm sorry to hear that Ron, I was in your shoes years ago when Goodyear closed their New Bedford MA plant. I was the least senior eelectrician so I was the first to go.

Are they offering any employment retraining?

 

I agree, I have had two yellow top batts and they both have failed! I Personally believe that wet cell is better than that dry cell batt.

 

Sorry to hear that Ron, but I'm glad to see you've already made other arrangements and are moving on now.

I understand you shouldn't share some of the info you have, but in your opinion, are the Optima batteries worth the extra $$$?

 

Hey Jim,
I dont quite get this corporate greed, I understand that profits need to be made, but it seems like they are going for instant riches and disregard any chance for future profit. This instance of closing this plant does fall under the warren act and they are offering job training by law, however, a person must stay at the company until the doors lock to be elgible. I could not take the chance of unemployment by waiting until the end and secured work before the "hatchet", so to speak, dropped.

 

Walbro did the same thing here. They built a new plant in Mexico and moved most of the production there. After a few years of crap product, they almost lost their biggest customer. Now the carbs are made here again, but they are still looking to off shore everything else.

I think we should BOYCOTT any company that does this. There is no reason for this. You must have jobs in the US before you can buy products. No jobs is no money. MAybe Mexicans need optima batteries, but I DONT.

 

Never bought an Optima, never will now. Sorry to hear 'bout the plant.

 

dang, just got mine 3 moths ago, now I wish I hadn't.