BTW, I think the last Interstate battery I got at Costco a year or so ago under warranty, was about $90

 

When did they do that Gary?

 

Interstate may have been marketing batteries for 60 years... but I'm not sure that Interstate has actually been making batteries. And I doubt that Interstate is making the batteries that Costco is selling today, which are more likely made by Johnson Controls, like many other brand name batteries are, including the Kirkland brand that Costco formerly sold.

As for inferring that Interstate's change in warranty policy is indicative of a sort of hopeless conclusion that, absent any new technology, all batteries will fail in 3-4 years... and suggesting that this conclusion is based on an assumption of Interstate's "research into their warranty time" ... there may be other circumstances that motivated the sudden change in Interstate's warranty and pro rata policy.

Hint: "lawyers"


Interstate Batteries Settlement Program


Girard Gibbs filed a class action lawsuit against Interstate, alleging that Interstate dealers used clever and deceitful pricing differences to defraud consumers who brought their bad batteries back for prorated exchange during the extended warranty period. The end result of that litigation resulted in a paltry settlement for the class, a hefty windfall of fees for the attorneys, and an ultimate change in Interstate's battery warranty policy... eliminating the prorated period altogether. This policy change had nothing to do with battery quality or technology. It had to do with money.... to eliminate liability exposure to future claims that paralleled the claims already settled.

 

Johnson Controls makes Interstate batteries and as Y2KW57 has stated an array of private label batteries including the former Kirkland batteries. Their website indicates a choice of 4 batteries that would suit our trucks, a glass mat battery, one for hot climates, one for cold climates and one unspecified, each with a different warranty period.
Car and Truck Automotive Batteries - Buy a Vehicle Battery for Cars or Trucks | Interstate Batteries - Automotive / Truck 1999 Ford F-250 V8/7.3L

I am not familiar with what Kirkland batteries were but the current line has a black top and case like the 30 month battery that Interstate has on that website.

They still make a 30 month full replacement, 72 month prorated 850 CCA battery it is just not available at COSTCO. COSTCO is known for good quality and great service but they are not known for carrying a full line of any product, except in the TV aisle, which has a whole lot of options.

 

I don't know exactly when. I bought two "Kirkland" batteries on 8/3/12, and the passenger side shorted out (would only hold 10.5 volts charge) 8/25/15. I can't remember the exact warranty, but I think it was 36 months replacement, 72 months prorated. Costco replaced the battery for free, but now it was "Interstate" batteries and there was no Kirkland brand anymore.

 

Great information there. No, I wasn't inferring that all lead-acid batteries last 3-4 years, and as I said in that post, I don't charge car batteries until after 5 years, sometimes almost 6 years. But I was inferring that a 3.5 year replacement warranty and no proration after that, made financial sense to Interstate (Johnson Controls) which coincidentally seemed to parallel my experience with Johnson Controls batteries since I bought my Powerstroke in 2007. Previously I had Autozone Duralasts also made by Johnson Controls.

As mentioned in this thread earlier, some brands even give a lifetime warranty on lead-acid batteries but at double the cost because it makes financial sense to them, not because their batteries are any better.

BTW, I don't claim anything more than experience when it comes to battery knowledge. I never had any formal training, and I am much too lazy to study the problem in depth.

 

thanks Mark. This kind of follows what we are seeing here, same battery, different warranty and prices. In this case compared to Costco, half year less on the full replacement, but after that a proration up to 6 years.