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So the original 2019 batteries are starting to corrode. Looking at sealed Gell AGM. Would appreciate some suggestions from the Superduty folks. Live in SLC so need something good for hot and cold…
Thanks guys…
I'd tell the reason but always get chit for it. PM if you care.
It would be helpful to all FTE Members searching for tips on replacing batteries, both now and in the future, to go ahead and talk about this in the open.
Most folks probably would not want to do what Phillbo previously explained that he does at Costco, but those who still might may now find that Costco has changed their battery warranty policy, perhaps due to an arguably fraudulent overuse of their previously consumer friendly warranty policy.
As Costco's changes in policy have recently taken other FTE members by surprise, it will be useful to our readers if we discuss the prior alleged abuse and Costco's corporate response out in the open... not for the purpose of judging anyone else's personal integrity, but to insure the integrity and accuracy of current and best available information found on our forum, which helps make FTE the number one goto forum on all things related to owning and maintaining a Ford truck.
Phillbo's Costco practice:
Originally Posted by Phillbo
6842198
My Costco sells Interstate batteries. They have a 36 month warrantee and Costco does not have the ability to test the battery so mine gets returned every 32 months for a free replacement. They sell deep cycle marine batteries as well so I do the same with my boat.
Have not purchased a new battery in years.
Peer group questions about Phillbo's Costco practice:
Originally Posted by Ricktwuhk
6842264
So you take a perfectly good battery to Costco and exchange it for a free replacement because you know they can't prove that there is nothing wrong with your battery. That's fraud. And raises the costs for everyone else.
Originally Posted by Phillbo
6842586
How so? More like taking advantage of their corporate policies.....
Originally Posted by blkZ28spt
6842595
Pretty sure what's being communicated to us is that he lies to Costco and claims the battery is bad in order to cash in on the warranty, when he knows it isn't, which swindles Costco out of the cost of a new battery
Some people are okay with intentional dishonesty/cheating of others so long as they don't get arrested or fined for it (or if they are cheating a "big company" vs a single individual) while others don't care much for it on principle.
Setting ethical questions aside for the moment, the pragmatic planning question remains:
Does this technique of having "not purchased a new battery in years" due to every car and boat battery getting "returned every 32 months for a free replacement" from Costco... still work today, in 2024?
Here is a similar example, albeit only obtaining one free (NC = No Charge) battery, that arguably was at end of life in 36 months based on the user's report:
Originally Posted by MARCSPSD
I only buy the batteries from Costco now since the 2nd set is always NC. (3 year warranty no questions asked)
By the way I don't get more than 3 years of battery life in any of the vehicles I have owned. In the old days they lasted longer.
Ever wonder why most lead acid batteries do not have long warranties anymore. We now know why.
In response to the post quoted immediately above, a couple of FTE members recently reported that Costco has changed corporate policy to put a stop to the practice:
Originally Posted by bigb56
I think you'll find Costco no longer offers free replacement, at least here, they have gone to pro rating after the first month. They also do not carry the AGM in a group 65, at least in my area.
Originally Posted by FordTruckNoob
I have experienced this too.
Originally Posted by MARCSPSD
Above information is correct. I just checked. Costco Interstate batteries are 36 month prorated warranty!
Yeah Costco does prorated now same as other places. I think the advice to buy from a store that has locations near your common destinations makes sense. A warranty only works if you can get back to a locatoin of the store you purchased from.
Around her NAPA has the most stores in small towns.
It is soo much trouble to bother having to sneak into a gym, or sneak into a movie theater so you don't have to pay. I encourage people to not go to the trouble of that, it is just much better to sneak money out of the cash register by distracting an employee at most places of business. Heck, who wants to go through the difficulty of having to remove the old battery a few months before the warranty expires. It is way more efficient to just do the same strategy with a Costco big box, just walk in and snag a new battery every time you need one, take it off the rack, maybe pull a fire alarm and sneak out one of the side door emergency exits. Heck, most folks have pockets in their clothing, you could acutally stuff lots of free goods in them and you'd never have to pay for them ever. Regular folks that don't take advantage of these great strategies are really the dumb ones, don't you all agree?
On a more serious note, I bought a couple of mail order Everstart Platinum group 65 AGM batteries from Walmart. The got shipped to my house for no charge direct from the manufacturer in heavy duty foamed boxes. Super pleased with the no leak performance. Cleaned up the clamps with some baking soda and a quick wire tooth brush and let them dry, added quick coat or two of rustoleum flat black spray paint. Working perfect, look and perform exceptionally well in my'18 6.2L F350. And yah, it was a pain in the butt to drop the oid batteries off at the hazardous waste facility for our city, probably would have been easier to just dump them in the woods someplace, or sneak them into the trash can. I can be so dumb with my free time....
Did you have to do any reprograming with Forscan? Saw a you tube guy where he said he put the new batteries in his ‘18 and left it overnight and the truck recognized the new batteries…
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New batteries….
