Batteries: Costco vs. East Penn>?

[audio1der]

Costco 6V batteries are $280/pr. East Penn are $340. Is a brand name worth the premium?

[notanlines]

Compare the warrantees and then ask yourself where you would get "great" service to replace a Penn. I'm not the biggest Costco fan but you can't beat their warrantee service.

[nellie1289]

Originally Posted by notanlines

Compare the warrantees and then ask yourself where you would get "great" service to replace a Penn. I'm not the biggest Costco fan but you can't beat their warrantee service.

You might be the first person I have ever heard say you are not a fan of Costco! I love the place. Agree if you ever have a problem Costco will stand behind everything. Also, Costco purchasers usually do the work for you, in no matter what you purchase there buyers are trained to get the highest quality item for the cheapest price possible. In 20 years of shopping at Costco, I can think of only one item I wasn't thrilled with the long term results.

[zuley]

My wife and I spend a pile of money at Costco so I am certainly not slamming them but consider this. With the buying power of big box type stores such as Costco, Sams Club, Wallymart, etc they influence unbelievable control over the manufacturers of the products they sell. They pretty much dictate the pricing that they will pay to a supplier. You will pay probably 10 -15% less for an East Penn or an Exide battery sold at one of the big box retailers. Some time ago I questioned our Exide zone manager why I could purchase a single battery cheaper from Costco than I could from Exide even though the dealership I work for purchases 1200 per year from them. (we are a very large wholesaler in our area) His responce was very simple and very quick. Weigh the two same batteries, the one from Costco and the same one from our inventory. The battery we stock in inventory will be much heavier. Lead is the largest expense when producing batteries. If you want to make them cheaper use less lead. Costco or whoever goes to the producer, whether it be Exide, East Penn, Interstate, or (??) and tells them they will commit to X number of batteries at this price. The producer is all over the idea and builds a battery for them by cutting back on the lead used in order for them still be able to make a profit. Less lead results in less longevity.

[notanlines]

Reading back on what I wrote it does seem like I was speaking somewhat ill of them and that was not my intent. It should have read that they are quite a distance from where we live so we frequent Sam's more often. And nobody beats Costco "weenies/sausages!"

[flight medic]

The majority of lead acid batteries for sale in the US of A are manufactured by Johnson Controls. They private label the majority of the big box stores batteries. INHO you are just paying for a name.

Steve
2015 Sprinter 324fwbhs
2015 Ram 2500 ccsb Cummins

[zuley]

Exide is the major player here in Canada although after selling them for 30 plus years I really don't think they are worth a pinch of coon ****. I'm going to go with East Penns this spring when I switch over to 6 volts.
One little tid bit I learned at a conference a few years back... They sell more 6 volt golf cart batteries in the state of Florida per year than all of Canada's total battery sales combined. In reality we are not a big player in the business.