Prorateing car betteries, how does it work?

[look 171]

We bought an Interstate Battery (they are almost in all our cars and trucks) about 2 years ago for our van before we went on our long summer trip. We discovered it to be bad, completely dead about a month ago. An Optima went in there (no leaks) the next day. I went to Interstate yesterday, and was told they will take the core for 5 bucks unless I buy another battery from them then I will get 65 bucks off the new battery. That old battery cost me 150 dollars and It should last a few years? Am I getting screw here? the counter guy felt bad and informed me that its company policy.

[look 171]

How do you edit titles? Just notice my three left thumb spelling.

[look 171]

How? I clicked edit but it wouldn't allow me to change anything on the title.

[strupgolf]

Just for comparison. I bought a battery for my FIL's cadillac in Oct. 2011 at Batteries Plus, a national chain which carries battaries for everything. $150.00, I installed it. He did not drive and it might have gone 200 miles total. Got in this Oct. 2012, dead, would not start. Went back to the store, they gave me a full refund. No pro-rating at all. Your's, 2 years, maybe a bit long, but hey in my book the customer is king.

[911pcars]

You didn't state the warranty period of the battery.

The prorated value of a product usually assumes list price as a reference point. Divide number of warranty months left into the list price should provide the amount you pay for a replacement.

If:
24 month warranty
List price = $50.00
Thus, $50/24 mo. = $2.08/month

Battery quits after 12 months = 12 months remaining x $2.08 = $24.96. The amt. you pay for a replacement

Proration warranties are typically used to get you to eventually purchase their replacement battery. If you bought at a sale price and it fails before the warranty ends, the prorated warranty value (based on the sale price) will be applied against the regular retail price. Usually, it's no bargain at that point.

Sherwood

[vash]

look..

when you click the edit button, you are not done. click the "go advanced" button. (yellow-orange, middle button). now you can change the title.

(the title looks fine to me )

[ossiblue]

That's not unusual for prorating items. In this case, prorating means your cost to replace the defective item will be discounted a certain percentage, based on how much use you got out of the original purchase. It is not a money back guarantee, which is what your question implies. Some companies do offer a prorated money back guarantee on items but, in this case, Interstate does not nor do most battery manufacturers, as I recall. I suspect the prorata details are spelled out on your warranty card which, if you're like most of us, is long gone.

[look 171]

30 month free replacement. I was at 29 months. 6 year performance warranty. I was hoping they would give 15-20 bucks so I can walk across the street and buy myself a cup of coffee. I did not kick and scream or anything but I wanted to so badly.

[look 171]

Originally Posted by vash

look..

when you click the edit button, you are not done. click the "go advanced" button. (yellow-orange, middle button). now you can change the title.

(the title looks fine to me )

Cool, got it done. Thanks

[ossiblue]

Originally Posted by look 171

30 month free replacement. I was at 29 months. 6 year performance warranty. I was hoping they would give 15-20 bucks so I can walk across the street and buy myself a cup of coffee. I did not kick and scream or anything but I wanted to so badly.

Okay, the slow board interfered with my understanding of your situation. You had a 30 month free replacement which you had not yet reached. Instead of returning the battery for the free replacement, you substituted an Optima in it's place. Then, you wanted to return the dead one for refund. Does that sound about right? If so, the that's par for the course--you get a free replacement, not a money back guarantee. Since you chose not to go with their replacement, the policy is to give you a core payment.

[look 171]

Originally Posted by ossiblue

Okay, the slow board interfered with my understanding of your situation. You had a 30 month free replacement which you had not yet reached. Instead of returning the battery for the free replacement, you substituted an Optima in it's place. Then, you wanted to return the dead one for refund. Does that sound about right? If so, the that's par for the course--you get a free replacement, not a money back guarantee. Since you chose not to go with their replacement, the policy is to give you a core payment.

Yep. wife and kids need the van. Drove to my local Autozone and got another battery. I was thinking along the same line with what you said.

[stomachmonkey]

Sounds like you were due a replacement battery for free that you should have walked out with.

Did you take it back to the same place you bought it? Sure you did but have to ask.

[look 171]

yep. i did

[ossiblue]

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

Sounds like you were due a replacement battery for free that you should have walked out with.

Did you take it back to the same place you bought it? Sure you did but have to ask.

Yeah, this^^.

Your original post doesn't quite match the later one where you have a 30 month free replacement. If you are correct about the free replacement, the counterman should have offered you a free battery, not a $65 discount on a new purchase. You may not need a new battery but you have "paid" for one when you bought the original bad one for $150.

It's your call, IMO. If you are correct about the 30 months part, you should go back and demand a replacement. You were misled by the counterman and are deserving of a free replacement, according to Interstate's written warranty.

[Joe Bob]

Originally Posted by look 171

How? I clicked edit but it wouldn't allow me to change anything on the title.

Try in "Advnced" mode

[Baz]

Interstate batteries have a 2 year replacement warranty.

Which means.....if the battery fails within' that 2 years...it is replaced at no charge.

Not sure about pro-rated policies but that's the scoop on Interstate.

BTW....I think Interstate stuff has not been a good as it used to be. Could be related to manufacturing in China.

[ossiblue]

Okay, just checked the Interstate website (thanks, Baz.)

Using only the information you provided, here's what I came up with. First, you bought your battery before May 1, 2012 so you fall under a different warranty.

Second, you said your battery had a six year performance period. According to the website, " Within 24 months from the date of original purchase, batteries with a total warranty of 75 months will be replaced free of charge (except for taxes and legislatively-imposed fees, where applicable). " (emphasis mine.) You said you had a 30 month replacement warranty but the site says that only applies to 85 month performance period batteries.

Unless you have the written warranty which specifies the 30 month free replacement, it appears you were in the pro-rata period after all though it's not clear how much credit you would receive from your old battery. The site only claims, "After the free replacement period and for the remaining number of months of designated warranty period, the original purchaser may obtain a replacement battery of similar size upon payment of a prorated charge based upon the then current published cost per month which is based on the then published List Price of the battery multiplied by the number of full months elapsed since the date of original purchase." Maybe that does come to $65.

[look 171]

Tell you the truth, I went in there not knowing exactly how old (months) is the battery bu I had an idea. the counter man pulled up our info and told me about the 29 months on the battery and the warranty. I was under the impression or hoping that I would get a few bucks back because batteries are prorated under warranty, but I guess not.

[djantlive]

DONT get an Interstate battery. They are one of the worst performing batteries out there. They are not cheap either. I have found them to be unreliable and fail faster than any other brands out there. The CCA and reserve power ratings are also subpar compared to those from everywhere else.

I would opt for a cheap battery from Walmart instead. If you want a good one, go to Sears. They have a 2-3 full replacement warranty.

As for warranty, once the full replacement warranty is up, I would not bother.

[look 171]

No more Interstate after this.