Kirkland Car Batteries from Costco

[Paul_Heery]

Any opinion on Kirkland Car Batteries from Costco?

I need to replace the battery in my wife's 2010 Mazda CX-7. I was thinking about just swinging by Costco and picking up one of their Kirkland batteries. The one that we would need for her car runs around $75.

The interesting thing about their batteries is that they come with a 3-year, non-prorated warranty. Since they do not have the capability in the store to test batteries that are being returned, if I brought it back before the 3 years is up, Costco will just refund the full purchase price. I could then go into the store and purchase a new one. I guess that is one of the benefits of membership.

[asphaltgambler]

Most all vehicle batteries are made from 1 manufacturer = Johnson Controls. No real difference except for proper fit / application / CCA and then warranty. Speaking of warranty's there are some resellers offering the same battery with a different label where you are paying solely for the extra warranty, not extra quality. I would not hesitate to buy from them - just a matter of convenience if something goes wrong.

[JJ 911SC]

Got a few a them with only one that fail at around 2 years. But I just dropped it at the garage door and got a new one free.

[kanadary]

No issues with the costco batteries so far. Have them for all my cars except the 328ic which requires some sorta special anti vibration battery. They usee to sell the optima reds so I have that in the 911

[JJ 911SC]

Originally Posted by kanadary

They usee to sell the optima reds so I have that in the 911

North of the border they stop selling Optima as there were too many warranty claim against them.

[LakeCleElum]

Costco offers great service on batteries. The one in my 1960 190 SL lasted 9 years and was still good when I replaced it. I had one battery fail in under 3 years. My fault, veh just sat and I didn't keep it charged. No questions asked, full refund. Even if replacing after 4 or 5 years, the are very fair in how they pro-rate.

Another advantage. No paperwork? Just go to any Costco, they scan the barcode and it's handled...

[Evans, Marv]

I always read Consumer Reports. Kirkland batteries are usually rated in the top half. Like asphaltgambler says, they are probably made in the same factory as all the others. I mostly buy theirs because of convenience, although I've always had as good or better service from their batteries as any others. The last batteries I bought from them were 7 year batteries for my F350, which takes two. One died right after the 7 year mark & I replaced both.

[mikesride]

Not a car battery but my F.I.L. is on year five of his Kirkland deep cycle boat one with no issues.

[biosurfer1]

Originally Posted by Paul_Heery

The interesting thing about their batteries is that they come with a 3-year, non-prorated warranty. Since they do not have the capability in the store to test batteries that are being returned, if I brought it back before the 3 years is up, Costco will just refund the full purchase price. I could then go into the store and purchase a new one. I guess that is one of the benefits of membership.

Yep, that thinking is exactly what ruined Costco's return policy on TV's, and computers and every other item they had where people abused the hell out of it until they took it away.

Oh well, screw them while you can is the typical attitude

[vash]

Originally Posted by biosurfer1

Yep, that thinking is exactly what ruined Costco's return policy on TV's, and computers and every other item they had where people abused the hell out of it until they took it away.

Oh well, screw them while you can is the typical attitude

"tragedy of the commons"

back on topic. i love Kirkland batteries. for my wife's car it was half the price of the local interstate seller. half!! i am pretty confident it will last better than half the time of the interstate.

for my tacoma, i was out of luck. they didnt carry my battery size. i had to pony up the money for an interstate. brutal.

go costco!! batteries and gas are the best deals there. a gallon of ketchup is not the best purchase..but gas, battery..okay.

[LakeCleElum]

Originally Posted by biosurfer1

Yep, that thinking is exactly what ruined Costco's return policy on TV's, and computers and every other item they had where people abused the hell out of it until they took it away.
Oh well, screw them while you can is the typical attitude

Understand your concern, BUT: How many customers are gonna YANK their batteries just B4 3 yrs and trot them down for an exchange? Not really likely?

[KOH]

We've been using Costco batteries for years. They have proven to be far better than the OEM batteries we had before them.

[Noah930]

I must have purchased a dud battery from Costco for Mrs. Noah's Acura. It lasted for 2 years before it died. But Costco being Costco, I was able to bring it in, get a refund from customer service, and then go buy another from the tire guys. We sold the car a year later, so don't know if the replacement was any better.