Originally Posted by
Mark
I don’t think you have to look that hard to find a quality battery. A couple factories make most car batteries. Johnson Control and Exide Technologies are two of the larger companies.
In my area, I believe Blaine’s Farm & Fleet (nearby community 35 miles away) offers the best value in car batteries. If I needed a car battery in a hurry, I am not opposed to buying one from AutoZone or Walmart (town I work in 12 miles away). All three places test/install batteries. If a car battery failed under its replacement period, I believe all three stores will take care of you.
I like finding the best deal on most things. Heck, I bought my Mirage from a dealership 4 hour away. When it comes to car batteries, however, I am buying local.
I agree. It is also my understanding that there's only a few manufacturing plants making batteries for various brands & vendors. Some plants are domestic, some not. Most have global operations in an attempt to avoid local environmental laws.
I've easily found lots of info on batteries made from the East Penn Manufacturing plant, but cannot find who or where Johnson Controls makes (or gets) theirs - but that's mostly because I haven't really looked into them.
However, don't think Exide is a Great Company doing Great Things. They have problems in the communities they have operated in, and instead of doing the right thing in their business operations they have abandoned the sites for others to deal with the cleanup (read: taxpayers.)
Wikipedia: Exide Technologies
Originally Posted by
Wikipedia | Exide Technologies
Exide has been the subject of much controversy regarding environmental practices in the past. Lead and other dangerous chemicals coming from Exide's plants have repeatedly polluted communities around the United States
There's much more about their business practices here:
Wikipedia: Exide lead contamination
Sears Battery Fraud Scandal
Originally Posted by
Wikipedia | Sears Battery Fraud Scandal
In March 2001, Exide plead guilty to fraud conspiracy charges and agreed to pay a fine of $27.5 million to end a federal criminal investigation into auto battery sales to customers of Sears, Roebuck & Company. The case arose from investigations and accusations that Exide conspired with Sears to sell used batteries as new to Sears customers and that Exide officials had paid bribes to conceal the fraud.
I know many folks don't really care how their stuff is made or the business practices of the company making & providing the item - so long as it's cheap. I get it. It doesn't make it right, especially if it's in your /our neighborhood.
With Sears, Exide got caught. It makes me wonder how many other places sell used batteries as new? It sheds light on how some batteries don't last two years when they should last at least 3 - 5 years.
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View my fuel log 2015 Mirage ES 1.2 manual: 49.6 mpg (US) ... 21.1 km/L ... 4.7 L/100 km ... 59.5 mpg (Imp)