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Poor quality reproduction battery and poor customer svc
#1139484
12/19/11 08:16 PM
12/19/11 08:16 PM
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Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,336
Ball Ground, Georgia
Dixie
OP
top fuel
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OP
top fuel
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,336
Ball Ground, Georgia
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Back in July '07 I bought a maintenance free 850 CCA group 27 battery from Antique Auto Battery at Carlisle for $250. 4 years and 1500 miles later it failed. At the Mopar Nats this past August, it died and would only take a 50% charge. My car lives in a heated and air conditioned garage. With only 1500 miles on the car, it obviously gets very little road time. Basically, to local cruise-ins and back home in the summer. I feel this is a premature product failure of their maintenance free battery based on the discussions I had with them upon purchase.
I did not get around to contacting the vendor until recently. Initially, I emailed them about the issue. They called back and told my wife there was no warranty on the battery, and if I had any questions to call and ask for Jim.
I called Jim last week around Tuesday and spoke to him. I explained that I felt the battery had suffered a premature failure, based on such low use and indoor storage. He said he'd look into it and call me later that afternoon. As of this posting, I have not heard from him.
I am posting my experience here for anyone interested in buying a reproduction battery. I would not recommend one of their batteries based on my opinion of poor performance of their battery, and poor customer service from the company. Your experience may differ from mine.
For now, my old hot rod will run on a parts store battery.
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Re: Poor quality reproduction battery and poor customer svc
[Re: Dixie]
#1139485
12/19/11 08:25 PM
12/19/11 08:25 PM
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 27,347
Today? Who Knows?
1_WILD_RT
Management Trainee
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Management Trainee
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 27,347
Today? Who Knows?
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After dealing with three failed reproduction batteries having the first one last eight months & get replaced under warranty but I got hit for shipping both ways , the second lasted about a year & they prorated it & I had to pay shipping both ways... The third battery failed & I did this....
"The Armies of our ancestors were lucky, in that they were not trailed by a second army of pencil pushers."
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Re: Poor quality reproduction battery and poor customer svc
[Re: Dixie]
#1139486
12/19/11 08:56 PM
12/19/11 08:56 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 21,525
N.E. OHIO, USA
A12
Too Many Posts
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Too Many Posts
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 21,525
N.E. OHIO, USA
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Do you use a "Battery Tender" or similar trickle charging system during the down time? We use Absorbent Glass Matt (AGM) batteries in all of the products we sell and they are all activated when they are manufactured so the "shelf life" is sometimes not as long as expected by owners if they are not maintained by a battery "tender" (trickle charger) of some sort. We even use a high dollar "racing" battery in some product that is nearly four times more expensive than a standard AGM battery and if it is not maintained it fails too. Just saying that most batteries are only warrantied for 4-5 years and almost always prorated. I would say if they don't at the least give you some kind of prorated exchange or adjustment that would be bad on their part but I wouldn't think they shouldn't have to give you a "no charge" (pun intended) battery or exchange battery without prorating it...  Even the best Diehard, Duralast, etc., will only last 5-years or less if you're lucky. Thanks for reminding me I need to hook up the Battery Tender on the GTX and the motorcycles  MikeR
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Re: Poor quality reproduction battery and poor customer svc
[Re: A12]
#1139487
12/19/11 09:13 PM
12/19/11 09:13 PM
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,109
Hiram, Georgia
474218
super stock
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super stock
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,109
Hiram, Georgia
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Quote:
Do you use a "Battery Tender" or similar trickle charging system during the down time?...
...Even the best Diehard, Duralast, etc., will only last 5-years or less if you're lucky. Thanks for reminding me I need to hook up the Battery Tender on the GTX and the motorcycles
MikeR
I bought a 2001 Road Trac Class B motor home, built on a 2000 Dodge B3500 van.
March of this year I had to replace the original Morpar battery. The van has never been in a garage, never had a "Battery Tender" and twice was completly discharged because a fault with the door locks. The Dodge dealer only wanted $129.00 for a Mopar replacement battery so I hope lasts for another 10 years.
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Re: Poor quality reproduction battery and poor customer svc
[Re: A12]
#1139488
12/19/11 09:27 PM
12/19/11 09:27 PM
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Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,336
Ball Ground, Georgia
Dixie
OP
top fuel
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OP
top fuel
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,336
Ball Ground, Georgia
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Quote:
Do you use a "Battery Tender" or similar trickle charging system during the down time?
I asked when I bought it, and they said it didn't need one. Upon calling I did not expect a free replacement, but a return phone call? Yeah, that's a minimum.
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Re: Poor quality reproduction battery and poor customer svc
[Re: Dixie]
#1139492
12/19/11 09:41 PM
12/19/11 09:41 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 21,525
N.E. OHIO, USA
A12
Too Many Posts
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Too Many Posts
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 21,525
N.E. OHIO, USA
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Quote:
Quote:
Do you use a "Battery Tender" or similar trickle charging system during the down time?
I asked when I bought it, and they said it didn't need one. Upon calling I did not expect a free replacement, but a return phone call? Yeah, that's a minimum.
Just preparing you for what you need to say when and IF they do return your call. Take notes and have them ready  ; battery tender "yep", climate controlled storage "yep", start car once a week "yep", go to church on Sunday.... 
Best of luck and they are going to need some too if they choose to be ana.................we're all waiting and watching and I do need a battery, where oh where should I buy one 
MikeR
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Re: Poor quality reproduction battery and poor customer svc
[Re: screamindriver]
#1139497
12/20/11 02:24 PM
12/20/11 02:24 PM
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 18,157
Mass
DAYCLONA
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 18,157
Mass
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Quote:
I've got a red cap{sealed} turbostart going on 6-7 years....As mentioned, the company strongly suggested I use a battery tender during the down time so I've used one from the beginning with it...This must be the key to a long life....
Same here, AGM redtop group 27, going on 8 years, I DON"T use any battery tender, or chargers, I disconnect during winter storage, car sits for 4+ months, starts every time with no assist/boost/charge....never had any issues
Mike
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Re: Poor quality reproduction battery and poor customer svc
[Re: 1_WILD_RT]
#1139500
12/20/11 03:48 PM
12/20/11 03:48 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 21,525
N.E. OHIO, USA
A12
Too Many Posts
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Too Many Posts
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 21,525
N.E. OHIO, USA
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Quote:
Since no one included a link...
http://shop.turbostart.com/Mopar-S27MRL-Red-Cap-Late-1969-1973-AGM-Battery-B-S27MRL.htm
Valve Regulated, Sealed Maintenance Free design
- AGM (Absorbent Glass Mat) technology
- Shipped fully charged (no acid filling required)
- 4 year pro-rated warranty
- Genuine hard rubber case; exact detailing
- MOPAR PERFORMANCE officially licensed
- BCI Group 27 for Chrysler, Dodge, and Plymouth 1969 thru 1974
Because they are activated at the time of final assembly, a key or tip if you are standing there looking at more than one...take the one with the higher I.D., "Date of Manufacture" or serial number
MikeR
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Re: Poor quality reproduction battery and poor customer svc
[Re: Dixie]
#1139501
12/20/11 06:14 PM
12/20/11 06:14 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 15,439
Val-haul-ass... eventually
BradH
Taking time off to work on my car
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Taking time off to work on my car
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 15,439
Val-haul-ass... eventually
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Quote:
Quote:
Do you use a "Battery Tender" or similar trickle charging system during the down time?
I asked when I bought it, and they said it didn't need one...
Well, they're wrong and/or ignorant of their own product.
Any battery that's expected to hold a reasonable charge with infrequent usage needs to be charged w/ a trickle charger. I'm surprised you got 4 years out of it that way.
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Re: Poor quality reproduction battery and poor customer svc
[Re: DAYCLONA]
#1139502
12/20/11 06:40 PM
12/20/11 06:40 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 9,436
Blair County,PA
62maxwgn
master
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master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 9,436
Blair County,PA
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Quote:
Quote:
I've got a red cap{sealed} turbostart going on 6-7 years....As mentioned, the company strongly suggested I use a battery tender during the down time so I've used one from the beginning with it...This must be the key to a long life....
Same here, AGM redtop group 27, going on 8 years, I DON"T use any battery tender, or chargers, I disconnect during winter storage, car sits for 4+ months, starts every time with no assist/boost/charge....never had any issues
Mike
Two batteries in my Superbird in 19yrs,both from the original New Castle Battery Co,group 27,first was wet cell lasted almost nine years,second one sealed,still in car.Never used a battery tender,usually start once or twice through the winter months,never had a problem.
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