Author	[Modern View]
El Toro 08-18-2012 05:44:52 108.3.143.30 Report to Moderator	Back in January 2012 I posted a picture of this Walmart battery I found on the street for the town to pickup. It had a damaged + post that cracked the top of the battery case. Even though the battery was still fully charged almost everyone on here said not to use it. I took the battery back to Walmart and they gave me a new battery. It will fit my old 1981 Mercury Cougar that had a 10 year old Walmart battery that has never failed to start the Cougar. I set it on a shelf in the garage. Hal [Reply]   [No Email]
buickanddeere 08-19-2012 07:28:55 184.151.61.160 Report to Moderator	Re: Damaged Battery in reply to El Toro, 08-18-2012 05:44:52   Best part of this thread is most people were in favor of getting rid of a damaged battery. Instead of trying to make do with or repair a damaged battery. [Reply]  [No Email]
Rollie NE PA 08-18-2012 18:55:59 71.173.42.238 Report to Moderator	Re: Damaged Battery in reply to Crazy Red Power in SE-WI, 08-18-2012 05:44:52   Hal, Good for you. After what I went thru to get a bad battery replaced, I think Wal Mart is guilty of fraud. I had a bad battery in my Jeep, I charged it and did a draw down test. It was bad and still under the full replacement warranty. I took the vehicle to the Wal Mart service center. One tech was on duty. I told him the problem and he said it would have to be charged for 90 minutes. I said the Jeep in the parking lot running and I would bring it around for him to check, which I did and yep the battery is bad. Auto manager shows up and said leave it and we will charge it and test it tomorrow. "I will not have a ride, take the battery and charge it now". He said there were other batteries ahead of me and to comeback tomarrow. I went home called two other Walmarts in the area and they all told me to bring the battery in and they would give me a replacement. I took the battery to another Wal Mart got a new battery, exchanged the bad one and they said the old one will be pro rated. I went round and round with the manager. She said that the policy has changed and there is no longer a free 2yr replacement. I showed her my reciept which clearly stated Free 2 yr Replacement. After I told her I would be calling the corperate office, she changed her mind but then did not want to warranty the replacement. I finally got things worked out but what a hassel. This post was edited by Rollie NE PA at 18:56:32 08/18/12. [Reply]  [No Email]
Traditional Farmer 08-18-2012 15:33:49 67.233.70.253 Report to Moderator	Re: Damaged Battery in reply to El Toro, 08-18-2012 05:44:52   Similar thing happend to me on a Rototiller the store that sold it took it back because the customer said it broke in less then 30 minutes of usage they gave the customer another tiller and the tiller sat for about 3 years at the store don't know why they didn't send it back.Anyway I ended up buying the $1300 tiller for $400 and called the company that built the tiller told them the whole story and that I wanted to buy the parts to fix it.The parts guy put me on the phone with customer service and I told them the story customer service guy says box up all the broken parts and we'll send you new ones free of charge as we warranty our tillers regardless and they did and some extra parts too.Guess that was fraud too?Many companies warranty the product regardless of who has ownership at the time. [Reply]  [No Email]
El Toro 08-18-2012 17:11:44 108.3.143.30 Report to Moderator	Re: Damaged Battery in reply to Traditional Farmer, 08-18-2012 15:33:49   I bought a Troy Bilt generator back in 2003 for $200.00. It was their 7550 watt generator. Someone in Delaware had advertised it and said it wouldn't run. I don't know why he didn't return the generator to Lowe's. He said it would run for only a short time. Anyway I bought the generator and we loaded it that old 1981 Cougar. To make a long story short the gas line was caught behind the gas tank shutting off the fuel. It ran perfect. Hal [Reply]  [No Email]
Heavyduty1 08-18-2012 13:41:32 66.87.7.26 Report to Moderator	Re: Damaged Battery in reply to El Toro, 08-18-2012 05:44:52   If you can sleep good at night, I wouldn't worry about it. Walmart is going to win in the end because they have just about everyone by the b$lls (no real competition). :) [Reply]  [No Email]
Gambles 08-18-2012 11:58:19 24.246.215.127 Report to Moderator	Re: Damaged Battery in reply to El Toro, 08-18-2012 05:44:52   Now......how 'bout posting some pictures of that Cougar? [Reply]  [No Email]
El Toro 08-18-2012 12:17:25 108.3.143.30 Report to Moderator	Re: Damaged Battery in reply to Gambles, 08-18-2012 11:58:19   Here's that Cougar. Just put new struts and shocks on it thanks to Monroe. I still have the original receipt and I faxed them a copy and 10 days later they arrived. Hal [Reply]  [No Email]
Walt Davies 08-18-2012 12:54:56 174.233.134.108 Report to Moderator	Re: Damaged Battery in reply to El Toro, 08-18-2012 12:17:25   How can it be stealing the original owner could have exchanged it but for some reason he just gave it away and ElTorro was smart enought to exchange it for a new one. WaltMart was happy El Toro was happy and the original owner was happy to get rid of it. Sounds like a good deal all the way around. Walt [Reply]  [No Email]
Ralphwd45 08-18-2012 11:50:54 66.243.225.112 Report to Moderator	Re: Damaged Battery in reply to El Toro, 08-18-2012 05:44:52   It sounds like you are getting a whippin, wheather you deserve or not! I hate it when that happens to me! It's a good thing that we have the morals cops around, to keep us corrected. [Reply]  [No Email]
El Toro 08-18-2012 12:24:05 108.3.143.30 Report to Moderator	Re: Damaged Battery in reply to Ralphwd45, 08-18-2012 11:50:54   Looks like I need to find some more Walwart damaged or dead batteries. Hal [Reply]  [No Email]
Dean 08-18-2012 09:42:55 67.172.15.77 Report to Moderator	Re: Damaged Battery in reply to El Toro, 08-18-2012 05:44:52   Whether you realize it or not, what you did is fraud. Dean [Reply]  [No Email]
El Toro 08-19-2012 07:14:54 108.3.143.30 Report to Moderator	Re: Damaged Battery in reply to Dean, 08-18-2012 09:42:55   Which law school did you graduate from? [Reply]  [No Email]
dboll 08-18-2012 14:36:06 64.61.211.207 Report to Moderator	Re: Damaged Battery in reply to Dean, 08-18-2012 09:42:55   So I suppose if you found a $50 laying on the ground with no one for miles around you wouldn't spend it? Don't be so self righteous. WM sold the battery with a warranty,the original owner didn't(but could have) gotten it replaced. Instead he chose to discard it willingly. But if you are really troubled by this maybe you can find a way to bring some kind of charges or penalty against him. [Reply]  [No Email]
RodInNS 08-18-2012 12:51:16 216.118.158.123 Report to Moderator	Re: Damaged Battery in reply to Dean, 08-18-2012 09:42:55   How is it fraud? They have a warranty on the battery. They no doubt have a system of recording the date of sale other than an invoice... so if it's become defective before the warranty expires they are obligated to warranty the battery. Napa stores are no different in this manner... you bring them a defective part that's been stamped with a code indicating it's a lifetime part... they aren't going to kick you out the door because you don't have the original invoice. They'll find some paper and warranty your part because that's what ya paid for when you got it in the first place. Rod [Reply]  [No Email]
Stick welding 08-18-2012 13:31:08 96.53.210.246 Report to Moderator	Re: Damaged Battery in reply to RodInNS, 08-18-2012 12:51:16   WRONG! I had a licensed repair shop that deals with Napa work on my truck in the winter and it needed a battery so they put one in. My truck sat for a little while and wouldn't start. The battery clearly says Napa on it and even has the date sticker but Napa required me to bring the repair order in to show I had paid for the battery before they would even look at it. Most warranties are for the original purchaser only, however some like tools are not. I remember getting flack on here because I returned a broken breaker bar. Some stores have a no questions asked policy and will just replace the broken piece. In the case of tools, I imagine they just melt them down and make a new tool so they aren't losing that much. Walmart didn't have to replace the battery but they did. I don't see how El Toro did anything wrong. They could have said no and he could have sold the battery to a scrap yard for a few bucks. [Reply]  [No Email]
RodInNS 08-18-2012 14:32:13 216.118.158.123 Report to Moderator	Re: Damaged Battery in reply to Stick welding, 08-18-2012 13:31:08   Haha. I've ~never~ presented an original invoice to my Napa here... or the installer that we used to do a lot of business with in the past. Batteries... they obviously want to see a date code. That said... I've had an account there since years and they can easily go back by part number and ~get~ the invoice... or somebody's invoice. In this economic climate if they don't... the last they'll see of ya is your backside as you walk out the door and never come back. Needless to say that's a different game in edmonton. Rod [Reply]  [No Email]
Stick welding 08-18-2012 17:23:03 96.53.210.246 Report to Moderator	Re: Damaged Battery in reply to RodInNS, 08-18-2012 14:32:13   I was quite surprised actually. I just called them on the phone to see if they could check the battery and that's when they said I need to bring the invoice. The shop that installed the battery buys all their parts at Napa. Napa, well at least the person I talked to, wasn't even interested in just phoning the repair shop to ask them if they had installed the battery. I certainly won't be knocking down the door to shop at Napa. I have a friend that used to own a busy auto repair shop and would buy 30 to $60,000 worth of parts a month. His original supplier was getting sloppy/late in their deliveries so he switched suppliers. It wasn't Napa but the owner came and grovelled a few times trying to get his business back. It was too little too late and it's not my friends fault if they keep getting new drivers. In this day and age, you still need to have customer service even though it's getting harder and harder to find. It can't be good to lose close to a million in sales over something as simple as delivering on time. [Reply]  [No Email]
RodInNS 08-18-2012 18:04:02 216.118.158.123 Report to Moderator	Re: Damaged Battery in reply to Stick welding, 08-18-2012 17:23:03   Funny. Around here if a garage calls an order in they usually have it out the door in 10-20 minutes depending on who's available at the moment. That said they don't deliver to me but I'm 20 minutes out for them and most times I need something odd that I want to match up at the counter anyhow. Rod [Reply]  [No Email]
Stick welding 08-18-2012 19:26:43 96.53.210.246 Report to Moderator	Re: Damaged Battery in reply to RodInNS, 08-18-2012 18:04:02   He would order in the morning and often wouldn't get the parts until the next day and he wasn't very far away. [Reply]  [No Email]
James22 08-18-2012 11:13:43 207.179.239.128 Report to Moderator	Re: Damaged Battery in reply to Dean, 08-18-2012 09:42:55   Probably warranty is to the original vehicle or buyer, so likely you are correct. Regardless it is unethical. Unfortunately it frequently happens when monetary gain is forthcoming. [Reply]  [No Email]
Traditional Farmer 08-18-2012 10:01:05 67.233.70.253 Report to Moderator	Re: Damaged Battery in reply to Dean, 08-18-2012 09:42:55   They don't care who bought the battery apparently.I guess if you bought a car with a new Walmart Battery and it went bad you wouldn't think Walmart should make good on the guarantee? No different from what he did. [Reply]  [No Email]
Dean 08-18-2012 10:47:33 67.172.15.77 Report to Moderator	Re: Damaged Battery in reply to Traditional Farmer, 08-18-2012 10:01:05   It's still fraud. Dean [Reply]  [No Email]
El Toro 08-18-2012 12:19:10 108.3.143.30 Report to Moderator	Re: Damaged Battery in reply to Dean, 08-18-2012 10:47:33   Walmart isn't complaining. [Reply]  [No Email]
rustyfarmall 08-18-2012 08:02:52 67.55.162.174 Report to Moderator	Re: Damaged Battery in reply to El Toro, 08-18-2012 05:44:52   So how is this any different than the guy who purposely buys broken Craftsman tools at estate auctions, and then takes those tools to Sears for a full replacement? [Reply]  [No Email]
RodInNS 08-18-2012 08:56:23 216.118.158.123 Report to Moderator	Re: Damaged Battery in reply to rustyfarmall, 08-18-2012 08:02:52   What exactly is wrong with returning a tool with lifetime warranty for free replacement? I didn't pay a lot of money for a tool set up front only to be told they no longer honor the warranty. The fact that someone might buy them at a junk sale or wherever and return them is not relevant to me. The original purchaser could as easily have done that and sold a usable tool. Rod [Reply]  [No Email]
El Toro 08-18-2012 08:13:03 108.3.143.30 Report to Moderator	Re: Damaged Battery in reply to rustyfarmall, 08-18-2012 08:02:52   Walmart sets the rules. They never ask for a receipt. They go by the date code on the battery. I don't buy tools at any sale. I have too many now. Each battery now has a serial number. Hal [Reply]  [No Email]
Gambles 08-18-2012 07:44:33 24.246.215.127 Report to Moderator	Re: Damaged Battery in reply to El Toro, 08-18-2012 05:44:52   I'm not going to preach ethics here, but most battery warranty work at WM now includes up to 90 minutes of time on their new "battery analyzer". If you bring in a bad battery and are in a big hurry for a new one, it probably won't happen. [Reply]  [No Email]
El Toro 08-18-2012 07:55:58 108.3.143.30 Report to Moderator	Re: Damaged Battery in reply to Gambles, 08-18-2012 07:44:33   I also found this Kubota generator on the street. My wife said don't pick up that junk. After I dropped her off I went back and got it. It had a stuck valve and I sold it for $180.00. Hal PS: I couldn't find the picture. [Reply]  [No Email]
El Toro 08-18-2012 07:51:14 108.3.143.30 Report to Moderator	Re: Damaged Battery in reply to Gambles, 08-18-2012 07:44:33   They didn't use any battery analyzer and its a new big Walmart store that also has a grocery department. Told me at the customer service counter to go pick out another battery. I did have to show ID. Hal PS: Took less than 20 minutes to make the exchange. [Reply]  [No Email]
George Marsh 08-18-2012 07:19:21 50.104.200.175 Report to Moderator	Re: Damaged Battery in reply to El Toro, 08-18-2012 05:44:52   Isn't wal-mart a really bad BOX STORE? :) I've never had a problem returning something at WM even if I lost my receipt. They give me an in store credit. George [Reply]  [No Email]
gtractorfan 08-18-2012 07:03:10 71.66.229.3 Report to Moderator	Re: Damaged Battery in reply to El Toro, 08-18-2012 05:44:52   They didn't ask to see your receipt? [Reply]  [No Email]
George Marsh 08-18-2012 08:30:37 50.104.200.175 Report to Moderator	Re: Damaged Battery in reply to gtractorfan, 08-18-2012 07:03:10   I've returned many things to wal-mart and no receipt required. No hassle. Never returned a battery. Lowes will let you exhange a defective without a receipt. Menards has a computer where you can print off another receipt if you use a credit card. Might work if you use a check, not sure Not cash. I use a Menards credit card and can print off receipts form years ago. I love that about Menards. George [Reply]  [No Email]
El Toro 08-18-2012 07:43:47 108.3.143.30 Report to Moderator	Re: Damaged Battery in reply to gtractorfan, 08-18-2012 07:03:10   They just wanted some ID. It was an even exchange as those batteries have a 3 year free replacement. Hal [Reply]  [No Email]
David G 08-18-2012 06:46:00 205.215.206.18 Report to Moderator	Re: Damaged Battery in reply to El Toro, 08-18-2012 05:44:52   And you do not consider that stealing? [Reply]  [No Email]
El Toro 08-18-2012 07:45:05 108.3.143.30 Report to Moderator	Re: Damaged Battery in reply to David G, 08-18-2012 06:46:00   Just good business. Hal [Reply]  [No Email]
TomH in Pa 08-18-2012 06:52:52 67.235.10.94 Report to Moderator	Re: Damaged Battery in reply to David G, 08-18-2012 06:46:00   As long as the warranty is transferable from the original purchaser, I'd say no. The battery was under warranty and it failed. [Reply]  [No Email]
Sean Feeney 08-18-2012 07:59:40 174.63.127.125 Report to Moderator	Re: Damaged Battery in reply to TomH in Pa, 08-18-2012 06:52:52   The battery didn't fail the installer failed. [Reply]  [No Email]
Bus Driver 08-18-2012 06:04:44 66.226.54.122 Report to Moderator	Re: Damaged Battery in reply to El Toro, 08-18-2012 05:44:52   Even thought it is not in use at this time, it must be kept fully charged for longest life. [Reply]  [No Email]
Old Popper 08-18-2012 05:53:11 216.51.202.134 Report to Moderator	Re: Damaged Battery in reply to El Toro, 08-18-2012 05:44:52   Best battery deal I"ve heard of lately. One for you, zero for the one that set the damaged battery out for pick up. [Reply]  [No Email]
dpendzic 08-18-2012 10:06:17 24.184.13.49 Report to Moderator	Re: Damaged Battery in reply to Old Popper, 08-18-2012 05:53:11   zero also for all the ethical customers of WM and Sears that are paying extra for this overhead expense. [Reply]  [No Email]
jddriver 08-18-2012 13:07:32 108.79.56.180 Report to Moderator	Re: Damaged Battery in reply to dpendzic, 08-18-2012 10:06:17   agreed it might be legal just not ethical or right [Reply]  [No Email]