Optima Batteries and Costco..
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 675
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From: Riverside, California
Optima Batteries and Costco..
My battery is getting old and I'm thinking of replacing it with a Optima Red or Yellow Top. I'm at my local 'Vette mech's and as he carries them I ask how much. He calls the Optima factory to price and order and I'm listening on the speaker phone and the guy at the factory gets into a conversation regarding Costco pricing. He states Costco buys their batteries that have been sitting on the shelf for over a year at a deep discount and then resell them to us. So that means when you buy an Optima at Costco it already has a year or more on it?? 
Sorry, I'll buy a new one through my "Vette mech and know it's new, not old new.
Padrino
Sorry, I'll buy a new one through my "Vette mech and know it's new, not old new.
Padrino
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The battery that I bought from Costco last year had a current month and year sticker on it from the manufacturer. Sounds to me like your mechanic is just trying to bad mouth the competition because they sell the exact same product cheaper than he can. I guess you don't spend enough money with him......
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 675
Likes: 3
From: Riverside, California
The battery that I bought from Costco last year had a current month and year sticker on it from the manufacturer. Sounds to me like your mechanic is just trying to bad mouth the competition because they sell the exact same product cheaper than he can. I guess you don't spend enough money with him......
Padrino
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The battery that I bought from Costco last year had a current month and year sticker on it from the manufacturer. Sounds to me like your mechanic is just trying to bad mouth the competition because they sell the exact same product cheaper than he can. I guess you don't spend enough money with him......
Pro
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 592
Likes: 17
From: Tempe AZ
Costco buys in BULK from the manufacturer and offers a three year non prorated warranty - no questions asked. Then the balance of the warranty kicks in. You do the math but shipping a year old battery back and forth is not cheap.
Why would Costco and Optima sell an old battery with a new warranty?
Why would Costco and Optima sell an old battery with a new warranty?
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,640
Likes: 83
From: . New York
If Im gonna buy something....anything....and they have it at Costco, I buy it there. Their return policy is the best I've ever dealt with. They flat just take anything back for any reason that you are not satisfied.
I bought ten trees from them last year around September. Four turned brown and may not make it. I stopped by the Customer Service when I was in the other day, just to ask about it (never for a minute expecting they would do anything about trees I bought last year, planted in my yard). They said, no problem, you will need to bring the ones that didnt take in before September and we will give you a refund for the full purchase price.
I dont know, like I said, if they have it, Im buying it there.
BTW, that is why I bought my tires there. I researched and decided on Michelin AS ZP's, had them order them and put them on. They lifted the car right, had the "no touch" mounting equipment, and the (Roadforce?) Hunter?) high speed balancing equipment. Very satisfied.
I bought ten trees from them last year around September. Four turned brown and may not make it. I stopped by the Customer Service when I was in the other day, just to ask about it (never for a minute expecting they would do anything about trees I bought last year, planted in my yard). They said, no problem, you will need to bring the ones that didnt take in before September and we will give you a refund for the full purchase price.
I dont know, like I said, if they have it, Im buying it there.
BTW, that is why I bought my tires there. I researched and decided on Michelin AS ZP's, had them order them and put them on. They lifted the car right, had the "no touch" mounting equipment, and the (Roadforce?) Hunter?) high speed balancing equipment. Very satisfied.
Last edited by Jistari; Jul 18, 2008 at 01:56 AM.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,993
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From: LaPine Oregon
New Red Top Optima..........
I just , well last weekend bought a new optima Red Top for my tractor and it had a current date. I'm really particular about dates on tires, batteries, paint, medication, ect. Hummmmm?
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I just got one Monday from Costco. Right now there is a $25 rebate in effect from Optima. The 75/35 redtop was 129.99 + tax. Best price I could find. Most places here wanted $150 plus for this battery. YMMV Don
Oh yeah the battery was new built July 2008
Oh yeah the battery was new built July 2008
Racer
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 440
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From: Orange CA
St. Jude Donor '10
My battery is getting old and I'm thinking of replacing it with a Optima Red or Yellow Top. I'm at my local 'Vette mech's and as he carries them I ask how much. He calls the Optima factory to price and order and I'm listening on the speaker phone and the guy at the factory gets into a conversation regarding Costco pricing. He states Costco buys their batteries that have been sitting on the shelf for over a year at a deep discount and then resell them to us. So that means when you buy an Optima at Costco it already has a year or more on it??
Sorry, I'll buy a new one through my "Vette mech and know it's new, not old new.
Padrino
Sorry, I'll buy a new one through my "Vette mech and know it's new, not old new.
Padrino
My tenant works for the warehouse that all the batterys (All brands) in the LA area funnel through. All batteries are "serviced" (trickle charged) at regular intervals to maintain them in full service fresh condition.
I dout your "VM" is talking to the Optima Factory in Aurora, CO ... and I dont know it for a fact, but really dout that who ever was on the other end of the phone (SoCal) knows anything about CostCo's purchasing agreements, do you really think they could maintain a buisness selling old goods with a 100% satisfaction guarantee (it is one of the best).
Always check the manufactures date .. tires, batterys ... anything with a shelf life.
By the way stand by for an onslaught of opinions on any of the Optima battery's!!! I use them and have for years.
Terminal Vette Addict
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,634
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From: Philly PA
red caps come in two flavors:
1) main flavor 800 ish CCA - its found everywhere
2) rare but you can all to find 1000 CCA!!! And only $20+ more.
SPend the time and track down teh 1000 CCA one. Call your local pepboys/autozone see if they have it. If not, they can do a store search and then find it. Call that store adn have it put on reserve. When they do come in they go fast.
When i got mine, i had another vette owner there 2 min before me both drove 20 min... but since i gave my card# and paid over the phone it was mine!
1) main flavor 800 ish CCA - its found everywhere
2) rare but you can all to find 1000 CCA!!! And only $20+ more.
SPend the time and track down teh 1000 CCA one. Call your local pepboys/autozone see if they have it. If not, they can do a store search and then find it. Call that store adn have it put on reserve. When they do come in they go fast.
When i got mine, i had another vette owner there 2 min before me both drove 20 min... but since i gave my card# and paid over the phone it was mine!
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One way to check is just go into Costco and see what date is on the batteries.
