Car battery life

[2speedy1]

I think your original post on this implied that if someone were to buy a John Deere S120 at Home Depot it was made much more cheaply and was a cheaper version compared to the John Deere S120 sold at a Van Wall or other non-box dealership.

For years it was that way, but.... as been said the dealers complained they could not sell those cheap versions and losing the sales. So they were allowed to sell them too. They are the same cheap versions, and when those dealers told me about it, it was the case.

This would be the same thing if Ace hardware complained to Milwaukee that they wanted to be able to sell the cheap version that Walmart has, and they get the same discount version. (which I am sure it does happen in many cases). But it is still a discount version full a cheap parts.

None of this changes the fact that Walmart selling anything "premium" is nothing but a lie. As long as people realize this and that even if it is the same model or looks as if it is, as other places, many times if you look at the parts inside you will immediately notice the difference.

For many people this is not a big deal, but in cases like this when people wonder why something wears out prematurely even though its a "premium" brand or version, it needs to be understood.

 

[Gonzo]

For years it was that way, but.... as been said the dealers complained they could not sell those cheap versions and losing the sales. So they were allowed to sell them too. They are the same cheap versions, and when those dealers told me about it, it was the case.

This would be the same thing if Ace hardware complained to Milwaukee that they wanted to be able to sell the cheap version that Walmart has, and they get the same discount version. (which I am sure it does happen in many cases). But it is still a discount version full a cheap parts.

None of this changes the fact that Walmart selling anything "premium" is nothing but a lie. As long as people realize this and that even if it is the same model or looks as if it is, as other places, many times if you look at the parts inside you will immediately notice the difference.

For many people this is not a big deal, but in cases like this when people wonder why something wears out prematurely even though its a "premium" brand or version, it needs to be understood.

You're saying for years there was a "quality" version of an S100 and a "cheap" version of an S100?

 

[flycy]

For those who used Costco for the batteries, they just completely redid their warranty program for the worse. Not to mention, some interstate batteries are now being made by Exide.

Used to really like Interstate batteries but have gotten some junk from them lately.

 

[2speedy1]

You're saying for years there was a "quality" version of an S100 and a "cheap" version of an S100?

No, not exactly. The S series was the cheap version of JD. There was not the same exact model in dealerships at that time.

But for a lot of things they all look the same, you would have to realize they added something like an 'S' to the model number to realize it is a different version.

Still doesnt change the fact that those cheap versions are far less quality than said actual premium versions at the dealerships, that are not sold in the box stores.

I also am not saying those cheap version of things sold at Walmart are not sold at other places either. Just that Walmart often times does not sell the premium versions that the other stores sell. Walmart just calls their top quality brands as the premium, even though it is actually what is considered the discount model at other places, that do sell premium versions.

Example, (hypothetical)
If Walmart sells a bunch of drills, But their so called premium model/brand is a Milwaukee model 1234X. They advertise that as a premium Milwaukee tool.

Ace Hardware sells a bunch of drills, including 2 milwaukee drills, Model 1234X same thing as Walmart, but calls it their budget version. They also sell the Milwaukee 2345, which they list at a much higher price but is also much higher quality, which is not available to or sold at Walmart. If you ask a Walmart employee they will tell you their Milwaukee is the premium brand and version because, Hey its a Milwaukee. If you ask the Ace hardware clerk they will say both versions are milwaukee but one is a discount version, with lower quality.

 

[Gonzo]

No, not exactly. The S series was the cheap version of JD. There was not the same exact model in dealerships at that time.

But for a lot of things they all look the same, you would have to realize they added something like an 'S' to the model number to realize it is a different version.

Still doesnt change the fact that those cheap versions are far less quality than said actual premium versions at the dealerships, that are not sold in the box stores.

I also am not saying those cheap version of things sold at Walmart are not sold at other places either. Just that Walmart often times does not sell the premium versions that the other stores sell. Walmart just calls their top quality brands as the premium, even though it is actually what is considered the discount model at other places, that do sell premium versions.

Example, (hypothetical)
If Walmart sells a bunch of drills, But their so called premium model/brand is a Milwaukee model 1234X. They advertise that as a premium Milwaukee tool.

Ace Hardware sells a bunch of drills, including 2 milwaukee drills, Model 1234X same thing as Walmart, but calls it their budget version. They also sell the Milwaukee 2345, which they list at a much higher price but is also much higher quality, which is not available to or sold at Walmart. If you ask a Walmart employee they will tell you their Milwaukee is the premium brand and version because, Hey its a Milwaukee. If you ask the Ace hardware clerk they will say both versions are milwaukee but one is a discount version, with lower quality.

Yeah a 100 series isn't going to be as nice as a 300 or 700 series, I get that. But that's different from Nike making two versions of the same shoe and selling the more cheaply made ones at Kohls.

 

[2speedy1]

Yeah a 100 series isn't going to be as nice as a 300 or 700 series, I get that. But that's different from Nike making two versions of the same shoe and selling the more cheaply made ones at Kohls.

Again not exactly what I was trying to say.

I will just agree to disagree and move on. Kinda like our takes on the better State University here in Iowa.

 

[cyanide]

So who sells and installs the best batteries?

 

[2speedy1]

So who sells and installs the best batteries?

Pretty sure Optima Batteries are considered the best. At least by most I know.

They are spendy, but you get what you pay for.

So pretty much anywhere that sells/installs Optima would be my bet.

 

[Die4Cy]

Are you sure? It has been readily told that the ones in big box stores are not built by JD. If nothing else they do the same thing as others do with massively lowering the quality for those they send to said stores vs actual JD dealerships. Because those models are really cheap junk.

John Deere stopped putting their names on things that were manufactured by others back in the late 1990's I think. For a while (and for all I know they still might) they sold a line of ag equipment branded "Frontier" that was just competitor products painted JD green at their ag dealerships. On the lawn and landscape side of the business, they have always sold basic models along side better equipped ones at their dealers. The big box store partnerships that are new since the middle of the 00's or so, allowed them to access suburban markets away from their dealership network. But the equipment sold their are definitely designed for that market and price point.