Battery recycle.

Today I visited our local WalMart checking on a battery to be used for operation of a radio scanner and/or CB radio in emergency situations such as bug out times. Found a nice LARGE vehicle battery and got the price as posted on the display sample which was a nice even $80. The salesman advised that he'd have to add an additional $10 for the recycle charge on the battery that I turn in on exchange. Told him that I do not HAVE a battery to be turned in as this is a first time buy and it will NOT be used in a vehicle but will be used for emergency radio operation only. He indicated that the store policy dictates that it is still necessary to collect the $10 recycle charge on ALL vehicle type battery sales. What the hell is going on with such a charge when there is NO battery to be turned in.[Bang]
Maybe their computer will automatically add the $10 but can't there be a little common sense used and perhaps over-ride the damn computer in such isolated/unusual cases?.[Rant1]

$10 core is typical. I always use the lead in mine to make bullets [Tooth]..

I checked with a neighbor a while back, he had an old battery laying around, I took it to walmart and saved the fee.

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Originally Posted by gnihcraes

I checked with a neighbor a while back, he had an old battery laying around, I took it to walmart and saved the fee.

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I guess I just don't understand the recycle process. After reading the above, sounds like I'd have to pay the $10 recycle fee but if I can find and take an old battery into the store later on, I'd get my $10 fee back (apparently to show that I didn't just drop the old battery into a land fill or dumpster). Is that right??
Still seems shitty that I have to pay a recycle fee when I buy a battery that is NOT going to be replacing an old battery.[Bang][Bang]

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Originally Posted by BlasterBob

I guess I just don't understand the recycle process. After reading the above, sounds like I'd have to pay the $10 recycle fee but if I can find and take an old battery into the store later on, I'd get my $10 fee back (apparently to show that I didn't just drop the old battery into a land fill or dumpster). Is that right??
Still seems shitty that I have to pay a recycle fee when I buy a battery that is NOT going to be replacing an old battery.[Bang][Bang]

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be thankful you don't live in CA. they hit our daughter up another $100.00 when she purchased new tires. told her it was the "environmental disposal fee"

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Originally Posted by jim

be thankful you don't live in CA. they hit our daughter up another $100.00 when she purchased new tires. told her it was the "environmental disposal fee"

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$100 -- OUCH!!

Actually, core fees started as a discount that was built into the price of rebuildable auto parts (or ones that have a substantial recycling value).
The store advertises an attractive price on the assumption that they will recover a few extra bucks when they sell your used part to a rebuilder as a 'core.' If you don't have a core to swap for the new part you pay the core fee.

I've had to pay core fees for 30+ years at pretty much all auto parts stores for starters, alternators, batteries and various other parts.

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Originally Posted by BlasterBob

I guess I just don't understand the recycle process. After reading the above, sounds like I'd have to pay the $10 recycle fee but if I can find and take an old battery into the store later on, I'd get my $10 fee back (apparently to show that I didn't just drop the old battery into a land fill or dumpster). Is that right??
Still seems shitty that I have to pay a recycle fee when I buy a battery that is NOT going to be replacing an old battery.[Bang][Bang]

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Originally Posted by BlasterBob

I guess I just don't understand the recycle process. After reading the above, sounds like I'd have to pay the $10 recycle fee but if I can find and take an old battery into the store later on, I'd get my $10 fee back (apparently to show that I didn't just drop the old battery into a land fill or dumpster). Is that right??
Still seems shitty that I have to pay a recycle fee when I buy a battery that is NOT going to be replacing an old battery.[Bang][Bang]

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Exactly, get an old battery, take it in with your receipt and they will refund your $10.

2ndChildhood and newracer, that pretty well explains the recycle requirement. Thanks, now I understand. When you get up into your 70's, like me, stuff like this is often difficult to understand especially when they want to collect $10 (and you can't understand why). That's still a lot of money for some of us old Farts.
BlasterBob - Trinidad

Here's a video of recycling the damn things - messy business.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJj5iIwF8p4

WalMart featuring NEVERSTART batteries.

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Originally Posted by Mtn.man

WalMart featuring NEVERSTART batteries.

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Woops, sounds like someone gave me some bum information then. I was told that the WalMart batteries are pretty good with a decent warranty.????

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Originally Posted by BlasterBob

Woops, sounds like someone gave me some bum information then. I was told that the WalMart batteries are pretty good with a decent warranty.????

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Mallwart, like most other retailers, has someone else manufacture their batteries. They put them out for bid, whoever is low bid for their specs gets the contract. There are only about half a dozen actual manufacturers in the US.

Had to take one bcak 2 years in a row, dead cell. last time guy in the auto dept said it had to go on the charger to see if it really was a bad cell, come back in 2 hours.
I said I live far away over the river and thru the woods.
He said store policy, so I said I just want my money back, still same shit from the now DICK HEAD, IMO.

So I went to the front and asked for the Head mand, the manager, the chosen one yada yada. He came out I explained what we do what happened and where I lived. NO problem money returned and I went to Costco. However since then we have a client that is sponsered by Optima so in the process of changing all our stuff to Optima.

PS I have had good luck with Costco brand Kirlkand one battery lasted 7 years in our truck.

Optima batteries are not what they used to be. They got bought out and are just a name now. I'm sure they are still good but the price is a bit high for what they are and where they are made these days. Just my .02 though.

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Originally Posted by DOC

Optima batteries are not what they used to be. They got bought out and are just a name now. I'm sure they are still good but the price is a bit high for what they are and where they are made these days. Just my .02 though.

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On of my good customers was a production manager for Optima out in Aurora. When they got sold, they closed the Aurora plant and moved production to Mexico. 70 jobs outsourced...[Bang]... including his.

I also heard that Government jobs 2:1 with manufacturing jobs. So that means the takers out number the makers 2:1. And that is unsustainable in any place. Sorry about the thread jack.

Well like I said our client is Sponsered by Optima, so our cost is way under the table low.
Johnson Controls makes batteries for Interstate and a couple others. All made at the same factory just different labels at the end of the conveyor.

If you can get a good deal on Optima Batteries go for it. I would.