Battery recycle.

[BlasterBob]

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.
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?.

[mx'r]

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

[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.

[BlasterBob]

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

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.

[Great-Kazoo]

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.

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"

[BlasterBob]

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"

$100 -- OUCH!!

[2ndChildhood]

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.

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.

[newracer]

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.

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

[BlasterBob]

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

[2ndChildhood]

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

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