Sears and the Diehard Platinum warranty replacement question

[dstock]

My second Diehard Platinum is dead, lasted 8 months longer than the other one which died at the beginning of this year. These batteries have been discontinued and I was able to get a refund on a Sears gift card for the first one because they had no equivalent options.

I see on the website they now have a Diehard Gold AGM battery. My question is has anyone turned in a Diehard Platinum lately under warranty and what has been Sears's response? Curious if they are now pushing the this Gold AGM on customers..

Thanks.

 

[rayra]

probably more an issue that Sears probably won't exist in a few years. They've been skirting bankruptcy for years.

I've been a long-time user of DieHard batteries. But I'm looking at 5yr-replacement batteries form WalMart now, just because they'll almost certainly be around going forward. And they're everywhere.

There are only a few battery manufacturers in the USA. Most all of the small / local brands are simply labels on batteries from these few manufacturers (such as Interstate)


That Diehard Gold AGM doesn't seem that good -
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/...atteries-can-be-from-the-same-brand/index.htm


Ultimately you are buying warranty and ease of replacement, beyond the rudiments of group size / CCA. And the Gold / Premium appellation more often seems to be about the term of the warranty / replacement, than any true increase in quality.



eta - A label is just a label. A vendor may have more than one manufacturer's products all bearing the vendor's branding label.


walmart batteries are made by Exide / Johnson Controls


http://www.carsdirect.com/car-maintenance/best-car-battery-top-brands-reviews-and-ratings

http://jgdarden.com/batteryfaq/batbrand.htm

 

[dstock]

For the record, I have no intention of putting any Diehard back in my Jeep. My starting battery is an Optima yellow top which is working way better then the Platinum ever did and I will be adding a second to replace the aux Platinum that just died.

I am shooting for a gift card from Sears, but sometimes the folks at Sears can be difficult and if I am forced into taking another battery from them, I will use it as a replacement for the battery in my trailer which sees very light duty.

I don't want this to turn into a "which battery is better" thread, just looking for anyone's recent experience with Sears on this issue.

 

[Herbie]

From other threads, the consensus is that the new Diehard Gold batteries are rebadged East-Penn/Deka units. So that's quality, at least.

 

[dstock]

From other threads, the consensus is that the new Diehard Gold batteries are rebadged East-Penn/Deka units. So that's quality, at least.

Great, thanks for the info. I must have missed the threads, I will take a look.

 

[AndrewP]

Please post up if you can confirm that. I looked at them and they looked to be the usual Johnson Controls case.

Though in fairness, JC batteries may not have the best reputation, they are inexpensive at Costco and work fine.

I would like to have a reliable source for the rebadged Dekas, but the parts stores are cagey about who supplies what.

 

[Herbie]

Please post up if you can confirm that.

Here's the post I saw on this forum:
http://www.expeditionportal.com/for...Sears-DuraLast-Platinum?p=1986862#post1986862

I also saw reference to this on American Adventurist forum, I think.

 

[rayra]

I don't want this to turn into a "which battery is better" thread, just looking for anyone's recent experience with Sears on this issue.

I am most specifically NOT trying to do such a thing. Don't give a fig which battery you choose. I'm just putting that background info out there for the audience.

 

[dstock]

I am most specifically NOT trying to do such a thing. Don't give a fig which battery you choose. I'm just putting that background info out there for the audience.

Geez, lighten up! :sombrero: