What's the return procedure like for Costco batteries?

[ThePenIsMightier]

What's the return procedure like for Costco batteries? I've got one just a shade over 4 years old, so I'm out of the free replacement but still in the 50% pro-rated portion of the warranty.
I don't think they have battery testers, do they? Is it just gonna be an honour system scenario?

Also, do some locations in Calgary have better battery selection than others?

[ExtraSlow]

I don't know, but interested.

[S4maniac]

Costco returns are super easy ... complete honor system. Bring it in to Customer service, be sure to have the Costco card that bought the battery. They type in the battery number and check your account that it was bought from Costco. Boom - remaining warranty refunded to the credit card that bought it. No receipt required.

I had a Ford 6.0l diesel that ate both batteries on an annual basis ....

[ThePenIsMightier]

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Costco returns are super easy ... complete honor system. Bring it in to Customer service, be sure to have the Costco card that bought the battery. They type in the battery number and check your account that it was bought from Costco. Boom - remaining warranty refunded to the credit card that bought it. No receipt required.

I had a Ford 6.0l diesel that ate both batteries on an annual basis ....

Good. Thanks!

Now, does anyone recall how much better the car battery selection at ______ Costco is vs the Costco in ______ ?

[Gart]

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Good. Thanks!

Now, does anyone recall how much better the car battery selection at ______ Costco is vs the Costco in ______ ?

Not sure which ones are close for you, but I needed a group 35 battery last week and checked out the Tsuut'ina Costco selection. They had about 50% of the stock available based on their standard shelving set up. No Group 35 for me though, so I tried Heritage Costco near Ikea, which had closer to 70-75% of the batteries in stock.

[pheoxs]

Sorta on/off topic, where's the best place to buy a new battery nowadays? Is it Costco?

[ExtraSlow]

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Sorta on/off topic, where's the best place to buy a new battery nowadays? Is it Costco?

well, you do want somewhere with a godo return policy, and lots of locations. Costco or Crappy Tire are popular, although sounds like returns at Costso are easier.

If you spend a lot of time in small towns, which I used to, NAPA is a good choice because they have more locations in more small towns.

[Thaco]

Yeah costco returns are cake, it's just like a normal return, if you're within warranty and the purchase is on your current card then it's just a straight up refund just like any other return, no verification, no questions, just "doesn't work"

Then you go buy another, if you want.

I had one car that i drove very infrequently and had an alarm so it had parasitic draw, i think i exchanged the battery every winter when it froze for 2 years until i got rid of the car.

I also bought 2 golf cart batteries for the RV from them... i wont buy a new battery anywhere else.

[ThePenIsMightier]

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Sorta on/off topic, where's the best place to buy a new battery nowadays? Is it Costco?

I've had good luck with Costco batteries and they are so substantially cheaper, it virtually pays for a year's membership.
I am not even truly convinced my current Kirkland battery is bad, but I wanted to know what my options are because I'm sure there's another child canal (apparently that's Google gesture typing's version of cold snap) coming before spring.
*Like, how fuckin often am I typing "child canal" that that's even on the table for a selection!?!! I'm not Jared Fogel, fFS!

I used to be a more loyal Canadian Tire battery buyer because they used to have the best warranty but I gave up because dealing with a dead battery (only happens when it's -33°C and windy) is a pain in the urethra. Plus, like what started this thread, you might end up with some shit-dick at the parts counter who tries to tell you your battery is fine.
When I used to flip cars, 147% of them had a faulty battery from Canadian Tire that was still pretty shiny and certainly under warranty, but I never had the paperwork from the original buyer. It drove me nuts. Every car I had to factor in $100 hit at CT.

[pheoxs]

Thanks! How does Costco do core charges? Can I bring my other battery in later or should I take it out and bring it to see what size I need?

[ThePenIsMightier]

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Thanks! How does Costco do core charges? Can I bring my other battery in later or should I take it out and bring it to see what size I need?

Later, or at the time of. Either works.
I'd recommend bringing it in during purchase to avoid two trips.

[JDMMAN]

Yes to core charges. Just bring your battery in though and they'll credit the core charge to you.

Note that the Energizer AGM's aren't generally stocked at all locations in all sizes. I had to recently change out the Kirkland battery in my brother's RVR after not being able to re-charge after the recent deep freeze. They ended up refunding the original purchase, however, the same battery was now also $15 more, and the AGM upgrade would've only been $80 more, but alas, it wasn't in stock. (Costco Beacon Hills)

[Thaco]

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Thanks! How does Costco do core charges? Can I bring my other battery in later or should I take it out and bring it to see what size I need?

the core is done separately at the returns desk, so doing it at the same time really wont save you any time... and it's only $10

[ThePenIsMightier]

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the core is done separately at the returns desk, so doing it at the same time really wont save you any time... and it's only $10

It's $20 at Canadian Tire... Are you sure it's only $10 at Costco?

[Thaco]

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It's $20 at Canadian Tire... Are you sure it's only $10 at Costco?

Yep, i literally looked at batteries today and there was a sign right above them that it's a $10 core

[ExtraSlow]

can you return without purchase?

[Thaco]

Also FYI this is their warranty durations.



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can you return without purchase?

Yes, they dont "exchange" they just refund you and you buy another if you want/need, they dont care... i even offered to grab another to do an exchange and they said don't bother, just buy it normally.

[ExtraSlow]

Ah, no, I meant return for core refund at Canadian Tire for the $20 when you have a battery outside of warranty. I wasn't clear.

[ThePenIsMightier]

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Yep, i literally looked at batteries today and there was a sign right above them that it's a $10 core

WtF?!?
Here's a picture from yesterday at Crappy Tire.


I thought it was a govt program, so how could it be different?

*Also, I've maybe never seen a Costco with Optima batteries, so I don't know why they list those on that warranty page. I was also looking at that, yesterday.
Maybe some stores used to sell them a long time ago?

[ThePenIsMightier]

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Ah, no, I meant return for core refund at Canadian Tire for the $20 when you have a battery outside of warranty. I wasn't clear.

I don't think so, but there's possibly a refund at an Eco-Center.
You mean like finding whatever brand battery on the street and walking it into Costco demanding $10-$20?
I want to say "no", but you know I have trouble saying no to you.