20+ Year Customer Lost - Terrible Warranty Policy and Even Worse Customer Service!
I've been a loyal Batteries Plus customer for over 20 years, spending thousands of dollars on batteries for vehicles, ATVs, generators, and countless other applications. I also have a professional background in the automotive industry, including ASE certification, so I'm certainly no stranger to batteries, charging systems, or diagnosing battery failures.
On Sunday, my wife's car battery failed. I contacted the Mesa location and was informed that Batteries Plus had implemented new company-wide warranty procedures apparently designed to reduce warranty replacements. These requirements were subsequently confirmed by an employee at the Gilbert location.
Apparently, a defective battery must be capable of accepting a full charge before it can be properly tested and considered for warranty replacement.
Seriously? A battery that won't accept a full charge is often the very definition of a failed battery! After a career in the automotive industry, I find this requirement particularly ridiculous.
To the Mesa employee's credit, he was courteous, apologetic, and tried to help. Unfortunately, they didn't have the replacement battery in stock, but the Gilbert location showed three available.
I called Gilbert and explained the situation. The employee informed me that because the battery had already been replaced under warranty in 2024, I would now be required to pay 50% toward another replacement, despite the warranty being valid through March 2027. With their increased pricing, that meant approximately $130 out of pocket, assuming the battery cleared all their warranty-testing hurdles. And the replacement would only carry approximately FIVE MONTHS of warranty coverage!
After more than two decades of loyalty, I found this extremely disappointing.
I asked the Gilbert employee if he would pass my concerns up the management chain, explaining that these policies were driving away a longtime customer who had spent thousands of dollars with the company. I also explained that I would be taking my future business to Walmart, where batteries are competitively priced, readily available, and supported by a much larger network of locations.
His response? He hung up on me!
That's absolutely unacceptable customer service, especially toward someone simply asking that legitimate concerns be communicated to management.
Batteries Plus used to be my go-to source for batteries of all kinds. Unfortunately, their increasingly restrictive warranty process, questionable replacement costs, and the treatment I received from the Gilbert location have changed that.
My recommendation: Think twice before purchasing an automotive battery from Batteries Plus, and be especially cautious about dealing with the Gilbert location. There are better options available.
After 20+ years, Batteries Plus has lost my business. read more