Optima Batteries

Milford Cubicle II, as wolfpackjeeper indicated, “unknown service history” meant that even though the battery may have appeared to you to be unused, the previous use of the battery was unknown to you. All BlueTops come with threaded top posts, which can still look pristine after heavy use.

Chpmnsws6, I'm sorry to hear about the batteries your business has had to exchange under warranty. Please PM me with the contact information for your company, so I can look into your situation further.


Jim McIlvaine
eCare Manager, OPTIMA Batteries, Inc.
www.facebook.com/optimabatteries
 
I did not buy an optima battery nor have any experience with an Optima battery. All I have to say if OptimaJim is trying to make stuff right for ORIGINAL OWNERS then that helps prove you are working with a reputable company. In my experience's with batteries I go with what I can afford and avoid anything from Auto Zone or Walmart. That's just my opinion. It's all personal preference, but bashing a product is not the way to go.
 
I phased my Optima battery's out for Odyssey batteries.

Jim, my next battery will be an Optima. You have sold me on giving them another chance, after I have watched your video on how to recharge a discharged battery, that is.
 
My experience is as follows.

Yellow top 6 years, Dead 87 XJ, rough life went through a couple events that a battery shouldn't I won't go into detail to keep this short. It died to some incorrect charging I forgot what the person told me but it blew the top off.

Red top 3years, living F250 PSD, Purchased the vehicle after it was repo'd from a cement company battery came with it. I would assume a cement company put a lot of draw on it they had some interesting wiring in the truck bed I assume was for equipment.

Yellow top 87 XJ, Purchased today just for milford.
I purchased it from auto zone for 180$ over 20$ less than the sears platinum and way less than odysseys. In addition I also received a 20$ mail in rebate sending the price down to 160$
I've seen Optima's referred to as over priced but 160$ is a crap load less than platinum and it comes with a smoking warranty.


Thanks Milford .!.:D.!.
IMG_20110813_151937.jpg
 
Last edited:
We do a ton of battery sales and returns/warranty. Optima batteries are quite the minority.
 
AIbandit said:
My experience is as follows.

Yellow top 6 years, Dead 87 XJ, rough life went through a couple events that a battery shouldn't I won't go into detail to keep this short. It died to some incorrect charging I forgot what the person told me but it blew the top off.

Red top 3years, living F250 PSD, Purchased the vehicle after it was repo'd from a cement company battery came with it. I would assume a cement company put a lot of draw on it they had some interesting wiring in the truck bed I assume was for equipment.

Yellow top 87 XJ, Purchased today just for milford.
I purchased it from auto zone for 180$ over 20$ less than the sears platinum and way less than odysseys. In addition I also received a 20$ mail in rebate sending the price down to 160$
I've seen Optima's referred to as over priced but 160$ is a crap load less than platinum and it comes with a smoking warranty.


Thanks Milford .!.:D.!.
IMG_20110813_151937.jpg
Click to expand...

Congratulations on spending a lot more money on less battery? :dunno:

My experience has been quite different from yours (obviously).

I know the battery I had was not connected to anything by the posts. You can tell by the scrapes the terminals leave from being put on, tightened down, and taken back off. If you don't believe me then try to tighten terminals down on a new battery without leaving visible marks on the posts. But let's just say that I'm wrong and the battery was indeed used, either heavily or lightly, doesn't matter. Then why would it work fine for about a year and THEN take a dump?

I'm fine with accepting that even the best companies and manufacturers make poop from time to time. But what I'm put off by is when such companies make far fetched excuses rather than simply admitting that their product failed, ala "optima jim."

So jim can you explain why, if the battery failed because it was previously used and presumably "abused," that it worked fine for about a year before it crapped out?

And FWIW, the Napa (East Penn I believe) batteries that I replaced my optima with have twice the capacity of the optima d34m and cost half as much :roflmao:
 
With all the talk about optima I am going to give them a shot. My cheapy walmart battery is on its way out and I am due for a battery. Napa stocks them and the store has been really good to me so I know if I have an issue they will make it right. I know I have put them down but I may as well give it a shot to either change my world or back up my previous thoughts.

My dilemma has been, going with top and side posts or just top. I have a few accessories(fog hid, headlight harness, aux lights) hooked up so having them on the side terminals may be nice.
 
Since this is back up, Milford, did you ever take a picture of the battery to show the date of manufacture?

and x2 on replacing your cable terminals with those^
 
for anyone that didnt read thru 3 pages of this thread, milford found a subway sandwich on the street, ate some, didnt like it, and wants a replacement from subway. subway politely said no, enjoy your free street sandwich. yet milford continues to take swipes at subway, but nobody listens, cause he's milford...
 
I have stud terminals, maybe not as awesome as those but the same style and mine are brass I am pretty sure, I would have to check. I keep going back and forth on the side terminals. I believe the napa near me sells the model with top/side terminals for Cheaper than just the top post model which is odd to me.
 
AFAIK, the ones with both are the common, standards... if you absolutly MUST have it exactly your way... optima obliges, but it'll cost you extra... thats the way i see it, and that seems fair to me!
 
Is there any reason to not have side terminals? Even if I end up not using them it would be a cheaper battery. If there is some downside to the side terminals though I would be fine with paying up for the top only model.
 
You sell batteries, and you've got three options: a battery that fits car A, a battery that fits car B, and a battery that fits both. Which one are you going to try to sell more of? Which one simplifies production, ordering, stocking, and sales?
 
iwannadie said:
Is there any reason to not have side terminals? Even if I end up not using them it would be a cheaper battery. If there is some downside to the side terminals though I would be fine with paying up for the top only model.
Click to expand...

no real "downside" to the side terminals as long as you are not running extremely high current through them. The side terminals are just an extension off the top post and the straps used to attach them can become damaged with high current flow. Use the top post for big stuff like winches and use the side if necessary for smaller demand items.
 
Milford - the more you bash, the more you make your argument less credible.

1. So they are made in mexico, who cares? So is alot of stuff. The only issue major issue theyve had has been uneducated customers. And instead of telling them to piss off and voiding the warranty on a good battery, they are being proactive and educating customers on how to correctly charge them to ultimaty save the customer money. You couldnt ask for a better company.

2. You bought the battery used, as is. Sucks. Hate it for ya. Maybe you shouldve bought a new one and jim could warranty it out for you?

3. Maybe theres an unknown issue with the jeep that has caused the battery to fail? 8 times outta 10 when we install a battery at the shop and it comes back to be warrantied, theres an underlying issue with grounds or an alternator on the fritz.


Jim - ive never been more impressed with how a companys customer service rep handled a forum with cheap, angry people bashing a company that made a product that they purchased second-hand. I have an optima red top in my 01 limited xj, a red top in my wifes 03 accord, a red top in our 99 lexus, and my father in-law has two redtops. One in a 95 wrangler, and one(iirc) in his 03 2500 chevy. We have had no issues with any of them. If one was to require replacement, my money would go right back to optima again, without question.
 
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