Varta Battery 5 yr. Warranty, anyone?

[yeoblade]

So 4 yrs and 6 mths ago I bought a Varta (H3) Silver Dynamic cab Battery, it's no longer holding charge, removed from vehicle and a series of test show it will only hold sufficient charge to start vehicle for 24hrs max. I particularly paid extra and bought premium brand 5yr warranty, not that I will again as it's cheaper to throw away cheap stuff than expensive. Anyone had a successful warranty claim? I have to foot £20 to get the supplier to test and report if they will honour the 5 yrs. IF it's deemed to have a manufacturing fault. I have always checked voltage to ensure it had never been overly discharge. The previous one lasted 7 years
Yes it's I know I want my pound of flesh

 

[Tezza33]

When I purchased a new battery years ago my local supplier told me not to buy an expensive battery because they would not honour the 5yr warranty on a motorhome, (like an idiot I pulled up outside with it) they automatically assume it has been standing a long time
I purchased a Bosch with a 3yr warranty which was on offer and a lot cheaper, it must have been on for 10 years now

 

[wildebus]

So 4 yrs and 6 mths ago I bought a Varta (H3) Silver Dynamic cab Battery, it's no longer holding charge, removed from vehicle and a series of test show it will only hold sufficient charge to start vehicle for 24hrs max. I particularly paid extra and bought premium brand 5yr warranty, not that I will again as it's cheaper to throw away cheap stuff than expensive. Anyone had a successful warranty claim? I have to foot £20 to get the supplier to test and report if they will honour the 5 yrs. IF it's deemed to have a manufacturing fault. I have always checked voltage to ensure it had never been overly discharge. The previous one lasted 7 years
Yes it's I know I want my pound of flesh

you would have to check the details of the warranty, but many warranties, especially with something that wears, are on a prorata basis... if something is warranted for 5 years and it fails after 3 years the warranty may pay back 2/5ths the value.
Battery like yours maybe worth £150 tops? if it was a pro-rata warranty, you might get 1/10th the cost back, so £15. Yup, definately get that tested for £20 Oh, you will also lose the £10-£15 you would get for scrap value as well


PS. How can you confirm to them it has never been overly discharged? have you monitored it 24/7 with a log of the information?

 

[Canalsman]

I buy vehicle batteries from Halfords. They are excellent at honouring battery warranties.

 

[yeoblade]

you would have to check the details of the warranty, but many warranties, especially with something that wears, are on a prorata basis... if something is warranted for 5 years and it fails after 3 years the warranty may pay back 2/5ths the value.
Battery like yours maybe worth £150 tops? if it was a pro-rata warranty, you might get 1/10th the cost back, so £15. Yup, definately get that tested for £20 Oh, you will also lose the £10-£15 you would get for scrap value as well


PS. How can you confirm to them it has never been overly discharged? have you monitored it 24/7 with a log of the information?

Actually surprisingly the warranty is replacement, not pro-rata, but as they mark their own homework, deciding if it is a manufacturing defect, well....... and I couldn't supply 4.5 yrs of voltage! data, !!
Also Varta offer the 5yr warranty on their product, so contractually I'm not sure whether the supplier or the manufacturer would be liable.
Anyway, I'll not gamble on a negative outcome that I couldn't contest, so I'll "way it in" and buy another with a 1yr warranty so as to not to be disappointed next time .

 

[yeoblade]

I buy vehicle batteries from Halfords. They are excellent at honouring battery warranties.

Yes, I've heard that before, a friend of mine left a battery totally flat for at least a month! then said it wouldn't work, so took it back for a replacement no problem. Off to Halfrauds tomorrow!

 

[caledonia]

I buy vehicle batteries from Halfords. They are excellent at honouring battery warranties.

Totally agree and if you do have a battery issue while away there’s a store in every retail park.

 

[Nabsim]

Or if you have a Costco card you could use them

 

[Canalsman]

Yes, I've heard that before, a friend of mine left a battery totally flat for at least a month! then said it wouldn't work, so took it back for a replacement no problem. Off to Halfrauds tomorrow!

Did you buy it from Halfords? You'll need their receipt...

PS I worked for Halfords developing an IT system for them. It was the best job in my career and they were an excellent employer. I do find the moniker that you used somewhat inappropriate...

 

[alcam]

Did you buy it from Halfords? You'll need their receipt...

PS I worked for Halfords developing an IT system for them. It was the best job in my career and they were an excellent employer. I do find the moniker that you used somewhat inappropriate...

Tend to agree . Good service , handy shop

 

[yeoblade]

Did you buy it from Halfords? You'll need their receipt...

PS I worked for Halfords developing an IT system for them. It was the best job in my career and they were an excellent employer. I do find the moniker that you used somewhat inappropriate...

No, it was from large on-line retailer, hence £20 return charge, TBF they have been very helpful, asking me to perform charging and checking voltage, which it failed on, dropping to 12.6v after resting a few hrs. from fully charged. And after 24 hrs resting not able to start the vehicle. I'd be Interested to know how they would decide if a manufacturing fault or otherwise, I'd guess there isn't a chip in it they can download data from, (yet)