When we need a car battery - it usually right now We are stuck somewhere, our car won’t go. That makes us ripe targets for a rip off … and the sharks seem to know that.
Some of my experiences
1 mobile battery service – pulls the battery out of my car, only then does he attach a multi meter, (he could have done that without removing the battery of course) He connects the meter, red lead to negative pole (reversed) “ mate, this is bad – its showing negative 12 volts!” When I called out his BS he drove of leaving my battery on the footpath, halting briefly in case I changed my mind. I pity that happening to my Mum.
2 Auto clubs - EG RACQ , NRMA , RACV As a member I call for a jump start and expect to see the nearest roadside assistance and as soon as possible.
What eventually arrives is a commissioned battery salesman who just happens to have on board the exact battery to fit my uncommon car. He later admits he went to the depot to collect the unique battery - meaning I waited much longer for my jump start…
Their batteries are just rebranded products I can buy anywhere for less than the special Club price.
3. Repco / Supercheap Auto - resale price maintenance when they put on deals “20% off everything “ - it excludes batteries. The monopoly on battery manufacture is being abused and is lessening competition.
4 Battery World - a franchise chain owned by the giant Century Yausa
My car needed a new ancillary battery - Think of an alarm system battery.
I phone a local store. $49 And how much to fit ? $30
I go to the store the next day - they insist on testing the main battery of course it’s not like new but the car starts just fine. 11 times he pushes me to buy a new $600 battery.
Behind the counter they have my small battery with a note taped to it - $49. I smell a rat and go look at the shelf stock. Yep my battery is marked on the shelf at $29!. The store owner shows no remorse. I walk away
I contact Battery World head office who investigate and tell me in an email that I was dishonest. They say the battery was $30 and $49 was for fitting.
So I send then a recording of the phone call that makes it very clear the battery was indeed $49, and optional fitting was $30.
Confronted with this proof that the franchise holder was scamming me and lying to them, their response was… silence. It seems they condone the shonky behaviour at the highest level.
I’m sure that many people don’t realise they are being ripped off by this predatory Industry.
What have you been subject to ?