buying batteries

[netmaker]

hi all. just want to share a very pleasant business dealing. one of my deep cycle batteries is on its way out. my good battery is a 130ah trojan scs225 so i wanted to pair it with another the same. when i bought the last one 2-3 years back it cost me $480 from a local supplier. i did a little research this time. found gobattery online (hope island based) and was quoted $317 including free delivery. also, a marine outlet (bit too far away) had them for $350. then called the old local joint again and they quoted $489!!! when i told them the prices i had the best they could do was $448???? why is a local battery specialist so much more expensive than the retail marine outlet? needless to say i ordered from gobattery sunday morning at 9 and my battery arrived at 2pm monday. great service and great price. check them out next time you need a battery. and i'm spewing my wifes car battery dropped a cell only a week ago and i sent her to our local specialist. last $ they will see from my household and friends.
cheers
davo

[SCOTTYGC]

good to see

some nice pricing there

[choppa]

it is a possibility that your local supplier does not have the pricing structure of that of his/her competitors within the brand that you are chasing,,, as an example when I worked in the motor trade,, each parts division of the dealerships i worked with "favoured" a specific brand of aftermarket battery,,, because they stocked more (and sold more) of this brand,, they in turn received better cost pricing allowing them to compete with other local suppliers BUT if a customer required a specific brand of battery due to their own preference, to buy this in as a one off,, or to sell from limited stock worked out dearer than that of the local supplier who had a relationship with this particular battery brand supplier

due to the economy the way it is today,,, most retailers do not carry the stock values of days gone by,,, especially when order deliveries can be guarenteed same day or overnight,,, so the pricing value then versus the service value and so on

just a possibility on your scenario,,, but with the difference in cost to you being over $130 it's a fair chance of the above,,,, OR he/she is greedy

choppa

[Ausfish]

Yep, as Choppa said. Also can be a case of different brands, quality, etc.

But either way, good to hear you got some good service, can be pretty rare these days.

[netmaker]

yeah choppa, know what you're saying but when i bought the 1st trojan the local battery joint had a pile of them and that was the battery they recommended to me. now i know why. and even if their "relationship" with the supplier is not as cosy as it could be, why cant they buy from gobattery themselves, tag on a hundred and still be cheaper? gobattery had even lower prices for multibuys as well.
cheers

[choppa]

understand your dilemna Dave,,, but as Steve stated its good to see that with a bit of research you came out a handful of $$$ better of,,, and as far as their service is concerned for a "battery" delivery is excellent,,,

i have to check my boat battery actually,,, it hasn't been kicked over in 6-8 months,,,

choppa

[Still_Dreamin]

I had a similar experience when I needed to get a new battery for my cars dual battery system. i went back to the store at Geebung that originally installed the dual battery system 7 years ago and have bought two new batteries there over the years, to find out the owner had sold the business and just worked there as an employee now. When i asked for the same battery I was told they didn't stock it but they would get it in and call me. Guess what they never called. I did the drive around the usual suspects and the battery was 240-260 fitted. Went on line found it for 170 inc delivery from an online store in NSW and it arrived two days later. Took 5 minutes to install myself. The surprise was in the box was a complimentary set of jumper leads and a usb aa/aaa battery charger. Probably won't ever use either but was really impressed with the service. It is just a pity I can't remember their name to give them a plug

[Si]

PM sent big fella.