I purchased a Yellow Top battery while on vacation in Florida in Febuary of 2009 (22 months ago) cost $175.00 from Advance Auto Parts. I have since misplaced the receipt. Fast forward to Monday Jan 24th 2011. No tickety no washy. The date is punched out on the top of the battery as 02-09 (22 months) I wrote a nice letter to Yellow Top explaining my dilemma, in return I received a nice form letter explaining their policy on how vital the receipt is to the process. The very fabric of human mankind will quickly unravel without that receipt. Also Advance auto will not share buyer info with other Advance shops around the country. Short story, I'm out $175.00 Please Please staple this receipt to your forehead because without it your out of luck. It does not stop here though. Get this you must return to the originating place of purchase. I checked air fare to Melborne FL is $$350.00 round trip from Chicago to Orlando. Question will they let me board a flight with a Yellow Top battery in tow? I here those new scanners are hell on those Yellow Top batteries. When someone suggests a Yellow Top battery don't walk away - RUN!!!!!
Why not call where you got the battery and they should be able to send a receipt electronic, fax etc. Every vendor these days has you in their computer. The must have receipt stuff sometimes is so much baloney it drives me nuts so I have gotten to the point where if I buy it and don't eat it I shove the receipt in a folder.
I hear your frustration. I'm under the impression that Advanced Auto Parts stores are independent franchisees which makes sense about one store not supporting another store. That's too bad!
if you used a credit card (or debit card) you can call the bank that issues it and ask for the receipt. They will reach to the merchant and get you a coyp. It might cost $20, but then you'd have the receipt. I'd imagine you could ship the battery UPS (altho, this would keep you without a battery for awhile) for quite a bit cheaper than flying there with battery in hand.
I guess a little better record keeping is in order.... I do not think it is Optimas problem. As others have suggested, avoid Advance Auto, contact credit card company.
If you buy from a mom and pop store they would though there are not many left. Stores like Best Buy, Advance Auto an others generally will not unless you know the person behind the counter. I even think it is corporate policy NOT to give you the receipt so it is one less warranty claim to process. I tend to buy at small stores first and if there are none then go online where I know I will be able to get the receipt myself online. Autoanything.com had my receipts for two year old stuff ready to pull up.
Just a 1st time poster who posted in the wrong section because it's at the top. We got a number of them when the Gen III section used to be at the top.
Very interesting, thanks for sharing your story. The Optima battery warranty policy can be found here: http://www.optimabatteries.com/_media/documents/Optima_Warranty.pdf See the top of page 2 of the Optima battery policy that I cited above: "RETAIL STORE PURCHASES OPTIMA Batteries purchased from retail or wholesale locations will be subject to the OPTIMA® Batteries, Inc. Limited Consumer Warranty in addition to the following: Optima Batteries must be returned with the original receipt to the location where the battery was originally purchased for any warranty service. If you are unable to return the battery to the original purchasing location, you may call OPTIMA Batteries customer service at 888-8OPTIMA to assist you with the nearest service location. Many retail locations will only support our warranty policy if you purchase the battery from that location/chain. Hence, it is not just Advance Auto Parts that has a problem. You might be able to get a receipt that shows you paid $175 plus sales tax for something, but that receipt would not show that you bought an Optima battery. If the battery shows a manufacture date that is reasonably near the OP's alleged purchase date, then you would think Optima would give the OP a break and facilitate a warranty return. Apparently, not.
harley114, I'm sorry to hear about the problems you had with your battery and I'd like to help. I assume you still have the battery now? If so, what is the voltage of the battery and what were the circumstances surrounding your issues? Unfortunately, the world is not comprised entirely of honest people and that forces retailers and manufacturers to have more stringent return policies. These policies can sometimes have unintended consequences, but if your battery is in need of warranty replacement, we should be able to assist you, provided you can produce some proof of purchase. That can be a cancelled check or even a charge on a credit card statement at that retailer, for the approximate amount. I look forward to hearing from you. Jim McIlvaine eCare Manager, OPTIMA Batteries, Inc. www.facebook.com/optimabatteries
You gotta love a company that steps up to the plate! I have 3 Optima batterys in my vehicles, absolutly love 'em!
I too am curious as to how the battery failed in the first place. I am only speculating here since the original post is curiously absent of any related information, but could "2002 Prius" translate to failed traction battery resulting in failed accessory battery? If this were the case, Optima would not be on the hook for replacement anyway, no matter how their warranty work is handled.
