BCM Community
Bus Discussion => Bus Topics ( click here for quick start! ) => Topic started by: Lin on July 01, 2020, 04:39:38 PM
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I have been using Group 31's for my MC5a. I got these as reconditioned from Interstate 6 years ago. Now one of them is not holding a full charge, so I was looking to replace just the one. When I checked out Walmart's website they had a deal on AGM deep cycles-- 2 for $67 with free delivery. After rubbing my eyes for several minutes I bought them. The site claimed that they only had one set left. I know that deep cycles are not ideal, but how could I pass this up?
https://www.walmart.com/ip/QTY-2-VMAX-MR137-120-AGM-Group-31-AGM-12V-Deep-Cycle-Battery-for-large-Pontoons-Marine/289314223
Amazon lists them for $289.99 each. It's a good thing they only had one set left. Otherwise I would have had to worry about buying extra! I wonder if they will end up just canceling the order.
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Good deal Lin I use Walmart more than Amazon now they have better prices and selection on things I use
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I notice that they only have one review, and it's a one star with no comment. These might fall into the too good to be true category. It looks like an off-brand possibly of low quality. Why would the price be so low, even at Walmart? :o
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Probably just very old stock those are companies and induvial selling there just like Amazon that is not the brand Walmart sells so you won't be taking it back to you local Walmart
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Well I bought a Victron Charge Controller for our bus solar system and it was what looked like a Walmart site. With a bunch of reviews etc. For $60.25 and it was $215.00 on Amazon. I thought no way and bought it three months ago. I turned it over to the FBI to check out because never received it even though when I contacted the email they had they sent me back a 5 to 7 days and when that didn't happen I asked for a refund and they told me it would come in 6 to 10 days, Again I waited and when it didn't come I found an address on my bank statement with a phone number so I called it. Heat & cooling company in IN which was real but they said nope we don't sell those and have heard that someone is using our address for a scam.
My bank investigated and that took another two weeks and they couldn't be sure and had given me the money back to my account then they took it back, LOL
So I gave it to the FBI and they told me that there is a lot of these fake businesses out there now and they look just like the site that it should be. One guy I told about it bought three because he thought it was real too. I felt bad I told him about it but he was ok with it.
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Well I bought a Victron Charge Controller for our bus solar system and it was what looked like a Walmart site. With a bunch of reviews etc. For $60.25 and it was $215.00 on Amazon. I thought no way and bought it three months ago. I turned it over to the FBI to check out because never received it even though when I contacted the email they had they sent me back a 5 to 7 days and when that didn't happen I asked for a refund and they told me it would come in 6 to 10 days, Again I waited and when it didn't come I found an address on my bank statement with a phone number so I called it. Heat & cooling company in IN which was real but they said nope we don't sell those and have heard that someone is using our address for a scam.
My bank investigated and that took another two weeks and they couldn't be sure and had given me the money back to my account then they took it back, LOL
So I gave it to the FBI and they told me that there is a lot of these fake businesses out there now and they look just like the site that it should be. One guy I told about it bought three because he thought it was real too. I felt bad I told him about it but he was ok with it.
You get the same crap on Amazon and eBay,and never pay with a debit card only use a credit card
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I could be overly optimistic, but at $35 per battery, I had to try it. They have a 4.5 star rating on Amazon. It is the same vendor. Anyway, I paid by credit card, so there is some safety net if they do not appear or arrive dead. Walmart still has that model battery for sale for around $280 from the same vendor also. I guess I will find out what the catch is in a couple of weeks.
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Maybe you got lucky. A vendor may have old stock or needs some cash to stay in business. Who knows.
https://www.vmaxtanks.com/FAQ_ep_42.html
You could also try Aliexpress, the retail side of Allibaba. Sometimes their vendors have a free shipping offer. Course, shipping takes 30 or more days. I've purchased several items from them with satisfactory results. You can pay with Paypal, btw.
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Lin, why do you want to use deep-cycle batteries as engine start batteries? I'm also wondering how well they'll get charged by an alternator instead of by a proper three-stage charger.
John
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Just chiming in. We use 2 - 8D NAPA deep cycle/start batteries as they double for house batteries if needed. They're going on 6 years old & perform fine!
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Only draw back to Lin using the small deep cycle batteries for starting on his MCI with the 24 volt system is the 2 batteries don't provide the CC amps needed for Delco 42 starter and it will cost him a starter later down the road but he can replace it with 39 Delco they don't mind the low cranking amps the Delco 39 is a marvel I started my series 60 in the MCI with 2 lawn mower batteries before
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John-- I didn't prefer to use deep cycle batteries, but I thought the price warranted giving them a try.
Clifford-- I did not know that they could cause starter problems. I suppose I will try them out and see. Generally, the bus starts quickly so we might not have a serious problem. I will make sure to limit cranking in any case.
Chessie-- They have given me a delivery date of July 23, so you are right about long shipping times. I think it is being sent by Amish Buggy Transport.
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You get the same crap on Amazon and eBay,and never pay with a debit card only use a credit card
Was a credit card which even though my Bank issued it Visa paid me back and only buy through Amazon Prime because they cover any problems with outside venders. :)
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I have 2 8D starting batteries that are deep cycle. 1500 cranking amps each. The engine normally starts with a half engine revolution. Previous owner was convinced to remove the engine alternator to free up horse power. Fortunately, the wires are all there, just taped off. I just need to find a new gear for my alternator. I already have a new cup gear.
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Just got an email from Walmart saying something went wrong and they will not be able to deliver the order. I've been robbed!
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They blamed it on Covid 19, right?
Jim
My shoelace snapped this morning, guess it was infected with covid 19
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Just got an email from Walmart saying something went wrong and they will not be able to deliver the order. I've been robbed!
Not unless they don't refund you your money LOL!!
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Walmart is going to need fullfillment centers like Amazon to stop that BS,I toured the new Amazon center in Nampa Id a friend is building 650,000 sf on the ground and 5 stories high with miles of conveyer and robots
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Just got an email from Walmart saying something went wrong and they will not be able to deliver the order. I've been robbed!
Looks like it was too good to be true, or they realized someone made a mistake setting the price.
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So ask them when you can pick it up?
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I emailed the vendor and asked if they weren't delivering because they did not want to honor the listed price. I got an answer saying USPS said it was an incomplete address. I told them the address was accurate and Fedex, UPS and others deliver all the time. I also asked if they were actually shipping these things by USPS, which seemed doubtful to me. I don't expect much to come of it but no harm trying.
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For some reason shipping for batteries has gone WAY up. My guess is a new hazmat reg. Shipping can now equal the battery price easily enough. I found that out about a month ago. I don't think it has anything to do with covid but what do I know?
jim
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For some reason shipping for batteries has gone WAY up. My guess is a new hazmat reg. Shipping can now equal the battery price easily enough. I found that out about a month ago. I don't think it has anything to do with covid but what do I know?
jim
That's why I always buy mine local. There are battery dealers in nearly every city that can often times get some great prices.
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Battery warehouse, Battery whosalers, Battery outlet. Consider the ones used for mobility scooters. They're good for about 5 years, no need to add water. Better batteries; AGM,Gel, ect, of course will cost more. Find a dealer that has been around several years. Usually their reputation is better. ( not always )😐
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As mentioned in the original post, the last set of batteries were Interstate "refurbished" batteries for $50 each and they lasted 5 years. One of them is still fine. They were sealed batteries but not AGM. The attempt to buy these was merely because they came up while checking at Walmart. I assumed that it was a mistake since shipping would certainly cost more than the $67, but sometimes companies will honor the sale anyway. I was doubtful they would really ever arrive.
Otherwise, I buy batteries locally. I have gotten some good results for deep cycle batteries on Craigslist getting used AGM's from UPS systems that still have years of my type of service left. However start batteries are a different animal.
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I get NAPA brand Legends Grp 31 starts 12 volt for 78.00 2 years ago and I think they still have them. My last ones lasted 7 years CCA was around 1100