Battery Help

[cj7inthetwigs]

Sears Diehard Platinum is a rebadged Odyssey.

Optimas are made in mexico now. I've run Optimas since the late 90's, but won't buy another one. The last two I bought were both dead in under 6 months.

Haven't found alot of bad reviews on the oddyssey so can I go buy a diehard from the local Sears which isn't what it once was either. On a positive note , its been atleast a year if not a couple since my yellowtop purchase. It performed without flaw this winter. For some reason so many companies build a reputation only to destroy it.

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[Neuner]

For some reason so many companies build a reputation only to destroy it.

Companies don't, Boards and CEO's do. Before getting out of the business, they elect to make a big dump in money by changing to a lower quality product but selling it at the same higher price based on the past reputation. It only lasts for a short amount of time. The CEO/Board then receive Bonuses and higher pay/stock options for making the company profit skyrocket. In addition, the market value of the company also jumps up. They then dump their shares and get out of the business before they are put to blame. Even if they receive the blame they are booted out with a huge severance package.

The company they just ran through the muck is then beaten up and unable to recover the horrible reputation or quality of product.

The other one I hate is when they lay-off a large group of people and then claim they caused the company's profit to grow (temporary) AND receive a bonus for it, but that's for Fire Chat...

 

[cj7inthetwigs]

Early 2000's Sears did just that , laying more than 10,000 people off nationwide. Store managers to stockers, they all got axed. Yes yes fireside chat indeed.

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[wm69]

Optima built a reputation, and then sold to Johnson Controls, who kept the name and the flashy red case, but moved production to Mexico and I'm guessing started using cheaper materials in the batteries.

Like Odyssey, back in the day Optimas weren't available all over the place; you had to go to a 4wd or speed shop to get them. Johnson Controls bought the name and now every napareillyzone in town has them.

The last two I bought were in late 2009. Bought two the same day. Both were dead in 6 months. I swapped them for new ones under warranty and thus far the new ones have lasted BUT some I bought around 2007-2008 have croaked over the last couple of years.

As of now, the family has two tractors, three CJ's, and two pickups that were all running red tops up until things started going south with the brand. I've been running redtops on all those vehicles starting in the mid-late 90's, and the quality and longetivity has DEFINITELY decreased in the last few years. They might still be ok, but they aren't anything like they used to be.

The last battery I bought was a Deka Severe Duty (farm battery) and it's held up ok, but doesn't hold a charge when parked for extended times like the old Optimas would. That's why I'm going to try an Odyssey/ Sears plat on the next battery.

The first Optima I bought lasted 7.5 years and that was HARD, HARD use. Most I've had have lasted at least 6-7 years. When they started crapping out in 5 years or less while being used on stock pickups and SUV's (light use) I looked for another option.

The Odyssey seems to be the way to go (for now at least). I'll get a Sears platinum simply because I have a sears local to me and the warranty should be easy to use if I need it.

I have no doubt that Odyssey will eventually be sold off, cheapened, and go the way of Optima.