date code on your batteries and age

Old-Biscuit wrote:
2 provisions on how warranty is honored.

No receipt..date code stamped on battery case
With receipt......date of purchase

That's the point though ... the OP has a receipt - his trailer Agreement to Purchase, just as anyone else would have that same "receipt" when buying a trailer from a dealer and having that dealer install a battery on the new purchase. No one I know of including myself has ever received a separate "receipt" for a battery when buying a trailer as there's no need - it should be one of any items added to the trailer that are listed on the Agreement to Purchase. That's his "receipt".

SoundGuy wrote:

myredracer wrote:
Interstate says the date code is used to determine the start of the warranty if there is no receipt of purchase available.

That would seem to contradict Interstate's Canadian Warranty that specifically states that with a receipt your warranty begins on your date of purchase, which in your case would be the date you purchased the trailer. You do have a receipt - in this case your trailer Agreement to Purchase which should have on it anything extra added to the trailer by the dealer, including the battery. I'm confused - I just don't see how Interstate can fudge on this. :h

The guy at the local distributor was unclear about the Purchase Agreement for an RV being the receipt for warranty purposes and thought it was the date code. He didn't know that batteries get installed by an RV dealer locally and not the factory. The very first words from our service manager's mouth was "we don't warranty batteries" but when I talked to someone at Interstate on the phone, they said the dealer should definitely replace it based on date of purchase of the RV. I can see a dealer installing a battery that was maybe 3 months old, but not a year and 3 months.

So tired of having to duke it out over warranty items that clearly should be covered without issue, not to mention things that shouldn't need to be fixed in the first place.

SoundGuy wrote:

Old-Biscuit wrote:
2 provisions on how warranty is honored.

No receipt..date code stamped on battery case
With receipt......date of purchase

That's the point though ... the OP has a receipt - his trailer Agreement to Purchase, just as anyone else would have that same "receipt" when buying a trailer from a dealer and having that dealer install a battery on the new purchase. No one I know of including myself has ever received a separate "receipt" for a battery when buying a trailer as there's no need - it should be one of any items added to the trailer that are listed on the Agreement to Purchase. That's his "receipt".

No argument there........

As with any of the components installed in RV (appliances etc) and actual RV Warranty........date of purchase starts the clock.

IF Dealer didn't step up the MFG. of RV should have---regardless of Interstate's warranty policy. Warranty clock for RV and it's parts started on date of purchase.

Bet if they got a summons to Small Claims Court, the dealer would change his tune...fast. These courts are jammed-packed with people, usually more than a hundred. The publicity of an absurd absence of integrity, would be a genuine nightmare come true. They will give-in I would bet on it and win.

Yup, clearly a dealer issue and they should be called out about their policy of putting a battery that old in a newly purchased RV. If small claims court is the final solution, I wouldn't hesitate for one second.

I've found that a well worded and constructed letter that uses the legal format for redress of damages holds a lot of weight. You don't need a lawyer to construct a letter like this. Just search on the internet for the correct format and wording, them compile it. The last paragraph of such a letter should ask the recipient to deliver the money and by a certain date, usually four or five business days.

All of the above assumes the dealer is not going to make good with either a new battery or the funds. A phone call to the owner of the dealership may straighten it all out quickly.

DW spoke to the service manager at our dealer today. The service manager said that their head tech. looked at our battery and said it is not the one they installed!! Are they freaking kidding?? Why on earth would anyone replace the original battery with a defective one and then make a warranty claim? What a joke.

myredracer wrote:
DW spoke to the service manager at our dealer today. The service manager said that their head tech. looked at our battery and said it is not the one they installed!! Are they freaking kidding?? Why on earth would anyone replace the original battery with a defective one and then make a warranty claim? What a joke.

Oh boy, this story gets "better and better"! :S

P.S. If you're willing to PM me I have a question for you.

The dealer called back this afternoon and after reconsidering things, has decided to replace the battery after all. Whew.

myredracer wrote:
The dealer called back this afternoon and after reconsidering things, has decided to replace the battery after all. Whew.

Well that's great news. :B Unfortunately though your experience is yet another sad commentary on the state of the RV industry in general, wherein those who claim to serve the best interests of their customers seem to be too busy nickle-and-diming those of us who are in fact their bread and butter. If your dealer had stepped up to the plate and made things right at your initial request you'd have no doubt been a Happy Camper, most likely prepared to buy again from this dealer. As it is you got what you wanted - a replacement battery - but surely must still be aggravated from all the nonsense it took to get there. Makes no sense to me. :h

Does interstate even market( notice I don't say manufacture) a marine or Deep cycle battery?

Does the battery in question even have threaded studs, or just Automotive posts.

Dang, even if it does this does not mean the internals are dual purpose and not just the ~15% lighter starting version

I think this is another company riding their brand name recognition, and are now cashing in by having their manufacturers cut the same corners Wally world demands of its suppliers.

The RV dealer sounds as shady as the Fat Cats cutting corners from a desk in the executive office. Baby needs a new diamond.

Scum