Trojan T105's cost increases

[Pblais]

Just bought 4 new T105's. They are no longer cheap. It seems that the company did not lock in long term price contracts for lead with the smelter companies and now are getting some hefty price increases. There is a new Trojan price increase coming in November. My price today was $105 / battery. I expected a lot less.

[ssullivan]

I paid about $80 per batt less than a year ago. (just to add to the stats). I have also heard about this price increase.

[Pblais]

It ws not long ago they were $69. I think they held at that price for a long time.

[btrayfors]

Paul,

I paid $108 each for eight T-105s in mid-June in Alexandria, VA. Their price had just increased, and I was told by the distributor to expect even higher prices in the near future.

This after paying $65-$85 for them for the past 16 years!

Bill

[Wahoo Sails]

When I worked for MTP, where we sold T105's, the supplier told me that the price increase wasn't related to the lead, rather that it was the increase in the cost of fuel needed to truck them from Mexico, where they are now made.

Bob & Lynn

[btrayfors]

Bob,

Yeah, that could have something to do with it, but the price of lead has got to be driving the increase.

Since 1995 the demand for lead has increased dramatically worldwide, and most especially in China. Production hasn't kept pace, and the price has increased significantly each year.

Lots of articles on the web about battery manufacturers being hit hard.

Bill

[ktm500mx]

the price of lead has doubled in the last year pricipatating a hefty
price increase.

[AnchorageGuy]

We use 6 volt golf cart batteries called Workaholics made by Interstate I believe. Never paid more that $72.00 each for them as recently as two weeks ago. A pair usually last about five years. So the question is, why pay the ridiculous price for Trojans. Sea Trek is a long distance cruiser and the batteries get used and abused.

[btrayfors]

Chuck,

The Workaholic commercial battery by Interstate is not a true deep cycle battery. It cannot stand up to repeated deep discharges as well as a true deep cycle battery.

The following is from the Interstate website:

Quote
Interstate’s commercial battery, the Workaholic, is designed for heavy-duty applications such as a vehicle that starts 20+ times a day or an engine that requires an extreme starting current. High in CCA and RC, it can produce a greater number of starts (about 12,000) than an automotive battery and more deep discharges (50 plus) than an auto battery but still much less than a deep-cycle battery.
Unquote

Bill

[Niorn]

Why pay more for Trojans? Because they work!! In 12 years in Marine retail and use on my own boat I have never had trouble with their batteries. Any and I mean any batteries that have failed in all that time have been replaced by Trojan. Sometimes more expensive does mean better.

[ssullivan]

Yeah, I have to admit... I'll buy them again. Mine are getting closer to a year old and they hold a charge and behave like they were new still. They are a good buy even at $120.

[Nebro]

You'r happy with these prices. here in europe we pay 142,- € for it.
Unfortunately they are too heavy to transport ovcer,hi.

[btrayfors]

Nebro,

Yeah, but you're in Provence. You gotta pay extra for that :-)

A bientot,

Bill

[AnchorageGuy]

Bill , I do understand the posting on Interstates web site. But in the real world an alternative to the expensive Trojans will work just fine. We have 4 sets of 2 each to make 2 house banks and the average age before replacement using these batteries in our cruising vessel with an Inverter system for 110 volt away from the dock and a fairly heavy use on the 12 volt system including refrigeration is about 5 years. Not bad for a battery that is not a deep cycle. If we replace them on an average of 4 years we can buy two for the price of one Trojan and then we are eight years down the road. Still works out better economically for us anyway.

[AnchorageGuy]

For Bill, would you give me a link to the info you posted on Interstate since I can't locate it and it does not make sense that the U2000 6 volt battery which would not start a vehicle, and is used extensively to run golf carts etc. and is labeled deep cycle would be posted on there site as not deep cycle.