Hi All,
I just came from my local Sam's Club and noticed that they have changed their battery manufacturer from JCI (Johnson Controls) to Deka / East Penn. I was told this is a new account for East Penn and the Duracell branded East Penn batts may not yet be in all stores. If the batteries still say Energizer on the label they are JCI batteries...
I took some pics at the store and then called Deka / East Penn tech support and spoke with a very nice lady, and very knowledgeable, named Carol G.. She informed me that they DO NOT build the Sam's Club, O'Reilly Auto Parts, NAPA, Deka or West Marine branded batteries any differently and they are all the SAME. They all roll off the same assembly line and get the sticker for the retailer they are going to.
The only thing you want to be certain of is the type. Deka makes starting, dual purpose and deep cycle marine batteries. NAPA & WM sell both the starting, dual purpose and deep cycle versions as does Sam's so be sure to read the labels.
Flooded Deep Cycle Marine Batts:
The batteries Sam's Club is buying are the Deka / East Penn deep cycle marine batteries and the dual purpose/starting versions. This is GOOD!!! What is even better is that these are the EXACT SAME battery that West Marine sells only for LESS THAN HALF THE PRICE!
These batts have a 12 month free replacement warranty, same as West Marine.
As an example the Group 27 Deep Cycle at Sam's Club is $69.87 the SAME EXACT battery at West Marine is $169.99 (2010 catalog price).
There is absolutely NO DIFFERENCE in the WM battery compared to the Sam's Club, NAPA or other resellers battery other than the label/sticker. This info is not from "me" but rather directly from Carol G. at Deka & backed up by folks in her engineering department at Deka/East Penn. Sam's is licensing the Duracell brand name on these East Penn batts but they are the same high quality battery, according to East Penn..
They offer two 6V GC2 batts one with a 215 Ah rating and one with a 230Ah rating and are $78.87 (GC2) and $84.87 (EGC2).
AGM Batteries:
Once again these are the SAME EXACT AGM batteries WM sells and they stock the group 24, 27 & 31 and 6V AGM's.. As an example the group 31 AGM at Sam's Club is $166.32 and at West Marine this SAME BATTERY runs $299.99. The 6V AGM is even more drastic at Sam's it runs $159.73 and at West Marine it costs $389.99!! Same battery different sticker!!!!
If you're looking at the flooded deep cycle marine batts the group 24, 27 & 31 are the same exact specs as the WM batteries. Sam's, like NAPA, just decided to not include the 20 hour Ah rate on the batteries, but the batteries are rated by East Penn.
12V Flooded
Duracell Group 24 Deep Cycle = 75 Ah
Duracell Group 27 Deep Cycle = 90 Ah
Duracell Group 29/31 Deep Cycle = 105 Ah
6V Flooded
Duracell GC2 6V = 215 Ah
Duracell EGC2 6V = 230 Ah
This new deal between Sam's Club and East Penn represents a tremendous value for the American boater..
EDIT May 2012:
Just looked up the current WM pricing vs. my local Sam's Club on the group 31 wet cell.. Holy CRAP!
Remember, these are the SAME EXACT BATTERIES, MADE BY THE SAME MANUFACTURER AND ROLLING OFF THE SAME ASSEMBLY LINE. The ONLY difference is the STICKER...
Sams Club = Group 29/31 (Deka DC31) 105Ah Battery $84.97
West Marine = Group 31 (Deka DC31) 105Ah Battery $247.99
Difference = $165.02 per battery !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The price premium paid to have a West Marine sticker on the battery box vs. Duracell... $165.02....... Oh and identical warranty.........
You can't make this stuff up.. BTW the price on the WM/Sea Volt/Deka DC31 batteries easily exceeds the already offensive pricing of the top quality Trojan SCS-225 by over $50.00 per battery. Seriously the Deka battery is a decent battery but not a Trojan or US Battery. It is worth about what Sam's is selling it for not the $247.99 West Marine is selling it for.!!!
I just came from my local Sam's Club and noticed that they have changed their battery manufacturer from JCI (Johnson Controls) to Deka / East Penn. I was told this is a new account for East Penn and the Duracell branded East Penn batts may not yet be in all stores. If the batteries still say Energizer on the label they are JCI batteries...
I took some pics at the store and then called Deka / East Penn tech support and spoke with a very nice lady, and very knowledgeable, named Carol G.. She informed me that they DO NOT build the Sam's Club, O'Reilly Auto Parts, NAPA, Deka or West Marine branded batteries any differently and they are all the SAME. They all roll off the same assembly line and get the sticker for the retailer they are going to.
The only thing you want to be certain of is the type. Deka makes starting, dual purpose and deep cycle marine batteries. NAPA & WM sell both the starting, dual purpose and deep cycle versions as does Sam's so be sure to read the labels.
Flooded Deep Cycle Marine Batts:
The batteries Sam's Club is buying are the Deka / East Penn deep cycle marine batteries and the dual purpose/starting versions. This is GOOD!!! What is even better is that these are the EXACT SAME battery that West Marine sells only for LESS THAN HALF THE PRICE!
These batts have a 12 month free replacement warranty, same as West Marine.As an example the Group 27 Deep Cycle at Sam's Club is $69.87 the SAME EXACT battery at West Marine is $169.99 (2010 catalog price).
There is absolutely NO DIFFERENCE in the WM battery compared to the Sam's Club, NAPA or other resellers battery other than the label/sticker. This info is not from "me" but rather directly from Carol G. at Deka & backed up by folks in her engineering department at Deka/East Penn. Sam's is licensing the Duracell brand name on these East Penn batts but they are the same high quality battery, according to East Penn..
They offer two 6V GC2 batts one with a 215 Ah rating and one with a 230Ah rating and are $78.87 (GC2) and $84.87 (EGC2).
AGM Batteries:
Once again these are the SAME EXACT AGM batteries WM sells and they stock the group 24, 27 & 31 and 6V AGM's.. As an example the group 31 AGM at Sam's Club is $166.32 and at West Marine this SAME BATTERY runs $299.99. The 6V AGM is even more drastic at Sam's it runs $159.73 and at West Marine it costs $389.99!!
Same battery different sticker!!!!If you're looking at the flooded deep cycle marine batts the group 24, 27 & 31 are the same exact specs as the WM batteries. Sam's, like NAPA, just decided to not include the 20 hour Ah rate on the batteries, but the batteries are rated by East Penn.
12V Flooded
Duracell Group 24 Deep Cycle = 75 Ah
Duracell Group 27 Deep Cycle = 90 Ah
Duracell Group 29/31 Deep Cycle = 105 Ah
6V Flooded
Duracell GC2 6V = 215 Ah
Duracell EGC2 6V = 230 Ah
This new deal between Sam's Club and East Penn represents a tremendous value for the American boater..
EDIT May 2012:
Just looked up the current WM pricing vs. my local Sam's Club on the group 31 wet cell.. Holy CRAP!
Remember, these are the SAME EXACT BATTERIES, MADE BY THE SAME MANUFACTURER AND ROLLING OFF THE SAME ASSEMBLY LINE. The ONLY difference is the STICKER...
Sams Club = Group 29/31 (Deka DC31) 105Ah Battery $84.97
West Marine = Group 31 (Deka DC31) 105Ah Battery $247.99
Difference = $165.02 per battery !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The price premium paid to have a West Marine sticker on the battery box vs. Duracell... $165.02.
...... Oh and identical warranty......... You can't make this stuff up.. BTW the price on the WM/Sea Volt/Deka DC31 batteries easily exceeds the already offensive pricing of the top quality Trojan SCS-225 by over $50.00 per battery. Seriously the Deka battery is a decent battery but not a Trojan or US Battery. It is worth about what Sam's is selling it for not the $247.99 West Marine is selling it for.!!!
