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Optima Battery Charger Digital 1200

Discussion in 'Ferrari Discussion (not model specific)' started by Keith360, Feb 12, 2016.

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  1. Keith360

    Keith360 Formula Junior

    Feb 6, 2015
    570
    Santa Barbara County
    Full Name:
    Keith Williams
    #1 Keith360, Feb 12, 2016
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    I used to be a fan of Optima Batteries and Battery Chargers until I dealt with their customer service. What's the point of registering the product anyway. Ideally the product could be registered with a company and you could add a copy of the purchase to validate the warranty. Well that never happens and here is a prime example. I bought one of Optimas Digital 1200 and there is a common failure that happens, the display starts to loose segments of the LCD Display until it is blank. The charger still charges but no way to read what is happening on the Chargers face. I called to invoke a warranty repair but I can't locate the invoice I purchased it on. I inquired about repair and parts and they don't service them, sell parts or offer anything. These are made in China and they purchase them as complete units and offer no spares. They could have used the serial number and build date for warranty purposes which my unit was well within. I think companies hope and plan on people not saving receipts, boxes and such to help their bottom line. Below picture is what I think if the unit💩💩💩💩💩. Not only are they unaccommodating, they are a nasty natzi like group. Word of warning, don't buy their lousy batteries or battery chargers
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  2. Jack-the-lad

    Jack-the-lad Seven Time F1 World Champ
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Jun 22, 2004
    76,579
    Danger Close at Moot Pointe, Gulf of America
    #2 Jack-the-lad, Feb 12, 2016
    I don't know if it's true but I've seen references on the web to the company being sold to a private equity group several years ago and quality suffered almost immediately.
     
  3. JCR

    JCR F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Mar 14, 2005
    10,762
    H-Town, Tejas
    #3 JCR, Feb 12, 2016
    Yep, it's an attractive piece of junk. Now you got the full story. Also the Optima batteries are nowhere near the quality they once were. Certain companies can live of their name for quite awhile.

    Get yourself a CTEK. Yes, made in China but no quality issues that I know of.
     
  4. ///Mike

    ///Mike F1 Veteran

    Dec 11, 2003
    6,097
    Bugtussle
    #4 ///Mike, Feb 12, 2016
    Hopefully word of mouth like this will hurt their bottom line to the point where they're forced to change their business practices, or to go under.

    Contrast that with my experience with my Griots Garage charger (presumably made by CTEK), which failed completely after a couple of years. Couldn't find any mention of a warranty so I called Griots, on the off chance they might help. The CS guy could not have been nicer-- apologized for the failure and offered a new one in exchange. In less than two weeks I had a brand new model, complete with all accessories, to replace the failed one I had returned. Awesome customer service, and yet another incentive to buy from Griots.

    I'd gotten away from Optima batteries a while back, but even if I hadn't the contrast in our experiences would keep me from buying anything Optima.
     
  5. f355spider

    f355spider F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    May 29, 2001
    18,027
    USA
    #5 f355spider, Feb 12, 2016
    Last edited: Feb 12, 2016
    My experience as well with Griots, which is local around here. I had an issue with one of the fancy low profile jacks, they replaced it without question, when it would not lower smoothly (dropped really fast, hard to control).

    I currently use Griots battery tender and also a Granite (which is a private labeled Griots)....but the cheap ones work great too...those are the ones you can get for $30 at a box store. Just make sure it is "microprocessor controlled". ;)

    To the OP, if you want a simple warranty, get a Griots Garage Battery Manager...everything they sell has a lifetime warranty, no ifs, ands or buts. Griots basically relabels other brands battery tenders...so I am not sure who they sell currently under their name....over the years they have used Ctek, Granite, Battery Tender Plus, and others...regardless, you can't loose with their stellar warranty.
     
  6. ///Mike

    ///Mike F1 Veteran

    Dec 11, 2003
    6,097
    Bugtussle
    #6 ///Mike, Feb 12, 2016
    That's what the CS guy told me as well. I'm totally impressed with the Griots Garage warranty claim experience. I try to buy from them whenever I can, for that exact reason.
     
  7. Mondial83

    Mondial83 Formula Junior

    Nov 8, 2014
    685
    #7 Mondial83, Feb 12, 2016
    Grrrrrrr I just bought a optima battery for my Ferrari. Wish I had seen this thread last week. I won't buy another.
     
  8. Ak Jim

    Ak Jim F1 Veteran
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Dec 23, 2007
    9,368
    North Pole AK
    #8 Ak Jim, Feb 12, 2016
    I sent an email to optima asking about quality issues, especially since they were now made in Mexico and not the US. They replied with a lengthy corporate speak reply saying how their batteries were better than ever. I have used optima batteries for a really long time with no problems. I think they don't do as well in high temps as in colder temps. I'm sure the decision to make them in Mexico instead of the US is really just greedy corporate America trying to make as much profit as possible.
     

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