OK, I just bought a new R-59 battery for my z, got it from a parts supplier very well known in Camaro circles (not gonna say who, don't want thread removed for bashing), that is actually a sponsor of this site. They charged me $375 for battery, it is drop shipped from manufacturer, packing slip that is delivered to me says cost is $183 plus $23 shipping. Can you say rip off? The parts supplier never touches the item, does not ship it, but still charges almost $200 more for the item. What gives?? I don't mind somebody making a buck or two, but this seems a little extreme to me for not having to do anything but pass along an order. Sure makes me want to think twice about ever dealing with them again. Anybody else bought one of these lately or had a situation such as this? Maybe I am wrong, but this seems like a ripoff to me. The least they could do is not let the manufacturer send an invoice showing the difference!!!:mad:

Why not get a battery topper? I have heard those batteries arent the most reliable.

Heres some info for you to ponder as well.

http://www.batterycentralmall.com/Batteries/TurboStart/Script/SR59_HC.html

http://www.camaros.net/forums/archive/index.php/t-42067.html

if someone could figure out a way to order those direct ? that would be cool

I bought one and stoped useing it due to the vapors rusting out batt. tray. Should have sold it. I use it only to local show then its removed. I remember it wasnt cheap.

Didn't want the topper, which is also too high IMO. The newer R-59's are dry-cell, work much better than the old ones that you had to add acid to and keep a watch on. I called the supplier this morning, as the battery was delivered late Friday, and the guy I spoke with said they would give me $37 off, but that was the price and it is too bad. They also charged me shipping twice, once from the manufacturer and once from them. THEY DIDN'T EVEN HANDLE THE THING!!! The guy told me I should have never gotten the invoice from the manufacturer, gee, I guess so cause they don't want anybody to know how much we are getting ripped off!!! :mad:I for one will not use them again, and anybody who wants to know who can PM me and I will be glad to let you know. Believe me, if alot of people knew how they conduct business, they would be out of first generation Camaro parts business in a hurry. :mad:

Try here http://www.restorationbattery.com/r59.html

Who was the supplier? Can't get in trouble for posting that... we can try ordering direct.

Wouln't a delco cover look as good?

Marketing 101.....cost and sell price are not related!!! Sell price is based on the "market value" which is where supply meets demand. If you purchased the battery knowing the price, then you made a purchase decision based on what you were willing to pay, not what the seller paid.

Consider this example. I buy a COPO in pristine original condition for $100k, and decide to sell it. Should I offer it at $120k to net a "reasonable" profit, or should I offer it at $250k (assuming for this example that that's the market value) Is it worth any less because I bought it cheaply?

Turn it around, and I buy the same COPO for $250k. Are you willing to buy it for $300k because 20% is a "reasonable" mark-up? (in this example, $50k above market value)

I had a salesman working for me once, who insisted that "anything more than 20% markup was ripping his customers off. I showed him how at that markup, we'd be better off refusing the order and sending the customer 20% of the cost of the item, rather than accepting the order at 20% mark-up.

Hey, I understand making a profit. I can also see your point. But I also understand that if you are gonna be in business to make repeat sales to customers, you better CYA about making big profits, because I can guarantee you, as I told their customer service rep, I will do everything I can to let people in this hobby know about this and if it hurts their business, so be it. Hey, if I sell a car for $125k and only paid $40k for it, I sure don't go around telling anybody, especially the guy who bought it, that I just made a killing off of him, if I ever want to be able to sell another car. I know it is my own fault for not researching where I could buy this item more in depth, and I am mad at myself about as much as I am at them. I am just gonna provide some info out there so that the next person thinking of buying from some "well-respected" suppliers will do their homework. Live and learn I guess.

Why not get a battery topper? I have heard those batteries arent the most reliable.


Ew..... 9 times out of 10 these things look so cheezy that I just don't see the point..... Just MHO.... :)

From reading posts it didn't seemt the topper was that bad. So crap battery or crap topper. Which way does one go?

the 'topper' won't prevent your engine from starting... :)

Think of a topper as an "R-59 tribute".
Coupled with the right size battery (namely a Diehard) and post extensions, and black silicone properly applied to make the edge disappear, they look good.:cool: