Ex-Walmart Tech Goes To Dealership For Warranty Service. Then They Quote Him For A New Battery: ‘Crazy’

A Kansas man is issuing a warning about car dealerships after a trip to Walmart saved him almost $200.

Everyone knows that getting work done at a car dealership can be more expensive than your local mechanic. While there are obvious benefits—for example, a dealership may have easier access to original parts than an independent auto shop—the impact on your wallet is often more severe.

But do dealerships charge more solely because they’re offering better parts and service? Or are they artificially inflating prices for the convenience of going to the dealership?

No matter the reason for these high costs, one man is sick of it. And now, he’s offering a piece of advice that could save you hundreds of dollars.

How Did This Man Save Hundreds By Leaving The Car Dealership?

In a video with over 3,000 views, TikToker @twostrokesandtoolboxes says a recent trip to the car dealership left him reeling.

According to the TikToker, he visited the dealership to get an oil change and install a new battery in his wife’s car. The TikToker claims that the car was still under factory warranty.

After the battery was tested as bad, the dealership gave the TikToker some bad news.

“They quoted me over $300 for just the battery alone and then wanted another $50 to install it,” he states.

This didn’t sit right with the TikToker.

“I've worked at Walmart Tire and Lube and knew that their batteries were cheaper than that,” he shares. “So, I went across the street where the battery was $189 with free installation.” Walmart does offer free battery installation on qualifying car batteries.

“To save yourself some money, do not buy batteries from a dealership when you can go across the street and get a battery that's just as good for half the price or more,” he concludes. “And you don't have to pay for them to install it—and they were done within 10, 15 minutes.”

"Dealerships mark stuff up way too much. Who has that kind of money," the caption of his post reads. 

Why Are Dealership Car Batteries So Expensive?

The simple answer to this question is “everything costs more at a car dealership.” The longer answer is that car dealerships work a little differently than the average auto shop.

In general, a car dealership will try to use as many original parts as possible, even if there is a comparable product on the market at a lower price. This means that you end up paying more for a name-brand product, no matter whether it’s better than the no-name alternative.

Additionally, dealerships tend to charge more for labor than an auto shop. Part of this may be simple cost inflation—but another part may be due to the additional cost that these dealerships have when compared to a local auto shop. A dealership may have factory-trained technicians, specialized diagnostic equipment, franchise fees, facility costs, and more.

Both of these factors together explain why someone may get sticker shock when seeing a dealership price but can then easily find a deal at a non-dealership repair shop.

Will A Walmart Battery Work On A Luxury Car?

Some people may think that their special, expensive car requires an equally special and expensive battery.

Thankfully, car batteries are not an area where one needs to splurge for their luxury vehicle.

While many luxury cars require AGM (Absorbent Glass Mat) batteries due to their higher electrical demands, that doesn't mean that these batteries are difficult to find for a lower cost.

For example, Walmart sells a host of different AGM batteries for the BMW X5, many of which are under $200. Comparable official batteries from BMW have MSRP’s of $250 to over $300.

Gallery: 2027 BMW X5

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Source: BMW

Even though one may be able to find a battery on the cheap, these batteries may occasionally require additional work to function in your vehicle. BMW, Audi, Mercedes, and several other European brands require one to register their battery with their car. Failure to do so can result in premature battery failure and poor fuel economy.

Drivers Agree With The Advice

In the comments section, several auto enthusiasts echoed the TikToker’s advice.

“Autozone and O’Reilly sell decent batteries and have free installation. The only reason your vehicle should ever be in a service dept is for warranty work,” wrote a user. “Don’t pay them actual money for anything.”

“Same with the air and cabin filters. They wanted $70 when you can get both for $30,” offered another.

Still, some said that there may be a reason why one may choose a dealership.

“Depends on dealer. Some batteries like Honda are 8 year warranty. 3 is free replacement then prorated after that,” shared a commenter.

Motor1 reached out to the TikToker via TikTok direct message and comment.