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Dollar Store batteries vs $5 batteries

A

Aimster

Lifer
I think it was on dateline or 20/20 a couple years ago where they basically proved they are the same thing. A battery is a battery.

Has technology changed since then?
 
Yes. 5 dollar batteries are known as super batteries now. They re-charge themselves spontaneously.
 
Buying good batteries made a difference years ago, but I think the performance gap has narrowed, or even disappeared. I always buy store brand batteries, and I don't notice a significant difference from the big name brands.
 
my friend used to work at the Energizer plant in Maryville MO. They made batteries then either put an Energizer jacket on or one for a store brand or cheap brand. The inside was all the same.
 
At my 711 we sell our own 711 brand batteries for about $4 for 4 and we sell duracell for about $8 for 4. 1/2 the time I ask customers which one they want they still choose the duracell despite the fact that they could get twice as many for the same price!
 
Meh, I see a noticeable difference in my graphing calculator from nice batteries vs. no brand batteries. Maybe not enough to justify cost, but I've never really calculated it 😛
 
Just make sure you get Alkaline batteries... "Heavy Duty" Carbon Zinc batteries that you often see in dollar stores suck ass
 
Originally posted by: Aimster
I think it was on dateline or 20/20 a couple years ago where they basically proved they are the same thing. A battery is a battery.

Has technology changed since then?
Click to expand...

Wow, you're all so wrong. Grab a Dollar Store battery and let me know whether or not it's an alkaline battery.

Rayovac vs. Duracell or something, I'll just buy the cheaper stuff. Dollar Store "Heavy Duty" batteries last about a few days...in a remote control.
 
Definitely a difference. I had a digital camera that took two AA batteries. With the $1 ones, it would run those batteries dead in about 2 minutes. I was like wtf. Bought some Duracell shortly after and they lasted much, much longer.
 
For all my electronic devices (cameras, flashes, video game controllers, flashlights, etc.) I've switched entirely to low-discharge NiMHs.

Sanyo Eneloops, Rayovac Hybrids, Duracell Pre Charged, etc.

They all work great.

I still keep some cheap alkalines around for remotes, clocks, toothbrushes, etc.
 
Originally posted by: dguy6789
Definitely a difference. I had a digital camera that took two AA batteries. With the $1 ones, it would run those batteries dead in about 2 minutes. I was like wtf. Bought some Duracell shortly after and they lasted much, much longer.
Click to expand...

Certain devices are more sensitive to cheap batteries. Digital cameras are notoriously picky. It's always best to run good quality batteries in them. As jpeyton said, cheapie batteries will work great. I'd say they perform for about 80% the length of a "good" battery for a fraction of the cost. I throw them in my daughter's toys, remotes, flashlights, etc.
 
Originally posted by: lxskllr
Buying good batteries made a difference years ago, but I think the performance gap has narrowed, or even disappeared. I always buy store brand batteries, and I don't notice a significant difference from the big name brands.
Click to expand...

You just invalidated the second half of your sentence.
 
My electronic stuff seems to run longer on energizer and duracell batteries. Rayovac seems to be nearly as good as those two. Many time I find that the really cheap batteries are dead before I even use them. I've never been scientific with my testing but I generally tend to stick with rayovac and energizer because being cheap with batteries and having them go dead near-instantly is highly annoying.
 
We bought a pack of AA batteries at a dollar store last summer to use in our camera (cheap digital).

Each pair of the batteries would let us take 5 pictures.

Went and boutght a pack of name brand from the grocery store and were able to take 100+ pics per pair.

There's a reason the dollar store batteries are "no-name" and a dollar. lol
 
Do your self a favor - if you're buying alkaline batteries, buy industrial alkaline batteries from someone like Panasonic. The industrial type (the white-label batteries that generally come inside the package with a remote or toy) generally last 3-4x longer than the store bought retail blister packs. Why? Because that's how they keep you coming back for more.
 
Another tip: Batteries in things with constant power draws like radios might be dead for that purpose as the voltage drops below what the appliance can use might still provide power to stuff like digital cameras that charge capacitors.
 
Originally posted by: biggestmuff
Originally posted by: lxskllr
Buying good batteries made a difference years ago, but I think the performance gap has narrowed, or even disappeared. I always buy store brand batteries, and I don't notice a significant difference from the big name brands.
Click to expand...

You just invalidated the second half of your sentence.
Click to expand...

How so? I've used batteries of all types professionally for over 20 years. For the way I use them, it isn't worth the cost of big brands.
 
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