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Old 12-13-2008, 11:40 PM   #1 (permalink)
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Optima Batteries made in mexico

Its official now. I have worked at Optima Batteries for 11 years. In 2000, Johnson controls bought Optima and immediatly began construction of a plant in mexico. We were told that our U.S. plant could not produce enough product so the plant in mexico would be to supply Europe. Slowly but surely, our product lines began being transferred to mexico. Then the week before Thanksgiving, we were told that the U.S. plant will be closed Jan.24 2009. Just thought you all would like to know.

cbs4denver.com - Aurora Battery Maker Moves Operations To Mexico
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Old 12-14-2008, 06:40 AM   #2 (permalink)
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Looks like i wont be buyin' any of them..was never fond of those batteries anyway.
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Old 12-14-2008, 09:28 AM   #3 (permalink)
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Was buying a couple batteries at Costco the other day and looked at the Optimas.....and yes, they said "Made in Mexico". I bought the Kirkland batteries, but who know......they might be made in Mexico as well. As long as they work right I don't care if they're making them on the moon.
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Old 12-14-2008, 10:20 AM   #4 (permalink)
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I retired and moved out of Aurora 16 years ago. At the time, Aurora and the Denver area were growing like weeds, and jobs were going begging, and housing prices were shooting up. My son still lives in Aurora and runs a retail store in Cherry Creek. He tells me it's still hard to hire good people. So hopefully you won't be long without a job.
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Old 12-14-2008, 10:43 AM   #5 (permalink)
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Possibly Old Ross Perot was correct?

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Originally Posted by rmcgraw351 View Post
Its official now. I have worked at Optima Batteries for 11 years. In 2000, Johnson controls bought Optima and immediatly began construction of a plant in mexico. We were told that our U.S. plant could not produce enough product so the plant in mexico would be to supply Europe. Slowly but surely, our product lines began being transferred to mexico. Then the week before Thanksgiving, we were told that the U.S. plant will be closed Jan.24 2009. Just thought you all would like to know.

cbs4denver.com - Aurora Battery Maker Moves Operations To Mexico
YouTube - NAFTA: Ross Perot and Al Gore Debate 1993

I think he was correct and people laughed at him at the time. It took a few years but??????????????
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Old 12-14-2008, 11:32 AM   #6 (permalink)
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I believe that ross perot was right on a lot of things that people laughed at him about at that time. Maybe if he was pres. we would be in the mess we are in today. Just maybe!
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Old 12-14-2008, 12:31 PM   #7 (permalink)
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Hey Smokey,
Small world. Your right about the housing prices going sky high! There seems to be a pretty good job market here in colorado right now, (by comparison). Alot of manufacturing companies going to mexico, but some are moving in too.
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Old 12-14-2008, 01:54 PM   #8 (permalink)
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Look at it this way... You may be loosing a job but, that could be a god send. Something better is waiting on you to kick in the door.

Thanks for the heads up (No Optima batteries here) and best of luck to you and yours!
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Old 12-17-2008, 02:37 AM   #9 (permalink)
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I thought i have seen a decline in performance of my recent optima battery's. I didn't know why either but my own unscientific findings that the new optimas didn't last nearly as long as the originals.

I guess im going to really have to drop the cash on Odyssey batteries if i really want the best battery for the size.
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Old 12-17-2008, 03:56 AM   #10 (permalink)
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Yes, it would be ridiculous to put a Mexican made battery in your possibly Mexican-made Ford or Lincoln. Not being snide, just seeing the irony..........

List of Ford factories - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Old 12-17-2008, 07:50 AM   #11 (permalink)
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How about Interstate

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dualie View Post
I thought i have seen a decline in performance of my recent optima battery's. I didn't know why either but my own unscientific findings that the new optimas didn't last nearly as long as the originals.

I guess im going to really have to drop the cash on Odyssey batteries if i really want the best battery for the size.
Batteries. We use them in the trucks and they are pretty good.
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Old 12-17-2008, 08:24 AM   #12 (permalink)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by THEBUNDO View Post
Yes, it would be ridiculous to put a Mexican made battery in your possibly Mexican-made Ford or Lincoln. Not being snide, just seeing the irony..........

List of Ford factories - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
X2....................
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Old 12-21-2008, 06:46 AM   #13 (permalink)
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Just bought two new Motorcraft batteries for my truck which were manufactured 11-08 in Mexico. Great cranking power!

Also, I have owned smaller yellow top Optimas previously and they did not perform as well as these Motorcraft. Although I liked the maintenance free design of the Optimas much better. More closed hood time. Several others have put the larger yellow top Optimas, which required battery case modications, and they worked out extremely well.

Might mention my truck was also manufactured in Mexico and it has been the best, most trouble free vehicle I have owned. And I have owned quite a few vehicles over my life.

Mike
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Old 12-21-2008, 08:20 AM   #14 (permalink)
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I did some reading on ODYSSEY Batteries

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dualie View Post
I thought i have seen a decline in performance of my recent optima battery's. I didn't know why either but my own unscientific findings that the new optimas didn't last nearly as long as the originals.

I guess im going to really have to drop the cash on Odyssey batteries if i really want the best battery for the size.
They appear to run circles around the optimas in power VS size and number of deep cycles. They claim they can do 400 cycles down to 20% power. They also claim the batteries will remain charged in your car or on the rack for 2 years? Holy smoke!

They have one for Harleys and I need a battery so I'm going to give it a try.
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Old 12-21-2008, 08:34 AM   #15 (permalink)
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There is enough Mexicans here to fill 2 factories. Why would they move it to mexico ? O I remember , the greedy White colar Man still screwing this country.
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