WILLARD DECLINING QUALITY

This report is a serious disappointment as I have purchased WILLARD Batteries for approximately 50 years. My most recent experience is dated from June 2020. I needed a new battery for my car and went to the local fitment centre in Woodmead and purchased a Willard 652. This being the specific model as specified by the manufacturers of the car. This Battery lasted to around November 2021 when it started to drag and after testing it at the same fitment centre in Woodmead where it was confirmed as a failing battery and it was promptly change under Warranty. In the latter part of November 2022 the car again started to present a sluggish start. In the first week of December I went back to the fitment centre where the business had now changed, and a different Franchise operated there. They declined to assist me. I contacted the WILLARD regional Office with the outcome being that a female whom I was told is the head of Marketing there informed me that they WILLARD only allow for one exchange, thus I would not have a claim. AT THIS POINT I HAVE NOW LOST ALL CONFIDENCE IN WILLARD AND SAID I WOULD PREFER A PROPER QUALITY BATTERY. I travelled away for 6 weeks and asked my neighbour to start my car every second day during this period. Upon my return the car started with the slightly sluggish action and I thought the problem may be a different issue. I had the car tested for its charge rate and related connections, which proved fine, and the Auto Electrician ci=onfirming that the battery is faulty. THESE BATTERIES ARE ADVERTIZED AS WARRANTEED FOR 25 MONTHS. I again made contact with WILLARD from the factory in Port Elizabeth to the Johannesburg Office where a Gent arranged to meet me at the Randburg Midas. Here the battery and charge rate would be tested. The Willard Representative mentioned that the VARTA battery which is a far superior battery is similarly priced to the Willard and that he would recommend this. He mentioned R 1 750. At the Midas branch I was quoted R 3 350 which annoyed me and in meeting the WILLARD representative there I told him of the incident and even though he then negotiated with the Owner of the business to sell me the battery at R 1 950, I declined and left. I IN PREFERENCE CHOSE TO GO TO A DIFFERENT SUPPLIER TO PURCHASE THE BATTERY AT A MUCH REDUCED FIGURE SLIGHTLY LESS THAN R 1 600. The point now to be considered is that with mark-ups of the sort as I had just experienced I guess we may understand INFLATION or translate the word to ****. Charging these sorts of figures is an insult to the public who support their business.

In Conclusion; I asked the staff at Willard if the batteries which I had previously bought and which had lasted 6 to 8 Years - WILLARD, were manufactured in South Africa? THE QUESTION NOW IS, ARE THESE NOW MANUFACTURED IN CHINA? I WILL NEVER PURCHASE WILLARD AGAIN.