Bought a battery at NTB (should have told them to kiss off but it was late on a Saturday and I was in a jam)

Bastards charged for INSTALLATION and added a "battery shop fee".

WTF?

They tried to charge me 15 bucks to test my old one. Didn't bite on that.

When second car needed battery I went to Sears, they tested and installed for free with no BS charges.

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MB-less

Lately I have gone to MB and picked up what I needed or gone to my local Interstate battery distributor. Never regretted either option. Anymore I think I'm just going to MB for the batteries for the cars and Interstate for the batteries for the truck or camper (both take two). I'll install my own darn batteries, thankyew verry much. Shop fee?? did they tell you about that in advance?

Nope, they failed to mention all but the testing fee, which I declined. I asked to have the battery tested first, so they probably had to mention that. I can understand testing fees if you don't end up buying a battery. Their time is money too. I asked if they would waive the fee for the purchase and they said no.

They lost a customer. They used to be decent.

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MB-less

You could have installed it yourself, all you need is a size 13 wrench and possibly a plier to counterhold. My battery is under the back seat, it still didn't take me more than 20 minutes to change it.
You could also get a cheap voltage meter for $15 and test it (and your alternator) yourself.

Alex

AutoZoo tests for free, I believe. They even have some test cart they can wheel out to your car to check the alternator. And BTW, isn't NTB actually owned by Sears now?

Sears sold NTB to TBC around the middle of 2003. I remember working on the transaction.