Optima Batteries 8016-103 D34M BlueTop Dual Purpose Battery

I use Optima Blue Top batteries as a power backup with a pure sinewave inverter/charger. They are powerful and can be mounted at any angle since they are sealed and don't vent gas like a flooded battery. Being sealed, the posts don't corrode like regular batteries and the can be used indoors with care. When under a load they hold at 12 volts for a long time and recharge much faster than most batteries and do not heat up even when charged fast, like 70 amps. Optima could package them a little better for shipping - one was cracked at the bottom. A piece of stryofoam in the bottom of the box would have saved it from damage. Amazon did send a replacement. Thanks.

The battery arrived in what looked like the original box that it ships in from the manufacturer. There was a 61 pound battery in a box just barely big enough to slide it in and close the lid. The corrugated box was thicker than normal ones, but there was no padding of any sort inside.

My battery had obviously taken a fall in transport and the box corner was damaged. The battery inside was dented. It wouldn't take a proper charge, so I tried to get an RMA from Amazon. The website says they won't take it back and to refer to the manufacturer.

After some research to find the number to contact the manufacturer, I called them and was told that Amazon will indeed take it back and that it's Amazon's fault because they have been shipping these with improper packaging and Optima is trying to get them to fix it. The rep there insisted that if I call Amazon I'll get them to take it back.

I called them (kind of hard to find a way to talk with a live rep as you can imagine, but they did answer quickly and were polite) and was told that they will take it back. But after a few minutes of trying to send me a packing slip, I was told that they couldn't produce one for this product and I should just ship the battery back at my cost and I'd be reimbursed shipping when it arrived.

They also offered me a $10 credit to compensate for the trouble. I didn't ask. So that was nice.

It cost me about $32 to ship it to them UPS ground. And when it got there I was refunded for the product on my CC that day and when I wrote them to refund me for the shipping, that was taken care of very promptly also.

I buy a lot from Amazon. I love the site and the service usually. This has been my first less than good experience. I have to rate the product well because as far as I know it would have been good if undamaged. And the company rep was knowledgeable and helpful. But with all the overkill packaging Amazon usually does I was shocked that this product was so poorly handled. And the return process was irritating too.

I purchased two of these blue marine Optima batteries. Very solid vibration resistant construction and holds charge well during extened non use periods. Hopefully, Amazon will package batteries better to protect top portion of battery for shipping. I am very pleased with these premium batteries.

it works quite well running a cpap flow generator. lasted over three nights of use.

I use these in my boat. Two large amps for stereo that I run for hours. Ive used other marine batteries and its really amazing to me how long these last.

I have only had them for a year so I guess I cant comment on their longevity, but regardless Im impressed.