Yokohama car battery warranty procedure

I drive a MYVI and being a local car, one is not surprised if the car battery die on you shortly after the 1st year.

Since it happened after dinner at my parents house, I called a mechanic friend, Mr Koh Chon Wai ("Mr Koh") and went to his workshop (STM Motor) nearby to buy a Yokohama battery for RM220. Mr Koh mentioned that the price was higher because the battery was a dry type battery which is better and will last longer.

Since it was late, I just paid and he did not give me any bill (which on hindsight was a very grave mistake on my part). 

On 3/9/2013 the Yokohama battery which is supposed to last longer died.. But since I do not have any bill, I cannot remember the exact date of purchase but my husband feel that it is definitely less than a year.

So I contacted Mr Koh through WhatsApp and ask for his help.

To cut the story short, what I learnt from this are:-
1) always ask for bill
2) for Yokohama car battery, you can go directly to Yokohama to claim a new unit if it is less than a year
3) Yokohama CANNOT trace the warranty date through the serial number on the warranty card.
4) the date is written on the car battery itself.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 

The ending of my story? It was quite sad actually.

I bought a new dry type Yokohama battery for RM200 elsewhere.

And I had stupidly given back the old battery together with warranty card to Mr Koh thinking he can help me to check.

But instead he just told me that warranty was over and proceeded to offer me another battery at cheaper price of RM170.

Below are the excepts of my WhatsApp conversation with Mr Koh:-

See.. he's a friend because he asked
about a mutual friend's wedding..

Finally on 2/10/2013 I found the entry in my 2012 diary which recorded me buying the battery on 4/12/2012.

But when I called him on 2/10/2013 to ask, he first said he sold the unit and then changed it to he threw it away. Tsk.. What kind of answers are those??

But since he would know how to check the warranty date, he either:-
a) sold me an old unit hence the warranty was really over OR
b) the warranty was still there and he claimed a new unit from Yokohama.

Then he proceeded to offer me a new unit for RM150 but when I protested he offer to share half half and offered me a battery for RM100 whenever I need one since he reasoned that we cannot keep a car battery for too long.

VERDICT:-
I will NOT recommend Mr Koh's workshop to anybody because he charges higher than others and has questionable honesty and integrity. Besides, it does not make sense to send your car to a motorcycle workshop for repair / service. Lesson learnt!

Photos courtesy of withelwyn.com

Photos courtesy of withelwyn.com