Eric Ineman runs Bulldog Battery's Stryker rebuild program. He sat down with Rick Price to walk through how the program works, from sourcing cells to handling a warranty claim in 911 service.
If you run an EMS fleet, the conversation about Stryker cot batteries usually starts with two questions: How does a rebuild compare to OEM, and what happens when something goes wrong?
We sat down with Eric Ineman, who heads Bulldog's outside sales division and the Stryker rebuild program, to answer both. The full conversation is on video below. The short version is on this page.
The Rebuild, Explained in One Line
Eric's description of how a Bulldog rebuild compares to OEM:
"We're reusing the OEM battery, so we're giving you back that same battery, the same components, the same circuitry, the same shell, the same product that your teams are used to using in the field. The only difference is we're replacing the cells with a higher-quality cell. We're giving you back that same engine, just with more horsepower."
The genuine Stryker components stay. The cells that wear out get replaced with NiMH cells from a manufacturer Bulldog has worked with for nearly two decades.
Why the Cells Are Better Than What Stryker Ships
Most ops managers have never heard how the cells get chosen. Eric walked through it:
"The cells we're using, we didn't just stumble upon them. We sourced cells from several manufacturers before we settled on one, and it wasn't an overnight process. We trialed several and found the one that was the most reliable, with the lowest defect rate. We have a very strong relationship with that manufacturer. If anything changes, we know about it right away."
The defect rate on those cells is what underwrites the warranty rate: under 2% across thousands of rebuilds.
The Warranty Process, Walked Through
The single biggest thing Eric covered, and the part most EMS ops managers want to hear before they switch, is what happens when a pack fails in the field. In his own words:
"Say one of my customers has an issue. I sent out a handful of batteries, and they call me one morning because a crew left a battery on their desk overnight that was flashing yellow on the charger. I'm not going to ask too many questions. I'm going to grab a battery we've rebuilt, charged, and have ready to go, ship it out the same day, and email the customer a prepaid UPS label to get the old one back to our shop."
That is the customer-facing side. The other half happens after the bad pack arrives back at Bulldog:
"Once we get the battery back, I test the board and the components in that pack and verify what the issue was. I want to follow up and make sure they're not having a problem with their charger, because it could be something else."
That diagnostic step has caught problems beyond the battery more than once. Sometimes a pack that came back as defective tests fine, and the real issue is the charger. Eric's team finds it, tells the customer, and coordinates a replacement charger when one is needed. None of that is written into the warranty. It is how the program runs.
Who's Actually Using Bulldog Rebuilds
The customer base covers every size of EMS operation:
"We have customers across the EMS and medical transport field, in all shapes and sizes: county EMS, a lot of municipalities, all the way up to private ambulance companies that are multi-state, running 30, 40, 50 trucks, maybe 2,000 employees, contracted for 911 calls. They're busy constantly, and they're finding they replace their Stryker cot batteries every two to three months."
That is the high-volume end. The other end fits too:
"Not just the large companies, though. We have smaller medical transport companies that might only have one or two stretchers. I'm happy to take care of any customer who can use our services."
Pricing and the OEM Gap
Eric on why Bulldog prices the way it does:
"We're priced just below half of what you'd pay for a battery direct from your Stryker rep. We don't see the necessity in price gouging because this is medical equipment. Our price point is about $325, which is about half. We're not looking to hike anything up because of the application. We're here to address the pain point that you could be overpaying and not even know it."
For reference, OEM Stryker SMRT Paks (part 6500-101-010) list at $686 each, and lead times typically run three weeks, longer when stock is constrained.
The Trial Offer
Eric's standard offer for any ops manager evaluating Bulldog for the first time:
"We have a 30-day money-back guarantee, which gives you a risk-free trial period. If we send you a battery and you're not happy with our service, I issue a prepaid UPS label to get it back to our shop. We shake hands and go our separate ways."
What happens on those trials, in Eric's experience:
"Generally our customers start with a small order to give us a shot. A month later they've seen it out in the field, tried and tested, and they come back with all of their ordering. They don't look back."
The bigger orders typically follow a trial run of two to four packs tested in the field alongside OEM units.
Reach Eric Directly
Eric handles every Stryker account personally. He is the single point of contact for every agency, from a one-truck transport company to a multi-state operator running 50+ cots.
Talk to Eric about your fleet: eric@bulldogbattery.com or 607-600-3001
Run your fleet's numbers: Stryker Battery Savings Calculator
New to recelling? Start with What Is Stryker Battery Recelling?
