Refund policy

Return & Refund Policy

We want you in the right battery the first time. If something isn't right, here's exactly how we handle it.

The Short Version

You have 30 days from the date you receive your order to return an unused, uninstalled battery in its original condition. No restocking fee. Bring it to our Willoughby counter or ship it back to us.

Some items can't be returned — installed batteries, custom-built cables, and custom battery packs. Details below.

What Can Be Returned

To be eligible for a return, an item must be:

  • Returned within 30 days of delivery or pickup
  • Uninstalled and unused — no signs of mounting, charging, or connection
  • In its original packaging with all included hardware, terminals, and documentation
  • Accompanied by your receipt or order number

We don't charge a restocking fee on returns that meet these conditions.

What Cannot Be Returned

Installed batteries. Once a battery has been installed in a vehicle or piece of equipment, it can no longer be returned for a refund. It is still covered by its manufacturer warranty — see Warranty Claims below. A battery that has been installed and discharged cannot be resold as new, which is why this rule exists.

Custom-built items. Custom battery cables cut to your specified length and custom-assembled battery packs are final sale. These are built to your specifications and cannot be restocked.

Special-order items. Batteries ordered specifically for you that we do not normally stock may be non-returnable or subject to the manufacturer's return terms. Your sales rep will tell you before you order if this applies.

Damaged through misuse. Batteries showing physical damage, reverse-polarity connection, over-discharge, freezing, or improper charging are not eligible for return or warranty.

Core Charges

Automotive and commercial batteries purchased at our Willoughby counter include a core charge — a refundable deposit that ensures old lead-acid batteries come back for recycling instead of ending up in a landfill.

Your core charge never expires. There is no deadline. Whenever you're able to bring us the old battery — next week, next year, whenever you finally dig it out of the garage — bring it to our Willoughby counter and we'll refund the core charge.

How it works:

  • The core charge is added at the time of purchase and shown as a separate line on your receipt
  • The amount varies. Core charges track the market price of scrap lead, which moves. Your receipt shows exactly what you were charged, and that's the amount you get back.
  • It doesn't have to be the same battery. Any old lead-acid battery of comparable size will do. You don't need to prove it's the one you bought from us.
  • No time limit. Bring it in whenever you have it.
  • Bring your receipt if you have it — it makes the refund faster. Your refund is issued to the original payment method, or in cash if you paid cash.

Core charges do not apply to online orders shipped via UPS.

We recycle old batteries for free, from anyone. Bring us any old lead-acid battery — car, marine, mobility, UPS — and we'll take it off your hands at no charge, whether or not you ever bought anything from us. Lead-acid batteries are among the most recycled products in the country, at roughly 99%. There's no reason for one to end up in a landfill.

How to Start a Return

In person (fastest): Bring the item and your receipt to 37645 Vine Street, Willoughby, OH 44094. Most counter returns are processed on the spot.

By mail:

  1. Call (440) 942-2555 or email info@bulldogbattery.com with your order number and the reason for return.
  2. We'll issue you an RMA number. Do not ship anything back without one — unmarked returns can't be matched to an order and will delay your refund.
  3. Write the RMA number clearly on the outside of the box.
  4. Ship to: Bulldog Battery, Inc., ATTN: Returns / RMA #_____, 37645 Vine Street, Willoughby, OH 44094.

Return shipping costs are the customer's responsibility unless the return is the result of our error or a defective product — in those cases we cover it and will send you a prepaid label.

We recommend a trackable shipping method. We can't issue a refund for a return that never arrives.

Refunds

Once we receive and inspect your return, we'll email you to confirm approval.

  • Approved refunds are issued to your original payment method
  • Allow 5–10 business days for the refund to appear on your statement after we process it — timing depends on your bank, not us
  • Original shipping charges are non-refundable unless the return is due to our error

If more than 10 business days have passed since we confirmed your refund and you still don't see it, call us at (440) 942-2555.

Exchanges

If you bought the wrong battery, an exchange is usually faster than a return-and-repurchase. Call (440) 942-2555 and we'll walk through the correct fitment with you before anything ships.

If you're unsure whether a battery fits your application, call us before you order. We've been doing this for 35 years and we'd rather spend five minutes on the phone than have you wait on a return.

Damaged or Incorrect Shipments

Inspect your order when it arrives. If a battery arrives with a cracked case, damaged terminals, or other visible damage:

  1. Note the damage on the delivery receipt before the driver leaves, if possible. This makes the carrier claim substantially faster.
  2. Photograph the damage and the packaging.
  3. Contact us within 5 business days of delivery at (440) 942-2555.

We'll file the carrier claim on your end and get a replacement moving right away — you don't wait on the claim to resolve.

If you received the wrong item, contact us within 5 business days and we'll correct it at no cost to you, including return shipping.

Warranty Claims

Warranty is separate from returns. A battery that failed in service is a warranty claim, not a return, and the terms depend on the manufacturer and the specific model — coverage periods vary and some are pro-rated after an initial full-replacement period.

To start a warranty claim, bring the battery and your original receipt to our Willoughby counter, or call (440) 942-2555). We'll test the battery and handle the manufacturer paperwork.

Free battery testing is available at our Willoughby location whether or not you're filing a claim.

Questions

Bulldog Battery, Inc. 37645 Vine Street, Willoughby, OH 44094 (440) 942-2555 info@bulldogbattery.com

Last updated: 08/04/2026