Duracell Battery Warning!!

They are probably counterfeit. Real Duracells sometimes have problems but I've never seen anything like that on a genuine, name brand battery. Years ago I used to be an intellectual property warrior in the Far East and one of our biggest battles was against counterfeit batteries - especially fake Duracells. This was back when Mallory still owned the brand, but the problem hasn't gone away. 

I have used Duracells most of my life and never seen anything like this.  And I have abused them too, shorting them out or putting them in backwards (never on purpose).  Did you get them from a local store in a marked Duracell blister pack?

thecounterfeitreport.com

Most likely counterfeit.  I would contact Duracell with the details of where you bought them and when.  A buddy did this and they thanked him and sent coupon good for genuine Duracell batteries.

I use Duracell in all my electronics and have never had a problem like you have shown or any problem with them at all.  I get my Duracell at Costco. 

Steve, Lady and Tex

That would put a bad day to my train day. That is one reason I take my batteries out of my remotes when I am not going to use them for awhile. The same with a few tenders and box cars that take 9V batteries.

I have the same problem with Duracells in clocks - they always leak before they run out of power.  Also happens in remotes.  Bought them at several different retailers.  This has been going on for awhile.  I am not buying them any more.  I never have any problems with the bunny brand.

The problem is not Duracells but rather the chemical reaction that occurs when an alkaline battery is depleted and left in place. Unlike a carbon-zinc cell, the resultant corrosion is alkali (potassium hydroxide) and is highly corrosive. Speaking of corrosion, how many 1950's Lionel diesel locomotives were ruined by Ray-O-Vac?

Rick

Just today I threw out 2 from a TV controller. Should have removed them when I stored the controller. Now I wonder what else I have damaged by leaving batteries in items I have stored for some time.

Paul Goodness

The last time I went shopping for batteries I decided to look where they made and that is when I noticed the Duracell batteries on the shelf were either Hecho en China or made in the USA. I decided from then on to only buy the USA made batteries....now I have another reason to do so.

I have had leaking USA Duracell batteries every now and then.I still buy them,but I make sure I take them out of anything that gets stored away.

Dan

I use thousands of batteries/month in my business and the best and longest lasting are generics like Kirkland from Costco.  We buy a couple industrial brands direct in bulk but supplement them with Kirkland.  At home I use Kirkland and Duracell from Costco.  The only thing better are rechargeables from Energizer which I use all day every day too.  If you have this problem with anything from Costco take it back and they'll refund your money, no questions asked.

Hey!! That there is some good information, especially ADCX Rob's link.

thank you for the alert, Kerrigan. We are most Oblidged.

Thank you all for this valuable, important information.

I don't know, but I have two 'D,' one 'C' and a few 'AA' 'DURACELL' batteries and they all have the 'Foreign' symbols on them and it, is difficult to know, if, they are legit, _hit, or whatever!

Even, though my batteries are fresh, regardless of brands, I still looked them over and test them.

Again, I say with these 'DURACELL' batteries, fortunately, so far, so good.

Ralph 

Ditto that.  They're the only ones I trust.  But, then, I only buy them at the same store ("Big Box"), which I rely on to be wary of counterfeits.  It's the 'dollar' stores I'd stay away from when buying something like this.

I suggest that you send those batteries to the company that makes Duracell because what you have is an extraordinary experience. Duracell batteries have been working without incident for me for many years.

Not long ago I bought a locomotive that had a Duracell 9-volt battery in it which was swollen like those in your photo. The battery failed because the locomotive has an integral charging system, and the battery was not the rechargeable type. 

In my opinion, it is not fair to negatively brand Duracell batteries on the basis of your experience without having done due diligence with the Duracell company first. Many Lionel collectors unfairly give a bad name to Rayovac because of damage done to classic F3 diesels. In fact it was the negligence of the train owner who failed to remove the battery before storing the locomotive.

I've had a few Energizers leak recently. I bought them from Sam's over the years. They leaked when they were mostly discharged I think. I have recently switched to Duracells from Sam's and am now thinking I just need to check the batteries often to have the best protection. These are all made in the USA.

I've had a few bought at Costco show some leakage over the past few years.

Seems like the problems began when they got less expensive a few years ago.

A package of 32 or 40 at Costco is less then $12 on sale. They also don't last as long.

Might want to try the new red Quantum Duracells but they are slightly more expensive.

joe    

I have never had a leakage problem with Duracell. On the other hand ,I have had many with Energizer . I have had excellent luck with Costco's Kirkland Signature brand in the AA size.

Brad

    Having come from a business where some of our products were counterfeited, I can confirm what dkdkrd said- Buy from the "Big Box" stores and you will get the genuine Duracell products. Buy from the dollar stores or small discount stores and you risk getting counterfeit products.

    The "big box" stores develop relationships with the genuine manufacturers and would not risk that relationship by buying counterfeit goods.

    On the other hand, dollar stores and small discount stores, if offered counterfeit or foreign batteries at a price substantially lower than the genuine product, will often buy it to undercut the "big box" stores' retail price and still make a large profit.

John Knapp

Erie, not Eerie

The Kirkland batteries are consistently near the very top of performance ratings, and are by far rated at the very top for value.

I've had good luck with the Duracells purchased @ BJ'S Clubs.

You might want to check out this item I just posted if you use any batteries.

Greg

https://ogrforum.com/t...ning-thread-warranty

Well...they do say made in China, which is not my experence. All the ones I've had are made in USA. Perhaps buy only them.

I just checked my Duracell battery packaging I get from Costco including sizes D, C, AA, and AAA.......they all indicate "Made in USA".

If you really want to be scared research on how much of our food and food ingredients come from China with little or no inspection or control.  How is this allowed to happen.

Steve, Lady and Tex

Same problem here. The batteries don't even have to be dead or sit for a while to leak.

I have had regular Durcell battries leak on me many times. I have changed to either Energizer or Everyready and have had no problems.

Yep, me too.  Never had this issue or heard of it.

George

I use rayovac and have never had them run out of juice too early or leak even if left in Christmas stuff for over a year. 

Could we get a place of manufacture correlation on the failed cells?

Duracell batteries are made in Chester SC.

I've seen all types of batteries fail like that. Most time I blame my self for leaving them installed when not being used for long periods, storing in extremely hot environments and just plane lazy carelessness. I'm sure some batteries are better than others, but for the most part big failures I've encountered were all avoidable operator error.

I now use rechargeable AA & AAA Sanyo made (white) Eneloops when/wherever possible.

Except for the ones that started this thread that were made in China. Just wondering if they are the exception and why they apparently leaked before they went flat.

I have pulled some leaking Duracell batteries out of a clock before too. Must be something about leaving them after they go flat.

Rob

Where does one find batteries not made in China?

I check the label at both our big stores here and all the batteries on the racks are made in China.

I'm beginning to wonder if everything is now made in China?

Was our government "Made in China" as it hardly works any better than the rest of the crap from over there.

What's wrong with "MADE IN USA" even if it's subsidized with our government financing, like it is in so many other countries with which we can't compete.