[Resolved]  Exide Industries Ltd — Dr. Vistasp Sethna

Dr. Vistasp Sethna is promoting Exide batteries, charging a mark up over them. False claims have been listed as:-<br />
<br />
"Hi guys, <br />
> As you know, the 14 Ah LB 500 battery is not available<br />
> for after-market sales, <br />
> and once it goes, the LB 500 guys have to resort to less<br />
> than optimum<br />
> compromises like the Exide Baker or the Sonic<br />
> Charge-14.<br />
><br />
> However, these batteries are NOT made for specialised<br />
> cranking purposes (like we<br />
> need for our ES) and are manufactured as mainly back-up<br />
> storage purposes like<br />
> for STD booths etc, inverters, and are used in low end<br />
> tempos. Their plates are<br />
><br />
> fewer in number and are much thinner than our OE battery<br />
> and as such these do<br />
> not last more than 6-8 months (max) when used for cranking<br />
> ES applications like<br />
> in our bikes. Also, the warranty is void i[censored]sed in<br />
> automotive applications<br />
><br />
> (something the Exide guys can make out even if you try to<br />
> hide it :)).<br />
> To make a long story short, not wanting to go in for a<br />
> compromise setup (though<br />
> admittedly cheaper to purchase), I did some research in<br />
> batteries, trying to<br />
> find alternatives, as well as the differences in battery<br />
> tech - lead-acid vs<br />
><br />
> VRLA / Gel etc. Finally I spoke to the EXIDE guys in<br />
> Mumbai, and have somehow<br />
> convinced/sweet-talked them into manufacturing a small<br />
> special batch for us at<br />
> their Pune plant.<br />
> Since this is a special production run, the electrode<br />
> fitting is slightly<br />
> different to our OE batteries. The electrodes are much<br />
> thicker/heavy-duty than<br />
> our OE batteries - in order to take the increased<br />
> charge/current as this lot<br />
><br />
> while in the same sealed container, actually has an ampere<br />
> reading of 17 Ah as<br />
> against the OE 14 Ah. Also it has a overflow arrangement<br />
> which was missing in<br />
> our OE batteries and which caused corrosion/discoloration<br />
> to many of our clutch<br />
><br />
> casings. And since this model is specifically for cranking<br />
> applications, it will<br />
> no doubt have superior life to the compromise solutions we<br />
> were saddled with up<br />
> until now!<br />
> As of now, I have spoken to the Bombay office only about<br />
> picking up two<br />
><br />
> batteries (one has been reserved by veerji S. Baljeet Singh<br />
> Kocchar), but if<br />
> some of you are interested, I can talk to them about<br />
> releasing more specially<br />
> for us. Depending on the numbers I will let you guys know<br />
> about the costing (the<br />
><br />
> MRP of the OE battery is Rs. 2, 400/-).<br />
> Those who are interested can get in touch with me<br />
> directly at the earliest. I do<br />
> not know if getting them to do another limited batch will<br />
> be possible.<br />
> Cheers, Doc"