18650batterystore.com vs DocanPower.com for US stock raw LiFePO4 Cells

[WorldwideDave]

As I am evaluating the purchase of a bunch of raw LiFePO4 cells, I've noticed two things:
1.) 18650batterystore.com cost for just the cells is about $15 more per cell than Docan Power
2.) Docan provides free shipping to my state
3.) 18650batterystore has a lot of positive reviews posted on their site vs. Docan
4.) No known coupons for either site right now
5.) Minimum order is 4 cells - about 420 USD+80 shipping from 18650 vs. about 350 with free shipping from Docan

What am I missing here? both have bus bar and bolt kits included. Both claim to be selling EVE.

Educate me please. Not looking to have anyone bash one vs the other - just postives about YOUR experiences buying from either of them, and why you think pricing would be off by almost $70 USD just on 4 batteries. A lot more if 16, 32, or 128 batteries bought. I know the price per cell would go down. Still, a lot of margin there for 18650, and not sure what that is buying me.

Furthermore, with so many 280 Ah batteries out there at 12V for under $400, raw cells seem out of favor right now. Thoughts?

 

[lexscripta]

I went through the same decision making process that you have been going through. I watched 18650 for a long time, and almost bought from them twice. They have sales every so often, and my thinking was that buying from someone here in the US is better.

After seeing a few scattered positive comments from people across various platforms, I finally chose DOCAN POWER. What really sold me was not so much the positive reviews, but the general chitter chatter going back and forth between Amy at Docan, and a few other people. Just general going back and forth, like "thanks - I'll be completing that order, same as last year..." and "Appreciate that Amy. I can always count on you" Comments like that make big impressions on me. Another thing that impressed me was that they have good business acumen. The idea of placing bulk foreign product on US soil in warehouses is brilliant. The savings gets passed along.

I did a lot of research, back and forth with China on AliBaba and so forth. Lots of Yada, Yada, Yada.

If you feel safer with 18650, just wait. They have some good sales every so often. But Amy will definitely treat you right and you will get a good product from them.

My 2 cents.

 

[42OhmsPA]

I've ordered from both.
I'll order from both again in the future.
I'll choose Docan first if prices are better.
18650 did match a previous sale price when I missed it by a day.
Docan barely ever budges on price unless your buying 32+ cells.
18650 shows the qyty discount on their website.
If I lived closed to 18650 and could pickup they would likely be first every time.

12V prebuilt for cheap... Who knows what the heck for cells your getting but you can almost guarantee they will be welded bus bars....

 

[lexscripta]

I've ordered from both.
I'll order from both again in the future.
I'll choose Docan first if prices are better.
18650 did match a previous sale price when I missed it by a day.
Docan barely ever budges on price unless your buying 32+ cells.
18650 shows the qyty discount on their website.
If I lived closed to 18650 and could pickup they would likely be first every time.

12V prebuilt for cheap... Who knows what the heck for cells your getting but you can almost guarantee they will be welded bus bars....

Yeah, my thinking too. Those shipping charges are somethin'.

 

[Rocketman]

I have actually ordered from both companies.

Last fall my dad needed new batteries for his 5th wheel RV. Docan got us two 230ah 12v batteries for a good price. He is happy with them.

This spring I needed 32 cells just as the tariffs were hitting for a property we just purchased - used 18650batterystore. They arrived and look good. (Still in boxes - that part of the project will be summer).

I was happy with both companies.

I would go with the better deal.

Good Luck

 

[doityourself2021]

And shipping charges, from my experience no matter if your in USA, UK, AU, FJ since about all of its coming from CN... and unless its Ocean shipped, vs. Air.. and even then it gets hefty.. but out of this world for air.. averaging about $10-15 a pound of wt.. for air up to 15lbs, and after that it does reduce some for air frt.. Ocean figure 4-8 wks but if it has some size and or weight, averages about $2.00 a pound by sea. I have a AiO 32lb
leaving USA to FJ, Air $312, and not DDP, add another 15% to Frt & Value of the AiO customs and duties= of $151 added the TTL Cost..

In last four years, and Covid really open the door for shipping to add higher rates for shipping.. One can figure 50%-80% added to the purchase to deliver the goods. Good example is SS, pricing.. as they have to add the cost of the in bound freight to the Suggested sale price. Is almost always double for the same item found in CN.. because of Shipping. Now, Ocean Frt, by volume and container and freight forwarders if you have the right one.. You can cut the cost of shipment way back and make a nice profit via freight added and hidden into the cost of item..

Its a card game for sure on finding best deals.. We all like a good deal, but like a chicken in the yard, a lot of scratching to find a good deal.

 

[ChrisG]

I just bought from Docan, 304ah, Apexium vertical case with JK 200amp inverter BMS , BMS usb to rs485 cable, delivery tax/fee all in for $2100. Not bad per 15kw battery.

 

[WorldwideDave]

I just bought from Docan, 304ah, Apexium vertical case with JK 200amp inverter BMS , BMS usb to rs485 cable, delivery tax/fee all in for $2100. Not bad per 15kw battery.

Very nice. Enjoy that. You built it yourself, then?
I can't wait until the prices on the cases go down. My gosh they are expensive for what they are.

 

[ChrisG]

Very nice. Enjoy that. You built it yourself, then?
I can't wait until the prices on the cases go down. My gosh they are expensive for what they are.

Yeah, pretty good deal on the the 304ah cells but the cases include a 200amp JK inverter BMS for $600. Taking away the BMS, brings the price down to ~$400 which also includes bus bars, battery separators, rails for BMS connections, etc, and case.

 

[Brett V]

I've ordered EVE 230 cells from Docan three times over the last 2 years. The cells have arrived from Texas in just a few days and were all perfect.

 

[robbob2112]

I have ordered cells from srikobatteries.com and 18650batterystore.com -- both had similar prices when you factored in shipping + extras --- both included the bus bars and bolt... sriko included EF4 separators as well, 18650 charges for them.

The cells from sriko arrived when promised and packaged so well I had trouble removing it -- zero damage to the cells

The cells from 18650 - first box looked like it had been through a war as a parachute jumper and landed badly --- the cells inside were fine -- I suspect UPS handled them with kid gloves to avoid getting a claim.

Second box had standard small UPS damage -- all 4 cells had the terminals on one side bent down..... imprints in the cardboard from the terminals -- several cells with kinked corners

Third box --- after telling them the packaging was inadequate and sending pictures they arrived in the same packaging as the second box --- outside of the box was pristine, inside you could tell where the cell terminals had impacted the and all terminals arrived bent .... called again -- talked to sales this time -- they talked to shipping ---

Forth box arrived perfect -- it had been repackaged with an extra thick foam added on top ... just minor standard exterior box damage.

In the end it took an extra month to get the complete set of good cells from 18650 --- and at no point anywhere along any of my contacts or on their store website was I able to get a tracking number... and never a reply email from them... Batteries just showed up out of the blue with no ship notice either.

So in the end I would order from sriko unless I got a screaming deal from 18650 .... I have ordered several other non-cell things from 18650 and they arrived just fine...

 

[740GLE]

What about Luyuan?

Sure there’s more lead time, but price and quality can’t be beat.

 

[littleharbor2]

It seems to me 18650 battery store is having problems due to the fact that they've got very few cells in stock and they have been perpetually out of BMS units for a long time they have nothing in the BMS Department I don't understand it because I can buy BMS's all over the internet with virtually no shortages

 

[DougL]

Not sure about those two sites, I purchased my 3 DIY kits from Basengreen after seeing a video by Everyday Dave and they still have the DIY case + 314aH EVE cells for $19,xxx shipped from US. When I'd ordered they were out of stock and it took 2 months to restock. Within a couple of weeks they were back out of stock on things. Currently they say there are 10 DIY **kits** with these 314ah cells but just the sells are all no-stock. https://www.basengreen.com/product/diy-case-for-48v-battery-packenclosure-accessories-usa/

 

[JoeHam]

The cells from sriko arrived when promised and packaged so well I had trouble removing it -- zero damage to the cells

So in the end I would order from sriko unless I got a screaming deal from 18650 .... I have ordered several other non-cell things from 18650 and they arrived just fine...

I’ve ordered cells and BMS a few times from Sriko with no issues.

Since they are near Chicago my order usually shows up in 2 or 3 days to Ohio.

If you call sometimes the owner answers.

 

[robbob2112]

I’ve ordered cells and BMS a few times from Sriko with no issues.

Since they are near Chicago my order usually shows up in 2 or 3 days to Ohio.

If you call sometimes the owner answers.

Mine showed up in about 4 days.

For me thier website always causes malwarebytes to complain.... I've reported it to them.... anyone else ever see that?

 

[Sam Cho TX]

OP has a history of making shil postings for Docan, he previously started this baloney thread:

Thread 'Share Your Docan Purchase Experiences from US Warehouse'

Apr 1, 2025

I'm considering buying 4 EVE 314Ah cells from Docan's Texas warehouse. I’ve interacted with a couple of their staff but am in no rush to buy.
I won’t be purchasing from Alibaba, Temu, or other China-based sites.
I haven’t seen recent reviews for Docan here, so if you’ve bought anything from them—cells, BMS, DIY kits, etc.—please share your experience.
Thank you so much!

• WorldwideDave
• Replies: 64
• Forum: Vendor Review Corner

He isn't buying anything, he just wants to keep pumping for Docan and has been asking for Docan for over a year:

Search results for query: docan

diysolarforum.com

His tactic always is
"Have you bought form Docan"
"Isnt' Docan Amy so nice"
"Prove you have not been scammed by Docan"

Apparently he still hasn't bought didly squat from them.

Yeah right, ghostwriter 2.0....

 

[ChrisG]

OP has a history of making shil postings for Docan, he previously started this baloney thread:

Thread 'Share Your Docan Purchase Experiences from US Warehouse'

Apr 1, 2025

I'm considering buying 4 EVE 314Ah cells from Docan's Texas warehouse. I’ve interacted with a couple of their staff but am in no rush to buy.
I won’t be purchasing from Alibaba, Temu, or other China-based sites.
I haven’t seen recent reviews for Docan here, so if you’ve bought anything from them—cells, BMS, DIY kits, etc.—please share your experience.
Thank you so much!

• WorldwideDave
• Replies: 64
• Forum: Vendor Review Corner

He isn't buying anything, he just wants to keep pumping for Docan and has been asking for Docan for over a year:

Search results for query: docan

diysolarforum.com

His tactic always is
"Have you bought form Docan"
"Isnt' Docan Amy so nice"
"Prove you have not been scammed by Docan"

Apparently he still hasn't bought didly squat from them.

Yeah right, ghostwriter 2.0....

Docan has been fantastic, another shipment expected tomorrow. Was great they separated my apexium cases from cells so I can get some pre-work done.

 

[lexscripta]

I have ordered cells from srikobatteries.com and 18650batterystore.com -- both had similar prices when you factored in shipping + extras --- both included the bus bars and bolt... sriko included EF4 separators as well, 18650 charges for them.

The cells from sriko arrived when promised and packaged so well I had trouble removing it -- zero damage to the cells

The cells from 18650 - first box looked like it had been through a war as a parachute jumper and landed badly --- the cells inside were fine -- I suspect UPS handled them with kid gloves to avoid getting a claim.

Second box had standard small UPS damage -- all 4 cells had the terminals on one side bent down..... imprints in the cardboard from the terminals -- several cells with kinked corners

Third box --- after telling them the packaging was inadequate and sending pictures they arrived in the same packaging as the second box --- outside of the box was pristine, inside you could tell where the cell terminals had impacted the and all terminals arrived bent .... called again -- talked to sales this time -- they talked to shipping ---

Forth box arrived perfect -- it had been repackaged with an extra thick foam added on top ... just minor standard exterior box damage.

In the end it took an extra month to get the complete set of good cells from 18650 --- and at no point anywhere along any of my contacts or on their store website was I able to get a tracking number... and never a reply email from them... Batteries just showed up out of the blue with no ship notice either.

So in the end I would order from sriko unless I got a screaming deal from 18650 .... I have ordered several other non-cell things from 18650 and they arrived just fine...

delete

 

[lexscripta]

Mine showed up in about 4 days.

For me thier website always causes malwarebytes to complain.... I've reported it to them.... anyone else ever see that?

Yep - just went there yesterday, and all kinds of warnings, both from my browser and my Virus software.

 

[JoeHam]

Yep - just went there yesterday, and all kinds of warnings, both from my browser and my Virus software.

If I can’t find what I want I’ve just called and they’ve answered.

That’s somewhat rare these days and I wouldn’t hesitate to try that if the website looks funky to you.