While I was in Las Vegas last week, my laptop battery died. Not in the “needs to be recharged” way. In the “you unplug it, it dies” way.
I grudgingly got online to find a replacement battery and then almost died when they were around $120.
But . . . but that was 20% of the original cost of my laptop (I bought a refurbished one. My brother was horrified to hear this, probably imagining that it came from someone who, like me, ate all manner of messy foods over the keyboard. I assured him it was pristine and lovely when I bought it (now? not pristine and lovely, but oh so beloved)).
I decided that maybe I would not buy the battery through Apple after all. . .perhaps I would google for a cheaper place to buy it.
Hmm, okay “ibook G4 battery.”
Google thinks for one second and then pops up the first result: “Battery Exchange Program iBook G4.”
Why, what? Does that say that some batteries for iBooks have been recalled? Because six people had their batteries melt their computers or some such disaster? Well.
Hmm, too bad this was in 2005. Oh well, my laptop is old. Maybe it qualifies. Might as well check.
Serial number . . . check. Battery number. . . check.
I’m qualified? My new FREE battery will be here next week?
And that is why I now have both a new battery with a life of 3.5 hours AND $120 still tucked snugly into my checking account.
Ah, a dead battery has never been so sweet.
11 Comments
That’s fantastic. (First post, w00t.)
FREE is AWESOME. Hooray for qualifying!
I called my “car guy” to say my vehicle’s battery had also, ever-so-dramatically “died”…he recommended I call the name on the battery. A man in a jumpsuit appeared, popped the old one out, new one in, and we were discussing what I owed him when he said, “Wait a minute”, and returned to his service van (I assumed he needed a price list). Yes, that’s right, the number scratched on the top of my old battery apparently told him it was still within warranty, and so he drove away in his van, and I stood, contemplating where Haki and I would go for dinner now that we’d come into money. I loved your tale so much so, for bringing that sweet-tasting sentiment so fresh, back to me.
Oh wow, way to go!! I love happy endings 🙂
I’m sure it is because you were in Vegas.
What a sweet, sweet deal!
Good for youuu!
Nice! Hooray for free things! The screen on our video camera would black out and say that the cover was not open, even though it clearly was open. We thought we’d have to pay hundreds to get it repaired since it was quite a few years old. Thank goodness for google, because I searched for a cheaper repair that wouldn’t be through Sony, and I found out that there was a recall on our camera too. They sent me a shipping label and it was repaired for free, all within a couple weeks!
Freakin SO COOL
My battery recently had the same kinda of death. I lived with it for months because I did not want to buy a new one. Ultimately, I bought one on Ebay for about $45. Not as good as FREE, but not $120!
I sobbed uncontrollably when I had to buy a new AC Adapter for my iBook. $75! NOT CHEAP!
My mac battery died earlier this year and I just took it in and explained the problem. They just popped a new one on for free and sent me on my way. Yay apple.