Where to buy laptop batteries?

breal74
breal74 Posts: 324
edited March 2012 in The Clubhouse
Hello everyone. It's time to replace the battery in my laptop and was wondering if there is a certain web site over the others that you have used? Fry's and Batteries Plus want $100 for a new one, but I have noticed that they are considerably less on the web. Thanks for the help!
Post edited by breal74 on
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  • jim 249
    jim 249 Posts: 347
    edited March 2012
    Check Amazon
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  • SDA1C
    SDA1C Posts: 2,072
    edited March 2012
    Amazon.com
    Too much **** to list....
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  • Kex
    Kex Posts: 5,176
    edited March 2012
    Generally speaking, by the time it's time to replace a laptop battery (three or four years), the battery is worth almost as much as the whole laptop ... so it's often time to buy a new laptop or keep struggling for an extra year or so and then buy a new laptop!

    There are much cheaper options on amazon.com and eBay, but not all sources are reliable.
    • If the order is fulfilled by amazon.com and sold by amazon.com, then the product is likely to be of good quality and returns will be both easy and cheap (or free).
    • If the order is fulfilled by amazon.com but sold by another merchant, then the product may be of good quality, returns will be probably be easy and cheap (or free).
    • If the order is an eBay purchase and covered by eBay protection, then refunds will be relatively simple, but you will usually have to pay for return shipping, including tracking for proof of return.

    If you can find the battery for your laptop on amazon.com, sold by amazon.com, then that is probably the lowest risk scenario. If you can find a reputable source on eBay then that is probably the cheapest option. It's not something I've ever done, but I have bought rechargeable batteries on eBay that were not for a laptop. They were junk, but I got a full refund and didn't even have to pay return shipping. I've bought other watch batteries on eBay with great success, but laptop batteries may be a different animal. Only once did I buy a fairly expensive cell phone battery from batteries.com, or some such website. It was complete junk. Only once did I buy cheap ink cartridges for my Canon printer from www.123inkjets.com. They were not only a complete waste of time, but they also cost me a lot of time when I had to dismantle the printer and clean it internally to rectify the damage done. I only buy ink cartridges from amazon.com with OEM Canon brand now.

    I would not pay $100 at Fry's, or anywhere else, for a laptop battery, but that's just me. I'm stingy! Just check that the description stipulates OEM product, not compatible product or some other subterfuge ...
    Alea jacta est!
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  • Kex
    Kex Posts: 5,176
    edited March 2012
    Lasareath wrote: »
    I buy mine and for my clients at ebay
    Linky please! ...:mrgreen:
    Alea jacta est!
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  • breal74
    breal74 Posts: 324
    edited March 2012
    Another question. Has anyone upgraded to a larger battery with bad results? Like a 10.8v 48 Whr Li-Ion 6 cell in my case to a 10.8V 71 Whr Li-Ion 9 cell? Thanks again.
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  • BeefJerky
    BeefJerky Posts: 1,320
    edited March 2012
    I personally won't use anything but a real OEM battery. I've heard of too many (and experienced a few) issues with the cheap knockoff brands that you see on eBay and other places. This includes the basics such as not being recognized by the laptop, not charging, or not lasting nearly as long as the original. I've even heard of some cases where they catch fire. Yes, some OEM's had that issue as well, but at least they had recalls for those, as well as recourse if your laptop (or you) were damaged in the process. Good luck getting any help should something bad happen with a cheap knockoff. I just won't risk it.

    As far as not being worth it to replace the battery, I think it depends on the particular laptop. If you buy bottom-of-the-line inexpensive laptops, that is probably accurate. However, if you purchase mid to high-end laptops, that is not necessarily the case. I buy higher-end business laptops myself, and I replaced the battery in my last one after just under 3 years. It was still well worth it, even at Dell's prices.
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  • Willow
    Willow Posts: 11,008
    edited March 2012
    bought mine here, was shipped super fast and so far no issues.

    http://www.ebay.ca/sch/laptopmate_usa/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=&_trksid=p3686
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  • Tbone289
    Tbone289 Posts: 661
    edited March 2012
    Kex wrote: »
    Generally speaking, by the time it's time to replace a laptop battery (three or four years), the battery is worth almost as much as the whole laptop ... so it's often time to buy a new laptop or keep struggling for an extra year or so and then buy a new laptop!

    I've never run into this situation. I currently have a 3-year old laptop that I'm about to sell on eBay for $200. A replacement battery for it is $35.

    Most of the third-party replacement batteries I've bought from reputable sources on Amazon have better performance than the OEM batteries did when new.

    YMMV
    2.1: PC>Schiit Gungnir MB>Schiit Freya Noval>NAD C-270>Ascend Acoustics Sierra-1, HSU STF-2 5.1: HDMI Bitstream>Denon AVR-1910>polkaudio RTE55, CS350-LS, RT3, HSU STF-2, Visio M55-F0
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  • WilliamM2
    WilliamM2 Posts: 4,773
    edited March 2012
    breal74 wrote: »
    Another question. Has anyone upgraded to a larger battery with bad results? Like a 10.8v 48 Whr Li-Ion 6 cell in my case to a 10.8V 71 Whr Li-Ion 9 cell? Thanks again.

    I always replace them with the higher mAh battery (usually 9 cell) when possible. I have always gotten longer running time using them. Usually from Amazon. Just be aware that the extra cells are usually externally mounted, and make the laptop sit at an angle.
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  • SDA1C
    SDA1C Posts: 2,072
    edited March 2012
    WilliamM2 wrote: »
    I always replace them with the higher mAh battery (usually 9 cell) when possible. I have always gotten longer running time using them. Usually from Amazon. Just be aware that the extra cells are usually externally mounted, and make the laptop sit at an angle.

    Indeed they do make the laptop sit up a bit. I like it because I no longer have to worry about ventilation
    Too much **** to list....
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  • Kex
    Kex Posts: 5,176
    edited March 2012
    Tbone289 wrote: »
    I've never run into this situation. I currently have a 3-year old laptop that I'm about to sell on eBay for $200. A replacement battery for it is $35.

    Most of the third-party replacement batteries I've bought from reputable sources on Amazon have better performance than the OEM batteries did when new.

    YMMV
    As you say, YMMV. He's been quoted $100 for the battery. Your laptop, in another year will probably only be worth $150 on eBay, less the eBay listing and selling costs, so ... Obviously, it depends on both the laptop (values vary) and the battery (costs vary).

    If he can get a replacement for $35 (or even under $50), that will last three years with at least 75% capacity, then it's a bargain, and certainly worthwhile IMO. Every laptop battery I have ever owned has lasted well beyond three years, but capacity usually begins to dwindle quite rapidly after three years, especially after it first becomes noticeable. One of the secrets is to NEVER leave them discharged for extended periods. Always recharge them as soon as possible when they have been completely discharged. Also protect them from extremes of heat or cold.
    breal74 wrote: »
    Another question. Has anyone upgraded to a larger battery with bad results? Like a 10.8v 48 Whr Li-Ion 6 cell in my case to a 10.8V 71 Whr Li-Ion 9 cell? Thanks again.
    As others have stated, there's no problem with that, but apart from the extra bulk (sometimes quite significant), you will also have extra weight. On an ultrabook, that might not be what you want.
    Alea jacta est!
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  • gdb
    gdb Posts: 6,012
    edited March 2012
    http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&Depa=0&Order=BESTMATCH&Description=%20laptop%20battery%20hp&IsRelated=1&cm_sp=KeywordRelated-_-laptop_battery-_-%20laptop%20battery%20hp
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  • breal74
    breal74 Posts: 324
    edited March 2012
    Thanks for the help everybody! I ordered a 9 cell for $60 from atbatt, which is about 8% of what I paid for the laptop. The site has received good reveiws and I used paypal for extra protection just incase something doesn't go right.
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  • gdb
    gdb Posts: 6,012
    edited March 2012
    I'd keep your laptop off of charge and in a metal box while not using it or, especially when not around it. I never leave batts. on charge when they're unwatched.:eek:


    http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=laptop+battery+catches+fire&oq=laptop+battery+catches+fire&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&gs_sm=12&gs_upl=171191l198740l0l200924l27l27l0l6l6l0l125l1589l17.4l21l0
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  • breal74
    breal74 Posts: 324
    edited March 2012
    Thanks for that ray of sunshine gdb!
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  • gdb
    gdb Posts: 6,012
    edited March 2012
    What.....you'd rather be blissfully ignorant while you're turned to toast ? Nevermind , have fun.
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  • breal74
    breal74 Posts: 324
    edited March 2012
    I know that you just warning me of the possible dangers and I thank you. I was just having a little fun with that reply.
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  • ryanjoachim
    ryanjoachim Posts: 2,046
    edited March 2012
    Look up a place called Batteries Plus. Not sure if they're just a local outfit or what, but they have great prices and a huge selection.
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  • gdb
    gdb Posts: 6,012
    edited March 2012
    breal74 wrote: »
    I know that you just warning me of the possible dangers and I thank you. I was just having a little fun with that reply.
    As I too was with you !!:wink::cheesygrin:
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  • nooshinjohn
    nooshinjohn Posts: 25,396
    edited March 2012
    Home Depot carries them on isle 19, right next to the black paint and the tinfoil hats.
    The Gear... Carver "Statement" Mono-blocks, Mcintosh C2300 Arcam AVR20, Oppo UDP-203 4K Blu-ray player, Sony XBR70x850B 4k, Polk Audio Legend L800 with height modules, L400 Center Channel Polk audio AB800 "in-wall" surrounds. Marantz MM7025 stereo amp. Simaudio Moon 680d DSD

    “When once a Republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other correction is either useless or a new evil.”— Thomas Jefferson
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  • breal74
    breal74 Posts: 324
    edited March 2012
    Will I get more power and longer life if I modify the battery with the black paint and tinfoil?
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