I don't do hardware repairs on computers for clients, but when my own aging MacBook Air's battery was reaching end of life, I weighed up the options. Purchase a replacement battery from the Apple store at $189 and wait quite some time for an appointment and then probably a number of days to get the replacement done. Didn't really appeal to me.
The second option was to purchase a third-party battery online. I really don't trust eBay with large purchasers, as I've found a number of suppliers are companies I wouldn't deal with again. I hadn't actually purchased from Amazon but the marketing gave me a feeling the Amazon name is important and we feel like we're buying from Amazon. The reality is you're still dealing with a third party supplier.
The main advantages of purchasing the third-party battery was code, it was $63.99, the opportunity to learn from performing the repair myself and the reduced time I would be without the computer.
I purchased a battery from the Amazon store around June, but since I was going on holiday the following month, I didn't want to take the chance my computer wouldn't work. So I waited until I returned, caught up with everything and then around September installed the battery. Nothing. Nada. No power.
Contacting the supplier was easy and they forward a list of suggestions. I suspect it was a standard list. Carried out all the tests which took quite a few hours. I let them know the serial number reported by coconutBattery didn't match the serial number on the battery. The battery reported no charge and wouldn't charge. The supplier sent a replacement battery. I didn't have to return the dud battery.
The new battery installed fairly easily, over a dozen screws and the connector was hard to position correctly, but nothing too hard. Performed the recommended charging routine I found on a YouTube video. The battery was up and running and reported 96% charged when charged fully.
Over the coming weeks I watched as the fully charged capacity dropped and within around two months the battery was storing less then 80% which is considered end of life. I contacted the supplier who then offered a partial refund of half the money. This sounded good but at the end of the day I really had purchased a useless battery. It seems a common tactic to offer a partial refund and it makes you wonder if the supplier knows they're selling products that aren't good enough. In this case I was happy for the issue to go on to Amazon, as I don't feel products that aren't what is being purchased should be allowed to be sold. I let them know that I really had a battery that was now past its end of life. The company then refunded all the money. There was no request to return the battery.
Two batteries, two duds.
For me this was a good lesson. I like to try new things because sometimes you learn something new that helps me help others. I've found a couple of businesses on eBay selling dud products so I don't buy anything big and only if I'm prepared to lose the money. The catch is if they ask you to return a faulty item the return postage may exceed the cost of the item. Cheaper to write off the purchase and suppliers know that. At first I fell for the partial refund, but now if a product doesn't work, doesn't work as it should, I simply let the suppliers know. It's then up to the suppliers what they choose to do. So far suppliers have been good. Based on comments on the supplier reviews, they most likely know their products aren't up to spec, but if people don't complain, the business wins and the customer loses. There's a lot of talk on the internet that third party battery suppliers often sell dud products. That was the main reason I tried Amazon this time instead of eBay.
Overall, whilst this did waste a considerable amount of time, the outcome has been good. Based on this experience I would not recommend clients purchase third party batteries online, but instead purchase from Apple as you know what you're getting. In my case I was not out of pocket. The MacBook Air requires a new battery and a new power supply (the cord has simply perished over time). My need now for the MacBook Air is reduced and less money was spent purchasing a light inexpensive Windows 10 based notebook than replacing the battery and power supply.
Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
IT support.
The second option was to purchase a third-party battery online. I really don't trust eBay with large purchasers, as I've found a number of suppliers are companies I wouldn't deal with again. I hadn't actually purchased from Amazon but the marketing gave me a feeling the Amazon name is important and we feel like we're buying from Amazon. The reality is you're still dealing with a third party supplier.
The main advantages of purchasing the third-party battery was code, it was $63.99, the opportunity to learn from performing the repair myself and the reduced time I would be without the computer.
I purchased a battery from the Amazon store around June, but since I was going on holiday the following month, I didn't want to take the chance my computer wouldn't work. So I waited until I returned, caught up with everything and then around September installed the battery. Nothing. Nada. No power.
Contacting the supplier was easy and they forward a list of suggestions. I suspect it was a standard list. Carried out all the tests which took quite a few hours. I let them know the serial number reported by coconutBattery didn't match the serial number on the battery. The battery reported no charge and wouldn't charge. The supplier sent a replacement battery. I didn't have to return the dud battery.
The new battery installed fairly easily, over a dozen screws and the connector was hard to position correctly, but nothing too hard. Performed the recommended charging routine I found on a YouTube video. The battery was up and running and reported 96% charged when charged fully.
Over the coming weeks I watched as the fully charged capacity dropped and within around two months the battery was storing less then 80% which is considered end of life. I contacted the supplier who then offered a partial refund of half the money. This sounded good but at the end of the day I really had purchased a useless battery. It seems a common tactic to offer a partial refund and it makes you wonder if the supplier knows they're selling products that aren't good enough. In this case I was happy for the issue to go on to Amazon, as I don't feel products that aren't what is being purchased should be allowed to be sold. I let them know that I really had a battery that was now past its end of life. The company then refunded all the money. There was no request to return the battery.
Two batteries, two duds.
For me this was a good lesson. I like to try new things because sometimes you learn something new that helps me help others. I've found a couple of businesses on eBay selling dud products so I don't buy anything big and only if I'm prepared to lose the money. The catch is if they ask you to return a faulty item the return postage may exceed the cost of the item. Cheaper to write off the purchase and suppliers know that. At first I fell for the partial refund, but now if a product doesn't work, doesn't work as it should, I simply let the suppliers know. It's then up to the suppliers what they choose to do. So far suppliers have been good. Based on comments on the supplier reviews, they most likely know their products aren't up to spec, but if people don't complain, the business wins and the customer loses. There's a lot of talk on the internet that third party battery suppliers often sell dud products. That was the main reason I tried Amazon this time instead of eBay.
Overall, whilst this did waste a considerable amount of time, the outcome has been good. Based on this experience I would not recommend clients purchase third party batteries online, but instead purchase from Apple as you know what you're getting. In my case I was not out of pocket. The MacBook Air requires a new battery and a new power supply (the cord has simply perished over time). My need now for the MacBook Air is reduced and less money was spent purchasing a light inexpensive Windows 10 based notebook than replacing the battery and power supply.
Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
IT support.
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