Batteries not Included
By savak03
@savak03 (6684)
United States
June 4, 2009 9:53pm CST
I have had to buy batteries today for just about all my gadgets. In fact, my laptop tells me when I turn it on that the battery cannot be identified and the system will not be able to charge it. Of course it is lying but I know it won't be long before I will have to replace it. Anyway it got me to thinking about all the things I have that require batteries and how much I'm spending keeping all these things operating.
Most of the time when you buy something electronic it will say 'batteries not included.' So you have no way of turning it on to see if it works until you buy it, find out how many batteries it takes and then invest in them. Of course if it doesn't work you can take it back to the store for a refund but you are still stuck with the batteries.
Then there are those gadgets or toys that come with button batteries. Now most of the time they come with the item but they don't last forever. And trust me when they finally die you don't want to know how many its going to take to get it running again or how much those little suckers cost.
I think the guy that invented battery operated toys and gadgets was related to Bill Gates. He's probably a billionaire several times over by now.
1 person likes this
4 responses
@James72 (26790)
• Australia
22 Jul 09
I'm very happy to say that my reliance on battery operated gadgets is relatively minor and thank goodness for that because it sure is a pain in the butt having to get new ones all the time. 
I have a digital camera though that uses up heavy duty "special" batteries in about 30 friggin' minutes and it drives me insane. I lost the charger and reusable battery pack, so my next step is to buy a whole new camera. All because of batteries! 
The best thing to buy I reckon are those rechargeable batteries and a charging cradle, but laptop batteries are a whole different issue altogether. Those things are expensive!
I have a digital camera though that uses up heavy duty "special" batteries in about 30 friggin' minutes and it drives me insane. I lost the charger and reusable battery pack, so my next step is to buy a whole new camera. All because of batteries! The best thing to buy I reckon are those rechargeable batteries and a charging cradle, but laptop batteries are a whole different issue altogether. Those things are expensive! @savak03 (6684)
• United States
22 Jul 09
Don't get me started on lap top batteries. Mine is so bad it will not hold a charge for more than 10 minutes so now I have to be plugged in all the time. Kinda ruins the idea of portability. I don't even want to know how much it will cost to get a new battery for it. 
1 person likes this
@djonghs (560)
• Indonesia
22 Jul 09
Hahahaha, I hope not, if it is then our life has been monopolize for that person for such a long time.
As far as I know, many of products do not ship with batteries if they are using general shape(AA, or AAA type), but they are using specific type batteries it should be included.
Your discussion title remind me of an old movies about UFO robot "Batteries Not Included".......I love that movie.
BR.b
@stephcjh (38473)
• United States
5 Jun 09
I own alot of things that requires batteries also. They get to be very expensive when you have to replace them. I have some rechargeable ones also but they seem not to hold a chrge for very long either.
@savak03 (6684)
• United States
5 Jun 09
There's a real trick to getting the most time out of rechargeable batteries. You have to be careful to charge them all the way up the first time but not over charge them. Some of the better chargers have an automatic cut off and I have come to know that it is worth the extra money to get one of them. The next thing to keep in mind is to be sure to let the battery run all the way down before you try to recharge it. If you only use have of the charge then recharge it somehow it shortens the lifespan of the battery.
@gitfiddleplayer (10362)
• United States
5 Jun 09
At Christmas time its even worse. They guy related to Bill Gates and the guy who invented battiers hear a cash register ding each time somebody buys one of their toys. We should all buy stock in Everyready, Duracell and Engergizer so we can get back some of what people spend on batteries.
