# recommendation for buying cell phone battery online? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 30, 2009, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendation-for-buying-cell-phone-battery-online/498181 "2009-05-30T17:38:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Kaio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c68b51/32.png) [@Kaio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kaio)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2009, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendation-for-buying-cell-phone-battery-online/498181/1 "2009-05-30T17:38:02Z")
Just wondering if there’s anyone who can recommend a website where you had a positive experience buying a cell phone replacement battery. Last time I tried to buy an electronics battery online (for my PDA, via a “store” on eBay), I spent 12 bucks on a battery that claimed on the label to work with my PDA model, but was actually too big to fit in the battery compartment. My OEM battery is no longer holding a charge, and I’m broke and can’t afford to spend $50 on a battery, so I’m looking for other options. My phone is a Sanyo SCP-2400, if it matters. It doesn’t have to be online either. If RadioShack sells 'em cheap, I can look at that too. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2009, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendation-for-buying-cell-phone-battery-online/498181/2 "2009-05-30T17:45:30Z")
US Cellular in my neighborhood is exchanging worn batts for good, fully-charged ones, free. ETA: the fine print says, “may not be new.” ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2009, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendation-for-buying-cell-phone-battery-online/498181/3 "2009-05-30T21:54:29Z")
I bought a replacement battery for a Motorola Razr from Newegg. It was $10 when Best Buy has the same battery for $30 or so. But I checked their website and couldn’t find your model cell phone there. ---
**Author:** ![Bag\_of\_Mostly\_Water](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bag_of_mostly_water/32/1029_2.png) [@Bag\_of\_Mostly\_Water](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bag_of_Mostly_Water)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2009, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendation-for-buying-cell-phone-battery-online/498181/4 "2009-05-31T00:15:35Z")
I’ve had good luck with[Wireless Ground](http://www.wirelessground.com/) and [Cell Phone Shop](http://www.cellphoneshop.net/). ---
**Author:** ![Casserole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b77776/32.png) [@Casserole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Casserole)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendation-for-buying-cell-phone-battery-online/498181/5 "2009-06-01T13:52:56Z")
> [@Kaio](#): > > Last time I tried to buy an electronics battery online (for my PDA, via a “store” on eBay), I spent 12 bucks on a battery that claimed on the label to work with my PDA model, but was actually too big to fit in the battery compartment. Did you try contacting the seller for a refund quickly after the delivery? Most sellers would rush to give you an exchange or refund, since they want positive feedback. I’d give eBay another shot. I bought a battery for my cell phone for $0.99 + $10 shipping. A little high on the shipping, yes, but a great deal nonetheless, especially when Rogers’ best solution was for me to sign a new 3-year for a free phone. ---
**Author:** ![Kaio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c68b51/32.png) [@Kaio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kaio)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2009, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendation-for-buying-cell-phone-battery-online/498181/6 "2009-06-03T17:46:26Z")
I no longer remember, this was about 2-3 years ago. I do remember that the model number of my PDA was printed on the manufacturer’s packaging of the battery, so “technically” it was “as described” in the listing. It would have been an uphill battle over 12 bucks in any case. However, it seems I may have lucked out with my cell phone company. I went into a storefront to check out pricing, turns out they’re having a sale – $25 instead of $40. But they don’t have my kind of battery in stock, so the clerk tells me she’ll have someone from another store bring one over and will have it by Monday. Except this doesn’t happen, and they won’t restock until Thursday, so now I’m getting the (brand-name) battery for $15 “for the inconvenience,” which is about as cheap as I could get an off-brand one online anyway. 🙂 We’ll see how this all goes down tomorrow, I suppose. Heh.