Another Example of Our "Disposable" Society

[Bird]

On June 13, 2003, I bought a new APC Backup UPS ES500 (6 outlets) from CompUSA for the battery backup as well as the surge protection for my computer. In October, 2007, the battery in it died. I didn't feel too bad about that, since it was over 4 years old. I ordered a new battery directly from APC online for $27 plus tax and shipping and handling: Total: $36.23.

Today, that battery died, so I went to the APC website and discovered a new battery was now over $39, so with tax and shipping and handling, the new battery would have cost: Total: $50.29.

Instead, I went to Best Buy and bought a new APC Backup UPS ES550 (one step up & 8 outlets) for $39.99 plus tax: Total: $43.29.

In other words, $7 cheaper (and quicker of course) to buy a complete new unit than to replace the battery in the old one.

 

[Mousefield]

At least you saved 7 dollars. :laughing:

 

[irvingj]

Bird- I too find it very sad that we've become such a "disposable" society. Some of the things I've read about concerning our discards are downright scary.

What's even scarier, to me, is tha extent to which our young ones have become accustomed to this; they think it's the natural way of things to throw stuff away and not be concerned about what happens to it afterwards, in spite of all the "ecology" education they get. Hopefully, this will change....

 

[RadarTech]

On June 13, 2003, I bought a new APC Backup UPS ES500 (6 outlets) from CompUSA for the battery backup as well as the surge protection for my computer. In October, 2007, the battery in it died. I didn't feel too bad about that, since it was over 4 years old. I ordered a new battery directly from APC online for $27 plus tax and shipping and handling: Total: $36.23.

Today, that battery died, so I went to the APC website and discovered a new battery was now over $39, so with tax and shipping and handling, the new battery would have cost: Total: $50.29.

Instead, I went to Best Buy and bought a new APC Backup UPS ES550 (one step up & 8 outlets) for $39.99 plus tax: Total: $43.29.

In other words, $7 cheaper (and quicker of course) to buy a complete new unit than to replace the battery in the old one.

Bird,
That is not the half of it...

I work as an IT consultant..

In a few customer sites with the BIG UPS systems it is often more expensive for the batteries than a new system. But the cost of labor to replace those big boys is even more.. when a UPS tops 16KV it gets really expensive....

but yea..... we are getting so throwaway!!!


J

 

[Chuck52]

Bird, I'm doing the best I can. I just put in the second replacement of the pivot bar on my 2004 MTD riding mower. Some folks would have given up when the first one bent. Not me! I hate to throw stuff away. This time I even splurged and got the cast iron version. If you are confused, the pivot bar is the part that would be a front axle on a decently designed riding mower.

Chuck

 

[ultrarunner]

I've found the local Alarm Supply House to have very good battery pricing... I opened an account and mostly just buy batteries for the many APC power supplies I maintain.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

Bird, I know what you mean, I have some dead ones laying around because it was cheaper to buy new. I keep meaning to look for cheaper batteries than from APC...

 

[Toyboy]

One of the best examples of "disposable society" is your cordless tools. When those battery's die it's cheaper to replace the whole tool than replace the dumb battery..... brilliant.

 

[jinman]

Bird, while you gave an example of something "disposable" in your APC UPS, I have to point out that you also described something "indisposable." That would be your loyalty to APC. After two failed batteries, you bought another APC. What a loyal customer you are!:laughing:

 

[Bird]

Well, Jim, I've stayed with APC because they work as they're supposed to, and I don't know where I could find anything else that wouldn't cost a lot more, although there may well be better deals that I'm not aware of.

I've found the local Alarm Supply House to have very good battery pricing

I haven't tried that. About 3 years ago when the battery died in my cell phone, a phone I got from AT&T, I went to AT&T for a battery and the lady took one quick look at my cell phone and said, "We don't have batteries for anything that old." So I went to Batteries Plus and they had the right battery for it. I think I could have gotten a battery for the UPS there also, but it's over $32 plus tax, so I didn't even check to see if they had one in stock.