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.

 

[jinman]

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.

Bird, I have an ES750 on my system and it also works well.:thumbsup: Lately, we've had at least two power glitches/drops per week and the APC always keeps me going without a hitch.

 

[arrabil]

The cost of a real APC battery includes a UPS return shipping label so they can recycle it. I wouldn't necessarily call that disposable. I buy 3rd party batteries (Lark Battery on eBay has been getting my business for a number of years) and I take the batteries to True Value for recycling. I recycled a little over 500 pounds worth last year (I take them from customers as a courtesy).

APC is also a true leader in customer service. They have replaced so many out of warranty things for me for free (even including overnight shipping and even on items I purchased used) that I can't say a single negative thing about the company. Their prices remind me of this website's favorite saying: find the dealer you like working with because you have to factor their service into the price of the tractor.

No, I don't work for APC.

 

[arrabil]

After two failed batteries, you bought another APC. What a loyal customer you are!

I'm pretty sure TX gets a lot of lightning storms. Which means a good number of brownouts. Three to four years in a high brownout area is a normal lifespan for a small SLA battery. Heck, five to six is its expected lifespan under perfect conditions.

 

[Bird]

The cost of a real APC battery includes a UPS return shipping label so they can recycle it.

Yes, when I replaced the battery in Oct. 2007, I did send the old one back to them.

I'm pretty sure TX gets a lot of lightning storms. Which means a good number of brownouts. Three to four years in a high brownout area is a normal lifespan for a small SLA battery. Heck, five to six is its expected lifespan under perfect conditions.

The original battery lasted over 4 years, but the second one only lasted about 2 years and 8 months. I don't know about "brownouts" or temporary low voltage, but power outages are sure not unusual. Ours went off this afternoon about 2:18 p.m., I reported it promptly, and it came back on about 3:43 p.m. It's also not unusual for just very brief outages; i.e., so brief you'd almost never even know it happened, the lights may go off and back on so quick it's just a blink, but the UPS software will show the little message at the lower right of the screen that power was restored. And there may be no lightning in the area, as was the case this afternoon when we lost power for awhile.

 

[arrabil]

I think your battery survived as long as it could, Bird. It'll last longer if you shutdown your computer and turn off the UPS during a blackout. Its the discharge/recharge that kills its life the fastest. If its convenient of course. High blackout areas are also high brownout areas of course.

 

[marimus]

The cost of a real APC battery includes a UPS return shipping label so they can recycle it. I wouldn't necessarily call that disposable. I buy 3rd party batteries (Lark Battery on eBay has been getting my business for a number of years) and I take the batteries to True Value for recycling. I recycled a little over 500 pounds worth last year (I take them from customers as a courtesy).

APC is also a true leader in customer service. They have replaced so many out of warranty things for me for free (even including overnight shipping and even on items I purchased used) that I can't say a single negative thing about the company. Their prices remind me of this website's favorite saying: find the dealer you like working with because you have to factor their service into the price of the tractor.

No, I don't work for APC.

I too replace the batteries with generic alternatives, I buy at a local battery shop at about 1/2 the cost of the APC battery. One set I replaced, I peeled the APC label off and the battery was the same brand as the "generic" I bought :laughing:

They also loaned our business a SmartUPS 750XL when our unit went back for repair. They actually ended up replacing it with a brand new one because it took too long getting repaired :thumbsup:

 

[RTII]

To give another example of throw away systems, I used to travel quite a bit between jobs and would need to have a printer on site to complete reports etc. Used to buy $25 - $35 HP color injet printer from Walmart. A little bulky for travel but cheap and print quality was good for the price. Found out it was sometimes cheaper to buy a new printer, which came with ink, than to buy new ink cartridges!! I would just donate the printer to the work site and purchase a new printer next time I arrived at my new work site.

 

[psj12]

I bought 8' floresent lights with cold start ballasts from Lowes for $79. When the frst chinese ballast burned out I went to Lowes and found the replacement ballast cost $75. Thats four dollars less than the entire light fixture. I couldnt accept that price and went looking. I found an American made ballast at ACE hardware for $48. Still not a good price but better. Over three years I have had all 8 of the Chinese ballasts burn out and have to be replaced with american made ones. None of the American ones have failed. Lowes was of no help.

 

[Bird]

It'll last longer if you shutdown your computer and turn off the UPS during a blackout.

I do that, if it happens when I'm home and awake.:laughing:

 

[MossRoad]

We have a store in town called Batteries Plus. They seem pretty reasonable on prices and usually have things in stock. They have locations in TX. Might be worth a look.