Fucking stupid Sears hardware department!!!

[Blue-Jay]

I have a drill/driver battery that has stopped holding a charge, so I call Sears about their replacement policy. They told me that replacement batteries are expensive (about $59-89!!!) and it would be better for me to just replace the entire unit.

What kind of crap is that? Luckily I have a spare battery that came with the unit in addition to a spare Makita drill (18 volt).

Is there anyplace to get aftermarket/reconditioned batteries? It's a 14.4 volt.

(I'm not even going to go into the building rant about our wasteful society - Hey, let's buy a new one instead of repairing the old, and create more waste. Consumerism is everything.....grumble...)

[Ganja Ninja]

1. It's gonna run you $60 even if you find it some place else.

You might find one at home depot that will match but they're expensive where ever you go.

[sui generis]

2. don't leave your batteries on the charger

if you're not going to drain them every day, leaving them on the charger takes away their capacity to hold a charge. They'll last much much longer if you charge them when you need them and let them run down between uses.

It is unfortunate and counterintuitive, but a significant portion of the cost of some consumer tools is in the battery, and not the mechanics, particularly rechargeable high capacity lithium ion.

[redqueen]

6. Wow.

I did not know that.

Thanks... wish I'd known that a couple of years ago... before I'd replaced 3 cordless phone batteries and one cordless weed trimmer.

[MadHound]

3. Another suggestion

Don't buy Sears power tools. Don't get me wrong, they make great hand tools, but for some reason they've never been able to transpose that kind of quality to their power tools. Porter Cable, Mikita, Bosche are some better quality tools that are in the same price range.

[Blue-Jay]

5. It was a gift.

Still, it's a pretty nice drill. Were I not so honest, I'd buy a new one, and return it with the bad battery for a refund. Damn you, Ethics. Damn you to Hell!

[denverbill]

4. Tell me about it. I had the same thing happen with cordless phones.

We had 3 cordless phones that were all getting staticy, not holding charges, etc. So I looked up online to check into replacing the batteries. The batteries literally cost more than buying an identical brand new model. I ended up buying 3 brand new phones instead. What a waste. There is no way in hell it should be cheaper to replace a product than replace one of it's parts.

[Blue-Jay]

7. Kinda like inkjet refills, eh?

My last printer was purchased based solely on the price of refills. If I want good quality, I just go to Kinko's.

[BiggJawn]

9. That's when I "upgrade" printers.

Most Lexmarks come with cartidges, and the Evil Empire usually has a special on new printers that's like buying 2 cartridges and getting a free printer...

[BiggJawn]

8. You MIGHT be able to rebuild it yourself...

If you can get in there.
(Note: I'm not an electrician, I don't even play one on TV, so if you attempt this and maim yourself, it's on YOUR dime.)

You could get some replacement cells and re-build it.

Ain't that a bitch? $79 for the drill it, and $59 for a replacement battery?

About like me doing a $95 dollar Belts-Clean-Lube-and-a-Pinch-Roller overhaul on a VCR. Back when VCR's cost $300, it was cost effective. Now that they cost $49....

I have a 12V drill. when the Ni-Cad pack croaked, I put a piece of heavy zip cord on it and run it off a 12V 7AH Gel-Cell I carry in a fanny pack around my waist...

[underpants]

10. Same thing happened with my drill

I ended up getting a SWEET drill for $30.

[Blue-Jay]

11. Out of my price range.

Although, $30 plus sexual favors might work well for YOU.

:D