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    Macbook battery on ebay?

    Discussion in 'Apple and Mac OS X' started by sepandee, Sep 30, 2008.

  1. sepandee

    sepandee Notebook Deity

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    My macbook battery has gone through 247 cycles in 17 months, and now its capacity is at 48%. It dies quickly, sometimes when it's at 30%. After seeing that calibrating it doesn't really help, I decided it's time to buy a new battery.

    I was comparing the prices on ebay with apple.ca:
    http://shop.ebay.com/?_from=R40&_trksid=m38.l1311&_nkw=macbook+battery+black&_sacat=See-All-Categories
    http://store.apple.com/ca/product/MA566LL/A?mco=MTIxODk3Mw

    The price difference is huge. Is there a reason for this gap? Are those batteries on ebay not genuine apple batteries or something? If not, do they need to be?

    ALso, do all macbooks use the same battery?
     
    sepandee, Sep 30, 2008
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  2. Everway9

    Everway9 Notebook Consultant

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    I don't know if i'm 100% correct but I think the one on ebay might not a genuine apple replacement but at that price you can't complain.

    I'm not to hot on Apples so not sure if a non-genuine replacemant would be as good as an original but as I said, at that price you could buy 2 for the price of apples 1.
     
    Everway9, Sep 30, 2008
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  3. applebook

    applebook Notebook Evangelist

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    247 cycles should keep your charge to over 83% health. AFAIK, Apple has to replace your battery if its health drops below 83% in under 300 cycles.

    I know that your MacBook is out of its 12 month warranty, but contact support and see if the company will replace your battery.

    My MBP's battery has 271 cycles and is still a healthy 83%. Heck, my old MBP had over 321 cycles and still maintained 83%!
     
    applebook, Sep 30, 2008
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  4. sepandee

    sepandee Notebook Deity

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    so do I call them or do I take my macbook to an apple store?
     
    sepandee, Sep 30, 2008
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  5. QueenOfSpades

    QueenOfSpades Notebook Consultant

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    I just bought a black macbook battery on ebay from seller djptech, and I couldn't be happier with the purchase. I paid $49.50 with free shipping, received an authentic OEM apple battery with only 2 cycles on it. I charged the battery to 100% and it's at 100% health with 4 hours of charge.

    Really recommended. He gives you an accurate estimate of how many charge cycles are on it (in my case, lower than expected), which many sellers don't do. It also came in 3 days exactly.

    Usually Apple won't replace batteries that are over a year old, out of warranty. It's worth a shot, but if not, I had a good experience buying from this person on ebay. Good luck.
     
    QueenOfSpades, Sep 30, 2008
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  6. sepandee

    sepandee Notebook Deity

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    COol, thanks for the info. I'll definitely look into that seller if apple doesn;t replace my battery.

    But again, should i CALL apple or should I take my baby down to an apple store?
     
    sepandee, Sep 30, 2008
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  7. Everway9

    Everway9 Notebook Consultant

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    call them first
     
    Everway9, Oct 1, 2008
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  8. sepandee

    sepandee Notebook Deity

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    sepandee, Oct 1, 2008
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