Policies & Frequently Asked Questions
 

We can be reached in any of the following manners:

Email: customer_care@shopbattery.net
Phone: 732-868-0569 (M-F 9:30AM-6PM EST)
Fax: 732-868-6356
Mail: 201 Circle Drive North, Suite 101 Piscataway, NJ 08854

We normally ship via FedEx or UPS.  When an order is shipped we will determine the best carrier to used based upon many factors like item, destination, and time of day.  Occasionally we will upgrade the shipping to a faster method free of charge to compensate for operational delays or other factors.  If you require your order to be shipped only by a certain carrier or method, please indicate this request in the comments on the order form.

Orders are usually shipped in 1-3 business days.  Most are shipped the same or next business day.  Business days are Monday-Friday.  If an order will take more than 3 business days to process due to out of stock or some other operational delay you will be contacted via email to inform you of the situation. Overnight orders are given priority treatment and most will ship the same business day.  If your order has a time deadline please let us know in the comments on the order form and we will do our best to meet this deadline or inform you of what schedule that we are able to meet

Once an order is shipped it will be sent via the method selected or faster to compensate for any operational delays or other factors.  The shipment method descriptions are based upon the service commitments of the carriers.  The descriptions of 3 day, 2nd day, and next day are based on non-rural areas inside the continental US.  Alaska, Hawaii, or rural areas the shipment may take longer to arrive. Saturday, Sunday, and holidays are not counted as business days.

Shipping is calculated by weight, destination, and value.  The best way to determine shipping cost is to enter the products into the shopping cart and click checkout.  Fill out the shipping information on the first screen of the order form and click next. NO order will be placed and your information will not be saved at this point.  The shopping cart will automatically compute the shipping for your order.  If you wish to place an order, you can just complete the billing information and click "Place Order".  No order will be made if you do not click on the place order button.  Note that shipping charges for large quantity (>20 items) or heavy weight (over 100lbs) orders may be adjusted.  If any adjustments are made, you will be notified and asked to confirm the adjustments before the order is shipped.

Post Office Boxes - We ship via FedEx & UPS.  These carriers require an actual street address where the driver can go to deliver the order.  They are not able to deliver to post office boxes.  We will only ship via the postal system for APO/FPO orders.
International - Orders can only be shipped to US, Canada, & Puerto Rico and must be shipped to the same country from where the credit card was issued.

Shipping companies do not accept special instructions like "Leave package on porch under the stairs" or "Deliver to my neighbor if not home".  The actual delivery is left up to the best judgment of the delivery driver.  When entering your shipping address on the order please try to select and address that does not require any special delivery instructions.  Many people choose to have orders shipped to their place of business.

For security reasons, we ship all packages with signature required.  When a package is delivered without signature, the carrier has no responsibility and there is no insurance on the package after the driver indicates that the package has been left.  There is no way for us to guarantee that you will actually receive the package.  Signature is also required to help combat credit card fraud and identity theft. 

For orders of $100 or less, we will waive the signature requirement upon customer request only.  If you would like to have your order shipped without signature, please include this request in the comments field on your order.

Yes we will ship to APO/FPO boxes. Shipments to APO/FPO boxes usually take 1-2 days longer to process.  The postal system does not support package tracking, so you will not receive an tracking number when the item has been shipped.

Yes, based upon the service commitments of the shipping carriers.  Note that delivery times begin from when the item is picked up by the carrier, not from when the order is placed. Orders are typically shipped within 1-3 business days.  The service level descriptions (e.g. 2nd Day, Next Day, etc) denote the service level and not always the exact delivery time.  The actual delivery time and delivery guarantee may vary for locations outside the continental US and for some rural areas within the continental US.  Factors beyond carrier control like weather or other operational delays may invalidate the delivery guarantee.  The exact service guidelines and service commitments  for FedEx and UPS are available on their website.

If you feel that your package has arrived late, please contact our customer service department at customer_care@shopbattery.net.  We will investigate the situation and confirm with the shipping carrier.  If delay is eligible for refund by the shipping carrier, we will credit you the shipping charge.

Please open and inspect all items for shortage or damage as soon as you receive your order. If you receive an item that is damaged, opened, or missing items please contact us immediately.  You must contact us within 5 business days to report damage or shortage. Beyond this period, we cannot accept claims. All original packaging and paperwork MUST be saved. No claim can be made if the packaging is not available for inspection.  All items are shipped insured and a claim will be filed with the carrier.  As soon as the carrier accepts the claim, we will re-ship the damaged parts.

We accept Visa, Master Card, Discover, American Express, Government Credit Cards, Government & Educational Purchase Orders, and Pre-payments

• The billing address information must be verifiable through the credit card processing center or the bank that issued the card.  Orders will not be processed if the billing address does not match the account information.  In the event of a mismatch between the billing address and account, the order will be placed on hold and you will be contacted to try to resolve the issue.
   
• The credit card must be issued by a bank inside the US, Canada, or Puerto Rico and both the billing and shipping addresses must be within the same country and within this area.  We are not accepting international orders outside of these areas and cannot process credit cards from outside of these areas.
   
• For orders over $300 we may require additional verification if an order is to be shipped to an address other than the credit card's verified billing address.  This will be to have the shipping address listed with the bank as an alternate address for the card. 

Yes. We accept all forms of government payment.

We will only accept purchase orders from government & educational institutions.  There is a $300 minimum order for payment by purchase order.  A hard copy of the official purchase order must be faxed to our accounting department before the order will be processed.  We will email you the necessary information once an order for payment by purchase order is received.  All purchase orders are subject to verification. The maximum payment terms accepted will be 30 days.

Place your order online and print out the confirmation page showing all of your order information.  Send this print out along with your check or money order to our office located at 201 Circle Drive North, Suite 101, Piscataway, NJ 08854.  Once we receive your payment it will be deposited and must be cleared by the bank before the order will be processed.  Depending upon the type of check, the issuing bank, and our bank's policies, it may take up to 10 business days for the check to clear.  It is recommended to send a cashier's (bank) check or money order as these will clear faster than personal or business checks.  Once the payment has cleared the bank, the order will be processed and shipped.

If you are an agency of the Federal Government or any other tax exempt entity located inside NJ tax will be computed on your order, however please point out your tax exempt status and we will adjust your order.  We may require a copy of your NJ state tax exempt certificate if it is not very clear that you are a tax exempt entity.

For international orders, please see our section concerning Taxes & Duties For International Orders

We are only accepting international orders from Canada and Puerto Rico.  We are not accepting orders from any other countries due to shortcomings in the credit card processing system and prohibitively high delivery costs.  Note that all prices listed on this website are listed in US dollars.

The average overseas delivery cost including shipping, taxes, duties, and fees exceeds our average order amount.  So an overseas customer would have to pay more in delivery than the cost of the order.
 
Due to excessive delivery costs, time differences, and language barriers we are not able to provide any overseas customer service or warranty.  We do not wish to sell items that we cannot stand behind.
 
The many of the security checks available in the card processing system are not available for international cards.  Also prosecuting criminals across international borders is extremely difficult and expensive.  These factors make the fraud rate on international order extremely high.  In an effort to combat fraud & identity theft and to keep prices low, we will not accept international credit cards.
 

Import Taxes, Duties, and Fees are computed by matching items to a confusing series of applicable government rules, tariffs, and international treaties. This process is so complex that businesses exist for the sole purpose of researching fees and processing necessary paperwork for the import/export process. It takes these people years to learn these systems that are continually changing. Due to the complexity of these calculations we would not be able to determine your import costs.

For Canadian customers, the Canadian customs office operates a customer help center that may help you to determine the costs that you may expect to pay to import this item. This office can be contacted at: http://www.ccra-adrc.gc.ca/customs/business/importing/acisintro-e.html

Also note that the shipping company (UPS of FedEx) will hire a customs broker to file the necessary paperwork when the item reaches the border. They will research and determine what fees will apply and contact you to collect payment before the shipment is released for delivery. This customs broker will collect a fee for their services that will be in addition to any government charges. The last time we checked, the charge was around $30 USD, however this was only charged for ground shipments. UPS & FedEx were waiving this fee for air shipments. (of course they can change this fee and policy at any time without notice).
 

FedEx and UPS contract with customs brokers to process shipments through customs.  These companies are experts in all of the confusing rules and calculations for determining customs charges and properly filing the required paperwork.  Once your shipment has arrived in customs, the broker will calculate the necessary fees and contact you to arrange payment.  Arrangements for payment need to be made between you and the customs broker.  The package will not be released until the arrangements have been made.

For security reasons, once an order is placed it cannot be accessed or edited from the public internet.  If you realize that you have made a mistake or would like to add or delete items from your order, please email our customer service department at customer_care@shopbattery.net. or 732-868-0588. Please be sure to include your order number (located in the subject of your confirmation email) in any request so that we may quickly and accurately locate your order. Orders can be modified up until they have been shipped. 

Orders can be canceled up until they are shipped by contacting our customer service department at customer_care@shopbattery.net or 732-868-0588.  Please be sure to include your order number (located in the subject of your confirmation email) in any requests so that we may quickly and accurately locate your order.

Once an order has been shipped, it cannot be canceled.  It must be returned in accordance with our return policies.  If a package is refused, the shipping company will charge double freight to ship and return the package.  If a package is refused, double the shipping charges plus a 15% restocking fee will be deducted from the credit returned.

If your part is a Battery, AC adapter, or Car Adapter, please read our FAQ concerning these items.  In many cases the replacement part may be slightly different from the original.

If you receive a product that is not the correct part, please contact our customer service department at customer_care@shopbattery.net or 732-868-0588.  Please have your order number available as well as any information about the problem with the part so that we may quickly and accurately correct any problems and get you the correct part.

If the product is a battery, please read our FAQ concerning batteries.  Most battery issues can be resolved by properly conditioning and maintaining your battery.

We provide a 6 month warranty on all batteries and a one year warranty on all other products (unless otherwise stated in the item description).  Please see the warranty FAQ for warranty details.

If you have a problem with your item please contact our customer service department at customer_care@shopbattery.net or 732-868-0588.  We will make all attempts to help you solve your problem.  If it turns out that a product must be returned, you will be issued a return merchandise authorization (RMA) number.  This number is basically a reference number that we use so that when an item is received we know who the item belongs to and what needs to be done with the item.  You must then send your defective item to our office at 201 Circle Drive North, Suite 101 Piscataway, NJ 08854 and mark the package attention to the RMA number.  Note that the item may have originally be shipped from another location.  For all warranty service you must pay for the freight to send the item to us and we will pay the freight to return the item to you.  Once the item has been received, we will repair or replace the item and return it to you.  This process typically takes 1-3 business days.

Our return policy is 15 days from the date the item was delivered. After 15 days, products cannot be returned for a refund.  If there is a problem with the product we will repair or replace it in accordance with our normal warranty. All returns are subject to a 15% restocking fee.

If you would like to return a product for a refund, please contact our customer service department at customer_care@shopbattery.net or 732-868-0588. You will be issued a return authorization number.  You will then need to send this item to our office at 201 Circle Drive North, Suite 101 Piscataway NJ 08854 and mark the package attention to the return authorization number. Note that your order may have been originally shipped from another location.

Once the item has been received the return will be processed.  All return products must be in original, new condition and include all original packaging and parts.  If an item is damaged or missing parts, an appropriate amount will be deducted from the refund amount. Shipping charges are not refundable.  A 15% restocking fee will be deducted from the refund amount.  Returns are processed within 7 days.  Different banks process and post information to accounts in different manners, so it could take a couple of days to a complete billing cycle before any credits appear on your account.

Our standard warranty on all batteries is 6 months and 1 year for all other products (unless otherwise stated in item description). The warranty period begins on the date when a product is delivered by the shipping company. 

Some special products (refurbished, close outs, etc.) may have different warranty terms and conditions.  If a product is subject to a special warranty, it will be noted in the item description.  Name brand products that carry a manufacturer's warranty will be covered by the manufacturer's warranty only and will be excluded from our warranty.  If you have any question as to whether a product has a manufacturer's warranty or not, please contact our customer service department at customer_care@shopbattery.net or 732-868-0588.

Our warranty covers the cost of parts and labor for our service department to repair or replace any defective item which is presented to our service department in Piscataway, NJ during the warranty period.  We will pay the cost of freight to return the item to the customer located anywhere within the United States.

The warranty will not cover Normal Wear and Tear like scratches and worn out paint;  Physical damages like dropping, exposing to liquids, cracks, dents, chips; Damages caused environmental conditions like temperature or humidity (laptop accessories are subject to the same environmental conditions as your laptop); Damages caused by acts of god or war like fires, floods, etc.; Damages caused by unauthorized modification or repair.  Our liability is limited to the cost of the item purchased.  We cannot be responsible for incidental or consequential damages like loss of time, loss of business, loss of computer data. 

If the product is a battery, please read our FAQ concerning batteries.  Most battery issues can be resolved by properly conditioning and maintaining your battery.

We provide a 6 month warranty on all batteries and a one year warranty on all other products (unless otherwise stated in the item description).  Please see the warranty FAQ for warranty details.

If you have a problem with your item please contact our customer service department at customer_care@shopbattery.net or 732-868-0588.  We will make all attempts to help you solve your problem.  If it turns out that a product must be returned, you will be issued a return merchandise authorization (RMA) number.  This number is basically a reference number that we use so that when an item is received we know who the item belongs to and what needs to be done with the item.  You must then send your defective item to our office at 201 Circle Drive North, Suite 101 Piscataway, NJ 08854 and mark the package attention to the RMA number.  Note that the item may have originally be shipped from another location.  For all warranty service you must pay for the freight to send the item to us and we will pay the freight to return the item to you.  Once the item has been received, we will repair or replace the item and return it to you.  This process typically takes 1-3 business days.

All order transactions are performed on a secure web server. Secure web server technology ensures that the server is the proper server and not the server of a malicious web site. It also encrypts all data to prevent a malicious individual from intercepting Credit Card or other sensitive data. In a effort to protect consumers, we screen all orders for credit card fraud. If an order is suspect of fraud we may require additional information or the order may not be accepted. We reserve the right to deny any order which we believe to not be legitimate

No.  We will not sell or give your information to any other parties.  Information submitted will be used solely for the purposes of verifying and processing orders.  If you have choose to opt-in to our mailing list during the order process (the default is NO), you may receive marketing email messages directly from us.  If any such mailings are sent they will include clear instructions on how to opt out of any future mailings.

Our complete Privacy Policy including what information is collected and how it is used is disclosed on our Privacy Policy Page.

Yes; unless otherwise stated in the item description. 

The majority of our products are manufactured by dedicated aftermarket OEM manufacturers.  These are large battery, power supply, and memory manufacturers that manufacturer products for other companies to sell under their own brand names.  Many of these companies manufacturer the parts used by the original manufacturers.  All parts meet or exceed the specifications of the original manufacturer's part and are designed to replace the manufacturer's original part.

Part numbers and item numbers are assigned by the original manufactures, the parts manufacturers, the website software, and our internal back end inventory systems.  To complicate things further, original manufacturers typically issue many different part numbers for the same item. 

Our system is specifically designed to provide the correct part for your computer.  We verify every order to ensure that the part is correct for the model listed on the order.  So even though the part number may be different, the part should be correct.

Products are generally available for shipment in 1-3 business days.  Availability information posted on the site is not "real time" and  occasionally a product may be out of stock or encounter supply problems. When these cases arise, the customer will be notified of any delays and given a best estimate on when the item will be available for shipment. If an item has been sold out or discontinued, the customer will be notified that the order cannot be fulfilled. If your order is time sensitive, please email our customer support at customer_care@shoplaptop.net or call 732/302-9933 for real time information on when a product can be shipped

All of our AC adapters are shipped with a 6 foot, US power cord.  Most are 2 prong, however some adapters require a 3 prong cord.

We also sell the power cords separate from the AC Adapters.  Please look at the Power Cords section under the AC Adapter section for available items and prices.

Power adapter output is rated by Voltage, Current (amps), and Power (voltage * current). When matching a replacement AC adapter, the following factors will apply:

Voltage:  The output tolerance for voltage is + or - 1 volt.  This means that the replacement adapter's voltage should be within 1 volt of your original.  For example, an adapter rated at 19V can be used on computers with input voltage requirements of 18-20V.

Current (Amps):  This specification is listed as the maximum current that the adapter is capable of producing.  This current is not sent to the computer, instead the computer will only take as much as it needs. (ohm's law)  The current rating of an adapter must be greater than or equal to the rating of the original adapter.  In most cases the replacement adapters have a higher rating.  This will not cause a problem, it just means that the adapter's maximum capacity is greater.

Power (watts): Some computers will describe their adapters in terms of power (watts).  This specification describes the maximum power that the adapter is capable of producing. The power rating in watts is found by multiplying Volts * Amps.  For Example, if your computer had a rating of 19V 2A it would require a maximum of 19V*2A = 38 Watts.  The adapter required would need to have a rating of 38W or greater to satisfy your computer's power needs. A watt rating is becoming more common with the newer Pentium 4 laptops because these laptops generally require more power than all older computers.   

All of our AC adapters will accept input voltages of 100V-240V and input frequencies of 50Hz-60Hz.  The adapter will automatically detect the input voltage and adjust itself accordingly.  If you take your adapter overseas all that you will need will be the plug end adapter to allow the US plug to fit into the local sockets.

Only models specifically described as Auto/Air Adapters may be used in aircraft. Although most of our adapters may work by using an adapter plug, only those items listed as "auto/air" adapters are designed for use in aircraft.  We would not recommend using an adapter not designed for aircraft in flight.

Note that many of the newer Pentium 4 laptops require more power than can be supplied by the standard aircraft in seat power system. Maximum seat power is 70-75W and many of these computers require 90-120W, so these model may not have airline adapters available.

NiCad (Nickel Cadmium) - This was the first widely used battery in portable electronics.  This technology was used until the middle of the 1990's.  The limitations of this technology are its power density (the amount of energy that can be stored in a certain size & weight) is lower than new technologies, it is made from environmentally unfriendly materials, and it suffers from "memory effect".  Memory effect is a phenomenon where if a battery is not discharged completely on a regular basis, its useful capacity will be decreased.

NiMH (Nickel Metal Hydride) - This technology replaced NiCad batteries in around 1995 because it offered more power from the same size battery (power density), used less harmful materials, and was less prone to the memory effect phenomenon.

Li-Ion (Lithium Ion) - This technology emerged around 1997-1998 and replaced NiMH batteries.  The advantages over NiMh batteries are that it is about 35-50% lighter and it is immune to memory effect.

Li-Pol (Lithium Polymer) - This is basically the same technology as Li-Ion, however the batter cells are constructed out of flat polymer sheets to make flat batteries.  This allows batteries to be placed in small places like behind laptop screens.  This technology is only used in limited laptop applications, however it is used more widely in PDAs, tablet computers, and cell phones.

The different battery chemistries have different electrical properties and need to be charged differently. The charging circuit in the computer must be designed and calibrated to match the chemistry of the battery.  So if your computer's charging circuit was designed for NiMh, you cannot change to a different battery type.

The exception to this rule is many computers that were produced when the industry was changing from NiMH to Li-Ion technology.  Manufacturers designed many models sold during this transition period (around 1997-1998) to work with either type of battery.   If we list both a NiMh and Li-Ion battery for your computer model then it can support either battery type.  If we list only one type of battery for your computer, it most likely will only support one type; however you can check with your computer's manufacturer for a definite answer.

Many computers can support more than one type of battery.  If we list more than one battery for your model, then you have a choice of which battery to select.  Here are some of the common differences & features found in optional batteries:

• NiMh vs. Li Ion - Lithium Ion batteries weight about 35-50% less and are immune to memory effect, however their cost averages $20-$50 more.
   
• Dumb vs. Smart - Smart batteries have a chip inside the battery that reports the battery status to the computer.  This allows the computer to better report the charge level in the battery and manage its power use.
   
• Secondary Batteries - Computers with this option allow a removable drive (CD or floppy) to be removed from the computer and replaced with a second battery.  This allows you to run from two batteries at the same time to allow the computer to operate around twice as long.
   
• Extra Capacity Batteries - These batteries allow a longer running time.  To compute the difference between the standard battery and the optional battery, compare the specifications for mAh or Ah.  This number describes the amount of energy that the battery can produce.  For Example a 2000mAh will run twice as long as a 1000mAh battery under the same conditions.

The rechargeable batteries used in laptops are stored in a discharged or partially charged state.

When you first receive a new battery it should be charged overnight with the computer turned off before use.  Once charged, you should discharge the battery until the computer reports that the battery is low, then recharge the battery.  You should repeat this process 2-3 times in order to properly condition the battery and calibrate the battery's internal charge detection circuit (if equipped)

• Follow your computer manufacturer's instructions for installing, handling, charging, and operating your battery.  These instructions will be more specific to your application. If there is any conflict between your manufacturer's instructions and the following information, follow the instructions provided by your computer's manufacturer.
   
• When you first receive a new battery it should be charged overnight with the computer turned off before use.  Once charged, you should discharge the battery until the computer reports that the battery is low, then recharge the battery.  You should repeat this process 2-3 times in order to properly condition the battery and calibrate the battery's internal charge detection circuit (if equipped).  A new battery is difficult for your computer to charge and the charging circuit may mis-read the battery status when a new battery is first charged.  This will cause the computer to stop charging the battery after a few minutes.  If this happens, remove the battery from your computer and re-install it to reset the charge cycle.
   
• Rundown and recharge the battery at least every 2-3 weeks.  This will keep the battery operating at peak performance and will keep the charge level indicator in the battery accurate.  If a battery is stored inside the computer and never used, the action of battery self-discharge and computer recharge will wear out the battery quickly.  In some cases, continuously charging a battery and never using it can wear out a new battery in a few months.
   
• If the battery or computer will not be used for one month, remove the battery from the computer and store it in a cool, dry, location away from metal objects.  When the battery is removed from storage, you should follow the instructions for a new battery to charge and recondition the battery.
   
• For safety reasons you should NOT short circuit the battery, drop it, expose to extreme temperatures or fire, attempt open the battery's case, or use it in any device other than the device for which it was designed.  All of these actions may create personal safety hazards.

Our replacement batteries are designed to meet or exceed the computer manufacturer's specifications, so you should expect the new battery to run your computer at least as long as your original battery when the computer was new.

The actual running time of a computer is determined by the design of the computer, the computer's configuration, the power management settings, and how it is used.  We would not be able to accurately determine the operating time you will experience.

Rechargeable batteries use in laptops are designed to provide 300-500 charge/discharge cycles.  This translates into about 1-2 years for the average user.  Using your computer on AC power without using the battery on a regular basis will greatly reduce your battery's useful life.  In some cases, batteries can wear out in as little as a few months of charging without ever being run down.  You should run your battery down every 2-3 weeks to maintain optimum performance and if you will not be using your battery for more than a month, you should remove and store the battery outside of the computer.