Wanted: Battery cover for HP 2200 series, Hp wants $24!

[Robert Bullock]

2210 or 2215, they are the same. The cover has one of the prongs broken and
I'm out of warranty by 5 months. I'm not going tp pay HP $24 plus shipping
for a piece of plastic. Anyone got one for less or work for HP and can get a
courtesy replacement? This is my second HP, after a Jornada 568. You'd think
a returning customer would be worth a piece of plastic.

 

[alan smith]

My friends car broke down- it was his 3rd Ford. It needed a new
Ignition unit. You'd think they'd fit it for free for a returning
customer?
Not really.

Pay for your part- it's not HP's fault.

In the meanwhile poll all of the other machine makers to see who will
provide free parts out of warranty so you know where to buy next time.
Best of luck.


| 2210 or 2215, they are the same. The cover has one of the prongs
broken and
| I'm out of warranty by 5 months. I'm not going tp pay HP $24 plus
shipping
| for a piece of plastic. Anyone got one for less or work for HP and
can get a
| courtesy replacement? This is my second HP, after a Jornada 568.
You'd think
| a returning customer would be worth a piece of plastic.
|
|
| --
| "Quality is the enemy of production."
| Homepage - http://members.cox.net/rcbullock/ 'It's lamer than
Spaeth's!'
| ** Replies to rcbullock '"AT"" cox.net ** Sorry, I detest spam.
|
|

 

[Cleveland Tech]

2210 or 2215, they are the same. The cover has one of the prongs broken and
I'm out of warranty by 5 months. I'm not going tp pay HP $24 plus shipping
for a piece of plastic. Anyone got one for less or work for HP and can get a
courtesy replacement? This is my second HP, after a Jornada 568. You'd think
a returning customer would be worth a piece of plastic.

You can get the door for 12 dollars from PDASmart here -
http://www.pdasmart.com/ipaqparts2200.htm

Hope this helps.

 

[Marc]

My friends car broke down- it was his 3rd Ford. It needed a new
Ignition unit. You'd think they'd fit it for free for a returning
customer?
Not really.

Pay for your part- it's not HP's fault.

In the meanwhile poll all of the other machine makers to see who will
provide free parts out of warranty so you know where to buy next time.

What a pathetic excuse for a metaphor!
The big difference being an ignition unit actually does something, and
requires fitting - while a battery cover is simply a molded piece of
plastic with no moving parts. The original poster didn't want one free,
but one at a reasonable price. They cost peanuts to make, as I suspect a
few thousand fly off production lines every minute.

 

[Jim Yanik]

What a pathetic excuse for a metaphor!
The big difference being an ignition unit actually does something, and
requires fitting - while a battery cover is simply a molded piece of
plastic with no moving parts. The original poster didn't want one free,
but one at a reasonable price. They cost peanuts to make, as I suspect a
few thousand fly off production lines every minute.

"Peanuts to make"(depending on number of parts in a single run),then
there's packaging,distribution,stocking costs and inventory taxes on the
parts.

And that battery cover DOES do something,it holds the batteries in.
Otherwise,he would not need it.

If it's just a "molded cover with no moving parts",then make a form,and
mold your own.You could glue the pieces of a broken cover back together,and
use that rubber casting material to make a mold for a new,intact one.(and
see how much it costs to do it!)

 

[alan smith]

| The real "hewit packard" wrote:
| > My friends car broke down- it was his 3rd Ford. It needed a new
| > Ignition unit. You'd think they'd fit it for free for a returning
| > customer?
| > Not really.
| >
| > Pay for your part- it's not HP's fault.
| >
| > In the meanwhile poll all of the other machine makers to see who
will
| > provide free parts out of warranty so you know where to buy next
time.
|
| What a pathetic excuse for a metaphor!
| The big difference being an ignition unit actually does something,
and
| requires fitting - while a battery cover is simply a molded piece of
| plastic with no moving parts. The original poster didn't want one
free,
| but one at a reasonable price. They cost peanuts to make, as I
suspect a
| few thousand fly off production lines every minute.
|
|
| --
| Marc
| See http://www.inarse.co.uk/ for contact details.

What a pathetic lack of depth of thought.

They will make as many as they think need spares, plus machines. Setup
times are the same for this bit of plastic as any other. then there are
packaging costs into individual units, stock keeping, storage, handling
and packaging costs whatever the part is. That won't be worked out on
how much plastic is in the part, but how long it takes- the same as a
battery or screen. They don't use cheaper labour to handle the parts,
cheaper computers just to stock control those parts, or cheaper
packaging.

Criticise when you have a little understanding of the manufacturing,
storage and distribution systems, not because you think 'it's a little
bit of plastic that costs peanuts to make'. That is only a small part
of getting *any* part to a customer. The part is probably a cent, but
that is not the major part of any spare part cost for anything.

Then there are taxes, transport costs ........

How these costs are assigned to parts are down to a company- perhaps it
is individually costed- guess what? That adds to the price you pay.
Perhaps they apportion an equal share to every part, whatever its
value.
That is up to the company. You don't like the result? Buy elsewhere-
but all companies must cover their costs or they won't be here to sell
you those spare parts you like to moan about.

 

[AaronJ]

Criticise when you have a little understanding of the manufacturing,
storage and distribution systems, not because you think 'it's a little
bit of plastic that costs peanuts to make'. That is only a small part
of getting *any* part to a customer. The part is probably a cent, but
that is not the major part of any spare part cost for anything.

What you say may be true. On the other hand when companies make proprietary
products and proprietary parts for those products they can charge pretty much
what they want because there is no competition. Some companies are fair on their
specialty part pricing and then there are those that do take advantage. I don't
know the truth of the situation here, but it may not be quite as simple (or
complicated) as the understanding of manufacturing, storage, and distribution
systems...

 

[alan smith]

|
| >Criticise when you have a little understanding of the manufacturing,
| >storage and distribution systems, not because you think 'it's a
little
| >bit of plastic that costs peanuts to make'. That is only a small
part
| >of getting *any* part to a customer. The part is probably a cent,
but
| >that is not the major part of any spare part cost for anything.
|
| What you say may be true. On the other hand when companies make
proprietary
| products and proprietary parts for those products they can charge
pretty much
| what they want because there is no competition. Some companies are
fair on their
| specialty part pricing and then there are those that do take
advantage. I don't
| know the truth of the situation here, but it may not be quite as
simple (or
| complicated) as the understanding of manufacturing, storage, and
distribution
| systems...

And they won't tell.

But the prices may be reasonable and understandable to those who set
them.

I am also victim to these kinds of practices, I get charged those same
prices so the personal attack by Marc is not justified just because I
wrote down the possible stance of that particular company. I know they
are not easy to bear when you are faced with them, but I did not set
them. An example I have recently faced is a replacement battery needed
for my pda. The battery was quoted as £25- quite expensive compared to
some, but I could live with that. The sting was that the only way I
could get a battery (apart from a warranty repair) was by them fitting
it. The communication got as far as a claim that it was policy set by
Hong Kong. The £25 was supplemented by a £45 labour charge. That is
£70. Plus Carriage.

Then if there are taxes on top of that it's another 17.5%. The battery
is plug in and the back case is help in place by 4 screws- there's an
easily justified (it's our standard cost sir) fixed price of £45?-
around .

If you are American the conversions for you:
Battery $47.95
Labour $86.32

Total: $134.27


Tax if applied: $23.50

Total: $157.77

Plus Carriage Costs.
For a battery. For an almost 2 year old machine.
Compare that to a pda price.


Yes Marc. I am subject to these companies behaviour too, and your
having a go at me does not affect them in the slightest.
Still, if *you* feel better for your act on *another* victim of
business practice because you can't see the difference between someone
trying to explain how things work and someone who charges those prices
then go and feel happy with yourself.

 

[Marc]

Criticise when you have a little understanding of the manufacturing,
storage and distribution systems, not because you think 'it's a little
bit of plastic that costs peanuts to make'. That is only a small part
of getting *any* part to a customer. The part is probably a cent, but
that is not the major part of any spare part cost for anything.

Fair point, I don't work for HP. I live opposite their UK HQ tho ) You
do work for them then?

Then there are taxes, transport costs ........

How these costs are assigned to parts are down to a company- perhaps it
is individually costed- guess what? That adds to the price you pay.
Perhaps they apportion an equal share to every part, whatever its
value.
That is up to the company. You don't like the result? Buy elsewhere-
but all companies must cover their costs or they won't be here to sell
you those spare parts you like to moan about.

Since HP make many of these anyway (for their new models) your argument
makes no sense. I was not suggesting they setup a new production line
for just one battery cover - but I'm sure you knew that ).
If they have 2 million being made for new devices evey month, it does
not cost them $24 to assign one of those to be posted out to customers
who need them to be replaced. Its a known design "flaw" in the 2210
that if you drop it, the battery cover is the first thing that brakes
(maybe not a flaw, since its better than the whole case taking impact) -
so there is probably a high demand for repacements anyway. $10 for
postage maybe?

Please just don't compare a PDA to a car! Ford replacements generally
are cheaper than other car replacements over here, as they are near
enough expected to go wrong at some time.

 

[Marc]

Yes Marc. I am subject to these companies behaviour too, and your
having a go at me does not affect them in the slightest.
Still, if *you* feel better for your act on *another* victim of
business practice because you can't see the difference between someone
trying to explain how things work and someone who charges those prices
then go and feel happy with yourself.

Alan - i'm not having a go at you, if that's how it came across then I'm
sorry about that. I think its more down to my written English and the
way I put my point across (pretty badly, looking back).
I just happened to disagree with the point you made and the way in which
you justified it.

 

[AaronJ]

Since HP make many of these anyway...

I think maybe a good example of more HP (proprietary) predatory pricing is their
printer cartridges. They even sued a competitor who was rebuilding used
cartridges to try and stop the competition. Course they do work on the Polaroid
principle, and that is to sell the machine cheap and the supplies dearly...

Please just don't compare a PDA to a car! Ford replacements generally
are cheaper...

I lost a chrome proprietary (fancy logo and styled) Ford wheel nut cover awhile
back. Being the pessimist I am I expected to be gouged US$30 or 40 bucks for it.
I was pleasantly surprised at $13 (from a dealer no less). So proprietary does
not necessarily mean predatory....

 

[Barney]

I agree they're gouging you. It's like Apple charging through the nose
for replacement batteries for the ipod. What kills me is how so many
individual consumers automatically sympathize with the business pigs.
Brainwashing, I guess. After all, they DO control everything most of
us hear & see and for way too many, think & believe as well. In the
main, we're sheep. Bloody stupid sheep. Anyway, don't want to pay the
ridiculous cost? Don't get mad, get even. Is there a model currently
on the market using the part you need? If so, go buy one, switch the
parts, and return the damned thing. Tell them the cover was broken when
you took it out of the box. HP will get it back, costing them more than
what they're trying to take you for, and you will get your part for the
cost of a trip to the store. Serves the bastards right, IMHO.

Barn

 

[xTenn]

alan smith wrote:


Alan - i'm not having a go at you, if that's how it came across then I'm
sorry about that. I think its more down to my written English and the way
I put my point across (pretty badly, looking back).
I just happened to disagree with the point you made and the way in which
you justified it.

You come across sounding reasonable and sincere. According to Usenet
charter, paragraph 42 (which always has the answer), this is strictly not
allowed. Please correct and flame all parties present.

thank you.

 

[Franc Zabkar]

2210 or 2215, they are the same. The cover has one of the prongs broken and
I'm out of warranty by 5 months. I'm not going tp pay HP $24 plus shipping
for a piece of plastic. Anyone got one for less or work for HP and can get a
courtesy replacement? This is my second HP, after a Jornada 568. You'd think
a returning customer would be worth a piece of plastic.

Yeah, I'd have to agree that demanding $24 for something that probably
costs 10c to make is an affront. If HP had ordered extra parts at the
time of manufacture, then that's probably all they would have paid for
them. And shipping those extra parts from China (?) in the same
containers as the full product should have cost no extra. As for their
cost of supply to you, just how long does it take for some menial serf
on the basic wage ($5/hr ???) to find and "handle" your goods into a
paper package? Is a poorly designed piece of plastic worth 4 hours of
someone's labour?


- Franc Zabkar

 

[Mark W. Lund, PhD]

Making the part is cheap, keeping it in stock, having someone to talk
to on the phone about it, retrieving it and putting it in a box are
expensive.

Just thank your lucky stars that HP supplies spare parts, this is rare
in the post-modern world.

Best regards
mark

2210 or 2215, they are the same. The cover has one of the prongs broken and
I'm out of warranty by 5 months. I'm not going tp pay HP $24 plus shipping
for a piece of plastic. Anyone got one for less or work for HP and can get a
courtesy replacement? This is my second HP, after a Jornada 568. You'd think
a returning customer would be worth a piece of plastic.

--
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Mark W. Lund, PhD ** Battery Chargers
CEO ** Bulk Cells and Custom Battery Packs
PowerStream Technology ** Custom Power Supplies
140 S. Mountainway Drive ** DC/DC Converters
Orem Utah 84058 ** Custom UPS
http://www.PowerStream.com ** Engineering, manufacturing, consulting