Comments on: Why I Never Pay For AA Batteries http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2006/12/24/101077_why-i-never-pay-for-aaa-batteries.html Bridging the gap between saving money and investing Tue, 24 Nov 2009 22:38:31 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8 hourly 1 By: He's dumb http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2006/12/24/101077_why-i-never-pay-for-aaa-batteries.html/comment-page-1#comment-533679 He's dumb Mon, 16 Feb 2009 00:41:49 +0000 http://www.pfadvice.com/2006/12/24/why-i-never-pay-for-aaa-batteries/#comment-533679 What a waste. It's wasted time going around trying to talk retail stores into giving you free batteries that you are giving away to customers who already bought your product just to be nice... If it were me, I'd bulk-box them and sell them on ebay... now that's real entrepreneurship! What a waste.

It’s wasted time going around trying to talk retail stores into giving you free batteries that you are giving away to customers who already bought your product just to be nice… If it were me, I’d bulk-box them and sell them on ebay…

now that’s real entrepreneurship!

]]> By: Schmee http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2006/12/24/101077_why-i-never-pay-for-aaa-batteries.html/comment-page-1#comment-349396 Schmee Fri, 27 Jun 2008 23:39:15 +0000 http://www.pfadvice.com/2006/12/24/why-i-never-pay-for-aaa-batteries/#comment-349396 Yeah I never pay for batteries either. I work for a DSL/DTV company and people turn in their remotes or old equipment for new stuff and they never take out the batteries. So I have an unlimited source of AA and AAA batteries for free. Yeah I never pay for batteries either. I work for a DSL/DTV company and people turn in their remotes or old equipment for new stuff and they never take out the batteries. So I have an unlimited source of AA and AAA batteries for free.

]]> By: CompareTheLoan http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2006/12/24/101077_why-i-never-pay-for-aaa-batteries.html/comment-page-1#comment-98711 CompareTheLoan Sun, 02 Sep 2007 17:22:43 +0000 http://www.pfadvice.com/2006/12/24/why-i-never-pay-for-aaa-batteries/#comment-98711 I like the tip, but I’m just curious, why do you go through so many disposable cameras? It sounds like you go through a lot of them. Wouldn’t it be more cost effective to just have a digital camera? Accumulating Money is correct. I don’t buy any of the disposable cameras myself (I have a digital camera), but receive the batteries from others that take their disposable camers to those drug stores for developing. I like the tip, but I’m just curious, why do you go through so many disposable cameras? It sounds like you go through a lot of them. Wouldn’t it be more cost effective to just have a digital camera?

Accumulating Money is correct. I don’t buy any of the disposable cameras myself (I have a digital camera), but receive the batteries from others that take their disposable camers to those drug stores for developing.

]]> By: Walgreens Worker http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2006/12/24/101077_why-i-never-pay-for-aaa-batteries.html/comment-page-1#comment-11900 Walgreens Worker Fri, 29 Dec 2006 18:31:39 +0000 http://www.pfadvice.com/2006/12/24/why-i-never-pay-for-aaa-batteries/#comment-11900 This was a tip we used actively in a Walgreens I worked at several years ago. Devices in the store would constantly need new AA batteries, and there was a constant supply of nearly-new batteries from the disposable cameras that customers would leave in the photo lab (my department). It takes about 5 seconds to extract the battery, depending upon the manufacturer. All you need is a common screwdriver. I'd consider that a high value to time ratio and a high ROI, especially since you probably already have a screwdriver or something equivalent. In general, the batteries didn't get much use in the camera (25 flashes at MOST, less on average), so they're definitely good enough for low-drain items (remote controls, clocks, etc). Most have an almost full life. Kodak had consistently the best batteries, while Fujifilm was a close second. Almost all other brands were sub-par. Occasionally we'd get one with a genuine Energizer or Duracell, just like you'd get off the shelf. Oh, the glory! The only moderately dangerous part is the capactior for the flash. That said, the compartment for the battery is normally not open to circuitry. It's been a few years, but if I recall the Kodak cameras had the battery on the side (the other side held the film) while Fuji had them on the bottom (under the paper). You shouldn't need to jam the screwdriver deep into the camera, just enough to pry open the flap which covers the battery. If you get a relationship with the person at the counter of one of these retail stores they may just let you go through the cameras yourself. We always saved them, as they would be recycled rather than thrown away. Just stop in and fill up! This was a tip we used actively in a Walgreens I worked at several years ago. Devices in the store would constantly need new AA batteries, and there was a constant supply of nearly-new batteries from the disposable cameras that customers would leave in the photo lab (my department).

It takes about 5 seconds to extract the battery, depending upon the manufacturer. All you need is a common screwdriver. I’d consider that a high value to time ratio and a high ROI, especially since you probably already have a screwdriver or something equivalent.

In general, the batteries didn’t get much use in the camera (25 flashes at MOST, less on average), so they’re definitely good enough for low-drain items (remote controls, clocks, etc). Most have an almost full life.

Kodak had consistently the best batteries, while Fujifilm was a close second. Almost all other brands were sub-par. Occasionally we’d get one with a genuine Energizer or Duracell, just like you’d get off the shelf. Oh, the glory!

The only moderately dangerous part is the capactior for the flash. That said, the compartment for the battery is normally not open to circuitry. It’s been a few years, but if I recall the Kodak cameras had the battery on the side (the other side held the film) while Fuji had them on the bottom (under the paper). You shouldn’t need to jam the screwdriver deep into the camera, just enough to pry open the flap which covers the battery.

If you get a relationship with the person at the counter of one of these retail stores they may just let you go through the cameras yourself. We always saved them, as they would be recycled rather than thrown away. Just stop in and fill up!

]]> By: Harlock001 http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2006/12/24/101077_why-i-never-pay-for-aaa-batteries.html/comment-page-1#comment-11809 Harlock001 Thu, 28 Dec 2006 16:14:59 +0000 http://www.pfadvice.com/2006/12/24/why-i-never-pay-for-aaa-batteries/#comment-11809 I ended up with a box of about 30-40 cell phones with batteries/chargers. The batteries are 3.6v. I took a 3 D-Cell flashlight and rigged it to use a cell phone battery. Only needed some jumper wires with alligator clips on ends, and some duct tape B^). The light lasts for hours, and unwanted cell phone batteries are abundant. Easy to find friends with outdated cell phones & accessories that they don't want. I ended up with a box of about 30-40 cell phones with batteries/chargers.

The batteries are 3.6v. I took a 3 D-Cell flashlight and rigged it to use a cell phone battery. Only needed some jumper wires with alligator clips on ends, and some duct tape B^).

The light lasts for hours, and unwanted cell phone batteries are abundant. Easy to find friends with outdated cell phones & accessories that they don’t want.

]]> By: AA and AAA “Free” Battery Hacks - lifehack.org http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2006/12/24/101077_why-i-never-pay-for-aaa-batteries.html/comment-page-1#comment-11747 AA and AAA “Free” Battery Hacks - lifehack.org Wed, 27 Dec 2006 12:35:12 +0000 http://www.pfadvice.com/2006/12/24/why-i-never-pay-for-aaa-batteries/#comment-11747 [...] Personal Finance Advice discovers all disposable cameras have a battery (usually AA battery) in them which are there for powering the flash. Most of the time, when you take your disposable camera to develop your firm, the store will open the camera, get the film and throw it away. So it is possible to ask those stores that develop firm to save those unused batteries for you. – Why I Never Pay For AA Batteries [...] [...] Personal Finance Advice discovers all disposable cameras have a battery (usually AA battery) in them which are there for powering the flash. Most of the time, when you take your disposable camera to develop your firm, the store will open the camera, get the film and throw it away. So it is possible to ask those stores that develop firm to save those unused batteries for you. – Why I Never Pay For AA Batteries [...]

]]> By: SCapitalist http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2006/12/24/101077_why-i-never-pay-for-aaa-batteries.html/comment-page-1#comment-11684 SCapitalist Tue, 26 Dec 2006 17:37:39 +0000 http://www.pfadvice.com/2006/12/24/why-i-never-pay-for-aaa-batteries/#comment-11684 Wow, this is an example of true entrepreneurial spirit. It would be "easy" to just go buy them. Way to think outside-the-box to maximize your profits! This is an example of capitalism in action. Wow, this is an example of true entrepreneurial spirit. It would be “easy” to just go buy them. Way to think outside-the-box to maximize your profits! This is an example of capitalism in action.

]]> By: Fat Mobil Content » xmen toons Why I Never Pay For AAA Batteries http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2006/12/24/101077_why-i-never-pay-for-aaa-batteries.html/comment-page-1#comment-11665 Fat Mobil Content » xmen toons Why I Never Pay For AAA Batteries Tue, 26 Dec 2006 10:06:18 +0000 http://www.pfadvice.com/2006/12/24/why-i-never-pay-for-aaa-batteries/#comment-11665 [...] xmen toons If you use a lot of batteries for high powered electronic devices, then you likely want to purchase a good set of rechargeable batteries, but if you need a lot of batteries that don ’t require a long life, this may be just what you’ve been looking for. xmen theme tv mp3read more | digg story [...] [...] xmen toons If you use a lot of batteries for high powered electronic devices, then you likely want to purchase a good set of rechargeable batteries, but if you need a lot of batteries that don ’t require a long life, this may be just what you’ve been looking for. xmen theme tv mp3read more | digg story [...]

]]> By: Paul Theodoropoulos http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2006/12/24/101077_why-i-never-pay-for-aaa-batteries.html/comment-page-1#comment-11661 Paul Theodoropoulos Tue, 26 Dec 2006 07:32:40 +0000 http://www.pfadvice.com/2006/12/24/why-i-never-pay-for-aaa-batteries/#comment-11661 low quality dry cells may leak if left in a device unused for a long time. but that doesn't happen all that often these days. the disposable camera manufacturers don't want their cameras going bad on the shelf, so obviously they're not going to use crap quality to begin with. all that's really necessary is to use a multimeter to check the voltage on the batteries. toss the ones with low voltage. the rest are likely in near-new shape. ignore joew. anyone who tosses out 'get an EE' while talking about dry cells is the one in need of remedial retardocorrection. sheesh. low quality dry cells may leak if left in a device unused for a long time. but that doesn’t happen all that often these days. the disposable camera manufacturers don’t want their cameras going bad on the shelf, so obviously they’re not going to use crap quality to begin with. all that’s really necessary is to use a multimeter to check the voltage on the batteries. toss the ones with low voltage. the rest are likely in near-new shape.

ignore joew. anyone who tosses out ‘get an EE’ while talking about dry cells is the one in need of remedial retardocorrection. sheesh.

]]> By: Ryan http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2006/12/24/101077_why-i-never-pay-for-aaa-batteries.html/comment-page-1#comment-11655 Ryan Tue, 26 Dec 2006 04:24:41 +0000 http://www.pfadvice.com/2006/12/24/why-i-never-pay-for-aaa-batteries/#comment-11655 Here is also another tip for people who use alot of batteries. Look on ebay for some $1 off coupons for the batteries you want. Then wait till they go on sale for $1 each. When you goto checkout make sure you have something so your total isn't just the sales tax, and you got free batteries(-ebay price for coupons) Here is also another tip for people who use alot of batteries. Look on ebay for some $1 off coupons for the batteries you want. Then wait till they go on sale for $1 each. When you goto checkout make sure you have something so your total isn’t just the sales tax, and you got free batteries(-ebay price for coupons)

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