3823 DealExtreme offers a battery replacement kit for iPhone for the extremely friendly price of $7.29, free shipping included.

With Apple charging in the neighborhood of $90 to replace iPod batteries (plus you have yo send your 'Phone in for the transplant), less than eight bucks sounds like quite a bargain, but the catch is of course that the iPhone is not designed to be user-serviceable, so if the idea of prying your 'Phone's case open with a (provided) spudger tool makes you nervous, then you might be well-advised to give this deal a pass. On the other hand, if you feel reasonably comfortable taking things apart, then this kit can save you a bunch.

I haven't done it, but my guess is that it's probably somewhat similar to replacing the battery in an iPod, which I have done, and was pleasantly surprised by how well that went for me. There is of course the question of how good this battery can be at the price, but in a Atlantic Monthly cover story last year, James Fallows, who is working out of Shanghai these days, observes that a high-end Ethernet cable product is sold - the exact same identical product from the same production line - in the US under three radically different retail prices: First a well-known brand name at $29.95; second by a national chain store retailer for $19.95, and third on eBay at $15.95. The manufacturer of the cable in China gets a paltry two dollars. In that case and many similar ones, even the consumer who buys the cable on eBay at the lowest price is paying plenty, and those who insist on buying only "brand name quality" are getting hosed and fleeced. On the other hand, you never know.... As always, caveat emptor is advised. Deal;Extreme's Replacement Li-Polymer Battery with Toolkit for iPhone (3.7V 1400mAh) comes with everything you need for replacing your iPhone’s battery at home, including a screwdriver, a case opener tool, and of course the iPhone compatible 3.7V 1400mAh Li-Polymer battery.

As noted, the price is $7.29, shipping included. For more information, visit: http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.10506~r.96035782

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