In Al Franken’s satiric book Why Not Me? he uses the issue of ATM fees as a means to launching his presidential bid. Yesterday I came up with an even more modern issue that a candidate could sell me on, restocking fees.

I had to buy a new camcorder yesterday because mine broke and a few months ago I had to buy a new battery for my iBook. Both have disclaimers about “restocking fees”. It isn’t so much that I don’t understand the need for them, but its the principal.

Rather than go with a trusted Apple replacement I went with a battery online from a third party manufacturer that was thirty dollars or so cheaper minus shipping. I read some reviews online, figured it would be a good deal and purchased. When it got here I followed all the instructions for the initial charge and then took the iBook to a coffee shop to hop on the free wifi. All was well for an hour.

Then the battery died.

It was then that I realized why I should have gone with an official Apple replacement. Firstly getting anyone on the phone at the company was a monumental task. Once I did I was faced with the restocking fee. I bought a part that was defective, paid for it to be shipped here and now I wanted to exchange it or get a refund. No refund available, I had to return minus the 15% restocking fee. They sold me a bad part and now it cost me to get one that would work.

Long story short, I had to pay it, otherwise I would have been out the money I already spent buying the dead battery. With the restock, the shipping etc. I could have gotten one from Apple that actually worked. Worst of all? The battery that was promised to fit the iBook perfectly, it doesn’t fit. I have to strap packing tape across the thing to have it stay in even though when I ordered it I put the exact model number, processor type etc so they could make sure they sent the right one. Neither the dead battery or the replacement fit. I thought about asking again for something that would fit, but that would have been another 15% restock fee.

Luckily the camcorder still works (a day later) but the battery is as annoying as ever and in the end I will probably have to go out and get an Apple battery anyway. Either that or explain to airport security why I have a laptop wrapped in packing tape. My point though is, we have a Governor here in NY who had built a career going after companies with fraudulent and unfair business practices. He did a good job, took on a bunch of companies and then ran for his new job on his record.

I don’t know if you could win a campaign on the issue of restocking fees but it would make my life better