Computer batteries for Macs may be difficult to obtain. In September
1995 I returned from an absence of nine months to my Mac LC and found
its battery dead. I did what any reasonable radio amateur would do. I
removed the battery from the computer and went down to my local computer
store to buy a new one. The store did not have that battery in stock,
which I thought was odd, since it was a Macintosh dealer. "Oh, the LC is
an old computer. We wouldn't stock tose batteries any more" they told
me! I was upset because in my experience batteries only wear out on old
computers.
I went home and started to do my searching by telephone, ranging as far
south as Seattle in my quest. I was told by a couple of the places I
called that the battery was only replaceable at an authorized Macintosh
dealer, and that I couldn't buy one without paying to have it installed!
All this happened on a weekend, so on that Monday I went to my friendly
university computer store and told the friendly tech there my problem.
He confirmed the policy I had been told about, affirmed that he could
not sell me a battery for my Mac, but after a rummaging about for a
short while he placed a battery on his benchtop and excused himself to
go to the washroom. It was clear that he did not expect to see me or
the battery when he returned.