We've all been there. You buy a new toy or device, bring it home, excitedly remove it from its package, and then realize that it does not come with the batteries necessary to power it. Many children are subject to this problem on Christmas morning and on their birthday, although it can happen to anyone purchasing a new product at any time. While most items that require batteries say so on the box, the print is not always noticeable and can be vague at times. And even when the batteries required are listed, many times it is followed by "Batteries not included." So before you hit the checkout line or click to place your order on your favorite website, follow these steps to make sure you aren't left with a lifeless device with no batteries.

The first thing to do when purchasing any new device is to find out whether it needs batteries. On physical packaging in brick and mortar stores, this is usually indicated on the back of the package near the barcode. For example, a portable mp3 player may state: "Requires two AA batteries." Or a Laptop may indicate: "Requires battery number XXXXXX." When shopping online, similar information is usually located in the tech specs or product details for the item in question. If the battery information in not listed, you may have to do a bit more research. For example, many eBay listings for battery-powered products do not list the types of batteries required. In this case, the easiest course of action is to do a web search for the type of item or even the exact model number of the product and try to find more information on the required batteries from other websites.

The next step is to find out if the required batteries are included with the product. Again this information is usually printed on the package or listed on the webpage. For example, the package may read: "Requires two AA batteries (Batteries not included)." or the webpage may indicate: "Includes battery number XXXXXX." If the batteries are included, great! The only thing you may want to think about is spare batteries. However, if batteries are not included, you need to determine which types of batteries you need and how to get them.

For some reason, companies often make it difficult to either provide your own batteries for their products or to replace the batteries they include with the product. In the case of laptops, digital cameras, camcorders, cell phones, etc. online retailers usually have extensive listings of part numbers so you can find and purchase a replacement battery with ease. However, some batteries that sound uncommon and hard to find may actually be sitting in your drawer. For example, battery numbers LR03, LR6, LR14, LR20, and 6LR61correspond to the common battery types AAA, AA, C, D, and 9 Volt, respectively. Again, a web search will go far in such cases, helping you make sure you don't already have the battery you need.

If you follow the above steps, you should have no trouble locating batteries for all your new purchases.

Bobby George is a technical consultant at LowCostBatteries.com. Please visit the site for more articles. bobby@lowcostbatteries.com

Tags: gadgets, batteries, technology, gizmos, included, lr03, lr6, lr14, lr20, 6lr61