You’d think that by now buying a new mobile phone battery would be a pretty routine affair. Mobiles are after all, everyday household items. At least in this part of the world anyway. Everyone has one; it’s not the least bit unusual.

As we know mobile phones are powered by mobile phone batteries. We also know that these batteries do not last forever, and that from time to time, they need to be replaced.

Sometimes, if you are exceptionally fortunate, your mobile phone will outlast its battery, requiring you to replace the battery. There are some people who choose to buy a new phone at such a point, and that’s fine. It’s well, their call. Others simply decide to replace the battery as the existing phone is still working well.

I hope that I have made my point reasonably clear. It seems though you should never make assumptions. I was after a new battery for my mobile phone. However the person working at the phone shop seemed to be having a lot of difficulty comprehending this.

I thought it was very straightforward. All I wanted was a new, replacement, battery for my now two year old mobile phone. The sales assistant however was looking at me like I had just stepped out of a flying saucer. Or something. She had a very outlandish look on her face.

When we did manage to establish that I wanted a new battery, I thought the worst was behind me. Not quite. The next question almost floored me. “For that phone, sir?” I was asked. I had been waving my phone in the sales assistant’s face as I was asking for a new battery. I had even told her the phone’s model number, so there could be no doubt.

So, wasn’t it obvious I wanted a battery for that phone? It’s not as if I said I wanted a battery for some other model or anything. I’d have thought it was quite plain I wanted a battery for the phone in my hand.

As I say, never make assumptions.

I explained how I had called earlier, and how a very helpful person had confirmed that the particular battery I wanted was in stock, at a cost of $50. Maybe that was a little too bold of me.

The sales assistant shook her head, and said no, those batteries were not in stock (but could be, whatever that meant) and that they in fact cost $59.

Ok, a nine dollar difference, no big deal. And under the circumstances it seemed futile to question the price discrepancy. The question really was, were they, or were they not, in stock? “I will have to find out,” she said, before walking away to serve another customer.

At that point the shop manager appeared, saw me standing there, looking like, well I had stepped off a flying saucer, and asked if he could help me. I repeated my request.

He nodded his head, and said yes, we have the battery you want right on the shelf here. Sure enough there it was, just the one I wanted. And the cost? “That’ll be $30, thank you,” replied the manager.

I now have a new battery for my mobile phone. I am happy. Actually, I do have far better things to think about really!