Video: “You get what you pay for” is one of those tried-and-true idioms that’s especially relevant in high-end electronics. Want a nice camera or a computer that will actually play Max Payne 3? Expect to shell out top dollar.
So imagine Markus Fuller’s surprise when he pulled open the chassis of a $US700 ($967) replacement battery for the Nagra VI — an 8-track digital recorder that costs nearly $US10,000 ($13,808) — only to realise it was full of cheap components and a big, pink sponge.
Because there’s a higher-capacity version of this battery, Markus speculates that the sponge occupies the space that would be held by more cheap lithium-ion cells…for an additional $US400 ($552). Something tells us that the “Do No Open” warning on the back is for more than just safety reasons: All told, Markus estimates the components are worth about $US30 ($41). Would you want your customers to know they’re getting ripped off?
[YouTube]