When my cell phone battery began to show signs of dying, I was so not ready to deal with shopping around for a new phone. Purchasing a replacement battery seemed the practical and sensible thing to do. Who knew it would turn into an ordeal that would lead me to a little powerhouse of a shop on West 3rd Street in Los Angeles called Battery City.

First, I attempted to resolve the problem locally. I dropped by two Verizon Wireless service providers in Burbank and tried to buy a battery for my VX4400 model. One sales clerk said it would take several days, he probably could not get it and if he could, it would be expensive. At the second store, the clerk called his distributor and when he hung up he told me basically, batteries for my old model were not available. I admit it - I purchased my cell phone in October of 2003. I would not dream of comparing it to the super high-tech Apple iphone; however, I do not think my phone should be tossed into some recycle bin either. Oh, both clerks were nearly bouncing off the walls with eagerness to sell me a new phone with a two-year wireless service agreement attached. I was put off by those hard-sell tactics and walked out of both stores hoping my old phone would limp along until I found a more appealing solution. And I did while sitting under a hair dryer at a Los Angeles salon of all places.

It happened as I was sharing my cell phone drama with Deloise Maddox, a friend and busy property manager who was perched under a hair dryer as well. Deloise said she recently had a similar experience at a Cingular Wireless store located at 5323 W. Centinela Ave. in Ladera Heights. Deloise had dropped by the store to get a new battery for her cell phone. A salesman told her, "They don't make those batteries anymore" and "You need an upgrade (new phone)."

Deloise is soft spoken and polite, but she is no pushover. The lady is a very savvy business professional. She refused to be pressured into buying a new phone. Finally, after a testy exchange with the salesman, a manager came over. The manager told the salesman to give Deloise the number for Battery City. The salesman wrote the phone number on a slip of paper and handed it to her with the warning, "It's going to cost ya."

Deloise ignored the warning. She ended up buying a new cell phone battery for $40 at Battery City. A price she was very willing to pay to keep her present phone working. Also, she raved about the excellent service she received at Battery City. Deloise's recommendation was good enough for me to check out the shop.

Battery City is a tiny store sandwiched between a chicken and grill restaurant and a floor design business at 8482 W. 3rd St., not far from La Cienega Boulevard and the Beverly Center. At times, traffic is congested and parking is difficult, but not impossible. I am told the parking is the best in the mornings. I found a parking space on a side street.

When I walked into the shop, Nelson Yuman was handling counter duty. I explained what I needed. Nelson asked to see my phone, popped out the old battery, and then went off in search of a replacement. In just a few minutes, he came back with a new battery, installed it, and then handed my phone back to me. The cost for the battery $40 , the installation is done free as a part of good customer service.

I told Nelson I had driven over from Burbank. He was not surprised. He said most of the wireless dealer stores like Sprint and Verizon only carry the "new stuff." Battery City gets referrals from them all the time. Cell phone users from all over Southern California contact the shop. Nelson said they have had folks searching for cell phone batteries call from up north in Modesto and from other states like Texas and Florida. For a small shipping charge, Battery City will mail your purchase. Nelson remembers a cell phone user in Downtown Los Angeles who did not have the time or did not want to be bothered driving across town, so the customer had his new battery mailed.

Harry Lee walked up and joined the discussion. He proudly announced that his wife Joanne Lee owns Battery City, which specializes in batteries for phones, camcorders, computers, medical appliances and many other products. There is a more extensive list of what they stock on their Web site at www.battery-city.com. If they don't carry what you need among the thousands of batteries in house, they will order it, or rebuild your old battery or even make a new battery in some cases. Along with all types and sizes of batteries, Harry says the shop prides itself on giving that "extra service," which keeps customers happy and coming back. Some of the wireless stores should take a lesson from Battery City.

Bottom line: When it comes to cell phones and accessories, consumers definitely need to shop around and not take the word of someone working in a wireless store as gospel. Making a deal, any deal, apparently is more important than customer satisfaction at some wireless stores. $40 for a cell phone battery is not cheap, but as far as I'm concerned, getting roped into a new phone and a two-year contract, I didn't want what was more expensive and more likely to cause me serious pains of remorse.