I wouldn't risk buying cheap batteries. Why would your risk a $5,000 camera body with $5 batteries? Doesn't make sense, you could be shooting for many many years with a D3s perhaps, or a D300s.

Batteries are certainly very hit-and-miss. I've bought two EL9 batteries from ebay in the last couple years and they have proved very good thus far.

I bought them from power sellers with thousands of sales and 99% positives. They were $10 batteries but thus far they last long enough that i don't notice any disadvantage (many hundreds of shots, without issue)

but of course we all know stories of cases that are not so good.

so buy from the best sources you can, and try to keep your original batteries close at hand. that was you are not caught helpless if the cheap battery does not perform.

I have used them before as well, no issue. It was less than $20 I think.

ive used them before a few times to purchase small parts that needed replacing.. as well as lens caps and etc...

They definitely arent the most organized store but they havent ripped me off either. sorry to hear about your situation...

always use resellerratings dot com if you buy from a small internet shop. You should post your review there as well. It doesn't look good from all the reviews currently there.

My condolences, too.

I have (mentally) written CAVEAT EMPTOR on my credit card. If I'm buying from an unknown source I ask myself "can I afford to take this on the chin if it's a rip-off?".

Rechargeable batteries from the far east seem to be the worst. I bought one where the battery cost less than the postage. After a few month's usage, the battery would power my camera for only 15 minutes or so. On one occasion, when I was struggling to get the viewpoint and framing right, the battery actually went flat BEFORE I could take the picture!

Sorry bout the bad experience. Thanks for the heads up.

Well, needed a battery door for my D80, found a vendor that carried such "bits and pieces" on the net out of the U.S. Name........Precision Photo / bocaphoto. Before you loose out as I did DON'T use him. 4 weeks into the order and still no product, he was quick to charge my credit card but that's where he seems to have lost interest in my business..lol. A little search has turned up MULTIPLE people getting burned the same way, and now he's on ebay as "ericgotlieb". Seems to be keeping his nose clean there but the man refuses to answer emails or messages on his presumably "business" line.
Take heed and pass this along to all your nikon / canon / leica / rollie pals, he seems to advertise everything "except" good service...:)