My laptop charger died in a cafe in Medellin and I had to scramble

Last Tuesday I was working from a coworking space in Medellin when my charger just sparked and stopped working. No warning, no burnt smell, just dead. I had a deadline in 4 hours and no backup. I ended up running to a nearby electronics shop and paid 45 dollars for a generic replacement that barely works. Has anyone else dealt with a charger dying in a foreign country and found a way to not get ripped off?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_kim5d ago

Oh man, that sucks. I actually used to think carrying a spare charger was overkill, like why would I need two? But then I had my laptop brick on me in a hostel in Thailand and had to use this janky old desktop in the lobby for like three days. Totally changed my mind. Now I always pack one in my carry-on and one in my checked bag if I'm moving around. Forgetting the price gouging thing, that's the worst part - they know you're stuck so they charge whatever they want. I'd rather just have the backup and skip that whole panic.

alice4455d ago

Right there with you. Had my phone die in a airport in Italy once. No spare battery, no charger. Ended up paying like 40 euros for a cheap one at a little shop. Felt so stupid. Now I throw a charger in every bag I own. Purse, backpack, suitcase. Never hurts to have extras.