Zens Semi Solid State 5K: a $59.99 battery that really costs $96.44
You get what you pay for. Apparently, you also pay for what you already got.
On paper, the Zens Semi Solid State Powerbank looked like exactly what I wanted for my iPhone Air: an exceptionally thin magnetic battery, newer battery technology, and fast wireless charging. I compared several alternatives and decided to spend a little more. Buy something better once, enjoy it, move on.
The battery was $59.99. Shipping added $15. Fine. I saw those costs and agreed to them.
I paid for the battery. I received the battery. Then, a week later, I received another bill for the battery.
FedEx wanted another $21.45 in import charges. My $74.99 purchase was actually $96.44—28.6% above the order total. That’s a different price bracket, and a different purchasing decision.
I checked my order details, confirmation, shipping emails, and tracking emails. None warned me about additional import charges. I saw no warning at checkout.
Only after the bill arrived did I go digging and find the explanation in Zens’ FAQ. Yes, it’s there. But discovering the true cost after paying isn’t an informed purchase—it’s an expensive surprise.
Zens doesn’t set US import charges. It does decide where to put the warning. If you can prominently sell me the benefits, you can prominently tell me what else I might have to pay.
I’ve used the battery only a couple of times, so I can’t judge its long-term performance. It also got very hot charging my iPhone, which hasn’t exactly improved the introduction.
I contacted support, paid FedEx, and requested reimbursement. That request is pending.
Even if this battery performs beautifully from here on, every time I reach for it I’ll remember that I paid more than I knowingly agreed to spend. What should have been a useful little accessory now feels like a reminder that I got burned on the price.
The iPhone will eventually be replaced. The battery will eventually wear out. The sour taste Zens left will outlast both.
When someone asks me about Zens, this is the experience I’ll tell them about.