Hello Ron B. Thank you for sharing your experience. Our batteries do take a firm grip to pull the battery out. This is to ensure dislodgement does not occur during operation. Make sure the tracks on the battery are free of debris and dirt before you insert the battery, any debris can affect the movement of the battery. To remove the battery, push and hold the battery release button. Then, pull the battery pack straight out. In some cases, if the springs underneath have gotten locked down you might have to give a small push to the top of the battery to re-engage them to help the battery pop up. The battery pack fits snugly into the product to prevent accidental dislodging while in use; it may require a strong pull to remove. Before use, be sure that the rails on the battery and product are free of debris that could cause the battery to get stuck. Here is a video showing how to install the battery, you can watch the video here (https://youtu.be/Hw-_XmvcMHw?t=9). Do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or require further assistance. We can be reached on Live chat (www.greenworkstools.com) or by phone 1-888-909-6757.