This is the first Mercury Retograde for ages that I have gone into it really relaxed! things are going to go awry but I am going to handle them calmly and work them out. I am coping with a sense of humour not panic!
Like FaireMaiden's excellent post above, there is rules before it comes. Don't start new things, don't sign new contracts / accept new things if you can. Back up your computer / phone / tablet / technology at least 7 days before the start. Things may go a bit crazy, it's safe to live your life but if you are travelling perhaps leave extra time.
I have noticed that Mercury is much worse at the start and at the end and the days before and after, the middle bit is much calmer. I went on holiday last weekend and they forgot to book my dog in the place and gave me a non dog place! but it all worked out in the end. The funny thing is we were charged per night for a "dog guest", it was on the booking. They messed up.
There is going to be 2 to 3 mercury retrogrades every year of our lives, we can't just hide in our rooms! There is positives and a purpose from the universe for it. We perhaps rely too much on technology and we need to shut off and spend time with our loved ones. It's a great time to go introspective and sort out the past and your life and home. People from the past might suddenly contact us again, this could be good and bad! conversations might go wrong because we make mistakes. The secret of handling it is to just go with the flow! it will soon be over and things in your life would have sorted out during it
You might end up in a whole new direction or have a personal breakthrough!
Edited To Add: I am trying to find the positives in it but truthfully it's an annoying frustrating time! But we have to carry on living our lives and there is a purpose from the universe for planets to go retrograde for us. We can handle it and there is a reason for it. As for your charger California perhaps it was a badly made version and will force you to change it! it will sort out eventually