Taking Action Against the iPod (889 hits)
Category: Computers & InternetRating: -0.48 on 29 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by Kurbs <staggman.at.gmail.com> (View user info) at 2005-04-21 13:35:26 EDT
A little background info for uber. I bought an iPod in June 03 because I needed one, I am the only person I know who has indeed filled a 10G iPod with legal music. I needed a new battery in December, they wanted to charge me $99 to do it. I paid $30 for an aftermarket battery and did it myself. Now my computer wont recognize it, and it seems to be a very common problem as searching google for "won't mount" brings up about 10 million forums. All Apple has is a simple FAQ "is the battery charged", "is the cable connected correctly" etc.
My letter tothem is copied below, but isn't sent yet, I will accept any feedback, suggestions, and the like for making it better.
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I really do not appreciate your little definition of "Customer Service". Customer Service is not a "Frequently Asked Questions" Section, nor is it charging $49.95 for a phone call to find out what is wrong with YOUR faulty product. I bought an iPod in June of 2003, far before they were popular, because I had heard from a friend that Apple had great customer service, apparently this only applies to non-fad items. Within one week of sending this, a copy of this, along with a formal complaint, and a list of all the people in my school who are having the same problems as I am will be sent to the Better Business Beaureau.
On to my problem. My iPod, 3rd generation, has recently decided it doesn't want to hook up to my Windows XP computer, or my father's computer, or my neighbor's computer. It still charges through my firewire port, so I know my computer and my cable are not the problem, nor is the port in my iPod. I have used your diagnostic mode, your disk mode, your resets, everything you, and everyone else on the internet has possibly suggested, besides reformatting my computer, and honestly, no product should require areformat of my computer.
I have tried disk management as well, and that doesn't recognize the hard drive of the iPod either.
After having this thing for nearly two years, I am honestly sick of the crap it puts me through. I have had to reformat it multiple times, restore it, etc. I have had to replace its battery, because you wanted to charge me $99 dollars to replace the battery.
You really do have quite the scam, $300 for the initial thing, when I bought it it didn't come with USB, and my computer didnt have firewire, so i paid $30 for an iPod USB cable, youve got a guaranteed $99 every 1.5 years, along with after the original one year warranty, youve got probably at least one $49.95 call from all of your buyers.
I seem to remember an internet video campaign a year or two ago which hurt you quite badly, and resulted in a reduction of battery repair price, which was still far too much.
I expect some actual customer service coming from you, or I will take alternative action, including a nice long post of this on many boards, many schools in my area where I know people, and beleive me, one voice in the small town of Hudson, MA, will inspire other voices in neighboring towns, and neighboring states, as I said I'll give you a week to give me more than a general FAQ for support on the over-priced faulty peice of shiny white trash you're selling across the world.
By the way, this is coming from a soon to be college student, I was looking into Apple Notebooks for college, as I am very into graphic design and media, but if your service for that is as horrible as your service for this iPod, I'll be looking elsewhere.
Thank You,
Kevin Kurbs
Staggman.at.gmail.com
User Reviews
Submitted by rdn4 (user info) at 2005-04-21 23:50:00 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
Get the Nomad Jukebox 3. Its not as small as the zen (its the size of a CD player) but you can install any size laptop HD you want (120gb MP3 player) and it holds dual batteries. (hello over 20 hours of play time) Plus the thing is a tank. I've had it for years and it still works fine. Durable as hell. Price = $270
Submitted by G-prime (user info) at 2005-04-21 22:09:17 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
I had an iPod and an ibook... I had my ibook before it was in though. Nobody where I live has one. And I only bought it to help me with movie editing because my PC is a piece of shit. It has not been worth the trouble it caused. My iPod has suddenly stopped working... Or at least the clickwheel. Honestly it is entirely my fault for having it in the bathroom while having a Jamaican shower. But I won't tell them why it stopped working. But I noticed that when dealing with Apple representatives on the phone, if you coplain enough, they will offer some pretty sweet stuff if you threaten to tell people about how bad Apple is.
Submitted by G-prime (user info) at 2005-04-21 22:02:54 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
How the fuck did you change the battery yourself? I thought the iPod was made so that once it's taken apart it can't be put back together, because it is something or other that I forget...
Submitted by DonovanMD (user info) at 2005-04-21 21:16:15 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Creative Jukebox Zen NX 30 gig. $300 in early 2003. Excellent product, easily replacable batteries, I found a replacement on ebay for 25 bucks. Never had a problem with it.
Apple sucks, yet people will pay through the ass for them because its whats sexy right now.
Submitted by bob (user info) at 2005-04-21 19:32:29 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
i do not like apple
thustly, i have a rio and its great aside from the fact the volume doesnt go high enough.
Submitted by Feijuada (user info) at 2005-04-21 19:31:31 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
Every Sony product I have ever had has worked like magic. My mp3 player has been through hell, and it works like a charm. And it dosen't have any pussy rechargeable batteries, either. A AAA battery lasts about three weeks.
Submitted by MIll8178 (user info) at 2005-04-21 19:28:19 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
-2 because I have a 40GB iPod 100% filled with 100% LEGAL music. Imported in mp3 form at 160kbps. And that's only 60% of my CD library.
+2 because the batteries do wear out quickly, but that's why I got the apple service plan which gets me a new battery whenever the original wears out (within 2 years)
-2 due to your whining and expecting a company to fix a mistake that YOU made. This is absolutely no different than replacing your 10 year old car's transmission yourself, and then taking it back to the dealer when it breaks, expecting THEM to fix it, even though it wasn't repaired with their parts or by their mechanics to begin with. They would be laughing at you just as hard as I was when I read your post.
Submitted by vettesrule88 (user info) at 2005-04-21 19:01:02 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
based on all this i decided to use my noncounting comment to -2 myself for being retarde, i wrote this in a fit of rage... looking back im glad i used my write it, wait 24 hours before sending it. oh well.
Submitted by downerSTAIN (user info) at 2005-04-21 18:06:57 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
Correction, according to the post, they weren't used parts. But that's still one of the stupidest things I've ever heard.
Submitted by downerSTAIN (user info) at 2005-04-21 18:05:45 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
You changed the battery yourself, with used parts, and then expected them to do anything about it? Sure, it's fucked up that a new battery is $99, but once you opened up that iPod, you basically said "Hey, I never want Apple to help me ever again with this thing!"
Submitted by canadia (user info) at 2005-04-21 16:05:29 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
Submitted by IkesApt (user info) at 2005-04-21 15:22:38 (#)
Ranking: -2
Being bitchy only works if you're dealing with them in person.
You have to kiss ass in emails/ phone calls because otherwise it gets ignored. No skin off their back.
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I agree. Changing the battery was a bad move, but speaking to someone over the phone will give you a better chance if you any.
Be polite but persistent.
Submitted by c1ndy (user info) at 2005-04-21 15:43:41 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
they don't care. they do it for money. they don't want to make IPods that last for ever, they want you to give them money every "1.5 years"
Submitted by IkesApt (user info) at 2005-04-21 15:22:38 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
Being bitchy only works if you're dealing with them in person.
You have to kiss ass in emails/ phone calls because otherwise it gets ignored. No skin off their back.
Submitted by apollo88 (user info) at 2005-04-21 14:35:55 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
No Comment
Submitted by ellsmall (user info) at 2005-04-21 14:29:59 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
When I worked in customer (lU53r) support we'd use letters like this to wipe our asses, so I'm sure someone at apple will get a good chuckle out of your whining.
Submitted by HadToBeDone (user info) at 2005-04-21 14:22:06 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by vettesrule88 (user info) at 2005-04-21 13:57:53 (#)
Ranking: 0
this is true, ill neglect to mention that part
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And when they ask....?
Face it, by doing that, you are SOL.
Submitted by HadToBeDone (user info) at 2005-04-21 14:21:09 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
First of all, you fucked up by replacing it yourself as they are no longer obligated to support it AT ALL. Read what you agreed to by using it.
Second, no one will ever take it seriously, as you are an angry kid who doesn't understand that all rechargeable batteries have a limited lifetime. When you run it down, then charge it up, then run it down, then charge it up, it begins to fail. Nature of the beast. Since you are a kid, you no doubt ran it nearly constantly. The fact that the battery failed is not a surprise, and the way most people use them, a year and a half is a damn good lifespan.
Finally, your letter contains an assload of errors, gramatically and stylistically. It is also not going to get a good reception because you threaten them on the first real contact. Now, a smart person would lay out the problems and hope they overlook the fact that you voided any implied support when you opened and swapped original parts out with 3rd party, not guaranteed to work parts.
Consider this all a lesson in the real world. Shit happens, and getting your lace ruffled panties in a twist won't do you any good. All it does is make you look like a blustering moron with no comprehension of how corporations work. You knew when you bought it (at least you should have) that the battery had to be replaced by Apple. And you also should have known that it wouldn't be free.
Quitcherbitchin.
Submitted by vettesrule88 (user info) at 2005-04-21 13:57:53 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
this is true, ill neglect to mention that part
Submitted by indoninja (user info) at 2005-04-21 13:55:37 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
I wouldn't mention changing the battery yourself, they won't take any responsability for what went wrong after that.
Submitted by vettesrule88 (user info) at 2005-04-21 13:49:46 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
I actually had an IPAQ before the ipod with the same problem, so i returned it for the ipod, but no the reset isnt the problem, it works fineit just wont hook up
Submitted by CaptainThorns (user info) at 2005-04-21 13:48:31 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Sounds like the same problem I have with the refurbished HP iPAQ that I bought earlier this year. It soft resets itself randomly if the battery level goes below 60%.
Submitted by vettesrule88 (user info) at 2005-04-21 13:47:30 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
yeah im going to put how that battery change was in december
Submitted by AwesomeJohnson (user info) at 2005-04-21 13:44:41 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
Nothing says "Respect my claim" like "I opened this thing up and messed with the insides myself" and an email like Staggman.
Good luck though.. I hate crappy electronics.
Submitted by SiskelandFatboy (user info) at 2005-04-21 13:42:47 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
You would have just as much success with Apple if you showed up at the front door with a blow torch and a baseball bat. It is a little challenging but should initiate some response.
Submitted by vettesrule88 (user info) at 2005-04-21 13:40:30 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
warrnty was one year, so yeah i may be S.O.L, but still, they might think its easier to just help me than deal with the minutely small possibility that this will get anywhere off the ground
Submitted by CoreaPeekay (user info) at 2005-04-21 13:40:24 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Yep Ipods suck.. So does apple.
I wouldnt be getting a mac for media/design anyway.
Submitted by Mr-Boo (user info) at 2005-04-21 13:39:09 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
ya, should have known it was written by a high school student.
Submitted by WookieSuave (user info) at 2005-04-21 13:38:45 EDT (#)
Ranking: -1
How long is the warranty?
Cause if it's under 2 years, I'm willing to bet you're S.O.L.
Submitted by Revolutionman (user info) at 2005-04-21 13:38:05 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
GL