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"iPod's Dirty Secret"

Posted by pudge on from the it-lasts-eighteeen-months-and-what-do-you-get? dept.

akpoff writes "Have you ever made a promise while in tech-support hell to let everyone know how bad the product is? The Neistat brothers followed through after the batteries in an iPod died and Apple told them it would cost US$250 to replace them. The tech rep told the guys they might as well buy a new iPod. The brothers thought differently and made a movie showing how they got the word out in a large metro area. Of course it was made on a Mac with iMovie." Their statement is a bit misleading: many people have iPods that have lasted a lot longer than 18 months (the iPod was released over two years ago). But the batteries don't last forever. What is their life expectancy? Does Apple notify consumers of a life expectancy?

3 of 262 comments (clear)

  1. $99 replacement by oncee · · Score: 0, Redundant

    According to this Slashdot article, Apple will replace any iPod battery for $99.00. "Although the service is $99, they state in the article 'iPod equipment that is sent in for battery service or service requiring other repairs will be replaced with functionally equivalent new, used, or refurbished iPod equipment. You will not receive the same iPod that was sent in for service.' So make sure you back up that music before shipping it off!"

  2. Another reason Neuros gets my vote by VisorGuy · · Score: 0, Redundant
    The Neuros Audio FAQ is upfront about how long the battery lasts and the modest charge to replace it.

    Our battery replacement policy is as follows.

    Within Warranty (90 days parts, 1 year labor)

    • If within first 90 days of purchase - NO CHARGE
    • Past 90 days, but within 1 year- $7
    Outside of Warranty
    Neuros 128- $8
    Neuros HD- $12
    --
    This user account is inactive account replaced by the PDA
  3. Re:They must work for SCO by Red+Pointy+Tail · · Score: 0, Redundant

    Even so, purposely designing your product so that most non-geek must send it back for a battery refurbishment (yes USD99 is a ridiculous amount -- compare this with phone-battery prices) is milking their base for what they are worth (but this is common behaviour for Apple isn't it?).

    So i suggest: everybody, please start a chain-mail and email all your friends/colleagues about it! Maybe we can pressure Apple into doing something like designing battery replacement into their subsequent models... which can't be difficult.

    (As a caveat, I dislike chain-mails too, but there is scarcely a more effective way to deal with these sort of grassroot problems)

    A sample chain mail could be:

    Batteries of some Apple (tm) iPods (tm) may require replacement after a year. The replacement cost from Apple? US99 to replace the batteries -- and this is after lots of complaints and pressure from customers! And no there is no simple way of doing it yourself because you have to snap the casing apart.

    This filmmaker was so pissed wthat Apple Tech asked to buy another iPod or pay USD250 instead to replace the batteries that they created this hilarious video to warn everyone about it: http://www.ipodsdirtysecret.com/

    You should forward this to all your friends to warn them about what they are getting for their USD400 toy!