iPod Vent.

BoosHaus

I had my old "iPod Classic" for around five years before it packed up in August (due to a earphone jack issue). I took it in to Apple who declared that there was nothing that they could do apart from to offer me a replacement for £80.

I took the replacement because I do love my iPod and my Birthday was approaching so I forked out the extra cash.

Only now the same issue has happened again, so I assume (since I'm past the point of the 90 day warranty) that I'm going to have to fork out again for a replacement. It's absolutely infuriating because I've been incredibly careful with my iPod this time. Apparently it's a "common fault" but to be fair, that doesn't make me feel any better.

I know "that's what you get" for buying Apple as everyone so often says, but like I said, I do love my iPod.

Sorry to bore everyone, but I really needed to get that off my chest.

Azari

Two things.

1) You say you 'love your ipod'. What is it about it that is so much better than other MP3 players, many of which many people find superior?

2) The 90 day warranty is irrelevant. A product must be of merchantable quality and any piece of electronics that is not ill treated should certainly last two years. If you have had it for less time than that you should return it to the entity from which you bought it for repair/refund/replacement under the terms of the Sale of Goods Act. Do not allow them to fob you off.

BoosHaus

1) I think it's mostly the sentimental value - however I mostly appreciate how easy it is to use. I understand that other MP3s are easy to use but that would mean lots of mindless moving of data and playlists and such.

2) I understand that the 90 day warranty is in place for replacement iPods - although I couldn't get Apple Care because it was a replacement. Don't I need to have a external report if it fails over six months from purchase?

Handsome90

Azari wrote: »

1) You say you 'love your ipod'. What is it about it that is so much better than other MP3 players, many of which many people find superior?

The simplicity of it. Did you use any smartphones before iPhone came out. My bro had HTC Tytn II that basically ran Windows XP in a phone. I used it a few times and it wasn't at all easy to use.

pulliptears

Handsome90 wrote: »

The simplicity of it. Did you use any smartphones before iPhone came out. My bro had HTC Tytn II that basically ran Windows XP in a phone. I used it a few times and it wasn't at all easy to use.

My love affair with Apple is fast coming to an end I'll admit, my iPhone was replaced with Android and when the MacBook Pro I'm currently on dies it will be replaced with a PC, but I do have to agree there is a simplicity with iPod and I personally wouldn't use any other MP3 player.

Added to that most people have docks, I've got iPod docks in every room, yes there is the ability to plug in any other MP3 Player but it won't charge them.

BoosHaus

I did use MP3 players before my iPod, but because I've had an iPod for quite a few years now all of my data is on my iTunes and my iPod - and as I said, moving that amount of data and playlists and such would be a massive pain. Perhaps I should have said I appreciated the simplicity.

I'm off to the Apple Store in an hour to discuss my options, although I'm not at all hopeful. I'll keep you all posted.

Azari

BoosHaus wrote: »

I did use MP3 players before my iPod, but because I've had an iPod for quite a few years now all of my data is on my iTunes and my iPod - and as I said, moving that amount of data and playlists and such would be a massive pain. Perhaps I should have said I appreciated the simplicity.

I'm off to the Apple Store in an hour to discuss my options, although I'm not at all hopeful. I'll keep you all posted.

The only thing that makes this slightly complicated is that you say your current ipod is a 'replacement', although you don't specify exactly what that means. Did you get a substantial discount on the basis of the failure of your previous model?

It does seem to me that at £80 you would be entitled to expect the unit to last just as long as any new purchase and Apple are on very thin ice if they refuse to sort out your problem at no cost.

If they will not play ball, inform them that you believe that they are acting contrary to their obligations under the sale of goods act and that you may take action against them in the small claims court.

BoosHaus

I'm sorry, I can't quote because I'm on my phone on the train (on the way to the Apple Store!).

My iPod was a replacement, yes. I'm not sure exactly what the policy is, but when my old iPod failed they told me that because it was out of warranty that they could offer me a replacement "refurbished" iPod that was essentially new. I'll be honest, the whole thing was explained to me but my memory is awful.

I was explicitly told that there was only a 90 day warranty but I couldn't purchase Apple Care (essentially extended warranty) and upon reflection I'm not sure why.

Re: the SoGA aspect, don't I need to prove an inherent fault if it's over six months?

Azari

BoosHaus wrote: »

Re: the SoGA aspect, don't I need to prove an inherent fault if it's over six months?

I'm afraid that the whole 'refurbished' thing takes it into a bit of a grey area.

At a guess I would say that it should last as long as a 'reasonable' person would expect it to last.

If I paid £80 for an MP3 player - refurbished or not - I would certainly expect it to last two years at the very least. It probably depends to some extent how much of s discount £80 was from the full price.

Whatever, in your position, I would certainly mention the SOGA and ask for and make a note of the name(s) of the people dealing with you. If they think you are taking the SOGA seriously it may induce them to make a more generous offer.

(As to the 'inherent fault', it actually just has to be a manufacturing fault, not an inherent one. You say this is a 'known' problem so that may mean that the onus falls to them to prove that the problem with yours is not a result of a known weakness (which would generally count as a manufacturing fault)).

Good luck, and be sure to report back on the result.

BoosHaus

Well, that actually went worse than I expected - and considering I was expecting to be asked to shell out to pay for a replacement iPod, that's actually saying something.

The Apple Store very kindly gave me an appointment at five after arriving there at half two knowing that all the spaces online had been booked. I turned up at the allotted time and spoke to a lovely man who asked me what the problem was - I told him what had happened so far and he offered to let me speak to a manager because he couldn't offer me any solutions.

I spoke to the manager who informed me that, as I had signed the paper work agreeing to the 90 warranty, there wasn't much he could do. Apparently I can buy a gadget on Amazon for around £15 so I can listen to my iPod using the charger port, but that if I used that I wouldn't be able to control the sound. Awesome.

I mentioned that I didn't think that it was acceptable that I'd paid £80 for a product that lasted just over seven months when I had gone out of my way to care for it but apparently when I agreed to the replacement iPod (a "repair") then I essentially agreed to the fact that it might break down and that if that happened I'd have to deal with it. (Just as a side note, I'd have been very annoyed if I'd paid £80 only to have it break down 90 days afterwards!).

I asked him about Apple Care and why I wasn't allowed to purchase it, but he kept repeating that I had agreed to the 90 day warranty and I'd have to like it or lump it, essentially. He didn't even offer to replace it. I took the name of both the gentlemen who served me but I'm not even remotely sure where to go from here.

Azari, a quick Google search of "iPod Classic earphone jack problem" comes up with hundreds on threads about the issue so I can believe that it is a manufacturing fault.

pulliptears

BoosHaus wrote: »

Well, that actually went worse than I expected - and considering I was expecting to be asked to shell out to pay for a replacement iPod, that's actually saying something.

The Apple Store very kindly gave me an appointment at five after arriving there at half two knowing that all the spaces online had been booked. I turned up at the allotted time and spoke to a lovely man who asked me what the problem was - I told him what had happened so far and he offered to let me speak to a manager because he couldn't offer me any solutions.

I spoke to the manager who informed me that, as I had signed the paper work agreeing to the 90 warranty, there wasn't much he could do. Apparently I can buy a gadget on Amazon for around £15 so I can listen to my iPod using the charger port, but that if I used that I wouldn't be able to control the sound. Awesome.

I mentioned that I didn't think that it was acceptable that I'd paid £80 for a product that lasted just over seven months when I had gone out of my way to care for it but apparently when I agreed to the replacement iPod (a "repair") then I essentially agreed to the fact that it might break down and that if that happened I'd have to deal with it. (Just as a side note, I'd have been very annoyed if I'd paid £80 only to have it break down 90 days afterwards!).

I asked him about Apple Care and why I wasn't allowed to purchase it, but he kept repeating that I had agreed to the 90 day warranty and I'd have to like it or lump it, essentially. He didn't even offer to replace it. I took the name of both the gentlemen who served me but I'm not even remotely sure where to go from here.

Azari, a quick Google search of "iPod Classic earphone jack problem" comes up with hundreds on threads about the issue so I can believe that it is a manufacturing fault.

Wow, Apple are usually spot on with customer service so thats really really poor.
I think you need to write to them now, outline what you have said above and your experiences to date.
I'd be taking it further though.