Faulty Beats Headphones just over warranty

dannyhall1987

Today my $324 (yes I bought them in America) Beats Studio 2 headphones suddenly stopped working. I contacted Apple Support who advised that bacause the product is out of its 1 year warranty (just 87 days out) I will have to pay for a service. They said that if the fault is due to the battery then a replacement will cost $79 plus freight but if the problem is not battery related then a service will cost $169!!!! plus freight.

I am actually quite disgusted by the suggestion that I would have to pay $79 to replace a battery on something so new.

I am just 87 days over the year's warranty. I heard that goods should function for a reasonable length of time and the "1 year guarantee" is not necessarily legally binding. I am quite shocked that $300 plus set of headphone would break just 14.5 months after purchase but the free headphones packaged with my phone work perfectly fine.

I was wondering if there is anything I can do? Apple have scheduled a callback for tomorrow at 2:15pm to discuss this issue with me so hopefully I can resolve this matter with them but I would appreciate any guidance to at least I'm a little more knowledgeable when I speak to them tomorrow.

I don't know if this is relevant but Apple had my headphones 90 days ago (just before the supposed warranty expired) to carry out a unrelated repair. Could I argue that they should have performed a service at that time since they had the headphones in their possession? If they had done that maybe my headphones would still be working today.

gettingtheresometime

dannyhall1987 wrote: »

I don't know if this is relevant but Apple had my headphones 90 days ago (just before the supposed warranty expired) to carry out a unrelated repair. Could I argue that they should have performed a service at that time since they had the headphones in their possession? If they had done that maybe my headphones would still be working today.

Why would they do something that wouldn't be covered by the warranty and would be presumably chargeable ?

I've no doubt that had they carried out a service and then charged you, you could have argued that you hadn't requested the service and wouldn't be paying it.

daytona0

Typically, there are two parties you can approach:

1. The manufacturer (Apple) who offer a warranty

2. The retailer, whom you bought it from. This may not necessarily be Apple.

Also note that you are subject to US law, and you may also be dealing with a US product with a warranty under Apple's US branch. What this basically means is that they will need to source items from USA and thus it will cost you more to have it fixed under the warranty, and that SOGA may not apply so you may need to research your rights against the retailer.

Because you have no warranty now, you'll be required to foot the bill for repairs in relation to the warranty. That will include sourcing items.

Your last paragraph is intriguing - you are basically saying that the problem has developed after they may an unrelated repair. It may be beneficial to speculate as to whether or not the unrelated repair has caused the damage. It is a legitimate question to ask, and one which may make them more susceptible to offering you a better solution.

All in all I just think you have to speak to them tomorrow and see what they say. Maybe bring up the above point as well if things aren't going your way.

Ultimately, though, it is tricky because you bought from USA. Someone else may have more accurate advice for you so await more posts too!


EDIT: Little tip, though, but beats headphones are absolutely crap. I bought the ear ones and they lasted about 3 weeks. At the time I was making a lot of money, and spending a lot too, so they just went straight into the bin. Ever since then I've found that ASDA's 7 pound variety last so much longer, even when they are showing signs of wear and tear! Of course you might find the big beats headphones better, but they are just overpriced crap in general.

SECOND EDIT: I did buy a pair of beats headphones from Benidorm market last year for 2 euros. Surprisingly they still work (unlike the 150 pound genuine beats ones), although the music is always warped! It kinda inspires you to create a whole new genre of music!

ChumLee

You have to get headphones serviced these days?

shaun_from_Africa

dannyhall1987 wrote: »

I heard that goods should function for a reasonable length of time and the "1 year guarantee" is not necessarily legally binding.

This is correct but it is only for contracts of sale for which the Sale of goods act applies. This means that you would have been required to make the purchase from a retailer based in the UK (or elsewhere in Europe for their similar legislation to apply).

As you bought from a US based seller, the only consumer protection that you have is that which covers sales in the particular state that the seller is based in.

shaun_from_Africa

daytona0 wrote: »

Your last paragraph is intriguing - you are basically saying that the problem has developed after they may an unrelated repair. It may be beneficial to speculate as to whether or not the unrelated repair has caused the damage. It is a legitimate question to ask, and one which may make them more susceptible to offering you a better solution.

As the earlier repair was carried out 3 months ago, it's unlikely that Apple will accept that it has caused the recent failure, but as you say, there is certainly no harm in mentioning it.

forestwn6

There are several items showing/explaining how to change the batteries on your headphones on the internet.

bris

As you bought them from the US you have very little rights.
Tbh even buying an Apple product in the UK is difficult, if not impossible to get them to do anything for free outside the warranty.


It's all very well having this supposed six year rule, it's another thing altogether getting a resolution from it.