Don't Buy an iPod

[tokyojoe]

One year ago I bought a 5GB Windows iPod. I have used it lovingly every day. In June the HDD died so Apple sent me a new one. Last week, the Firewire port came loose and I could not longer charge or sync the iPod. I sent it to Apple Japan for repair. They called yesterday and confirmed that the port was busted. They said they could fix it but that would require taking the unit apart. Cost of repair is 30,000 yen ($US280)!!!



This is fricking unbelievable. I told him to send the unit back pronto. I feel like taking a hammer to it and sending it to Cupertino. I can understand that it is out of warranty but to charge full price is ridiculous. Rather than buy a new one I am going to get a Sony Clie with music features instead.

I will never buy another Apple product again.

Merry Xmas, you rat b@stards.

[tonikoro]

:Sigh:

I'm asking myself, Did you buy said product from the Apple store? -or another apple outlet. And Two, did you get said product with the Applecare warranty?

[American Oyaji]

Tokyjoe,

Don't blame Apple for that. Getting electronics fixed in Japan is a freaking nightmare.

And expensive as a heart attack.

[American Oyaji]

Also, did you buy it in Japan or the U.S.?

That also has a determining factor on the price.

And also, because of the way the iPod is constructed, it basically has to be taken completely apart to fix.

Thats why they sent you a new one when he hard drive went bad.
And that price you're paying for a "repair" is probably the price of a new iPod.

You also have to look and see if others are having this same problem with similar results.

And have you tried talking to Apple U.S. to see if that is the current price for repairing that particular problem?

You said you used the thing lovingly EVERY DAY, so you were obviously happy with the product until it broke.

So don't dis the whole company and don't throw the baby out with the bath water because of one bad incident.

[devicenull]

you sound like my dad, who whined and yelled at sony when his big screen tv that was 7 years past warranty finally died and they wouldnt fix it for free or cheap.

[Steve Bildermann]

[yami-no-mukou]

I have to disagree with A.O. on this one. Getting things fixed in Japan was a snap and usually faster AND cheaper then anywhere else I have had things fixed. Just recently I got my DV camera fixed there (out of warranty) for less than 10,000Yen (this is when I was told back in Canada that it would cost me over $500 to fix it!). I have had an MD player, a CD player, and a stereo system all fixed in Japan before with no problems. They all were cheap fixes and everyone was extremely helpful. I can't say I have had anything fixed back in Canada without hassle. THAT is a nightmare....but, maybe that's just Canada? I can't see the US being any different.

Anyways, just my 2 cents.

[Caustic Saint]

I'm asking myself, Did you buy said product from the Apple store? -or another apple outlet. And Two, did you get said product with the Applecare warranty?

Applecare for the iPod was only introduced recently. That said, Apple allows you to buy the Applecare plan anytime within the first year of ownership.

Another note about Applecare. While the initial 12-month warranty is good worldwide, Applecare is only valid in the country you purchased the plan in. So make sure you know where you're going to be for the next year or two before purchasing the plan.

Now I'm all bummed out. I thought this was going to be a cool topic about how the rumors of 2-5GB miniPods being revealed at the MacWorld Expo 3 weeks were true, and that people should hol doff buying one until after that time.

[Steve Bildermann]

thought this was going to be a cool topic about how the rumors of 2-5GB miniPods being revealed at the MacWorld Expo 3 weeks were true, and that people should hol doff buying one until after that time.

Naaaaa everybody's holding off and waiting for the videoIpod

http://www.gizmodo.com/archives/011340.php

[Caustic Saint]

Naaaaa everybody's holding off and waiting for the videoIpod

http://www.gizmodo.com/archives/011340.php

Yeah, I saw that on MacRumors. I'm not waiting for a vPod though. I just want a nice, low capacity, less expensive iPod. 2-5GB would be perfect, and if it were around $149, it'd be even more perfect.

[Robato]

you arent the only one that has a problem with that product
http://www.ipodsdirtysecret.com

seems apple does business in screwing their customers over. After this video played on televsion, apple promptly changed that fact and started selling batteries.....maybe if you make a video and get it released on television, apple will start to offer other support???

[Caustic Saint]

you arent the only one that has a problem with that product
http://www.ipodsdirtysecret.com

seems apple does business in screwing their customers over. After this video played on televsion, apple promptly changed that fact and started selling batteries.....maybe if you make a video and get it released on television, apple will start to offer other support???

One slight problem. The two guys who made that video are full of shit. Let's copy and paste from Slashdot, quoting a post in response to their news topic on the Washington Post's article about these two jackholes. (emphasis mine)

From: das@doit.wisc.edu
Subject: iPod story
Date: December 20, 2003 6:18:37 PM CST
To: stueverh@washpost.com

I'm very disappointed with your iPod story, for several important reasons. If you only read one of the responses you get about this story, read this one:

1. Apple began offering the battery replacement program as early as November 14, before the ipodsdirtysecret.com domain name was even registered (November 20). While coincidentally close, Apple released both the AppleCare Protection Plan for iPod and the battery replacement program BEFORE anyone had ever seen the videos, and indeed before anyone at Apple or otherwise knew anything about the Neistat brothers' video. A small - very small - amount of research would have revealed this. (Also, the battery program was in the works since at least June.) The reason this is important is that you make it seem that it's only because of the brothers' tactics that Apple responded, the implication being they otherwise wouldn't have. That is false.

2. Since the battery replacement program - that the Neistat brothers themselves say is "fair" in their statement - was already in effect when they rolled out the video, they KNOWINGLY let almost a half million people see the incorrect and inaccurate video without telling them the truth: that Apple DID offer a battery replacement program. I'm sure they felt like their little video would be essentially negated since Apple already released a replacement program, so they went ahead with it anyway.

3. ALL lithium ion batteries fail after a period of time. ALL. The fact that the iPod's battery is not user replaceable, i.e., is a custom form factor carefully engineered into the product, is one of the things that makes it so small, and thus, so desirable...tradeoffs.

4. The Dell DJ's lithium ion battery is also not user-replaceable, and Dell officially has no repair or replacement plan (outside of warranty) for the battery.

5. They are currently hosting their anti-Apple video on Mac.com - Apple's own servers! (albeit paid by another Mac.com user - yes, I realize that a Mac.com user can do whatever they want with their webspace]http://das.doit.wisc.edu/neistatoriginal.txt[/b] for proof of this.

7. My girlfriend and I both - and thousands of others - have first gen iPods over two years old that have no problems with the battery. The blanket statement that the batteries only last "18 months" is also false. Do the have a finite lifetime? Yes. Is it always, or even mostly, 18 months? Nope.

Disappointed,

Dave Schroeder
University of Wisconsin - Madison
das@doit.wisc.edu
http://das.doit.wisc.edu/
608-265-4737

[tokyojoe]

To answer questions I got the iPod through a small Akiba retailer. AppleCare wasn't available then. And I don't think I'm being unreasonable. When my Sony MD compo had problems a couple years outside of warranty they sent a guy to my house who took the unit apart and fixed it right in my living room for only 5000 yen. By law companies are required to stock parts for seven years so Apple has the parts. This is part of a bogus service policy that got them in trouble in the US market as well. Charging full price to fix something is obnoxious. I'd be willing to pay up to 10,000 yen but that's not even an option.

[Caustic Saint]

Have you tried taking it to the Apple store in Ginza? Not sure if it'd do any good, but they might be more helpful since they wouldn't want prospective customers in the store seeing an iPod user having a less-than-perfect experience with their product.

Just a thought.

[tokyojoe]

The Apple Store....that's an interesting idea.

Perhaps I could combine the unhappy consumer with the enraged gaijin speaking English for the double whammy effect.

[Robato]

1. Apple began offering the battery replacement program as early as November 14, before the ipodsdirtysecret.com domain name was even registered (November 20). While coincidentally close, Apple released both the AppleCare Protection Plan for iPod and the battery replacement program BEFORE anyone had ever seen the videos, and indeed before anyone at Apple or otherwise knew anything about the Neistat brothers' video. A small - very small - amount of research would have revealed this. (Also, the battery program was in the works since at least June.) The reason this is important is that you make it seem that it's only because of the brothers' tactics that Apple responded, the implication being they otherwise wouldn't have. That is false.

did you hear the video? That was apple tech support on the phone telling him that there was no replacement battery. That was apple on the phone telling him to just buy a new device.

My father has owned a business for 30 years before he bought a domain to sell his products....the video was recorded when apple DID NOT HAVE A BATTERY for the ipod. (domain registration doesnt mean crap) The video played on television before the site was out as well.

I would like to see the facts to prove that nobody seen the video or apple didnt know about it.

thanks

2. Since the battery replacement program - that the Neistat brothers themselves say is "fair" in their statement - was already in effect when they rolled out the video, they KNOWINGLY let almost a half million people see the incorrect and inaccurate video without telling them the truth: that Apple DID offer a battery replacement program. I'm sure they felt like their little video would be essentially negated since Apple already released a replacement program, so they went ahead with it anyway.

This "fair" statement is ON THE SITE. So this email statement is not "fair"...This email statement is an outright lie, therefore I suspect that "nobody seen the video or apple didnt know about it" is a lie as well.

3. ALL lithium ion batteries fail after a period of time. ALL. The fact that the iPod's battery is not user replaceable, i.e., is a custom form factor carefully engineered into the product, is one of the things that makes it so small, and thus, so desirable...tradeoffs.

so I suggest to apple to put a warning on the box "this battery may burn out in 3 days and is completely irreplaceable."...in big bold red print. While they are at it, mention the other problems as well that they will not replace or charge more for than buying a new one. (such as the complaints the person who made the thread gave)

4. The Dell DJ's lithium ion battery is also not user-replaceable, and Dell officially has no repair or replacement plan (outside of warranty) for the battery.

great mentality..."another company rips people off, so whats wrong with apple doing it?"

the point is that apple is doing it.

6. I offered to host their video for them when they were begging for mirrors in the first few days...with ONE condition: that they post/link to/etc information about Apple's battery replacement program that had ALREADY BEEN ROLLED OUT that they were essentially denying existed. They NEVER posted the information after several promises to do so (while I was hosting the video) and taking complete advantage of my offer. See http://das.doit.wisc.edu/neistatoriginal.txt for proof of this.

They do list that apple has a replacement battery, but did not when they filmed the video. This does not change the fact that apple offere shit service to their customers....e.g. the guy who started this thread.

Im not going to believe a text file written by the very same guy who has lied about the guys who made the video twice already. His is not a creditable source from the second paragraph.

7. My girlfriend and I both - and thousands of others - have first gen iPods over two years old that have no problems with the battery. The blanket statement that the batteries only last "18 months" is also false. Do the have a finite lifetime? Yes. Is it always, or even mostly, 18 months? Nope.

yeah some of them die sooner...some ipods get busted ports and cost $300 to repair!!! Shit service for an overpriced product. At least Dell does it too though.

To answer questions I got the iPod through a small Akiba retailer. AppleCare wasn't available then. And I don't think I'm being unreasonable.

you are if you want something fixed from apple, dell or gateway.

Perhaps I could combine the unhappy consumer with the enraged gaijin speaking English for the double whammy effect.

expect to walk out disappointed and empty handed...dont go too ape shit or you will get thrown out or arrested.


p.s. Caustic Saint my statements have nothing to do with you...I feel that the guy who wrote that email is full of crap. Unless there is real proof other than his own words. (such as apple suing those guys for slander)

[docfu]

Archos Jukebox, I've used Creative Nomads too and I've no love for them. But several things I like about the Archos Jukebox Recorder 20gb:

1. It functions as a USB HD with a FAT32 filesystem. All you need to do is copy your existing mp3 collection over and bang, you are done, no 3rd party software needed. (MAC or PC, anything that supports a USB 1.1 hard drive although it is USB2.0)

2. Replacable NIMH batteries. Honest to god, this is the best thing about this unit. When I was in Japan there'd be times when I didn't have batteries to recharge or I'd be listening to music for more than 10 hours in a row, having multiple sets of NIHM's made my day. They aren't expensive either, I got my 1800+ extra sets for a piddly $1 each on ebay.

Now, I'm not advocating you all go out and buy Archos. My player does occasionally lock but turning it off and back on fixes it. Of course I've done everything to this player that you aren't supposed to do(running to catch a train, lent it to a drunk guy who dropped it)...

but it still works damn good. if the hard drive dies I'll only need to solder in a new one and batteries, like I said, just pop the cover off and in they go...

I also got my Archos 20gb for $250 from Dell when they were charging $450+ for the equivalent i-piece-of-d..djunk... (it works)...

Personally Apple is notorious for making crap and not supporting it. Look at Newton, they made em, then just upped and dropped the entire platform.

And I won't even mention what I do to the mac hardware I have to recycle at my job. Let's just say it gets nowhere near the care even the junkiest 386 gets...

-docfu

In the frozen lands of Wisconsin

[Caustic Saint]

did you hear the video? That was apple tech support on the phone telling him that there was no replacement battery. That was apple on the phone telling him to just buy a new device.

My father has owned a business for 30 years before he bought a domain to sell his products....the video was recorded when apple DID NOT HAVE A BATTERY for the ipod. (domain registration doesnt mean crap) The video played on television before the site was out as well.

Yes, I heard what was on the video. The problem is that the site didn't exist until after the battery replacement plan did. Meaning once the plan was in place, the let the video fly with completely false and misleading information. Whether or not it was true at the time of recording isn't the issue, since people viewing it have no time frame to base their take of the video on.

2. Since the battery replacement program - that the Neistat brothers themselves say is "fair" in their statement - was already in effect when they rolled out the video, they KNOWINGLY let almost a half million people see the incorrect and inaccurate video without telling them the truth: that Apple DID offer a battery replacement program. I'm sure they felt like their little video would be essentially negated since Apple already released a replacement program, so they went ahead with it anyway.

This "fair" statement is ON THE SITE.

Yes, now it is. But is hasn't always been there.

4. The Dell DJ's lithium ion battery is also not user-replaceable, and Dell officially has no repair or replacement plan (outside of warranty) for the battery.

great mentality..."another company rips people off, so whats wrong with apple doing it?"

the point is that apple is doing it.

The point is that Apple was doing it.

They do list that apple has a replacement battery, but did not when they filmed the video. This does not change the fact that apple offere shit service to their customers....e.g. the guy who started this thread.

Keeping the video online in it's present form is misleading as it doesn't show the current reality if iPod service. Now, if they were to change it slightly, to be more of a "look at the shitty service we got from Apple" slant, that would be a different matter. The complaint as presented in the video is outdated and invalid.

Perhaps I could combine the unhappy consumer with the enraged gaijin speaking English for the double whammy effect.

expect to walk out disappointed and empty handed...dont go too ape shit or you will get thrown out or arrested.

He'll never know unless he tries. Worst case scenario? He ends up right where he is today, out only the cost of the subway fare to Ginza.

[kamenr]

They said they could fix it but that would require taking the unit apart. Cost of repair is 30,000 yen ($US280)!!!

buy a new one I am going to get a Sony Clie with music features instead.

I will never buy another Apple product again.

Merry Xmas, you rat b@stards.

This reminds me of the defective hinge on my Wallstreet that Apple wanted 50,000 to fix. Rat bastards indeed.

I believe that when Jobs came back they institited a service policy of charging a minimum to touch anything out of warranty. The minimum on Powerbooks is 50,000 ($350), no matter what. This policy is straight from Cupertino, not Tokyo.

Best strategy may be to get Applecare for 3 years, then sell your hardware on Yahoo auction before it runs out. Replace every three years. Fuck the fuckin fuck.


As for CLIE--does that have a HD now? I thought Sony was holding out with that stupid MemoryStick idea. Idiots.

Speaking of SONY, I recently bought a lowend VAIO all-in-one to use as a PVR. One of the cool things about it is that it will MPEG-4 your recorded TV shows down to a size that is viewable on a CLIE. Pretty incredible. I believe it even streams the video out to a CLIE or other VAIO Media device over the Internet.

[Robato]

The point is that Apple was doing it.

Keeping the video online in it's present form is misleading as it doesn't show the current reality if iPod service. Now, if they were to change it slightly, to be more of a "look at the shitty service we got from Apple" slant, that would be a different matter. The complaint as presented in the video is outdated and invalid.

thats funny, cause someone posted about how shitty apples service is with not fixing a defaulted product. It exactly represents ipods service....or the originator of this thread wouldnt have posted his complaint.

Must be Apple still doing it....which would make the video on a battery misleading, but not that apple wont fix its product and makes you buy a new one.

He'll never know unless he tries. Worst case scenario? He ends up right where he is today, out only the cost of the subway fare to Ginza.

yep, you are right. Would have been nice to see apple fix their shitty product rather than making their customers play games though. Good thing that video taught me not to buy one or might have been in the same boat with this poor soul.

[Caustic Saint]

Keeping the video online in it's present form is misleading as it doesn't show the current reality if iPod service. Now, if they were to change it slightly, to be more of a "look at the shitty service we got from Apple" slant, that would be a different matter. The complaint as presented in the video is outdated and invalid.

thats funny, cause someone posted about how shitty apples service is with not fixing a defaulted product. It exactly represents ipods service....or the originator of this thread wouldnt have posted his complaint.

Must be Apple still doing it....which would make the video on a battery misleading, but not that apple wont fix its product and makes you buy a new one.

The thread originator has a problem with his unrelated to the battery. The video is about the battery only. Using a video providing misleading information hardly backs up your argument. If anything, it weakens it.

He'll never know unless he tries. Worst case scenario? He ends up right where he is today, out only the cost of the subway fare to Ginza.

yep, you are right. Would have been nice to see apple fix their shitty product rather than making their customers play games though. Good thing that video taught me not to buy one or might have been in the same boat with this poor soul.[/quote]
Jeez, dude, troll much? His iPod is out of the warranty coverage period. Warranties aren't forever. Sucks when something expensive breaks after that period is over, but it does happen.

And I never said the iPod was a "shitty" product. I said the guys in the video got shitty service from Apple. Actually, I was wrong in saying that. They got the service they'd paid for. Their 12-month warranty was up (same as the poster of the thread) and their problem was going to be expensive to fix.

The iPod is still a great piece of tech. There's a reason it's the best-selling hard drive MP3 player on the market.

[Robato]

The thread originator has a problem with his unrelated to the battery. The video is about the battery only. Using a video providing misleading information hardly backs up your argument. If anything, it weakens it

There is no argument. How are you confused on this matter? The guy who made the video wanted to get his ipod fixed for a reasonable rate.....apple said "fuck off buy a new one"

the guy who started this thread wanted to get his port fixed...apple said "pay $300" (which is the same price as a new one....so it basically means "fuck off buy a new one")

everything you point out is irrelevant....because Apple is still answering people with the "fuck off buy a new one" approach.

I will not buy an ipod for the fear that the something else may go wrong with it and apple will tell me "buy a new one" or "it will cost $900 to fix"

For all I care the domain could have been bought 3 minutes ago....the video is a documentation of apple screwing its customers...and that is the proof in the pudding.

Thanks but no thanks apple, I wont get screwed by your jack in the box warrantees like the guy who made this thread and the guys who made that video!!!

caustic, I am not arguing with you so dont take this statement personally....but apple offer shit for service. (sources of this information: documented video and originator of this thread)

The iPod is still a great piece of tech. There's a reason it's the best-selling hard drive MP3 player on the market.

yeah its pretty neat....but I am so scared of the shitty service apple provides as far as warrantee, I wont drop my money on one. There is a reason Microsoft bailed them out from going bankrupt.

[Caustic Saint]

caustic, I am not arguing with you so dont take this statement personally....but apple offer shit for service. (sources of this information: documented video and originator of this thread)

The iPod is still a great piece of tech. There's a reason it's the best-selling hard drive MP3 player on the market.

yeah its pretty neat....but I am so scared of the shitty service apple provides as far as warrantee, I wont drop my money on one. There is a reason Microsoft bailed them out from going bankrupt.

Apple has sold millions of iPods. You have 2 instances of poor service for out or warranty products. I've seen no evidence presented of bad service provided for a product still under warranty, have you? Now, should batteries and/or repairs cost as much as replacing the product yourself with a new one? No. Apple has since corrected the battery issue, so it's hardly worth bringing up over and over again as it's no longer a valid example.

Now, as to the OP's firewire plug issue, I'm curious if he's tried calling Apple in the US and seeing what their response would be. Maybe they're not charging as much for the same repair as Apple Japan is.

I don't know what the deal on extended warranties from retailers is in Japan, but they're not always the ripoff a lot of people think they are in the US. You can get a 4-year $0 deductible repair/replacement warranty for an iPod from Best Buy for $40. $10 a year to guarantee any repairs (or total replacement, if necessary)? Shit yeah, sign me up for some of that.

[Robato]

Apple has sold millions of iPods. You have 2 instances of poor service for out or warranty products. I've seen no evidence presented of bad service provided for a product still under warranty, have you? Now, should batteries and/or repairs cost as much as replacing the product yourself with a new one? No. Apple has since corrected the battery issue, so it's hardly worth bringing up over and over again as it's no longer a valid example.

I dont know the millions of people with an ipod. I know 2 and they both have complaints. Now a third person posted in here complaining about them and apple shitty service. So lets bump it up to I know 3 and all 3 have complained.

Im not bringing up the battery issue over and over again....you are. I am bringing up the issue that to repair an item, it costs the same or even more than just buying the entire product again. This is not an old issue, this is a current issue (e.g. this thread)

You may love apple to the point of defending it to the death, but the point is...someone will have to pay $300 for a damn firewire port (I can buy one at a computer store for $20 but it doesnt fit in the proprietary bullshit that is a mac ipod....get the drift??)

the battery issue is just pointing out to the creator of this thread that he is not the first to get screwed by the ipods faulty system and overpriced labor to fix it. I was suggesting that maybe he make a video about the $300 firewire port and maybe apple will come out with a $50 fix for that too,.

[Watcher]

OK... I'm a wintel user but an old Mac fan and still appreciate everything they've done... but the fact is that wintel does have more software. Winamp5 rocks (much like iTunes but with skins... why doesn't Mac get any skinning?). But more to the point I got even plenty of choices in where to, ahem, sample music. Friends of mine got Macs but they say there are no good P2P progs... I've seen some but nobody's on them... what do you guys use (and hey, iTunesMS ain't even here yet so I know your all using something). [/b]

[Caustic Saint]

OK... I'm a wintel user but an old Mac fan and still appreciate everything they've done... but the fact is that wintel does have more software. Winamp5 rocks (much like iTunes but with skins... why doesn't Mac get any skinning?). But more to the point I got even plenty of choices in where to, ahem, sample music. Friends of mine got Macs but they say there are no good P2P progs... I've seen some but nobody's on them... what do you guys use (and hey, iTunesMS ain't even here yet so I know your all using something). [/b]

I use iTMS, but am only able to get away with it since my CC billing address is in the US. I haven't bought any full allbums off it yet, but do buy single tracks. CDs are cheap enough in Korea that I can usually get the actual CD for the same cost (or less, in some cases) as an iTMS purchase. I find it's very handy for browsing music and trying out new sounds. The 30-second samples are usually enough to tell me if a song is something I'd like or not.

Mac has one killer P2P app - Poisoned. I just fired it up and as of this posting 2,867,654 users are sharing 520,924,663 files for a total of 4,235,308.98 GB. That should be more than enough for anybody.

[Caustic Saint]

I dont know the millions of people with an ipod. I know 2 and they both have complaints. Now a third person posted in here complaining about them and apple shitty service. So lets bump it up to I know 3 and all 3 have complained.

Therefore 100% of all iPods have problems? Sorry, statistics 101. Your sample is too small to have any real meaning.

I am bringing up the issue that to repair an item, it costs the same or even more than just buying the entire product again. This is not an old issue, this is a current issue (e.g. this thread)

You may love apple to the point of defending it to the death, but the point is...someone will have to pay $300 for a damn firewire port (I can buy one at a computer store for $20 but it doesnt fit in the proprietary bullshit that is a mac ipod....get the drift??)

Why do you think they charge so much for things that aren't such big deals to fix? Because they're out of warranty! Something I've stated repeatedly that you have yet to address. If an item is still under warranty, Apple will often replace it with whatever the current comparable model is if it would be too much of a hassle (or impossible) to suitably repair the original. There have been people who sent in 5GB iPods and got back new, current-generation 10GB models. Who do you think eats the cost for that? Apple? Not likely. I'd imagine they recoup some of their warranty serivce costs by charging high prices on out-of-warranty repairs.

And this isn't about "loving apple to the point of defending it to the death," it's about common sense. Warranties are your friend. Extended warranties can be even better friends. It's business, pure and simple. Why are you so bothered by it, since - by your own admission - you don't own, nor will you ever own, any of their products?

the battery issue is just pointing out to the creator of this thread that he is not the first to get screwed by the ipods faulty system and overpriced labor to fix it. I was suggesting that maybe he make a video about the $300 firewire port and maybe apple will come out with a $50 fix for that too,.

Maybe he should vandalize posters too! Or maybe carve a message into the walls of the Apple store in Ginza! Then he could post that on the internet! That'd show those evil, overcharging bastards!!!

[Robato]

Therefore 100% of all iPods have problems? Sorry, statistics 101. Your sample is too small to have any real meaning.

Dude, a guy posts bitching about his piece of crap mp3 player.....
I post "its not the first time, check out this video"
and you get all defensive...calm down a look at the thread again, Im not trying to say every single ipod breaks....I am saying that apple overcharges for maintenance. They force you either to buy a extra warrantee or throw your crap away if it breaks after its 3 month warrantee

Why do you think they charge so much for things that aren't such big deals to fix?

cause everything is proprietary. You can just go to your 3rd party apple parts dealer. Apple makes sure you buy directly from them if you want an upgrade or a fixer upper.

There have been people who sent in 5GB iPods and got back new, current-generation 10GB models.

I thought you said only 2 people on earth had broken ipods?? Statistics 101!!! Now you are changing your tune?

Dude, just calm down...Im not trying to argue with you or put you down. Apple still sucks and rapes people on price and service.

Extended warranties can be even better friends. It's business, pure and simple. Why are you so bothered by it, since - by your own admission - you don't own, nor will you ever own, any of their products?

extended warranties are never your friend, they are a ploy for big business to make more money off of someone. I never ever purchase one, because I know that if something breaks on a product, that I can fix it myself for $20.....but when it comes to apple, they screw you. This is why I dont own, nor will ever own any of their products.

Maybe if one day they allow 3rd parties to make devices for their machines and the prices are worth it, I may ponder it....I mean having a cherry flavor computer would be kick ass!!!

But I don't think I am interested in paying double the price on things like ram.....or $300 for a firewire port!!!

Common sense tells me $300 for a firewire port is a rip off.....Im glad I am not the dude who wrote this thread!!! Sucks he will have to throw his ipod in the garbage over a $20 device.

Maybe he should vandalize posters too! Or maybe carve a message into the walls of the Apple store in Ginza! Then he could post that on the internet! That'd show those evil, overcharging bastards!!!

Whats really funny is that you didnt even understand me telling him to make a video was a joke.

[Caustic Saint]

I was going to go over some of the points you're trying to make and look at them one by one, but there'd be no point. You have yet to address the fact that in both Tokyojoe's case and the case of the guys in the video, their iPods were out of warranty.

Sure, it sucks when things break after the warranty expires (and it's a 12-month warranty, not 3 months), but that happens sometimes.

I laid out for you exactly why Apple charges so much for out-of-warranty service, and rather than respond to that you try to make lame jokes.

If you've got something to say besides "Apple sucks and rapes," or are willing to address points I've brought up to counter your "suck and rape" allegations, I'd be happy to continue this discussion. If not, I'm done with you here.

[Robato]

I was going to go over some of the points you're trying to make and look at them one by one, but there'd be no point. You have yet to address the fact that in both Tokyojoe's case and the case of the guys in the video, their iPods were out of warranty.

hahahahaha
that is the point. Once the 3 month warranty is over, apple products are useless if they break. If they werent such proprietary overcharging business, it wouldnt be an issue. But they are, and thats why I wont buy one of their shitty products.

I laid out for you exactly why Apple charges so much for out-of-warranty service, and rather than respond to that you try to make lame jokes.

Its not a joke that apple doesnt allow 3rd parties to make devices for their products. Its absolutely serious....which is EXACTLY why they can overcharge for initial price AND for upgrades and repairs.

If you've got something to say besides "Apple sucks and rapes," or are willing to address points I've brought up to counter your "suck and rape" allegations, I'd be happy to continue this discussion. If not, I'm done with you here.

good job trying to belittle what I have said about them not allowing 3rd parties to make devices for their products. (act of monopoly)

defend defend defend.....by you wont change my opinion that I dont want to pay $300 for a firewire port







Ive decided that I should reword my original post so that caustic doesnt get so upset about particulars of dates of domain registrations or "points to prove"

They said they could fix it but that would require taking the unit apart. Cost of repair is 30,000 yen ($US280)!!!

WOW!!! That sucks!!! Only a company like apple would even fathom charging such an outrageous price for a firewaire port!! Its due to their proprietary systems and not allowing 3rd parties to make devices for their products.

You should have done a little research about how apple does business and also how it deals with situations as this. Check out this site....its almost exactly like your situation now (but its about a cheaper product than a firewire port....its about a BATTERY!!!)
http://www.ipodsdirtysecret.com

hahahah...you know what would be funny? If you were to make a video like this guys about your situation.


ok caustic, are you happy now?