"iPod's Dirty Secret" 262
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?
Don't blame Apple (Score:2, Interesting)
Tech Support is a business, boys and girls, not a public service. Apple has to compete with illegal abuses of monopoly power, and yet they still offer top-notch support and quality products. Don't bitch about them not doing more than they said they would.
Re:Oh my gosh! any company that charges (Score:1, Interesting)
Nice. STAB the consumer in the back for S&H. Nice.
Out-Of-Warranty Pricing
Price includes:
- Repair: $249.00 USD Replacement: labor, parts, and a 90-day guarantee on materials and workmanship, plus $6.95 USD shipping. $255.95 USD total.
Funny. 250 bucks regardless of model. Sounds like a gouge to me.
Steve Jobs in Interview:
Q: Still, $300 to $500 is an obstacle to a lot of people.
JOBS: No, of course I don?t think it?s too costly. Fifty million homes have DVD players that cost that kind of money. For music lovers, I don?t think it?s a hurdle at all. There are sneakers that cost more than an iPod.
Yes, $500 isnt a lot for a person worth more thatn 250 million dollars with a 100 million dollar jet.
Battery Service: $99.00 USD: labor, parts, and a 90-day guarantee on materials and workmanship, plus $6.95 shipping. $105.95 USD total.
$99 bucks for a battery that is worth $30. Nice. Where are the consumer protection laws when you need them.
Does it still work with a dead battery? (Score:5, Interesting)
I love it! (Score:2, Interesting)
Disclaimer: Mac user since OS7/LC III and I want an iPod once it becomes videoPod
I think it's great. If this doesn't wake Apple up, nothing will. Seriously, how hard would it have been to design the thing with an easily replaceable battery? That's one of the things you look for when buying things like digital cameras: how much does a replacement battery cost?
I love the iPod and I want one but here's to hoping that Gen 4 pods have easily replaceable batteries. Remember, the guys that did the vid are solid Mac users too. They're just righteously pissed off. More power to them.
Re:And a third-party iPod battery costs... $50. (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:Can we say... (Score:3, Interesting)
Not that big a deal for some :) (Score:5, Interesting)
Popping the back off my iPod and installing a fresh battery, bought off the net for less than US$75.00, is nothing... I look forward to the day
Mine is fine and it is from Day 1 (Score:3, Interesting)
That's a 2 year old iPod for those who are curious.
Other products ... (Score:4, Interesting)
I think the issue may need to be making people aware of the lifespan of 'integrated' rechargeable batteries, no matter the product.
Comment removed (Score:3, Interesting)
News Flash (Score:3, Interesting)
In addition to that, if you are under the published system requirements, they have every right to tell you to sod off, as there are reasons the minumums are set there. Reasons such as driver support, performance considerations, and more likely in Apple's case, chipset support and removing the god-awful backwards compatibility engineering costs of supporting machines that are 6+ years old.
It's not just Apple that does this. Go buy ANY hardware OR software that you don't meet the minimum requirements for and call support saying it doesn't work, and see what response you get.
Oh, and nice blast at the end about people making money where others didn't have the vision to see what they had. I seem to recall Xerox executives voluntarily showing Jobs & Co the Smalltalk systems, above the protests of the PARC employees at the time.
Re:And a third-party iPod battery costs... $50. (Score:2, Interesting)
I don't need to :), I've done it.
My 840AV is pretty damn evil to get into, the worst bit is the disturbing snapping sounds as you undo/replace the clips along the top of the mobo. Saying that, it's not *insanely* difficult, just moreso than most other computers, hey, only 1 screw! :) (not including thumb screw type thingies).
Personally I've forgiven Apple forever considering how easy it is top put RAM into a B&W G3 and all later towers.
What's wrong with a 226ci V6 anyhow? (Score:3, Interesting)
There some reason you feel you always need to hit on all cylinders? Or that you can't rip a couple of holes in the firewall?
Which is the whole issue here, of course. I still haven't quite finished bolting my iBook up after upgrading the hard drive (and it's trivially worse for the wear). I wonder where the PRAM battery is on that monster; shoulda checked while I had the chance. And the PRAM on my Powerbook 1400 required flipping off the lid/screen and cracking the "body" in two. Nobody wants duct tape holding together their iBook body for easy hard drive access or 1400 for PRAM replacements.
I've often wondered if the way autos are put together isn't a result of some mechanics' union to get business "where it should be". It looks like Apple's doing the same thing [as my conspiracy theory] -- uncessarily difficult tasks which, to them, equal pure profit. Great analogy if Pony II's really had to have the engine dropped. That's madness.
Re:Oh my gosh! (Score:2, Interesting)
This is totally fresh and new, this 99$ replacement has been announced like, two weeks ago.
I'm willing to assume that when he called about getting the battery replaced he got someone new/clueless.
I personally assumed that in order to record the call for his movie, he probably had to call Apple a 2nd time. Or else he must be a paranoid or new in advance what they were gonna say, don't you think ?.
For the rest I agree this is an isolated case.