Beta got an iPod (Gen. 5 video) for Christmas, but within a month, she dropped it. Even though it was in one of those clear plastic cases that’s supposed to protect it, force has to go somewhere — the old “for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction” thing.
The path of least resistance, of course, is the thumb wheel.
After searching in vain for any hardware technical manuals on Apple’s website (why not? Dell has them!), I called Apple tech support. I fully explained what happened — that she dropped it and the thumb wheel came partially out — and they kindly offered to overnight a box so I could send it in. It’s under warranty, they explained.
Well, yes, since she’s only had it a few weeks, it should be. I didn’t expect the warranty to cover accidental damage, but why not? DELL DOES!
One week later, I get the iPod back from Apple, with a terse form letter stating that the damage was due to “external force.”
Well DUH! I just hate sorry customer service. I really hate it when someone unnecessarily wastes my time and effort. And I absolutely, positively have no patience with stupid people who don’t listen when I carefully explain a problem, expecting either a solution, or an honest admission of their inability to resolve it.
Fortunately, there is someone out there who claims to be able to help: iPodMods. The estimate they gave me over the phone is about $30 (plus $20 or so for shipping). Still, that’s a whale of a lot better that being faced with buying a new iPod, or living with Beta with no tunes.
Just remember: Dell offers an idiot-proof warranty. I’ve tested it. They also post their technical manuals, so that when the warranty’s up, you can take the stupid thing apart and fix it yourself. I’ve tested that too.
Stupid rotten Apple.
Now, now… I think the reason that the warranty does not cover “external force” is that everybody does like their commercials but the thing flings out of your pocket and Blammo, another warranty claim. This is very similar to how Palm warrantied their handhelds. I wound up buying this titanium and foam case for my Palm after a few deadly drops. Clunky but now it bounces.
Maybe I wasn’t clear: my primary grievance is that I told them in the initial call that the damage was a result of being dropped, and they should have informed me at that time — a week ago — that they would not repair accidental damage.
That way, I could have sent it to the other repair center at that time, and had it back by now.
Still, I do have a fondness for Dell’s “Complete Care” warranty. It costs more, but it’s worth it the first time you spill coffee across the laptop’s keyboard. When hubby’s machine broke a few weeks ago, they sent someone to the house to replace the motherboard… and like the iPod, it was dropped.
I think it’s all your fault for confusing them with facts …
My daughter loves her iPod. Also her mac laptop. She hasn’t tried dropping either of them, though.
I’ve had Apple computers for 15 years. Loved ’em all. But it didn’t occur to me to try dropping them.
Very cute Joel. Do you own an ipod? Try not dropping that at some point.
No, I think one iPod in this household is enough.
I use iTunes on my Apple laptop, though. As I said, I’ve only experimented with not dropping my laptop. So far, all my attempts have been successful.
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