Another reason to love Apple

[vr_trakowski]

I bought an iPod in June 2005--60 gigs, photo.  Nice device; I love it.  But recently, the battery has not been holding a charge as well as it used to. 

I expected this; things wear out, after all.  I considered getting a new one, but even the lighter version of the one I want is expensive.  So I looked up battery replacement on the Apple site. 

Out-of-warranty replacement is between $60 and $70; high, but much cheaper than buying a new one, and I have something I want to save my money for at the moment.  But I checked, and it appeared that my iPod was still covered by the Extended Care warranty I'd purchased when I bought it.  I'm not sure why I did at the time, because usually I ignore such offers.  Maybe because the device was so expensive (for me, anyway). 

The site was a little confusing, so I called Apple, and the nice gentleman who answered checked my iPod's serial number (a misnomer; more letters than numbers) again and confirmed that it was covered.  He told me I could send it in, or take it to an Apple store so they could check the charge themselves. 

I made an appointment and went in today.  I expected to leave the thing there for a few days while they checked and decided.  But within ten minutes the Genius (that's what they call 'em) was back out with a couple of papers.  I was signing the receipt before I realized that it wasn't my iPod on the counter. 

It was a new 60 gig color display photo iPod.  Despite the fact that Apple stopped offering them when the video iPods came out. 

The Genius told me easily that mine was so old that it was simpler just to give me a fresh one...in part, he implied, because my extended care plan would be running out in a few months. 

So I got a brand new iPod, unscratched, unscathed, with a new battery.  For no charge, bar the $59 I paid almost two years ago.  For less than it would have cost to replace the battery without a warranty, and certainly much faster. 

Yeah, I guess the extended care plan was worth it. 

Wow. 

Comments

[jenbachand.livejournal.com]

I won a pink mini on ebay, because I'm secretly a girly girl. $60. I paid for insurance. It came in an envelope. No padding or anything else. And it didn't work.

Filed a paypal claim, they said to get an estimate, took it to the Apple store.

It was still under original warranty, plus I could still buy additional warranty.

So yeah, they gave me a BRAND NEW one also. :)

Makes me really wish I had saved my money & gotten a mac instead of Vista retarded Gateway.

*Hugs*

And I have your new story bookmarked to read, but ugh am wiped out. :)

[vr-trakowski.livejournal.com]

Apple is very cool. I did opt out of Micro@#*& this last round and bought a MacBook Pro, but I had money to burn at the time. Still...so nice! Apple's approach to customer service is terrific.

[trialia]

Sweet! Hope you enjoy. As for me, am crawling back into bed with Cetaganda... well, strictly speaking, Miles, Mystery and Mayhem, which came through my mail yesterday morning. Yay for Miles! ^_^

[vr-trakowski.livejournal.com]

Ooh, have fun! I love Ivan's reaction to all the haut women, snerk.

[rivermalachi.livejournal.com]

Apple is really great when it comes to service that way. My bro has had two of his iPods replaced already - they sent a box for him to ship it back in, and then sent a new one within about 3 days. I've had a brand new keyboard popped in my iBook, because some of the key sticker thingies were rubbing off and I'm picky like that. No charge. :D

[vr-trakowski.livejournal.com]

They really do take customer service seriously!

[dreams-of-him.livejournal.com]

Wow! That is a wonderful story! Good for you!

Did you have to reload all your music?

[vr-trakowski.livejournal.com]

Yeah, but it was already on my computer, so it took, what, fifteen minutes? And that included the photos. No big deal.

[dreams-of-him.livejournal.com]

I am impressed. Good for you! :)

[vr-trakowski.livejournal.com]

I should add, it took the new one longer to charge, but that's standard with a new device. I just left it plugged in all night.

[cincoflex.livejournal.com]

Heehee, that's Apple for you--they care enough about their brand name to make sure their service is top notch--and I'm glad you got a new one!

[vr-trakowski.livejournal.com]

So am I--and you know what I want to use it for in a couple of months!

[anamin.livejournal.com]

That's interesting. All the bad things you hear about apple. I have mine on my desk looking at me, all sparkly-30 gig U2 version. I was just reading up on batteries on the ipod community. I'm glad you got a new one.

I never get extended warrenty on anything except when I did it was for the used Saturn I bought which was good because the engine needed to be reseated 6 months after I bought it.

Hopefully my battery will last, but if not? I think I'll probably be in the market for a new one by then.

[vr-trakowski.livejournal.com]

Yes, you probably will want a new one by then. If I didn't have something coming up I need to save for, I'd probably have just bought a video one myself. However, since I can't quite get enthused about watching a show on such a small screen, I'm happy to hang onto mine for a while longer too.

[anamin.livejournal.com]

Ya know it's funny. Once I started uploading movies I can't really stop. And it's just sooo cute! Hopefully, I won't have to whip out my entire laptop when I next go on the plane, and all I need is my iPod :)