My iPod saga continued

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=105x4480037

It's messed up. We can't get it to charge up. So I called apple. They said they wanted me to fill out some form, send it to them and they would then send me a package to ship it back in. I said NO, this is a XMas present, you gotta do better than that, especially since this is an expensive item. So she asked if we had an Apple store in our city. I said yes. She said take it back there and they will replace it.

But this iPod is engraved with my kid's name. She said "sorry".

So now I get to go down to the Plaza on Christmas fucking Eve, find a parking place (which will take for fucking ever) and go stand in line in the Apple store to get this iPod fixed.

I am NOT a happy camper about this. I doubt I will order anything from Apple again.

grrr I swear almost every time I buy something online there is a problem.

Ok rant over. Just wanted to let all you Apple fans know that they sent us a defective iPod.

:(

I ordered from Apple online and had zero problems. But, I think the Apple Stores can do engraving there, too (if they have to replace it). I think they should do that for free for your troubles.

That would be good, since I really wanted that. How else can you identify it if it is lost or stolen?

It's near the bottom on the back. I'm guessing it would be on the box label as well.

Thanks!

The kids don't know which came in which box. I marked the outer boxes that they were shipped in. But not the inner boxes. I don't see a serial number on the iPod.

Shuffle, Nano, Photo, Mini....? Minis and 40+GB ones have them on the back; Nanos may just have them encoded.

$300 retail. Video.

Sorry that's all I know off the top of my head.

There is no way to get a serial number if they won't re-boot.

near the bottom in very very tiny print. :hi:

It only makes sense that they would.

FYI - there are iPod Express areas set up for the holidays.

I think this is your store: http://www.apple.com/retail/countryclubplaza/week/20051218.html

I guess it isn't there anymore. It was called The Mac Store. Isn't that the same company?

It might be the same folks, but selling macs only (i.e. no other Apple products). I'd check first.

Ya know, I've been away from home so long I almost miss the Plaza... even though JC Nichols no longer owns your ass on the Plaaaah-zaaaah...

They don't own the Plaza anymore?

You can tell I am NOT a frequent Plaza shopper anymore. It has turned into la la land for the wealthy. Worse than Beverly Hills. No more grocery store, no drug store, no coffee shop, no burger joint. LOL those were the places I went to on The Plaza.

And yes, I could tell Plaza Security horror stories all day long. Those guys are Nazis. One time they 'arrested' a friend of mine who was walking to her car after work - she was a waitress at The Alameda. They claimed she was smoking a joint in the parking lot. They called KCMO cops, who took their time getting there. Once the real cops arrived, they told the security fake cops to let her go. And they told my friend to get an attorney. She did and sued for $25K. Settled out of court for $15K.

edit - typos

I lived in KC (Brookside/Westport) for over 30 years, and the Plaza has *always* been a ritzy shopping district. Yes, it used to have a bowling alley, but it's always had exclusive shops and department stores (Halls, the old Herzfelds, etc). It was *planned* that way; in fact, it was the country's first shopping center. And face it - Putsch's sucked! (though I was a longtime customer; at the coffeeshop, not the cafeteria - I'm not THAT old!)

I can't remember a grocery store, but then again, we always went to Milgrim's (Hi, Neighbor!) and Safeway (yes, I know - both long gone).

I was just in Beverly Hills - the Plaza is way prettier.

The grocery store was over by where the Granfaloon is now - right off 47 St about a block west of Broadway, just west of Plaza III.

And hey, I LOVED Putsch's. Best cafeteria ever. The tomato aspic there rocked. I knew the Putsch kid in high school. Nice family.

I have so many fond memories of Putsch's Coffee House. I went to high school just two blocks from The Plaza. We spent a lot of time down there.

Lessee what's near the Plaza: Westport, Lorretto, and a couple of other privates. I was Southwest '82 (which means I knew the Pink Garter's kids), UMKC '86.

class of 71.

Loretto was a LOT farther away from The Plaza. I think they had moved out south by the time you were in high school. They were on 39th in my day.

Hey KC School graduate! I teach in KCMO. Southwest was a damn fine school for a lot of years. You should see it now though. Sad. Closed.

stuff you could find at a mall

Please forgive me, my sardonic frame of mind. And I am not attacking you in the slightest either; the iPod is a brilliant design (though I hope someone in the US designed it...). Corporations are still money-making-machines first and foremost; nothing more. Many will give a facade of "helping people", and that goes only so far so when it doesn't cost them beyond a certain amount. Note how they wanted YOU to ship their defective product back to them.

Why can't your local Apple Store (which may be 30 miles away, I dunno) swap out the innards and you keep the engraved case? (once again, it would cost them too much time. And that's what biz is about these days. Time and costs.

Hell, even Microsoft SQL Server 2005 has the nerve to read "Disk Cost" instead of "Disk Space Requirement" like it always used to. (do they want CEOs to install this stuff now?! And they're worse than end users...) On an 80GB drive, using 3GB is nothing.

I've had no problems with online buying... but I haven't done so in a couple of years apart from DVDs.

But corporations have lost their human side. They're, in quite a few ways, as bloated and bureaucratic as government itself. Heck, Big Government seems benign by comparison (and it isn't, I wholly agree with Republicans on that issue!!)

:hug: I am sorry for the hell you are having to go through.

HypnoToad!

I couldn't believe it... Sorry, but, I have a higher standard for
"blue" companies.

Just saying they're "blue" and I should give them the preference of
my business isn't enough. They have to *EARN* my business. Blue or
not.

All I told the lady on the phone was my first name. That's it. I explained the problem, she told me to take it to the Apple Store and then said she would make a note of the fact that the box had been tampered with. Then she said thank you and call back if you need anything else.

I said excuse me but how can you make a note of the shipping tampering when all you have is my FIRST NAME?? LOL

No I am NOT impressed with Apple Customer Service. Not in the least so far.

Well, maybe they have Caller I.D. linked up with their service calls.

Hmmm... But, I doubt it.

Sounds like a brush off to me... Besides how could they link the problem
to your equipment without a serial number?

She finally asked for my email address. But that was after she tried to say 'thanks for calling and have a nice day'.

At the immediate time there are no Apple gadgets to be had... They are totally
sold out. (At least where I am.)

The Standard Operating Procedure in modern times with electronic equipment isn't
repair... Repair costs more than replacement. So, they send out a new one. No problem, right?

Except there *aren't* any available. So, they put you off until more stock comes through.

A tough cookie for a child to swallow around Christmas, granted. But, if they were
honest with you maybe it would be easier to understand.

You're doing the right thing calling Customer Service... Being polite and firm.

Maybe when you call back and they start the "brush off" you should do what my
sweetheart does and say, "Well, if you aren't able to help me can you connect me
with someone who can?"

Makes sense that they should be able to swap the innards.

... believe it or not. The Christiana Mall store is very very helpful service wise.

I gave my wife an iPod Mini for Christmas this year, and we haven't had any problems with it yet. Good luck.

Spent 5 hours last night charging the thing and it wouldn't work. So I get up and call Apple as soon as they will answer the phone and then I went and woke the kid up and told him to box it all back up and I want him to go with me to the Apple store. So he reluctantly gets out of bed.

Now he just came in and said "Mom it's fine now."

I still think we should take it down there and have them look at it. It was opened in shipping! I just don't feel right about this.

They're shipped uncharged and can take 8 hours to power up. Try restoring the software.

That was our SECOND problem. First was the missing celophane wrapping.

But I guess we can use the CD that came with his brother's iPod.

8 hours? That makes sense. The directions said 3 hours.

If this was OPEN when you got it, it must have been done in shipping. I have been buying iPods from Apple for years, and they arrive sealed. I have NEVER had an opened product come to me. I am wondering if it was opened at FedEx?

Regarding your "charging" issue. It sounds to me more like the thing just needs to be reset; This can be done with a combination of pressing the center button, and pushing the click-wheel up to, I believe, "menu" and holding for about five seconds. The iPod will reboot.

If it is not responding to keypresses, ie. not waking up, it could be that you have the hold switch in the Hold position, which will make the keys and click wheel not respond. The hold button makes it so the thing isn't inadvertedly turned on when not in use, disabling the keys. It would for all intents and purposes, appear to not work, because it isn't charged.

Fortunately, it was within the 90 day return period before it went
belly-up.

Wouldn't reboot...

So, I took it back for a refund due to the fact they were sold out
before Christmas.

( :scared: I'm thinking Apple(tm) is in for a flood of complaints in
say... 65 days!)

My daughter is waiting 'till after the holidays to buy/replace her
Nano.

I'm trying to talk her into buying something *sane*... Like a PSP. ;)

Sorry it's yours, but what do you expect them to do?

If it was a custom engraved Xmas present, don't order at the very last minute

Like mine did.

I realize this may sound strange to you , but I expect them to ship me a quality product THE FIRST TIME. That's what I expect them to do.

And some of us have to scrimp and save to have the money to buy XMas presents. So ordering way ahead of time is kinda tough.

:thumbsup:

Apparently everyone in the state is out of iPods. Who da thunk? I know, I know, it is of my own making as I should have started earlier. I finally found a shop that was not sold out--about 100 miles from my house. God Heavens, what we do for our kids.

* using 411 to call every electronic store on the west coast: 75.00
* driving 100 miles to pick up the only IPod left in the state 30.00
* the stress of fearing my daughter's only Christmas present
would be a plastic McDonald' furbee: priceless

What a bummer.

This whole battery thing... I thought it was resolved.

:sarcasm:

I'd look into it. Google "iPod class action battery suit" or something, and see what's up. There may be some useful info regarding returns, etc.

Apple settles iPod battery class action suit

By Peter Cohen pcohen@maccentral.com

Apple has agreed to settle a class action suit filed against it by owners of iPods who say the company misrepresented the capabilities of the iPod’s built-in rechargeable battery. Apple is offering a US$50 coupon and extended warranties to consumers who can produce a receipt. The plan is expected to receive final approval before a federal judge in August, but the details are already in place.

Apple first released the iPod in the fall of 2001. By 2003, several plantiffs had filed suit against Apple alleging that the iPod did not have the battery life Apple represented in advertising and promotional material, and that the battery’s capacity to hold a charge diminished substantially over time.

Apple has denied the plantiffs’ claims, but has agreed to a settlement that provides iPod owners with proofs of purchase with one of several possible remedies: A store credit, voucher, partial compensation for a battery replacement if one has been made already, or extended warranty coverage — depending on the age of the iPod and the particular circumstances.

The settlement covers owners of first, second or third-generation iPods who purchased their devices before May 31, 2004. For third-generation iPod owners, Apple is extending the one-year warranty for a second year. Third-generation iPod owners who submit a claim can either get their battery replaced for free or get a store credit for $50, that can be redeemed at the Apple Store online or at kiosks at brick-and-mortar Apple Store locations.

more . . .
http://playlistmag.com/news/2005/06/02/ipodsuit/index.php

Who needs an electronic gadget engraved with their name? But of course it makes it more 'special' so of course people take the company up on it. And then, of course, said engraved item CANNOT BE RETURNED.

Wow...if all companies offered engraved goods, returns would become a thing of the past.

Think about a bunch of kids who all have exactly the same iPod. The only way to tell them apart is by some sort of marking. Also, it makes it less valuable to would be thieves - less sellable.

Think of it as a high tech way of your mom sewing your name in the collar of your jacket.

Something that wouldn't permanently deface the item.

We engrave EVERYTHING.

When my youngest was about 5, he got a brand new bike for his birthday. Less than a week later, he laid it down in the front yard and ran in the house to use the bathroom. When he got back, his bike was gone.

One of the neighbor kids came over and told us he saw a kid take it and knew where he lived. So we hopped in the car, drove over to the next block and there was the thief riding Jeff's bike. My husband and I got out of the car and asked the kid where he got the bike. He said his mom just bought it for him. About that time, Mom comes out of the house and starts yelling at us for hassling her kid. She is holding her cordless phone, yelling that she is dialing 911.

So my husband picks up the bike, turns it over and finds the spot where he had engraved Jeff's name. He tells her go ahead and call 911, save me the trouble of calling myself to report your kid for stealing my kid's bike.

The cops were very amused.

They also told us they RARELY solve stolen bike cases because very few parents think to record the serial number or to engrave their name on it.

So yes, we engrave EVERYTHING.

It'll be obsolete soon anyway

If they are defective, they will be replaced even if they are engraved. You just can't return them if you decide you don't like it or don't want it.

And hope that no one else has the same name, I guess.

The iPod is THE hot item this year, and everyone is scrambling to get one. It's possible that the demand is pushing Apple a little hard, and that they are having trouble keeping up with it.

However, you are dealing with a triumverate that always has the possiblity of causing stress: technology, shipping, and Christmas.

My advice to you is this: stay calm, and don't go in there guns-a-blazing pissed off. There really is no point in that, and there is no call for treating customer service people like shit. Talk to them nicely, explain your situation calmly, and the problem will get taken care of.

Apple has excellent customer service - I've been dealing with them for 20 years, and every issue I've ever had with a product has been resolved to my satisfaction. You just have to stay calm and let them help you to figure out the problem.

But do exchange it. There is no reason that you should have to keep an item that arrived to you damaged. Unfortunately you will have to decide how important it is to you to have it engraved. I'm not aware that they can do that on-site, so you may have to wait for it if you really want the engraving.

Sorry to hear your troubles, but it will work out if you just work with them and not against them. They really are there to help you. I know from experience. You're not dealing with WalMart here. Don't treat them like the enemy and they won't be one.

Good luck! :toast:

I have purchased several Apple computers. Usually their customer service is wonderful.

I wouldn't wish the Plaza on Christmas Eve on my worst enemy. You have my sympathies.

The iPod seems to be working fine now. But I will take it to the Plaza store next week if we have any more problems.

Next week will be a mess too w/ all the returns.

The first one that Apple sent me was damn bad . None of my music played clearly , it would always scripted . I also want to add that my ipod is also engraved . So I went to the Apple website , filled on the form .The next day they sent me a shipping container , I called DHL shipping services to pick my faulty ipod up - they picked up within 2 hours of me contacting them . My ipod got to the Apple place and within 48 hours of me sending the first one back , I got a brand new ipod with the same free engravings that I had on the first one in my hands for me to enjoy . Sorry that your experience with apple was'nt good .

phew

I now have all toes and fingers crossed hoping it goes OK.
We have an Apple store in town that we got it from the other day so at least I will get to see someone in person if things go wrong. Of course, that means that they will tell me in person to "ship it back".
:scared:

All of them worked fine out of the box. I have one (original 5 Gig) that still works. People don't bitch about working products. Apple has sold 30 million of the damn things. The odds of yours working well are good.

and you know she will be excited.

The other iPod charged up fine, same usb port.

I will bet that your issue may just require a hardware reset, or a reinstall of the iPod firmware. Did your tech support call go over that with you? If not, why don't you contact me directly? Send me a message to my account, and I will give you my email address and phone number.

And regarding the battery class-action suit. That was something from a previous generation iPod, because users seemed to think that iPod batteries were a magical variation on the lithium ion battery that DIDN'T die after so many recharge cycles. They didn't want to send them back for Apple to charge them to put a new lithium ion battery in the thing after a couple of years of use.

but I will keep you in mind if we have any more problems.

No tech support did not go over this with me. She wanted me to fill out some form and send it in, then they would send me a box to send it back to Apple.

Thank you very much for your kind offer.

Merry Christmas! :hi:

No questions...special delivery...very special.

That is very encouraging.

I didn't think about charging the battery. I guess it will take another day before my daughter gets to us it.

One of them charged in two hours. The other took 8 hours.

connected it to her computer and it was fully charged in an hour. We were expecting a 3 hour charge time like the paperwork said but it was not even 1/2 that amount of time. Daughter re-read it and the instructions said "up to an hour" charge time.
The only tiny glitch was it was stuck on a "diagnostic" message..she re-booted the iPod and it started charging and downloading from her computer.

I know she will want to use her gift card ASAP.