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  1. Mmmmm, I thought I was doing well.

    I think my 20GB iPod SE is busted. I can get it to switch on - the Apple logo appears, and then boom (no, it doesn't explode) - keeps telling me to go to www.apple.com/support/ipod. So I went there and of course, it's out of warranty. So I went to check their prices for repairs.

    http://www.apple.com/au/support/ipod/service/faq/

    ==============================================================================

    Yes, these are the Australian prices. I have a Before Fifth Generation by the way.

    iPod (Before Fifth Generation) $369
    30 GB (Fifth Generation with video) $189
    30 GB (Fifth Generation with video, U2 Edition)
    60 GB (Fifth Generation with video) $219
    80 GB (Fifth Generation with video) $259

    ==============================================================================

    Now I ca't hear spinning up/down of the hard drive or even a whir or clicking which it usually does. It goes into Diagnostic Mode and that's it. The hard drive returns an error or in Diagnostic Terms - 9rror! Could the drive have come loose inside or something or I've damaged it? The iPod doesn't mount, show in iTunes or whatever or even in My Computer. I'm also doubting Apple will help because they are not all that helpful when it comes to punch.

    Can anyone suggest a solution? Because I'm stuffed on it or is it worth just buying a new one at those prices because the actual entire thing cost only $400. And also, here's the support coverage in case you're interested.

    ==============================================================================

    About Your Support Coverage
    About your Apple product

    iPod U2 Special Edition (20 GB)
    Our records indicate that your estimated date of purchase was 26-Dec-04.

    Based on this data, your product is not covered for service. However, depending on when or whether you registered your product, if you purchased it from an Apple authorized reseller, or purchased an iPod shuffle from the online Apple Store, the estimated purchase date may be incorrect.
  2. You bought it in 2004? We in Holland have a law that gets us always warranty on a product if it is dead before the average lifetime of the product. An iPod for example should go on for at least 3 years so we can have a right for a free repair within 3 years, even if you 'bought' 2 years warranty.

    And pressing and holding the menu + middle button together doesn't work either does it?

    Looks like your harddisk is broke, that's what such an error usually indicates.
  3. Is that right? Hopefully the Australian laws are similar.

    The Middle + Menu buttons don't work, that's what I've tried. Diagnostic Mode (hold Middle and Back together) works but no hard drive is detected or it returns numerous errors. Currently it's a little sad face.

    These are the icons I have gotten tonight...



    Sad Face



    Folder Icon



    Do Not Disconnect



    Battery Icon
  4. Originally posted by RemyYou bought it in 2004? We in Holland have a law that gets us always warranty on a product if it is dead before the average lifetime of the product. An iPod for example should go on for at least 3 years so we can have a right for a free repair within 3 years, even if you 'bought' 2 years warranty.


    Just as a question, what is that law called?
  5. Originally posted by drewhiggins[..]

    Just as a question, what is that law called?



    Don't know exactly, long time ago I used it. My laptop didn't work properly so I went to the company I bought it from, they claimed my warranty was expired, I had one year warranty and the laptop was broke after 2 years.

    So I looked it up on the internet after some advice from a friend and sent the company copies of the related articles in the lawbook. They couldn't do anything else but to repair my laptop without charging me anything because you can expect that a laptop should work for at least 3 years, the average lifetime is something like that.

    You Australians also must have Google
  6. shit one drew. I had the same problem but luckily I was in warranty and apple do perform well if you are under warranty. 2 and a half years is a pretty good span for an ipod if your asking me. More than I got out of my 20GB 4th Gen. My advice would be to blow the lot on a new one if the repair costs are that astronomical.

    Google ipod forums, lots of fans are glad to be help and they have all sorts of tricks for you try (hold this button with this button etc). Could be worth a try
  7. You'd expect a computer to work for five years minimum.

    There's no sound coming from the drive at all, it turns on and that's it. But I will pop down there on Saturday when I'm not at an appointment and get them to take a look, see if they can do something - I was told this model had five years life, not just over three.

    The warranty prices are ridiculous - hopefully the store will be good enough to replace it.
  8. 5 years is very optomistic for an ipod. I'm sure they'l offer some advice. God I hate when things break. (My 3 ipods and my dvd drive)
  9. Here's the full, unedited email I have sent them.

    ==========================================================================


    I would like you to read this email in full, and take note from it.

    I have purchased a U2 iPod 4G model eight months ago (despite Apple telling me 26 December 2004 at www.apple.com/support), and I seem to be getting no sounds from the hard drive. As it is when there is a problem, the drive usually spins up and down and if there is a problem at least it will click. But there is no sound and I am not sure of why it does this, and I recieve all manner of icons on the screen. I would like some assistance, and I have tried the 5 Rs and updating my software, yet to no avail.


    The Trade Practices Act says that a 'consumer' is a person (including a corporation) who acquires:
    • any other type of goods or services costing $40 000 or less


    I would like to know what are my legal rights in order to recieving a replacement of either the iPod, the drive (a 20GB Toshiba according to online specifications) or something similar as I don't feel that if a product has decided to go before its rightful life (in this case I was told numerous times of five years) in which time I have had a computer hard drive last longer, many computer parts I have left in static bags have lasted twice as long over ten years - that I am able to recieve a replacement on the model for reasons of poor workmanship. As I have also been told this model can no longer be sourced throughout Australia because it was a Limited Edition, this is another reason, as well as a contributing factor of $359 to replace it, I would like to know how can I source a new version a little cheaper than those stupidly ridiculous prices.


    What is regarded as reasonably available will vary depending, for example, on the nature of the product and its expected useful life.There is no minimum statutory period for a manufacturer or importer to provide facilities and spare parts for repair.



    Is it not too much to ask if I am able to at least get it looked at before being fobbed off and told that a new model would be the way to go? Is it not too much to ask if I am told of a reasonable length of time for a decent working life and the product no longer works? Is it not too much to ask that a warranty of three years, rather than one year - which I am sure you agree is way too short for most as many people have serious hardware issues - is implied for those who purchase these products, only to be tossed out after twelve months of paying good money to have something which refuses to ever work. You do an Internet search and see the numerous problems associated with this product. It's been happening since 2001 when the iPod was first released, surely that must mean something is wrong? After 2 in 4 iPods breaking and failing consistently, this is a sign of poor workmanship.

    I refuse to pay $359 for something when the actual thing itself cost just over $400. This seems like a real joke, and one that many people are not aware of, in which cases they should be, written clearly in the back of the book. I see also that it isn't easy to source replacement parts, which seems to me that Apple want to make it three steps harder than it is to source parts in order to make more money, no doubt.

    Apple consistently tells me one thing, yet if I go off to Apple.com.au and check it is ONE YEAR FOR WARRANTY, not FIVE YEARS. So who should be to blame here for inconsistency of service or blurring the lines between one thing and another? Apple, poor lifespan or poor service? I would like the reciever of this email to pass it to the most senior head of management of either your company or Apple themselves and make it known how ridiculous this warranty period is. I have also passed this email onto other companies in order to recieve a response from one.

    If in any way you can assist me I will be truly grateful. Please give me your advice on how to go about getting replacements and I will not appreciate an auto-reply. I would like a real reply from a real person as soon as possible - and I have kept this email as a receipt of my enquiry so I can prove I sent it. If I don't recieve a reply I will be bringing it in as well as the iPod so you can see what I am talking about.

    Yours Faithfully
    Drew Higgins
  10. man I love you (not in a homosexual way). Every word of that is solid hard fact and truth. I'd love to add my name to that
  11. Nice one Drew. Let us know what you get out of it.
  12. If I buy something that stops working before the EOL (end-of-life) period it should work, right?