iPod Apple iPod Battery Replacement Now Only $59

[pubwvj]

This is a HUGE reason I don't want an iPod.
They are very nice MP3 players but I don't want to be stuck
with Apple's non-user-changeable battery. I have had a Nomad
MP3 player for a long time (5 years?) and I use rechargeable
batteries in it. The base station for it recharges the batteries,
or I can simply swap in a new set which were charged in my
dedicated battery charger. It uses the same AAA batteries used
in my clock, in my timer, in my Handspring PDA, three other
MP3 players (All from Creative Labs) we have in the family, etc.
This makes it easy and simple. It also avoids Apple's outragiously
expensive battery change. For $59 I can buy a _LOT_ of AAA
rechargeable batteries of the highest grade.

Apple needs to use standard batteries and let users change them
easily themselves (yes, I know how to crack the case - not easy).

 

[admanimal]

I am unclear about something: is the replacement iPod they give you of the same model or the latest model. I.e., if I send in my 20GB 3G, will I get a 3G replacement or a 4G (or whatever G the new 20G color one is)?

 

[ham_man]

This definately a good thing, as I am in the market for a new battery, because the one on my 3rd generation seems just about shot and I have been looking at getting a new batterty. However, a 60 gig iPod is looking mighty tempting right about now. Decisions, decisions...

 

[michaelb]

http://www.apple.com/au/support/ipod/service/battery.html

The price in Australia is $147.40 AUD.

(I don't know if that has changed because until this story I didn't know it existed.)

Adding GST to the converted US price suggests it should be closer to $89 AUD, or at least under $100.

<cough>ripoff</cough>

 

[Xtremehkr]

$59 is still not exactly a deal for a battery. If my iPod battery dies anytime soon I am going to be seriously disappointed. I have talked to plenty of people at the Genius Bar though and it seems that people rarely have to pay to replace the battery since it is supposed to last the lifetime of the product.

 

[advocate]

I think I might need to get mine replaced too. Battery is down to about 4 hours and the drive constantly spins up and makes a clicking noise. Luckily I have the iPod Apple Care. Hope they give me a new one.

Try a Software Restore. Since you change out lots of files of similar small size very often and all the way up to capacity, iPod drives tend to get fragmented badly. That leads to hard drive clicking (all the seeking it has to do just to get one file) and short battery life (hard drive stays spun up longer). Software Restore wipes the drive so you'll get a fresh start the next time you update it in iTunes.

 

[advocate]

Apple needs to use standard batteries and let users change them easily themselves (yes, I know how to crack the case - not easy).

Um, what standard size rechargeable battery is smaller than an iPod mini?

 

[Plecky]

I personally have no problem with apple using li-ion batteries, but I do agree they should try to redesign upcoming generations of the iPod with easy user-changable batteries, if they can do it on their laptops, I don't see why they can't on their ipods. I could even care less about paying 40-50 bucks for a spare, just so long that I don't have to send it into Apple and wait 1-3 weeks for them to change it, or use method that wouldn't be extremly easy for me to use to change the battery in my mini. I can easily change the battery on apple's laptops, if they made smaller batteries for their small digital music players - even with decreased life, the option to carry 2 could easily increase battery. Not only would this help to change a depreciated/dead battery easily yourself, but if you wanted to carry a spare - also easily done. That was one of the factors that HEAVILY had me considoring a zen micro or something else then a iPod mini, but I figured 18+ non-removable battery would cut it and i wanted the itunes compatibility. That being said, I'd love to be able to carry a spare ipod mini battery that i could change easily myself whenever. I carry a spare for my laptop just incase, why can't i carry a spare for my ipod as well? If they can incorporate it into their laptops, I dare them to incorporate them into their music players too! No wait, I DOUBLE dare them like mark summers and the physical challenge

 

[watcher2001]

Sorry to rain on the parade, but there's still the shipping cost:

"How much does it cost to participate in the program?
The program costs $59, plus $6.95 shipping. The total program cost is $65.95 per unit."

Too bad you can't just get a "swap" at an Apple Store.

Still a lot better than $105.95

 

[crackrock]

ipod battery settlement

Today I filled out the form for the ipod battery replacements and sent it in. I have a 3g ipod that I purchased on April 8th, 2004. I use it daily on my commute to and from work and for walks, and charge it every day.

I just did the test (let it run on repeat with one album selected with the headphones plugged in) and battery life for me is just under 4 hours, so I am eligible for a free replacement battery. When I bought the ipod it was advertised with having 8 hour battery life, so I rightfully deserve a replacement, & on the form I selected that I want a replacement battery.

$50 would be nice, but I'd honestly rather have 8 hours of battery life again.

I'd like a brand new iPod (mine is scratched to hell), but it is a 15 gig and they don't manufacture those anymore so I'm expecting to just have the battery replaced. It would be a lot cheaper for apple to replace just one component out of all those iPods than everything so I imagine not too many people are going to get new iPods out of this.

That's cool with me, the 3g still works fine. They now have shuffle an option, and it supports podcats. As long as they don't completely abandon the 3gs with compatibility I'm ok with it.

I am a little disgruntled that they don't pay for shipping with the battery replacement, so with battery replacements now at $59 it's about equal to the $50 they are going to be giving out to people. It's going to cost me about $9 to ship my iPod to apple and back.

Still I'd be very happy if I actually got 8 hours of battery life. I just don't know how well I'm going to handle being without my ipod for a couple of weeks while apple replaces it. I imagine hundreds of thousands of people are going to send in their ipods for new batteries so it's going to take a while for apple to replace them all.

 

[~Shard~]

I have a 3g ipod that I purchased on April 8th, 2004.
...

When I bought the ipod it was advertised with having 8 hour battery life, so I rightfully deserve a replacement, & on the form I selected that I want a replacement battery.

I'm sorry to hear about your experience. I purchased my 3G iPod at almost the exact same time (April 16, 2004) and have been nothing but pleased with it. It still gives me 8 hours of battery life (just tested it again 2 weeks ago) and I have had no issues with it. I hope your experience with Apple in getting the battery replaced is a good one, as the whole ordeal must be frustrating.

 

[appleupnorth]

Oops

Try a Software Restore. Since you change out lots of files of similar small size very often and all the way up to capacity, iPod drives tend to get fragmented badly. That leads to hard drive clicking (all the seeking it has to do just to get one file) and short battery life (hard drive stays spun up longer). Software Restore wipes the drive so you'll get a fresh start the next time you update it in iTunes.

Software restore does not format the iPod. For a full erase - the people at the Apple store, used Disk Utility, Partition the drive into 2, then un-partition-
back down to one. This "Apparently" does the erase better than in Windows (Erasing) or in Mac (Erasing) - after they did that, the clicking went away, no problems.

But for a fact - Software Restore does nothing but erase the directory structure- it does not erase the data, that could be causing the issue.

 

[lelereb]

The price reduction is wellcome, but I dislike the idea of a device without a user changeable battery.

 

[froggy]

Unless your in the UK

...where apple is charging $151.59 based upon todays exchange rate!

It would seem that Applpe deems all people outside the US as complete idiots, and likes ripping them off.
Upon asking them why they charged more in Europe for all their products, even though they are made inn Ireland, the answer was because less people purchased Apple products.... hhmmm I wonder why?

 

[Doctor Q]

...where apple is charging $151.59 based upon todays exchange rate!

It would seem that Applpe deems all people outside the US as complete idiots, and likes ripping them off.
Upon asking them why they charged more in Europe for all their products, even though they are made inn Ireland, the answer was because less people purchased Apple products.... hhmmm I wonder why?

I'd be annoyed for the higher prices too, but wouldn't you assume that Apple, like any other business, wants to optimize sales, subject to customer demand, economies of scale, and competition? Supply and demand probably have more to do with prices than a "rip off" mentality.

Edit: semi-related news story

 

[ham_man]

On the subject of iPod battery replacements, I just got an interesting letter from Apple. It is offering a free battery replacement or a $50 Apple Store gift card as the result of a cass action lawsuit, if my battery only runs for under 4 hours (which it does). Just curious, but have first, second or third genners recieved this notice?

 

[froggy]

I'd be annoyed for the higher prices too, but wouldn't you assume that Apple, like any other business, wants to optimize sales, subject to customer demand, economies of scale, and competition?

You have a point, but this is not a sale, this is Customer satisfaction (after sales) I've already purchased the iPod, and the difference between here, and say South Africa, is indeed that the machine meant for Europe, are built in Ireland! And repaired in Ireland, we also pay much more for iTunes tracks in the UK, the reason quoted for this was tax.
If the internet is to survive and work as it was supposed to do, then a slightly more "Global" approach might be needed by the various companies that use and make millions of dollars from these internet outlets.
For example, why can't you purchase a track from a German store if your regsitered in the UK? Or for that matter buy a track from the US store, after all you can access them, what's the point of that?
Sorry I understand that there are certain economic "bottom lines" that need to be met, but there is also a LOT of short sightness upon many of the comapnies that operate today, but on this particular forum the company we talk about is Apple.
I for one, would like to see some data on how much is kit is sold in the various countries and how much those individual countries pay above the dollar rate, this would clear things up once and for all.

 

[crackrock]

...where apple is charging $151.59 based upon todays exchange rate!

Eh... huh? Looks like with todays exchange rate it's only 33 L's.

 

[tny]

Eh... huh? Looks like with todays exchange rate it's only 33 L's.

Go to the UK Apple Store, look at the price in pounds sterling, and convert that to dollars. Though I can't get the UK Store (from the US), I'm getting the "be right back" message. Is something up today?

 

[aboutthat]

Under warranty, but not free?

OK: nevermind lol.

I need some quick help: my iPod went in two days ago, the battery failed and I just got a call saying that it was fixed. It's still under the original one-year warranty (for a few days yet), but they're saying that it costs me $29 bucks for the repair. I'm not quite sure how this makes sense, I thought that since it was still warrantied, this would be free. Any advice? I'm heading out to pick it up later tonight (like, uber-soon) and wanted to get some ammo before I go out. Thanks!