Warning: Ordered iPod direct from Apple - got empty box

[emptybox]

I ordered a new iPod Video direct from Apple using their online ordering system. I also ordered a couple of accessories with the iPod. Our UPS guy handed me two boxes from Apple tday. I opened the top box and it had my accessories. When I picked up the second box I immediately knew something was wrong. I opened it and there was brown packing paper inside but NO IPOD! Apple shipped me an empty box with nothing but brown wrapping paper in it!

The tape on the bottom of the box appears to have been tampered with. It looks as if someone removed the tape and retaped the box. How they knew which box had the iPod in it though is a mystery. My invoice clearly states that there was supposed to be an iPod in one of the boxes.

The most alarming thing about this is that this is the 2nd time this has happened to me! I ordered an iPod nano the week before Valentines Day and recieved a single box with the extras I ordered but no iPod nano! That box was definitely NOT tampered with as I examined it very carefully. Apple did send me an iPod after they called me back but it took several days and I didn't have the iPod for Valentine's.

I have already called Apple and reported today's problem but until they fix whatever is going wrong I strongly suggest you

DO NOT ORDER AN IPOD FROM THE APPLE STORE ONLINE!

$300 is way too much to pay for an empy box!

 

[WildCowboy]

Clearly this UPS's issue...they need to make things right. Apple did not ship you an empty box.

 

[Heb1228]

LOL.. Yeah. Sorry for your trouble man, but warning people not to buy from the Apple store because of this is pretty funny.

I just got my MacBook Pro box and there was no computer in it!!!! What a ripoff!!!!

 

[SilentPanda]

Are you sure you didn't order an Invisa? I hear those are REALLY small.

Apple must really have it in for you. In which case... they haven't had it in for me with the 4 iPods I've purchased from them. So don't place an order as "emptybox". Place it as "Silentpanda". You're guaranteed to get one.

Just because somebody (Apple, UPS, or whoever) messed up it doesn't mean they are shipping out empty boxes to people. Get a grip on reality.

 

[emptybox]

I don't think it's UPS's fault.

I order lots of stuff from UPS and I also send out maybe 3-4 packages a week by UPS and I have never, ever had a loss reported with UPS. When I ordered the iPod nano the box was absolutely perfect! No tampering at all - and I examinde it very carefully. Although this box does look to be tampede with that could also be a ploy to send the dogs off the scent.
It is just too coincidental that only my UPS shipments from Apple and nobody aelse are affected.

 

[ChrisBrightwell]

Clearly this UPS's issue...they need to make things right. Apple did not ship you an empty box.

I suspect Apple has insurance on those sorts of shipments.

I recently shipped an iPod mini back to Apple (via DHL) for a battery replacement. The box got there on time, but the iPod found a new home somewhere. Apple's working on it, and have said they will either find it or replace it, but it's still a big pain in the ass.

 

[emptybox]

When I reported the first empty box to Apple their attitude was like "well, yes they are very popular", as if to confirm this happens all the time.

I can understand this hapening once but after today I think Apple has a real problem somewhere on their end. I can't be the only one affected and Apple should be doing something about this instead of just shrugging it off. I mean they didn't even ask for the box back (which could be checked for fingerprints).

When I reported it today the girl on the phone suggested I could order another one and get it sent out overnight. I almost replied: Another what? Another empty box?


A simple solution on Apple's part would be just to make the iPod boxes bigger again like the old cube sized boxes. They could even ship a free Apple cup holder with the iPod. Just an idea but at least they should do something!

 

[WildCowboy]

A simple solution on Apple's part would be just to make the iPod boxes bigger again like the old cube sized boxes. They could even ship a free Apple cup holder with the iPod. Just an idea but at least they should do something!

Because people can't tamper with bigger boxes?

 

[GilGrissom]

Are you sure you didn't order an Invisa? I hear those are REALLY small.

Damit!...you beat me to it!!

But ye, sounds like there is an extra UPS guy out there with a nice new iPod!

 

[emptybox]

They are shipping empty boxes!

Just because somebody (Apple, UPS, or whoever) messed up it doesn't mean they are shipping out empty boxes to people. Get a grip on reality.

- but Apple IS shipping empty boxes and that's the reality.

BTW - I live in San Diego too so if you order an iPod from Apple online and get an empty box - well, you've been warned! Something in the Apple -> San DIego supply chain is very wrong

 

[TheDulcimer]

You said you use UPS all the time, but do you normally buy things that are worth more than $300? or at least ALL the time?

I'm not saying it COULDN'T be on apple's end, but i would believe that a UPS man might rip off a few ipods in his life time, seeing how you can sell it on ebay for over the apple.com price.

-The Dulcimer-

UPDATE: You Said "BTW - I live in San Diego too so if you order an iPod from Apple online and get an empty box - well, you've been warned! Something in the Apple -> San DIego supply chain is very wrong"

iPods come from Hong Kong China, sorry to bust your bubble about it being a San Diego thing.

 

[Flowbee]

It is just too coincidental that only my UPS shipments from Apple and nobody aelse are affected.

iPods are in demand and very easy to sell for quick cash. I'm not saying it's impossible that an iPod box was accidentally shipped without an iPod in it, but obvously Apple isn't doing this to intentionally rip off customers. The more likely explanation is that someone at your local UPS station is stealing iPods.

 

[emptybox]

Stop blaming UPS

But ye, sounds like there is an extra UPS guy out there with a nice new iPod!

I have handed over stuff worth over a thousand dollars to my UPS guy and I've never had a loss. I've never had anything not arrive by UPS except the iPods I ordered from Apple.

...and no, there was no invisa iPod in the box, I checked the invoice.

 

[Josh]

Well, I've heard of this sort of thing before. PowerMac boxes filled with bags of dirt/potatos, etc.

But it is interesting that it has happened to you more than once in a relatively short time.

Considering that the same folks load the trucks at a certain UPS dock through the route from Apple to you, and that the same drivers likely make the trip from the closest UPS store to you, it very well could be a mischievious UPS employee in that loop.

Might be something to make them aware of.

 

[emptybox]

iPods are in demand and very easy to sell for quick cash. I'm not saying it's impossible that an iPod box was accidentally shipped without an iPod in it, but obvously Apple isn't doing this to intentionally rip off customers. The more likely explanation is that someone at your local UPS station is stealing iPods.

I think it's more likely someone(s) at Apple and not UPS. That's why I'm warning people.

Well, I've heard of this sort of thing before. PowerMac boxes filled with bags of dirt/potoatoes, etc.

But it is interesting that it has happened to you more than once in a relatively short time.

Considering that the same folks load the trucks at a certain UPS dock through the route from Apple to you, and that the same drivers likely make the trip from the closest UPS store to you, it very well could be a mischievious UPS employee in that loop.

That's what I would've thought except that the first iPod order for the nano came with a box that was immaculate. There was no way that box had been opened since it left where it was shipped from and the label was intact too.

 

[TheDulcimer]

I think it's more likely someone(s) at Apple and not UPS. That's why I'm warning people.

I'm sorry but you are on a freaking MAC rumors site, and you are attacking apple and not even considering it would be ANYONE else in the world.

-The Dulcimer-

 

[Josh]

I think it's more likely someone(s) at Apple and not UPS. That's why I'm warning people.

Nah, definitely not more likely. If that were the case, these sort of things would be more common. This kind of post is VERY rare here.

It has happened to one specific person in a breif period of time. I highly doubt an Apple employee is targetting your boxes, out to get your stuff.

The frequency in which it happened to one specific person greatly turns the blame towards UPS and one specific area.

 

[GilGrissom]

I have handed over stuff worth over a thousand dollars to my UPS guy and I've never had a loss. I've never had anything not arrive by UPS except the iPods I ordered from Apple.

...and no, there was no invisa iPod in the box, I checked the invoice.

Hmmm...is a strange one. May not be the UPS guy you see...the box obviously passes lots of little tampering hands along the way.

With the shear number of iPods being shipped I guess it's quite easy for a little mini trade to happen in nabbing them. At the same time with the shear number I guess it's easy for someone at Apple to "forget"(?) to put the iPod in the delivery box? Or nab it themselves?

Maybe it was a free discrete upgrade to the invisa...and it wasn't on the invoice??!

 

[emptybox]

No because..

Because people can't tamper with bigger boxes?

No because people can't slip a bigger box under their shirt or in their big pants like they can with a slim iPod nano box.

 

[ChrisBrightwell]

I think it's more likely someone(s) at Apple and not UPS. That's why I'm warning people.

I somehow doubt it, but to each his own.

 

[Applespider]

I think it's more likely someone(s) at Apple and not UPS. That's why I'm warning people.

Rubbish... the fact that at least one of the boxes was tampered with puts a lot more likelihood of it happening during shipping than at the factory.

And you've had this happen before? I'm sorry but if I'd had one iPod not arrive; I wouldn't have signed for the next one without opening it up to be sure it was there. One might be bad luck; two, nope.

I wonder if Apple will replace this one too and then blacklist your address. I know that if one of my customers kept ordering things that turned up empty, I'd stop shipping to that address.

 

[emptybox]

Why???

I somehow doubt it, but to each his own.

Are the people working for Apple packing boxes more honest than people working for UPS? I read recently that a job at UPS is now considered one of the best blue collar jobs out there. They make bgood money adn have great benefits. I doubt a UPS guy/gal would risk losing all that.

I still say this smells like an inside job.

 

[TheDulcimer]

Are the people working for Apple packing boxes more honest than people working for UPS? I read recently that a job at UPS is now considered one of the best blue collar jobs out there. They make bgood money adn have great benefits. I doubt a UPS guy/gal would risk losing all that.

I still say this smells like an inside job.

You misunerstand what everyone is telling you. here it is plain and simple: Apple ships ipods from china by the millions, the odds that you, not you and someone else across the country, just you would get ripped more than once is worse than me and you winning the lottery tomorrow. The odds of someone IN your closer area stealing it (it wouldn't have to be a ups person, it could be anyone that walks into the ups place for a tour (i'm gonna try that now)) go up very quickly.

-The Dulcimer-

 

[emptybox]

And you've had this happen before? I'm sorry but if I'd had one iPod not arrive; I wouldn't have signed for the next one without opening it up to be sure it was there. One might be bad luck; two, nope.

Yes, that's exactly what I had planned to do, open the boxes at the door. Unfortunatelly, when the UPS guy arrived today he had three boxes for me and handed them to me in a stack so I didn't notice that one of them was obviously empty.

Another thing- the boxes did not say "Apple" on them like they usually do. The address said "ACI". Since I had ordered several thing online this week I didn't expect that these were the shipment from Apple. I was also standing at the door in my PJ's and it was cold so I was anxious to close the door.

I wonder if Apple will replace this one too and then blacklist your address. I know that if one of my customers kept ordering things that turned up empty, I'd stop shipping to that address.

I ship stuff out to customers all the time and that's what I'd do. The fact that Apple is so casual about this makes me think it's happening all over.

 

[TheDulcimer]

... The fact that Apple is so casual about this makes me think it's happening all over.

I could be wrong (anyone please correct me if i'm wrong) but i believe apple is casual about EVERYTHING, thats what makes them better than everyone else (again i could be wrong).

-The Dulcimer-