Charlie gave her 4th gen iPod to Geek Squad for warranty repair. They promised her a new iPod in return. Instead, she received an iPod with a sad face screen. When she shook it, its hard drive rattled around. There was a ding in the side. The back of the iPod was buffed shiny, so much so you couldn’t hardly see the iPod logo. When she took it back to the store, she says they were kinda obnoxious to her. The iPod is sent away again, but her hopes are not high.
warranties
Great Customer Service From IBM (Lenovo)?
By 4.30.07
Dubner over at Freakonomics was distraught at the idea of sending his beloved laptop away to IBM for warranty repair, but since neither Geek Squad nor any of the IBM recommended vendors were up to the task, he reluctantly agreed.
Products Are Designed To Break So You Will Buy Another One
By 4.10.07
Stay Free! has an interview with Giles Slade, author of Made to Break: Technology and Obsolescence in America.
UPDATE: Apple: No, You Can't Have Your Data Back, We're Keeping It
By 4.10.07
Perhaps you recall Chris who had the “unrecoverable” hard drive that Apple wouldn’t let him keep? Chris was concerned that Apple was incorrect, and that the disk might in fact be recoverable by someone, and so he wanted it back. He asked nicely. He offered money. Sadly, nothing worked. Apple’s policy was to keep the disc. Chris could either get his new hard drive or his old one, but not both.
Above And Beyond: Etymotic Keeps The Music Flowing
By 3.24.07
Reader John’s $150 ER6i headphones broke over one month out of warranty. He sent Etymotic an email.
I have a pair of ER6i’s with a loose connection in the miniplug. They are out of warranty by a few weeks (I bought them from BH Photo Video February 2nd 2006). The sound to the left earplug goes completely out until I tweak the wire going into the miniplug a bit. What will be the cost of getting these repaired?
Etymotic’s surprising response, inside.
Clarification: Craftsman Lifetime Warranty Doesn't Apply To Rusty Tools
By 3.19.07
We asked Sears about their warranty policy on rusty Craftsman tools, and they said the life-time warranty doesn’t apply when the rust is cosmetic.
Above And Beyond: Home Warranty of America
By 3.18.07
We didn’t know homes had warranties, but according to Brad, they do, and they rock. Brad’s house came with a warranty provided by Home Warranty of America. He has used them three times, “and they’ve blown me away each time.” Brad’s heater “decided that heating just wasn’t its bag anymore.” A serviceman examined the heater and warned it would soon break. When it did finally quit, the serviceman wasn’t available, so Brad called Home Warranty of America.
[The] lady I spoke to not only sympathized with my plight, but actually had me hold on the phone while she looked up and called another service company to verify they could take care of me right away. Not 10 minutes after I got off the phone with HWA, I received a callback from the A/C service company, and they were at my house within the hour.
We might not caution against warranties if they all provided this level of exemplary service.
Best Buy: No Warranty? You Are Not A Valued Customer
By 3.18.07
A sleazy Best Buy salesman tried to scam Phil into buying a warranty. Phil was offered a “free warranty,” which may exist in Narnia, but not Best Buy. When Phil’s purchases were wrung up, he noticed the salesman scanning a warranty coupon with a gift card.
Apple Sends Reader 27 Warranties
By 3.11.07
Apple is sending Michael AppleCare warranties as fast as they’re churning out iPods. So far, he has received 27 warranties.
So i was wondering if anyone has run into the same apple care protection plan problem I did. Recently, I’ve been receiving certificates for items I didn’t even purchase, and just today, I received 27 of them in the mail. I called up Apple and they also thought it was pretty interesting. They said they’re going to look into it, so it’s now a matter of waiting.
Either there’s a bug in the Apple, or Michael is buying way too many Apple products in a misguided attempt to buoy AAPL’s stock price. Probably the former.
SOLVED: Olshan Foundation Repair's Warranty Not So Lifetime
By 3.1.07
After his complaint appeared on The Consumerist, Charles got a call from Olshan Foundation Repair Company. Now he appears to be on the sweet path to resolution.
Olshan Foundation Repair’s Warranty Not So Lifetime
By 1.24.07
Olshan Foundation Repair Company’s motto is “Fix it and Forget it.” In their Yellow Page ad these words emerge from Nolan Ryan’s mouth.
Help! Apple Denied My Class-Actioned iPod Battery Claim!
By 12.20.06
Apple hates fixing their bust-ass iPod batteries for free, even if a class action suit tells them to, but there may be a workaround.
XBOX Screams That Month Old Unit’s 90-Day Warranty Is Expired
By 12.11.06
Brent’s friend bought an XBOX in November with a 90-day warranty. It died. When he called the Bangalore based tech support, “Steve” told him:
In Case Of Nuclear Strike, Your Cellphone Insurance Is Void
By 10.29.06
Your cellphone is not insured against loss in a nuclear crisis or a warzone.
Ask The Consumerists: Can Hyundai Drive Over My Warranty?
By 10.20.06
Dennis wonders, (we’re paraphrasing here):
