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Should Apple recall the iPod Mini???

post #1 of 9
7/6/04 at 12:28am
Thread Starter 
I just did a bunch of reading in a few online "Boards", and read about about the iPod Mini Static issue....the conclusion that is hard for me not to have, is that it is only a matter of time before my iPod mini, and all Ipod minis, will evenually have the problem if they have not already done so. it seems that there is a 'hard' connection between the headphone jack and the circuit board...the connections other than the headphone jack connection uses a flexible wire, but that wire is not used with the headphone connection....when ones holds, and thereby slightly squeezes the slightly flexible aluminum case, that over time causes the inflexible headphone jack connection to go bad. So how tigtly one hold he case, and in general, how one hadnles the case, determines when it would eventually fail.

This brings me to the idea of "recall". There have in the past been products that were recalled before they actually failed...I for one have a car whos ignition was recalled because the ignition was not made durable enough, and they recalled it since it was prone to early failure...an example of a product that was recalled becasue of early prone to failure, and not actual post-failures.

So I ask the question of Apple, and all...should the iPod Mini be recalled? Apple officially is saying they are "looking into the matter". I think they should be recalled, some may dissagree. I know this for sure though without a doubt...I will be always wondering when my iPod Mini will fail in the future, and there is definitely something wrong about having to wonder that. It just is wrong.
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post #2 of 9
7/6/04 at 12:58am
I don't think there needs to be, as I've been as rough with my mini as most people could be and I haven't had the static issue. Most of the people who don't have problems don't post on boards, so take that into account.
If you look at the iriver board, you may think all the iriver products are defective, but that's not true either. I do think that the static problem is a major issue, but I take comfort in the fact that Apple will replace my mini if it occurs within the year. That's where a good company comes into play, and Apple is one of the best.
I also believe that all minis after a certain date (shipped late May to current) have rectified this issue. I don't think anyone has actually opened it up to check, but trust me that the complaints have died down considerably since that time.
Failure can occur with all electronic products, but you are right to say that there is a known possible weakness in the mini. If this thought affects your day-to-day use, you sell it off immediately to take advantage of the current sale price. The extended apple care program can also help and so could one of the many cases for the mini. I have mine in a radtech sleeve along with the armband when I work out at the gym, and in a luxurious vaja case the rest of the time.
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post #3 of 9
7/6/04 at 1:00am
usually products are recalled if they pose threat to the safety of the end users when used as directed.
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post #4 of 9
7/6/04 at 1:01am
think of this financially


apple is aware of the problem ..... and the way they are dealing with it is by having the customer send it back if and when it does fail... a full recall of all minis is very very expensive.... and there is no risk of death or suing from ipod customers unlike what could occur with a car systems failure

cost of recall * cost of repair * number of units to be recalled
needs to be less than
projected cost of bad publicity * projected legal liability *legal costs

the difference from the car example is not only an issue of safety..... with a non critical recall you don't need to send the car back to the manufacturer... you just need to take it to the dealership..... whereas the ipod you cannot just take to a local vendor and get this issue resolved.... it needs to be sent back to Apple

for an issue like this Apple really only can become the target of a class action suit, BUT as long as apple is more than willing to repair this known issue.... the chances of a class action suit being started is slim.... and the chance of such a class action suit winning is even slimmer.....
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post #5 of 9
7/8/04 at 3:40pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by utdeep
I also believe that all minis after a certain date (shipped late May to current) have rectified this issue. I don't think anyone has actually opened it up to check, but trust me that the complaints have died down considerably since that time.
Can you please tell me why you think this is true? I've been delaying my Mini purchase because of the static problem, and if you're correct that's great news.

As I understand the problem, it's a design flaw rather than a quality control problem, and I don't see how Apple could have made a design correction and revamped manufacturing so quickly (since May). It would be far more cost-effective to replace defective units rather than doing a redesign and revamping manufacturing.
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post #6 of 9
7/8/04 at 4:50pm
I would like to see an opened up recently purchased mini. It is an awful coincidence that the mini shortage occured several weeks after that problem was brought to light and lasted a few months. I suspect they fixed it.
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post #7 of 9
7/8/04 at 6:37pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by intlplby
think of this financially


apple is aware of the problem ..... and the way they are dealing with it is by having the customer send it back if and when it does fail... a full recall of all minis is very very expensive.... and there is no risk of death or suing from ipod customers unlike what could occur with a car systems failure

cost of recall * cost of repair * number of units to be recalled
needs to be less than
projected cost of bad publicity * projected legal liability *legal costs

the difference from the car example is not only an issue of safety..... with a non critical recall you don't need to send the car back to the manufacturer... you just need to take it to the dealership..... whereas the ipod you cannot just take to a local vendor and get this issue resolved.... it needs to be sent back to Apple

for an issue like this Apple really only can become the target of a class action suit, BUT as long as apple is more than willing to repair this known issue.... the chances of a class action suit being started is slim.... and the chance of such a class action suit winning is even slimmer.....

hell, even ford didn;t recall the pinto when they knew it could blow up. for a part that would cost a few dollars. they figured it would be less expensive to pay out on possible lawsuits from victims/victims families!!!

http://www.fordpinto.com/blowup.htm

so, a mini ipod recall, i doubt it....
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post #8 of 9
7/8/04 at 7:44pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dweebgal
hell, even ford didn;t recall the pinto when they knew it could blow up. for a part that would cost a few dollars. they figured it would be less expensive to pay out on possible lawsuits from victims/victims families!!!

http://www.fordpinto.com/blowup.htm

so, a mini ipod recall, i doubt it....
haha, Ford makes cars out of recycled parts

j/k

I'd rather walk...
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post #9 of 9
7/9/04 at 1:55am
Quote:
Originally Posted by DJGeorgeT
haha, Ford makes cars out of recycled parts

j/k

I'd rather walk...

lol


just imagined hundreds of thousands of ipods in one factory, and all of them belonging to someone on earth, having to fix them and return to the same address, seems like a big task ready to tumble over
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