For a while now I've been getting no sound from the left channel whenever the remote was plugged in. Ok it was a minor problem so I just did without the remote for a bit. Finally got around to apple warranty site and asked for a new remote.

Everything went smoothly and a week later a shiney new remote turned up. About a week into the new remote same thing happened, no sound thru left channel. Annoyed I just gave up on the remote and just used the headphones. Recently the headphones have started cutting out on the left too!

I'd read a post here about someone stateside who'd had a similar problem and had their ipod instantly replaced when they walked into a store. Hoping for the same treatment I decided to temp my fate in Paris.

Now there are no Apple Stores here so I tried the only Apple Centre I could find. No luck, the guy in the store said there was absolutely 0 chance of him or any other reseller taking it back and he gave me the applecare phone number to try. Now the French aren't very big on customer service so I wasn't too hopeful.

But I rang Apple and after about an hour on the phone trying a few things and explaining the issue the guy said my problem was suitable for a replacement and that they would send out a package.

It seems the system is the same here as elsewhere: UPS deliver a box and take away your ipod, then a new one is returned to you witin a few days. Whole thing takes 7-10 working days. I can only hope its a new 40gig they return to me.

I asked a couple of times if it would be a new machine they'd replcace it with, he said yes. Guy also said he'd run into the same sound issue once before on an ipod.

There was a 35? charge because my ipod was more than 6 month old. But that charge would be waived if I signed up for an applecare extension warranty. I'm a sucker for those sorts of things so I forkd out the extra cash - but at least I'll have a full 16months coverage on the replacement unit.

Finger crossed it all goes smoothly.