Last night I switched on my iPod 4G.

Now usually it would spin up (the hard drive) and it's not. I hear no sound. The Apple logo pops up and then a sad face appears. No vibration from the drive at all. I've checked Apple.com and even the iPod was made in December 2004 I actually only purchased it in October 2006 - so am I entitled to a repair or exchange? I can't source the U2 version here in Australia either.

I can get into diagnostics and the hard drive fails all tests - so I'd say the drive is dead. I don't have a spare one to test with and I want something done. It's been freezing up heaps lately and this seems to be the end.

Please help if you can.




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I would like you to read this email in full, and take note from it.

I have purchased a U2 iPod 4G model ten months ago (despite Apple telling me 26 December 2004 at www.apple.com/support (http://www.apple.com/support)), and I seem to be getting no sounds from the hard drive. As it is when there is a problem, the drive usually spins up and down and if there is a problem at least it will click. But there is no sound and I am not sure of why it does this, and I recieve all manner of icons on the screen. I would like some assistance, and I have tried the 5 Rs and updating my software, yet to no avail.


The Trade Practices Act says that a 'consumer' is a person (including a corporation) who acquires:
any other type of goods or services costing $40 000 or less


I would like to know what are my legal rights in order to recieving a replacement of either the iPod, the drive (a 20GB Toshiba according to online specifications) or something similar as I don't feel that if a product has decided to go before its rightful life (in this case I was told numerous times of five years) in which time I have had a computer hard drive last longer, many computer parts I have left in static bags have lasted twice as long over ten years - that I am able to recieve a replacement on the model for reasons of poor workmanship. As I have also been told this model can no longer be sourced throughout Australia because it was a Limited Edition, this is another reason, as well as a contributing factor of $359 to replace it, I would like to know how can I source a new version a little cheaper than those stupidly ridiculous prices.


What is regarded as reasonably available will vary depending, for example, on the nature of the product and its expected useful life.There is no minimum statutory period for a manufacturer or importer to provide facilities and spare parts for repair.


Is it not too much to ask if I am able to at least get it looked at before being fobbed off and told that a new model would be the way to go? Is it not too much to ask if I am told of a reasonable length of time for a decent working life and the product no longer works? Is it not too much to ask that a warranty of three years, rather than one year - which I am sure you agree is way too short for most as many people have serious hardware issues - is implied for those who purchase these products, only to be tossed out after twelve months of paying good money to have something which refuses to ever work. You do an Internet search and see the numerous problems associated with this product. It's been happening since 2001 when the iPod was first released, surely that must mean something is wrong? After 2 in 4 iPods breaking and failing consistently, this is a sign of poor workmanship.

I refuse to pay $359 for something when the actual thing itself cost just over $400. This seems like a real joke, and one that many people are not aware of, in which cases they should be, written clearly in the back of the book. I see also that it isn't easy to source replacement parts, which seems to me that Apple want to make it three steps harder than it is to source parts in order to make more money, no doubt.

Apple consistently tells me one thing, yet if I go off to Apple.com.au (http://apple.com.au/) and check it is ONE YEAR FOR WARRANTY, not FIVE YEARS. So who should be to blame here for inconsistency of service or blurring the lines between one thing and another? Apple, poor lifespan or poor service? I would like the reciever of this email to pass it to the most senior head of management of either your company or Apple themselves and make it known how ridiculous this warranty period is. I have also passed this email onto other companies in order to recieve a response from one.

If in any way you can assist me I will be truly grateful. Please give me your advice on how to go about getting replacements and I will not appreciate an auto-reply. I would like a real reply from a real person as soon as possible - and I have kept this email as a receipt of my enquiry so I can prove I sent it. If I don't recieve a reply I will be bringing it in as well as the iPod so you can see what I am talking about.

Yours Faithfully
Drew Higgins

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