Going to the Apple Store to have your iPod repaired

Wayne Edwards · #1 02-04-2010, 03:32 AM

I was just wondering -- has anyone ever gone to "The Apple Store" with a broken iPod and actually had them fix it rather than just having you buy a new one? It doesn't take a genius to figure out the "genius bar" seems to be more about selling than repairing, even though they claim to provide on-site tech support. Except for the old trick of pushing in the wheel and pause button at the same time (which you hear about online, not at the Apple Store), if your iPod stops working right you may as well not waste time at "the bar" and just buy a new one via your quickest and cheapest shopping method of choice. At least that's been my experience, and more than once.

limegrass69 · #2 02-04-2010, 08:36 AM

My guess is that there is only so much time/effort that they are willing to put into repairing a $100 or $200 piece of plastic. I get the feeling that once these devices start acting up, they are more or less toast. But, yeah...at the end of the day, it's easier if you just buy another iPod.

I think they can do a little more work and diagnosis with a MacBook or other computer. But the iPods pretty much either "work" or "don't work."

**DAB** · #3 02-04-2010, 09:11 AM

Yeah I would think if the device is having hardware issues, they are likely to swap it for a refurb if under warranty and of course they will offer you and upgrade with a trade in value.

If it is just configuration issues, they will do a restore and try to clean it up and getting working. If it is much beyond that, they deem it hardware related.

Jon · #4 02-04-2010, 12:09 PM

Last time I took my iPhone they upgraded the firmware and it worked fine. If the problem is unfixable, they don't try selling me a new one, they just give me a refurb model and that usually does it. Applecare is the only extended warranty coverage i'll buy for that very reason.

Chob · #5 02-05-2010, 08:18 AM

I just went last week for my iPod Photo from '04. The hard drive was broken and there was no way to write data to it. But that was only discovered after the iPod was restored. If I had not taken it in I could've at least kept what was on there.

What sucks is I didn't even get to 20 GB on a 60 GB iPod. I was foolish to think it would last longer.

I think I'll end up trading it in for the discount for the iPod Touch. I want to wait until it gets a built in camera though. Also I'll probably go for the extended warranty since I want to use it for more than a few years.

YourDream84 · #6 02-05-2010, 11:20 AM

I've never taken my iPod in, but I have taken the iPhone in, and upon discovering the problem was through no fault of mine, they just replaced it with a refurb model.

Thankfully I've owned my iPod for 5+ years and have never had a single issue with it at all.

~*Ash*~

**DAB** · #7 02-05-2010, 10:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by YourDream84

I've never taken my iPod in, but I have taken the iPhone in, and upon discovering the problem was through no fault of mine, they just replaced it with a refurb model.

Thankfully I've owned my iPod for 5+ years and have never had a single issue with it at all.

~*Ash*~

Hey Ash, glad to see you here on DRC! You've had great luck with the 5 year + on the iPod, mine is only 3. LOL

It is also refreshing to know how they handle these phones when they have an issue that can't be resolved through normal means.

I look forward to you being a regular here on DRC. Again thanks for posting your experience.

almaniac27 · #8 02-10-2010, 01:40 PM

I've never been to do this, but my brother went a year or two ago to get his iPod looked at, and ended up sitting next to Peter Frampton at the Genius Bar. I was so jealous, because I was asked if I wanted to come along and I said no.