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02 February 2006

I just called Apple to check on my iPod repair and they said they received the box I sent to them on January 25th- EMPTY![More:] WTF?
And why would they not call me and tell me that?? Why did I have to call to find that out???
posted by ThePinkSuperhero 02 February | 09:48
Did you send it UPS?
posted by sciurus 02 February | 09:53
It was a prepaid box from Apple- they mailed it to me, and I put my iPod in the box, and gave it to my company mailroom for daily DHL pickup.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero 02 February | 09:56
A friend of mine has had artwork stolen from his UPS shipments a few times now. That's why I asked. It sounds like someone in your company probably opened the box and took your iPod.
posted by sciurus 02 February | 09:59
I really don't think anyone here would do that- plus the mailroom is watched all day, so I don't know when someone would have a chance to take it. Plus, call me crazy, but why would the DHL pick up an empty box?
posted by ThePinkSuperhero 02 February | 10:00
Someone stole it kiddo. 95% likelyhood.

Apple techs don't need any more broken ipods. DHL carriers know the ipods going back to apple are broken because they carry them all the time. Mailroom is most likely. It's probably the new guy. Speak to the mailroom manager about it right away and tell him you don't want to get anyone in trouble, you just want it back. Mailroom watched or not. It's either the mailroom or someone at the DHL sorting facility, someone dumb.

Sorry.
posted by Divine_Wino 02 February | 10:11
(Someone stole it?! No sure, shitlock).

Hmmm. Well Apple is doing a "shipping inquiry" with DHL, so I'll wait to see what goes on with that. I just can't imagine how someone in the mailroom would be able to steal my iPod between the hours of 11 a.m. (when I gave them the box) and ~ 4 p.m. when DHL came for pickup.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero 02 February | 10:14
There's probably video on the mailroom- they could probably prove to me the box was untouched (or not), if it comes to that.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero 02 February | 10:15
Why would someone steal a broken iPod? I mean, they could try to send it in and get a new one, but wouldn't Apple be able to tell by the serial number that it belonged to someone else?

I'm not questioning anyone's logic, I just can't quite figure out the chain of reasoning this early in the morning.
posted by matildaben 02 February | 10:22
That totally sucks Pink. I have heard so many stories like this, but with the eBay twist. It makes you scared to ship anything of value doesn't it? I wonder if the prepaid shipping from Apple is insured?
posted by richat 02 February | 10:24
I wonder if it wasn't more likely someone at Apple? I mean, they know how to fix them, right? If anyone could benefit from stealing a broken iPod it's probably somone who can fix it?

It's a compicated case Pink, lotta ins, lotta outs, lotta strands to keep in the old richat's head.
posted by richat 02 February | 10:26
Pinksuperhero,
How long does it take to razor open a box, pluck out an ipod and tape the box closed again? I would say (if you practiced it a few times and had a piece of tape on your pants) a generous 30 seconds. If you do this with your back to a camera you would have approx 150 chances to do so, undetected, in the time alloted.

No shit.


Someone would steal a broken Ipod because they did not reason out that it was broken*. I can fix most broken Ipods for the cost of a hard drive (I learned recently), about 100 dollars for a new ipod. That's teh otehr angle.


*People who steal from their place of employment are usually dumb (or CFO's).
posted by Divine_Wino 02 February | 10:26
My thoughts exactly. Check with them on their insurance policy and shipping/arrival policy. Somethings gotta give. Good luck!
posted by moonbird 02 February | 10:27
Since it was a prepaid box from Apple, it sounds like Apple is going have their talk with DHL and they'll figure something out. And as long as whatever they figure out involves me getting my restored model of my two year old iPod (3rd Gen, 15 GB- buttons above the wheel, that's how old it is), I will be a happy clam.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero 02 February | 10:30
"teh otehr", you see, is savvy criminal profiler for "the other".


Richat,
It's super easy to fix an ipod with a dead HD, which is the most common problem. Apple employees don't need ipods and especially not broken ones. They probably have all they need and know they'll be fired if caught. Mailroom dudes, sadly are not always the brightest.
posted by Divine_Wino 02 February | 10:34
You make a good point wino. Do they just use 2.5" drives?

/member of the ipod-less class
posted by richat 02 February | 10:36
My boss' 15" Powerbook crapped out on him again the other day and he's got the extended care plan. It still cost him $150 to send it back in for repairs.

Its stuff like this that makes people switch away from Apple.

But this reminds me that I've got an iPod with a bad connector that I could get working again. Maybe I'll look into getting it fixed up.

richat and Divine_Wino, Apple folks would not be stealing broken and used iPods. They get a pretty excellent deal on them, the worst I could imagine them doing is ripping all the mp3's on the broken iPods to supplement their own collections but even that'll get them busted eventually.
posted by fenriq 02 February | 10:42
Yea, my iPod was suffering from the usual hard-drive craziness. And to think, I could have taken it into the store and been done with it in one day- I just didn't have the energy to face the mob at the Apple Store and deal with finding a time to go (you have to have a reservation at the genius bar for the Apple Store in Soho). Had I only known what a PITA this was going to be.....
posted by ThePinkSuperhero 02 February | 10:43
Make sure that you've got the tracking number / origin scan. It could be as simple as a wrong box switcheroo at Apple or DHL. These things happen. They do ship just as many empty boxes via DHL as full ones (that's how you got the box in the first place, yes?)

This scenario is more likely than the theft hypothesis. My guess is this will get sorted out and your iPod will reappear miraculously.
posted by warbaby 02 February | 10:44
Toshiba MK2204/2006 GAL


1.8" drive, that link has it for 120, but I got one for 104.00 shipped. It helps if you look for the drive without mentioning the word ipod.


Fenriq,
I know apple employees wouldn't steal a broken ipod, that was my point.

Warbaby is correct that it could be the switcheroo, but it doesn't make sense to me, they track the boxes with barcodes, you get a box addressed to you and another box inside it (or another label) I can't remember. Either way there isn't a point where an empty box is addressed to apple, as I recall. I will ask my dhl guy today, he's a real rainman type and can probably detail the whole process to me. If you steal someone elses broken ipod, let me know and I'll put in a new hd for you.
posted by Divine_Wino 02 February | 10:49
ThePinkSuperhero: What kind of iPod did you have? You can buy my old 20gb 3G iPod if you want - I have a new one, so this one is just sitting there taking up space.
posted by mullacc 02 February | 10:52
Hmmm, thanks mullacc, I might take you up on that offer if the one from Apple doesn't through. When did you buy it? Is it still under warranty?

Oooo, and warbaby, I didn't think about that! That makes sense, too. Hopefully all will resolve well!
posted by ThePinkSuperhero 02 February | 10:56
When I had an iPod repaired by Apple they sent it (really a replacement) back in a box clearly marked with the contents (duh!). When we got it the box was, of course, empty. The replacement to the replacement came in a plain box. It's an easy thing to grab these, all you need to know is the address, so it's a crap shoot no matter what.
posted by tommasz 02 February | 11:11
Oo, so tommasz, something similar happened to you (on the other side, though, which I suppose is critical), and Apple sent you a replacement?
posted by ThePinkSuperhero 02 February | 11:14
They believed us, obviously, which leads me to think they'd heard it before.
posted by tommasz 02 February | 11:25
How do I find someone to fix my dead-hard-drive 3G iPod with the buttons above the wheel? Lipstick Thespian wants one and if I could fix my old one I'd give it to him. It's just a bad sector as far as I can tell. Should I just send it to the Wino?
posted by matildaben 02 February | 11:36
In any case, let's hope Pink doesn't get stuck with a slab of meat.
posted by Smart Dalek 02 February | 11:41
Hahahahah, if I got a slab of meat...I might just eat it. I'm hungry enough. And protein is always helpful!
posted by ThePinkSuperhero 02 February | 11:44
The three gigger I am not so sure about, but here are the HD replacement instructions, the hardest part is getting the case open.

posted by Divine_Wino 02 February | 11:51
Just remember, matildaben - iPods use modified Toshiba hard drives. Unless you want to forsake firewire connectivity, you're have to use an iPod specific drive.

And yeah, Divine_Wino's instructions work with third gen units.
posted by Smart Dalek 02 February | 11:59
Divine_Wino, so then we're in absolute agreement? Good! Good links to replacement info though. I had thought about upgrading my 3rd Gen (just like your TPS). Works for me but sometimes I'd like to have a Shuffle or Nano for my workouts and bike rides.
posted by fenriq 02 February | 12:34
*flutters eyelashes* are you sure one of you big strong men won't do it for me?
posted by matildaben 02 February | 12:38
I will if you teach me how to flutter your eyelashes like that, mine positively flop around like limp pasta.
posted by Divine_Wino 02 February | 12:43
WHERE ARE MY PROPS??
posted by tr33hggr 02 February | 15:25
PROPS??!?

just foolin'
posted by tr33hggr 02 February | 15:45
ThePinkSuperhero: Um, I guess I bought it in early '04. I don't know nothin' about no warranties. It works fine. And it's cheap.
posted by mullacc 02 February | 17:22
No worries about fixing old Ipods - something tells me that by the end of next week, I won't have to worry about hand-me-downs' but actually be able to buy my own damn "will break down in the future" model.

Thanks, though! :)
posted by Lipstick Thespian 02 February | 18:19
OMG lab puppy cuteness. || For all the "aunts" out there and the people who love them

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