Apple Store iPod Recycling Program

[MacRumors]

http://www.macrumors.com/images/macrumorsthreadlogo.gif (http://www.macrumors.com)

Apple has announced an iPod recycling program at U.S. Apple retail stores, with a same-day discount if you purchase a new iPod at the same time.

From the description on the Apple Retail Page (http://www.apple.com/retail/):Bring any used iPod, iPod mini or iPod photo to any of the more than 100 Apple Stores in the US for free environmentally friendly recycling and get a 10% discount on the purchase of a new iPod that same-day. See your store for details.The program may help to blunt some complaints (http://www.macrumors.com/pages/2005/06/20050602195408.shtml) from environmentalists that discarded iPods were ending up in landfills where they might leak toxins.

[Apple!Freak]

I somehow saw this coming... ;) Nevertheless, this sounds great! It gives customers a motavtion to now recycle instead of disposing of their nuclear units. :p

[eva01]

hmm wonder if you can combine that with education price.

[swingerofbirch]

Sounds like a good move. This and the lawsuit settlement give more credence to the perception that iPods have a rather short shelf life though. Two years and iPods seem to be not worth fixing. I suppose that's how cell phones can be. But, why do you some cheap things hold up...like cordless phones? I have a cheap cordless phone from Walmart, sixteen bucks, and not a scratch on it!

[mikeylebeau]

hmm wonder if you can combine that with education price.
I was wondering the same thing.

-mike

[MontyZ]

What do they do with all those recycled iPods I wonder? Turn them into Mac Minis??

[real_murray]

So, Can I buy any of these used iPods at a discounted price? No referb needed. I'll take them as-is :)

[buryyourbrideau]

whenever sweet next gen 'pod comes out

time to recycle that photo

;)

[abrooks]

Hell I'll recycle your iPod for free :D

[m-dogg]

good for apple. any recycling programs are nice, to throw a 10% discount on top of it is a great perk...

[panphage]

Allow me to quote myself:Wow. 10%. Hold me back. This is a deal for suckers. Why not go to http://www.smalldog.com/wag13041/ and actually get some real dough for your old ipod? Even a broken ipod will get you $25, which is very close to the *most* apple will give you.

$44.90 is better than nothing, but smalldog would give you $60 for a 5GB model AND you don't pay tax. Actually I suspect those 5GB firewire models will be collectable in five years if not now...

[buryyourbrideau]

*Current Trade-in Prices (effective Feb 22):
5gb (firewire): $60
10gb (firewire) $75
10gb (dock version) $90
15gb (firewire) $95
20gb (firewire) $130
15gb (dock) $120
20gb (dock) $140
30gb (dock) $170
40gb (dock) $185
20gb (click wheel) - $165
40gb (click wheel) - $205
iPod photo 40GB - $235
iPod photo 60GB - $285
iPod mini 4GB - $100

holy $hiz 235 for my photo! hell i might do it now

[MontyZ]

Allow me to quote myself:
That's very interesting. I just might do that.

[d.perel]

*Current Trade-in Prices (effective Feb 22):
5gb (firewire): $60
10gb (firewire) $75
10gb (dock version) $90
15gb (firewire) $95
20gb (firewire) $130
15gb (dock) $120
20gb (dock) $140
30gb (dock) $170
40gb (dock) $185
20gb (click wheel) - $165
40gb (click wheel) - $205
iPod photo 40GB - $235
iPod photo 60GB - $285
iPod mini 4GB - $100

holy $hiz 235 for my photo! hell i might do it now
Where can you get this kind of money for a broken iPod? (other than eBay)

[Gasu E.]

Sounds like a good move. This and the lawsuit settlement give more credence to the perception that iPods have a rather short shelf life though. Two years and iPods seem to be not worth fixing. I suppose that's how cell phones can be. But, why do you some cheap things hold up...like cordless phones? I have a cheap cordless phone from Walmart, sixteen bucks, and not a scratch on it!

It really depends on what your usage pattern is. For example, I have two socially engaged teens in my house; and even though each has his/her own cell phone, the cordless phones typically either have a key or contact wear out after about three years on average. On the other hand, if one, for example, had no friends, and the only calls made were once per day for pizza delivery, such phones would last for a very long time. Not that I'm implying anything. ;)

[buryyourbrideau]

Where can you get this kind of money for a broken iPod? (other than eBay)

those are not prices for a broken pod, must function in ALL ways to get those kind of prices

[m-dogg]

Allow me to quote myself:

$44.90 is better than nothing, but smalldog would give you $60 for a 5GB model AND you don't pay tax. Actually I suspect those 5GB firewire models will be collectable in five years if not now...

yeah, I'm sure they will be. I already get comments on my 3rd gen (with the 4 buttons above the wheel) because the ipods popularity ballooned so much after the 4th gen came out, lots of average people that have ipods now weren't even familiar with what they looked like until they bought one...

Unless mine breaks, I don't plan on getting rid of it when I eventally buy a bigger one...

[wdlove]

I think that it is a good idea for Apple to offer a recycling program for the iPod. Just wish that they had a similar program for older Mac's. Our local University offered a trade-in program prior to September 2000.

[Tuttle]

Probably more to do with Wallstreet than the environment. I think one of the reasons why Apple's stock has seen such sudden swings in price is no one really knows how long Apple can keep their current insane pace of iPod sales.

Just announcing a program like this gets the mindset out into the iPod community of upgrading - even if your current iPod is working fine.

[Trekkie]

I've got a 2G 20GB with a faded screen, wonder if it has to work? that'd be a bonus if it didn't have to work (it works, you just can't navigate your tunes)

[sw1tcher]

*Current Trade-in Prices (effective Feb 22):
5gb (firewire): $60
10gb (firewire) $75
10gb (dock version) $90
15gb (firewire) $95
20gb (firewire) $130
15gb (dock) $120
20gb (dock) $140
30gb (dock) $170
40gb (dock) $185
20gb (click wheel) - $165
40gb (click wheel) - $205
iPod photo 40GB - $235
iPod photo 60GB - $285
iPod mini 4GB - $100

holy $hiz 235 for my photo! hell i might do it now


You can probably get more on eBay...

[rockthecasbah]

my question to pose is will that 10% discount work in addition to a student discount? :)

[sw1tcher]

yeah, I'm sure they will be. I already get comments on my 3rd gen (with the 4 buttons above the wheel) because the ipods popularity ballooned so much after the 4th gen came out, lots of average people that have ipods now weren't even familiar with what they looked like until they bought one...

Unless mine breaks, I don't plan on getting rid of it when I eventally buy a bigger one...

Hell, even if it did break I'd keep it. But then again, that's just me. I just love the way the old original iPods look.

[sw1tcher]

my question to pose is will that 10% discount work in addition to a student discount? :)
Knowing Apple, probably not.

[sw1tcher]

What do they do with all those recycled iPods I wonder? Turn them into Mac Minis??
Polish them up, put in a new (better?) battery and sell them as Apple Certified "Collectible" iPods. You know there would be buyers for them. :D

[Mord]

yay, i have a old 5GB original that has a dead battery, i wander if they will notice if i steal the good HD.

[aegisdesign]

It really depends on what your usage pattern is. For example, I have two socially engaged teens in my house; and even though each has his/her own cell phone, the cordless phones typically either have a key or contact wear out after about three years on average. On the other hand, if one, for example, had no friends, and the only calls made were once per day for pizza delivery, such phones would last for a very long time. Not that I'm implying anything. ;)


I find they last longer with the pizza guy on speed dial. ;)

[hodgjy]

The small dog trade in price is tempting because I have an engraved iPod, which won't attract too much attention on eBay.

[aegisdesign]

What do they do with all those recycled iPods I wonder?

They send them to the people claiming they didn't know batteries didn't last forever under the stupid class action lawsuit. :D

[quackattack]

Let me see now....

I could get my EDU discount on a new iPod. Then use the $50 from the settlement, plus get 10% off when I recycle it...

Sound like a perfect plan to me ;)

[swissmann]

Good move Apple.

[crachoar]

What do they do with all those recycled iPods I wonder?

In a similiar landfill, just outside of hippy jurisdiction - next to the panda bear sanctuary.

[Stella]

Only usa customers only...

Half hearted attempt.

[alms]

This is great. I work for the investment company (Green Century Capital Management (http://greencentury.com)) that raised this issue at Apple's annual shareholder meeting. We specifically asked Apple to offer free recycling at their stores. Steve Job's reply was say that the whole issue was B***S***.

It's nice to see that he's coming around. Now they just need to do the same thing for Macs. And even better, they should give you 10% off on a Mac if you bring in an old PC for recycling. That would get some switchers switching.

[varmit]

Let me see now....

I could get my EDU discount on a new iPod. Then use the $50 from the settlement, plus get 10% off when I recycle it...

Sound like a perfect plan to me ;)
Um, no, with Apple its only one discount at a time. So what do you want, EDU discount, recycle discount, or $50.

[thejadedmonkey]

hell, I'd trade in 10 new PC's for a free mac any day!

and then apple can sell them all on ebay!

[xy14]

Only usa customers only...

Half hearted attempt.

just go to mall of america in minneapolis. it is ONLY an 8 hour drive. :p

[MontyZ]

Apple could turn the recycled iPods into Dell PCs.

[Stella]

Apple could turn the recycled iPods into Dell PCs.

Today, Dell announced 'high end' Dells.. use them for that.

[mainstreetmark]

While I agree, this is all good, I just gotta say that those environmentalists can be a bunch of nuts!!

To actually devote money, time and energy to smashing Apple about how iPods are ruining the environment, as opposed to say, Duracell (i'm assuming their complaint is battery-related), is nothing more than a publicity stunt.

How many "dangerous, leaky" iPods can there possibly be out there in landfills, and how do they compare to the number of freon refridgerators, disgarded oil+gas cars, mcdonalds plastic cups, over-fertilized lawns, 12 MPG Hummers and the alarming rate of global deforestation?

"C'mon gang! Let's tackle this iPod issue! Those Spotted Owls are doing great!"

[quackattack]

Um, no, with Apple its only one discount at a time. So what do you want, EDU discount, recycle discount, or $50.

Yeah I know......

Perhaps my sarcasm didn't translate well to text. :eek:

[Tamer Brad]

10% is awfully stingy ... I'd just sell it :)

[tangerineyum]

this is awesome, i have been jonesin for an ipod photo. this might be all i need to put me over the edge.

[sacear]

10% is awfully stingy ... I'd just sell it :)Stingy? What do you people expect and want? Yesterday there was no discount or recycling program at all. Now they are implementing a program that fulfills recycling awareness and convenience for the consumer yet costs them money and they are offering customers a 10% discount. Fairly generous I say. Shareholders kiss your profits good-bye.

[rockthecasbah]

Stingy? What do you people expect and want? Yesterday there was no discount or recycling program at all. Now they are implementing a program that fulfills recycling awareness and convenience for the consumer yet costs them money and they are offering customers a 10% discount. Fairly generous I say. Shareholders kiss your profits good-bye.
Exactly. Besides, the less 'used' iPods in circulation, the more new ones Apple can sell. They are a business. Businesses are here to make money. They aren't buying iPods from you, they are giving you a reward for recycling it with them.

[Abstract]

This is great. I work for the investment company (Green Century Capital Management (http://greencentury.com)) that raised this issue at Apple's annual shareholder meeting. We specifically asked Apple to offer free recycling at their stores. Steve Job's reply was say that the whole issue was B***S***.


While Steve is smart in many ways, he's also a complete idiot in other areas, which may include dealing with people.

Let me see now....

I could get my EDU discount on a new iPod. Then use the $50 from the settlement, plus get 10% off when I recycle it...

Sound like a perfect plan to me ;)

That's the plan......you trade in your old iPod, they give you 10% off, and they sell another iPod to you and keep sales up. ;)

The thing is this.......many people shouldn't trade in their old iPod for 10% off if HD storage or size isn't an issue. For example, if the battery dies, and you pay $99, you send in your old iPod for "battery replacement" and you essentially get back a refurbished iPod, right? And this thing will appear shiny new, although it'll be the same model as you had before. And if they don't have your model in stock, they give you a newer model. Just keep doing this, and you'll just keep getting newer models than the one you purchased.

[nagromme]

A big thank you to the activists who brought this about!

Now don't forget to keep on this until Apple finishes doing the right thing--and extends this retail-store-only option to mail-in, worldwide--without losing the 10%, please :)

And this isn't about lots of iPods now sitting in landfills and "maybe leaking," it's about:

* Lots and LOTS of iPods being landfills in the FUTURE. It's called looking ahead.

* Materials being wasted that could have been re-used.

* Unsafe handling--often by child workers--of materials recycled in other countries (which Apple's not doing with this plan, thankfully)

* And yes, toxins too. Things do leak out of landfills, and before they GET to landfills. This is why there are toxic waste disposal facilities--even for things like regular household batteries. If dumping anything a landfill were truly safe, we wouldn't need toxic waste centers.

Oh, and thanks for being responsible on this, Apple! But it's only the start of what needs to be done, across your product line.

[Mord]

damn it, i just noticed, it only covers us retail stores :(.

[Tamer Brad]

Stingy? What do you people expect and want? Yesterday there was no discount or recycling program at all. Now they are implementing a program that fulfills recycling awareness and convenience for the consumer yet costs them money and they are offering customers a 10% discount. Fairly generous I say. Shareholders kiss your profits good-bye.

Relax ... I am just saying it's stingy compared to what I could get ... don't act like I personally insulted you.

Apple may be a business and want to sell more iPods, but I am a consumer and will get as much bang for my buck as I can. I don't know why you're so angry. I never once said it was a bad idea.

Sigh ... people are so touchy over nothing ...

[sacear]

Relax ... I am just saying it's stingy compared to what I could get ... don't act like I personally insulted you.

Apple may be a business and want to sell more iPods, but I am a consumer and will get as much bang for my buck as I can. I don't know why you're so angry. I never once said it was a bad idea.

Sigh ... people are so touchy over nothing ...I am not acting that way at all (personally insulted). I do not feel insulted and I am certainly not angry. You are reading emotion into my comments that is not there. I am just giving an alternate, and in my opinion, more realistic point-of-view, with a touch of sarcasm added for humour.

Sigh... some people are so defensive.

[crachoar]

Stingy? ...Shareholders kiss your profits good-bye.

Yes, you read the man. Stingy. The 'discount' basically gives you the student price for the iPod. Should we be impressed?

Do we need the receipt for this as well?

So, my options are, 'spend $50 at the Apple store', hunt for a receipt I had three years ago to have my battery replaced or buy a new iPod using the student discount. That's pretty cool.

What do we want or expect? We want Steve Jobs to drunkenly dance on stage to circus music while we throw empty beer cans at him like pirates.

Or maybe, we just want our batteries replaced without needing our receipts? Now, if they need proof that I purchased it, you'd think they'd have it registered in their system, since I registered everything I've purchased from them thus far.

Either way, they've already suckered me into their iPod pyramid scheme (you know, the one where they stop updating the software for your iPod and try to convince you that you must have the new version - because, hey, it has a battery that works!). I got my 40GB 4th Gen with 'Cram and Jam' last September, which Apple so kindly refused, for reasons they legally didn't have to state - despite my having filled out the papers properly, included the UPCs and having an attorney review the document, making sure it was kosher. What a way to thank a customer for spending $2,832 on your products.

You lose some, you lose some.

Enjoy your new iPods - see you in a few years when something else pops up.

[sacear]

Well then, what I want to know is, why does Apple not just give out iPods, computers, and software to anyone who asks. Stop by an Apple Store and take home whatever we want for free.

We shouldn't even have to contact Apple, they should just hand deliver whatever I want right to my door, whether they make it our not. I want an iPod Photo with all the Griffin Technology accessories. And a Power Mac G5 with all the Griffin Technology and Kensington accessories. Oh, and a 17" PowerBook with a top of the line tote bag. There is more I want and Apple will figure it out and have it all delivered to me by an Apple employee by Monday morning.

Oh and the employee will pick-up all the old Apple gear I have, and any other old junk I have lying around, from my house and properly dispose of it somewhere, because somehow, someway that is Apple's fault. And Apple will pay me some cash for the inconvenience and disrupting my life.

Heck all that disruption will take away from my MacRumors time!

[crachoar]

Yes, Apple has never done wrong and they aren't just a corporation - out to make money for their shareholders. They'd never design something to fail like most companies do - so they could get you to buy the same thing again, every two years. They care about you. Anybody that's ever had a bad experience with them is lying because they work for Dell. Thank you for serving me with you thirty second, creatively stiffled retort.

'Go back to bed America - here's American Gladiators...'

[Yvan256]

Well then, what I want to know is, why does Apple not just give out iPods, computers, and software to anyone who asks. Stop by an Apple Store and take home whatever we want for free.

We shouldn't even have to contact Apple, they should just hand deliver whatever I want right to my door, whether they make it our not. I want an iPod Photo with all the Griffin accessories. And a PowerMac G5 with all the Griffin and Kensington accessories. Oh, and a 17" PowerBook with a top of the line tote bag. There is more I want and Apple will figure it out and have it all delivered to me by an Apple employee by Monday morning.

Oh and the employee will pick-up all the old Apple gear I have, and any other old junk I have lying around, from my house and properly dispose of it somewhere, because somehow, someway that is Apple's fault. And Apple will pay me some cash for the inconvenience and disrupting my life.

<QUOTE=Peter_Griffin>Erm.... yeah?</QUOTE> :confused:

;)

[hose this!]

Man, am I the only one on in this community who is totally unimpressed with this trade-in program? I'm a big a fan of Apple products as there is (own: 12" PB, 15" PB, 17" PB, iMac 20" 2.0 GHz and two iPods) but even as a marginal ecologically-conscious person, I'm just kinda thinking "Gee, they should have just made the battery replaceable in the first place".

Those of you who think better of Apple as a result of this program should take this into consideration as well as the fact that this action was taken as the result of a class-action lawsuit, not as a voluntary measure.

Those of you willing to give blind kudos to Apple for instituting this program should maybe think about being a bit more willing to chastise them instead. Maybe then we could get them to do the right thing in the FIRST place. Now THAT would be the hallmark of good design.

[Yvan256]

Does anyone else find it a bit ironic that the current iPod ads feature the song "Technologic" by Daft Punk?

(buy it, charge it, break it, upgrade it...) :D

[nagromme]

I don't think Apple is being stingy with owners OR shareholders in giving the 10%. It's a nice gesture that helps some buyers and the environment--and it's a calculated smart business move too.

An incentive to recycle is a great program for moral reasons, and great PR. Yet it also serves like ANY promotion: as an incentive to buy when you might not have. They're not taking a loss on each new iPod with this, just making less. That's still profit. Would the same people have upgraded anyway and paid more? Some of them. Offsetting that, others will upgrade just because of the incentive. And by offering the discount only in retail stores they drive traffic and other purchases of Apple products.

This is no bad thing for shareholders.

And it's certainly not bad for owners--Apple is going an extra step here, offering this incentive. Take it or leave it, but if I get 10% back on my old and broken down iPod Photo--when that day comes ;) I won't be complaining! And if that 10% doesn't go very far because iPods have gotten so cheap... I certainly won't be complaining! :) And if there's a better discount and I can't combine the two, then I'll accept that Apple's not going to take a loss. Meanwhile, more iPods will end being recycled instead of ending up in baby food :)

[nagromme]

Does anyone else find it a bit ironic that the current iPod ads feature the song "Technologic" by Daft Punk?

(buy it, charge it, break it, upgrade it...) :D

Yes :D I couldn't make out all the words but I did think that was funny. I definitely heard break, upgrade, and erase in there.

Break/Upgrade It could be the slogan for the recycling program :)

[sacear]

Yes, Apple has never done wrong and they aren't just a corporation - out to make money for their shareholders. They'd never design something to fail like most companies do - so they could get you to buy the same thing again, every two years. They care about you. Anybody that's ever had a bad experience with them is lying because they work for Dell. Thank you for serving me with you thirty second, creatively stiffled retort.

'Go back to bed America - here's American Gladiators...'Umm, Apple has often done wrong, remember the '80s and '90s? Apple is a corporation, and indeed must make money for its shareholders. Yet Apple is more than just a corporation out to make money for its shareholders. Many of Apple's shareholders are those environmentalists asking for better responsibility. Many of the shareholders want Apple to be a better, more socially conscious company. About Apple design, name one product that fails every two years. Apple's reputation is much better than any other computer manufacture's in that regard. I have PCs that didn't last a year, yet my original Macintosh (128k) is still running strong, and it has gone around the world several times. In fact, every Apple product I have ever owned still works today.

So for me Apple has a great track record and was money well spent. As was my Cannondale bicycle (1991), my Toyota pickup (1993), my Honda motorcycle (1994), my Wells Cargo trailer (1994), and my Chevy Astro (1995). All of those still run great as they were designed and intended, yet no one is screaming and crying that any of those companies owe them money and need to be more environmentally and socially conscious.

What gripes me is people's attitude that any company, in this case Apple, owes them something.

I have had bad experiences with some companies as well (Suzuki, Hyundai, Sony, Nextel, Sprint, Cellular One, United Airlines, Amtrack, Microsoft, Symantec, etc) yet I don't moan and cry that they cheated me and owe me restitution. I simply will not buy their products nor use their services again.

[sacear]

I'm just kinda thinking "Gee, they should have just made the battery replaceable in the first place".

Those of you who think better of Apple as a result of this program should take this into consideration as well as the fact that this action was taken as the result of a class-action lawsuit, not as a voluntary measure.

Those of you willing to give blind kudos to Apple for instituting this program should maybe think about being a bit more willing to chastise them instead. Maybe then we could get them to do the right thing in the FIRST place. Now THAT would be the hallmark of good design.I most certainly agree that the battery ought to be replaceable in the first place, such as with regular alkaline cells. Yet the type of battery Apple chose to use can be very dangerous when handled irresponsibly or stupidly. Then Apple would have had a different type of lawsuit. That is why we cannot change the cells in laptop batteries, any laptop, not just Apple. Apple chose a similar type battery cell for the iPod. These types of cells are not user serviceable and need to be handled with extreme care and caution.

The recycling program was not a result of the class action lawsuit. There is no factual basis to that.

Now, I wish Apple would do the same for recycling 'Book batteries.

[advocate]

I got my 40GB 4th Gen with 'Cram and Jam' last September, which Apple so kindly refused, for reasons they legally didn't have to state - despite my having filled out the papers properly, included the UPCs and having an attorney review the document, making sure it was kosher. Why did you have an attorney review the document? Were you trying to pull a fast one?

[virividox]

i plan to wear my ipod to the ground...ill buy a new one when the hard drive fails :)

[MontyZ]

i plan to wear my ipod to the ground.
But the whole point of the recycling program is to NOT put it into the ground. ;)

[dontmatter]

what kind of a telephone pole up your ass do you have to have to vote negative on a recycling program!

Good lord.

[sw1tcher]

what kind of a telephone pole up your ass do you have to have to vote negative on a recycling program!
Okay, I give up. What kind of telephone pole do you have to have up your ass to vote negative on a recyclying program? :D

[dontmatter]

Okay, I give up. What kind of telephone pole do you have to have up your ass to vote negative on a recyclying program? :D

It was rhetorical-I'm just aghast that this could be voted negative and battered in this thread. However, if you want an answer-

Any kind, so long as it is huge and hard.


Anyway, nevermind the trolls. I'm just trying to say that, bottom line is, apple has given (whatever their reasons, so be it) an incentive for people to recycle their ipods instead of throwing them away, and putting some pretty nasty chemicals into the water supply. Maybe it would have been better if they had given cash, instead of trying to get people apple hooked, or if they gave a bigger discound. But look- people are going to recycle their ipods on account of this, and that is good. And apple will cover the costs by keeping the money buying ipods and gear, so everybody wins. Good for the shareholders, good for the world.

[MontyZ]

what kind of a telephone pole up your ass do you have to have to vote negative on a recycling program!
Some people are just very cynical about everything that's actually good for them.

[wdlove]

Some people are just very cynical about everything that's actually good for them.

I just think that some of our members like to play devils advocate. All of the discussion makes for interesting commentary.

Now if Apple would just extend the trade in program to the Mac itself.

[fistful]

The only way I'd find this useful as a means for upgrading is if my older iPod (if I had one) were busted, broken screen, failed hard drive and the like, otherwise it'd be more worth your while to just sell it prior to an upgrade. So from this perspective I say good on Apple, although I'd prefer the batteries were self serviceable and this 10% back recycle program also covered the replacement of the batteries themselves.

[MontyZ]

I hate these re-chargeable products that prevent you from replacing the battery. Braun electric toothbrushes are the same. They just stop working one day, and that's it. You have to throw the whole thing away.

It's obviously done on purpose to force people to buy a replacement item at full cost rather than just buying a less-expensive new replacement battery. As iPods are not cheap, it's unreasonable for Apple to expect people to just buy a new iPod when the battery is shot. At least they've made changes to rectify that initial stupid decision.

[hose this!]

The recycling program was not a result of the class action lawsuit. There is no factual basis to that.

Get your own facts straight.

Apple offers $50 credit in iPod suit settlement -- AP (AAPL) By Carolyn Pritchard
SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Apple Computer Inc. (AAPL) is offering consumers who had battery problems with older versions of their popular iPod digital music player $50 vouchers and extended service warranties under a tentative settlement of a class-action lawsuit, the Associated Press reported Thursday. Lawyers representing consumers in the California state court case against Apple told the AP that the settlement could affect as many as 2 million people nationwide who purchased first-, second- and third-generation iPods through May 2004. Apple confirmed the settlement to AP but reportedly declined to comment further. The suit, which was filed in the fall of 2003, alleged that the iPod failed to live up to claims that the rechargeable battery would last the product's lifetime and play music continuously for up to 10 hours, according to the AP. The settlement received initial approval last month, the AP said, and a judge will hold another hearing for final approval on Aug. 25.

[sacear]

I don't think Apple is being stingy with owners OR shareholders in giving the 10%. It's a nice gesture that helps some buyers and the environment--and it's a calculated smart business move too.

An incentive to recycle is a great program for moral reasons, and great PR. Yet it also serves like ANY promotion: as an incentive to buy when you might not have. They're not taking a loss on each new iPod with this, just making less. That's still profit. Would the same people have upgraded anyway and paid more? Some of them. Offsetting that, others will upgrade just because of the incentive. And by offering the discount only in retail stores they drive traffic and other purchases of Apple products.

This is no bad thing for shareholders.

And it's certainly not bad for owners--Apple is going an extra step here, offering this incentive. Take it or leave it, but if I get 10% back on my old and broken down iPod Photo--when that day comes ;) I won't be complaining! And if that 10% doesn't go very far because iPods have gotten so cheap... I certainly won't be complaining! :) And if there's a better discount and I can't combine the two, then I'll accept that Apple's not going to take a loss. Meanwhile, more iPods will end being recycled instead of ending up in baby food :)Exactly! That's what I've been saying. At least one other person gets it.

[sacear]

I hate these re-chargeable products that prevent you from replacing the battery. Braun electric toothbrushes are the same. They just stop working one day, and that's it. You have to throw the whole thing away.

It's obviously done on purpose to force people to buy a replacement item at full cost rather than just buying a less-expensive new replacement battery. As iPods are not cheap, it's unreasonable for Apple to expect people to just buy a new iPod when the battery is shot. At least they've made changes to rectify that initial stupid decision.Actually, Braun's batteries are replaceable by a Braun service center, not by the user. So you don't have to throw the item away. I've had the same Braun electric razor for about seven years. It was their top of the line at the time and they haven't made one since that comes close. The battery seems to last about three to five years. When the battery in mine died, it was slow and gradual, over a year until it finally completely quit charging. I went shopping for a new one and the guy at the shop told me to bring my old one in and he'd replace the battery. So I did and he did, so I had a new version of my old razor. I was stoked. And it was about one-fourth the price of buying a new Braun razor. I don't think Braun owes me anything because the battery in their product wore out and died.

The battery cells in iPods (and other products that use similar cells) are highly dangerous, that is why they do not want users handling them. Keeping people (especially kids) out of emergency rooms due to iPod battery burns is very smart and reasonable.

[sacear]

Get your own facts straight.

Apple offers $50 credit in iPod suit settlement -- AP (AAPL) By Carolyn Pritchard
SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Apple Computer Inc. (AAPL) is offering consumers who had battery problems with older versions of their popular iPod digital music player $50 vouchers and extended service warranties under a tentative settlement of a class-action lawsuit, the Associated Press reported Thursday. Lawyers representing consumers in the California state court case against Apple told the AP that the settlement could affect as many as 2 million people nationwide who purchased first-, second- and third-generation iPods through May 2004. Apple confirmed the settlement to AP but reportedly declined to comment further. The suit, which was filed in the fall of 2003, alleged that the iPod failed to live up to claims that the rechargeable battery would last the product's lifetime and play music continuously for up to 10 hours, according to the AP. The settlement received initial approval last month, the AP said, and a judge will hold another hearing for final approval on Aug. 25.Do you even know or realize what you are talking about or what you posted?

Have you even read the "iPod Battery Replacement" lawsuit settlement agreement statement? I've read the whole statement. Where does it say anything about recycling? Oh, that's right... it doesn't.

Even in the quote you posted I see no mention of recycling, do you? What are you trying to prove with that quote? That Apple is offering $50 vouchers and extended service warranties? Yes, that is stated and we all know that. Recycling? No. There is no statement of that.

The recycling program was not a result of the class action lawsuit. There is no factual basis to that.

The lawsuit settlement is not even official yet, so there are no results of that lawsuit as of now.

I suspect the recycling program idea was born separate from any lawsuit. The lawsuit though may have spurred its "timely" implementation.

[wdlove]

So no one thinks that Apple should extend the recycle and upgrade program to the Mac?

[sacear]

So no one thinks that Apple should extend the recycle and upgrade program to the Mac?Well, I mentioned something in post #60 of this thread. I have also read others mention similar, either in this thread or other threads.

Does anyone else think that ALL computer companies (especially Dell) ought to implement recycling programs for ALL their products?