iPod 5th Gen iPod Screen Cracking

[kerosion]

After receiving a 60gig 5th Gen iPod for Christmas one of my first trips was to my local Apple dealer to purchase a stronger case. After discovering cases for 5th gen iPods to be sold out at two locations I arrived at a third, where disaster struck. On stepping out of my car the iPod fell out of my pocket roughly 2 feet to the ground landing flat onto its back. Inspection after removing the iPod from the thin sleeve it shipped with revealed a brand new vertical crack through the iPods LCD.

I've been the owner of a 10gig 2nd generation iPod since their release, this first iPod was the unfortunate victim of a number of falls over the years however took the use and abuse like a champion. From my experience with this origional iPod it would appear that the increased screen size of the 5th generation iPod comes at the cost of greater susceptability to damage. I'm still somewhat shocked that a tumble from a sitting position to the ground was sufficient to crack the screen.

Inquiry with the vender the iPod was purchased from resulted in immediate direction to applecare and a refusal to further discuss the matter. Shortly after sending the iPod in to Apple I received the response "We have inspected your IPOD 5TH GENERATION and have determined that it does not require service. Therefore, we will return it to you unrepaired." with "Accidental damage or abuse found - service declined" as the official reason listed on Apples support site. I really do not care much whether or not the damage to my iPod is covered by warranty so long as my iPod is repaired. Thus far all I have received is dead ends in my attempts to deal with the situation.

Is this an uncommon situation with the newer generations of iPod?

Is anyone aware of a realistic route to take in this situation to get ahold of a fully functional iPod?

Thanks in advance. Take good care of those 5th generation iPods for those of you yet to go through this. They don't make them like they used to. Literally in this case.

 

[greg555]

Some credit cards give you 90 days of "oops" protection if you bought the product using their card. I got my money back from Royal Bank Visa when my new electric lawnmower was destroyed by hitting a large bolt (a replacement motor cost as much as the sale price I bought it for). You should check your card (or the card of the person who bought you the iPod) for this feature.

The same cards usually double the warranty (up to an extra year) so you usually don't need to buy the product service plan.

My Visa card gets a lot of exercise

Greg

 

[iDM]

I know this is little consolation but that sucks. I can see where your coming from I am assuming you don't care if the screen is fixed you just want it to work.

I had a friend in college that had his iPod stepped on and the LCD cracked. He lost about 75% of the screen and had to select his music by the last two or three letters of the bottom line of artists as he scrolled through.

Unfortunately Apple also has a leg to stand on albeit a lame excuse in your situation not to fix it, they need to protect themselves in case the "damage or abuse" you did renders the iPod unfixable in which case they would be out money at your expense.

 

[SpookTheHamster]

I've dropped my 5G several times, and it's holding up well.

My 5G is actually holding up better than my 3G did, which I fell on and crushed the hdd.

I remember finding a page deep within the Apple website with a form to send a damaged iPod off for repair, but it took me a LONG time to find it. If it's not too far, I'd just go in to your nearest store and ask them in person.

 

[puckhead193]

what do u people do to your ipods
The only thing you can do is have it fixed by apple by paying for the repairs

 

[dynamicd]

I'd try taking into an actual apple store. A women I work with bought her son one for Christmas and he dropped it and got a few scratches on the screen. They, in turn, took it to the apple store and told the guy there the truth about how it got scratched and he gave them a new one right away. Turns out the guy get's so many madeup stories everyday that he was happy to hear the truth finally. If you live near an apple store I'd definitely take a drive out there and give it a try.