Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Apple ipod Speakers Exploded!
- Thread starter ricker
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Apple Responsibility over exploded speakers!
Hi guys, contrary to what some have said, apple does have some.....if not a great deal, of responsibility.
You see apple has designated this item as "made for ipod" all items that carry this seal of approval are acknowledged by apple as being of suitable quality and safety as well as compatibility, there should be a "made for ipod" logo on the packaging which means the product is endorsed by apple!
Im not sure about US law but here in Britain it is the retailer who is jointly responsible for the customers safety as well as the manufacturer and as the apple store sold you it the first port of call should be them!
Hi guys, contrary to what some have said, apple does have some.....if not a great deal, of responsibility.
You see apple has designated this item as "made for ipod" all items that carry this seal of approval are acknowledged by apple as being of suitable quality and safety as well as compatibility, there should be a "made for ipod" logo on the packaging which means the product is endorsed by apple!
Im not sure about US law but here in Britain it is the retailer who is jointly responsible for the customers safety as well as the manufacturer and as the apple store sold you it the first port of call should be them!
thegreatgonzo said:
Is it clear he purchased from an Apple store? I missed that. And I'm dubious Apple could be sued for poor manufacture of an item that they may only have tangentially endorsed. That would be company suicide to be liable for a product that they did not manufacture.
The litigious idea of only suing the "big pockets" regardless of true liability here in the U.S. has put too many companies out of business -- it is a rank socialist idea that belongs rotting with Lenin and Marx in their graves. (and yes, I know Marx is buried in London...!)
Wow, some of you are too much. There is such a thing as Quality Control. However, when you run an assembly line or mass produce anything, mistakes and problems do occur, and this user just happened to hit a home run (and a big one at that). I agree that they should replace it for free, but to go as far as filing a lawsuit after Apple (or any other company) is crazy.
People are too sue happy in this country, and together with all the rules and regulations (what happened to common sense? If Bob uses a hairdryer in the shower, let him experience the consequences) it's killing our industry and economy. Make the loser of the lawsuit pay for all the expenses of both sides and I bet you'd see a durastic drop in the amount of suits filed. Let's go sue fast food restaurants because we can't control our bad eating habbits. Idiots.
My $0.02.
People are too sue happy in this country, and together with all the rules and regulations (what happened to common sense? If Bob uses a hairdryer in the shower, let him experience the consequences) it's killing our industry and economy. Make the loser of the lawsuit pay for all the expenses of both sides and I bet you'd see a durastic drop in the amount of suits filed. Let's go sue fast food restaurants because we can't control our bad eating habbits. Idiots.
My $0.02.
California said:
Yep. you missed it:
Purchased at the Apple Store Crystal Court, Santa Ana, CA
Date/Time: December 25th at 7:00 PM PST
Apple didn't 'tangientially endorse' the product (whatever that means), they SOLD it to him. Since when has a company not been responsible for what they sell? Of course they're responsible. It might not be Apples fault, (and probably isn't, in which case Apple in turn claim damages from the manufacturer), but this isn't about whose fault it is, it's about whose responsibility it is.
The whole point is that if you buy a set of speakers it is reasonable to expect them not to burst into flames on the first day and destroy the decor in your living room and front porch. If they do it's reasonable to expect the supplier to compensate you for the damage done. If they don't agree to compensate you, it is your right to seek legal means of redress.
Ralph Nader, where are you?
stevep said:
Lots of places that sell poducts that cause damage are not responsible. Car dealerships are rarely if ever sued when a faulty automobile wrecks and kills someone. People go straight after the manufacturer. If my new washing machine breaks and the water damages my hardwood floors, I'm not going to be breathing down the neck of the store that sold it. My homeowners isnurance will take that up with the manufacturer regardless of whether or not the store opps to give me a new one. This from personal experience. You see, it all depends upon negligence.
I think it is safe to believe that Apple is NOT responsible for the damages caused by the defective product unless they knew they were selling a faulty product....that then changes everything. I have worked in retail for almost 20 years. Selling something that then causes damages does not always make the seller responsible. It depends upon negligence. Either way, they should get a new one.
Did you read the text on the guys website? Apparently not, and I quote:EricNau said:
BTW the smoke from the unit was that thick black type that sticks to walls - we are going to have to repaint... both the liviing room wall and the porch...
10$ wouldn't even pay for the paint.
I guess he could sue for $55.stevep said:
but lawyer fees would be atleast $2500.
He can probably get any money he wants for paint just by asking iFusion for it. Companies are usually good about this.
Ricker, please change your website and get rid of the "Apple" in Apple/SonicImpact's i-Fusion (speakers for the i-pod may prove to be hazardous to your household... and please get rid of the store where you bought it... No one cares. All we care about is the brand of the speakers (Sonic iFusion).
It's not fair to blame a good company that had nothing to do with it. Soon I'm going to see chain-emails floating around with the subject "Fwd: Apple products burst into flames" because someone misunderstood your website.
It's not fair to blame a good company that had nothing to do with it. Soon I'm going to see chain-emails floating around with the subject "Fwd: Apple products burst into flames" because someone misunderstood your website.
EricNau said:
Eric -- exactly. I read that the sales on extra-iPod products has reached something like 300 million dollars a quarter (or something like that) for companies like Sonic iFusion who piggyback/parasite off Apple's product line.
Just because this product was iPod compatible does NOT MEAN APPLE HAS ANY RESPONSIBILITY OR LIABILITY. And the guy should take the Apple off his website -- Apple could prove damages if a false "rumor" gets started, just like they sued that website for leaking confidential industrial secrets pertaining to its product line.
And yeah, I'd just file a homeowner's claim. Let the insurance adjusters investigate who is at fault -- that is their job.
Thanks for backing me up.California said:
I wouldn't file a homeowners claim for a petty thing like this. Your homeowners insurance will start to look for ways to either drop you or raise your rates.California said:
I would just contact iFusion, explain to them what happened, and most likely they will give you your money back plus a little extra for paint as such (if you ask for it).
stevep said:
Wow. I've only taken high school level government and a few college courses on basic constituational law, but this makes no sense to think that Apple is at fault. To say: " this isn't about whose fault it is, it's about whose responsibility it is." Huh?
wow ignorance and the greed abound apparently.
wow is all I have to say.
Wow to a burned piece of electronics.
Wow to ANYONE (not just the OP) who thinks that Apple is responsible
IN ANY WAY
cmon people, I know we here in the US love to sue. but gimme a break man. I dont hear anyone saying this kind of crap when someone buys something from any store (and I mean any store, Walmart, RadioShack, Best Buy, Kohls, Pier One) and it breaks or burns or just doesnt work. You see them bring it back to the store for a return. I mean this parallels the Nano scratch crap almost (i still dont think it deserved a lawsuit, and if you believe it does, tsk tsk you greedy bastard)
And in the case something DOES get damaged (like with this fire) then you still go back to the store and they will direct you to the company who MANUFACTURED the item.
How the hell is a SELLER responsible for damages from an item that is merely trading hands? Apple was the middle man between YOU and Sonic Fusion.
OMFG this sue happy crap is so overblown, you should be ashamed of yourself even thinking that Apple could care less about you. They got your $200 already (or was it $400?) from your iPod.
OMFG im so confused how can people be so dumb....
Box says "Sonic Fusion"......call the number on it and get a helmet, cuz the "****" is gonna fly now.
wow is all I have to say.
Wow to a burned piece of electronics.
Wow to ANYONE (not just the OP) who thinks that Apple is responsible
IN ANY WAY
cmon people, I know we here in the US love to sue. but gimme a break man. I dont hear anyone saying this kind of crap when someone buys something from any store (and I mean any store, Walmart, RadioShack, Best Buy, Kohls, Pier One) and it breaks or burns or just doesnt work. You see them bring it back to the store for a return. I mean this parallels the Nano scratch crap almost (i still dont think it deserved a lawsuit, and if you believe it does, tsk tsk you greedy bastard)
And in the case something DOES get damaged (like with this fire) then you still go back to the store and they will direct you to the company who MANUFACTURED the item.
How the hell is a SELLER responsible for damages from an item that is merely trading hands? Apple was the middle man between YOU and Sonic Fusion.
OMFG this sue happy crap is so overblown, you should be ashamed of yourself even thinking that Apple could care less about you. They got your $200 already (or was it $400?) from your iPod.
OMFG im so confused how can people be so dumb....
Box says "Sonic Fusion"......call the number on it and get a helmet, cuz the "****" is gonna fly now.
Perhaps you should read it again. Apple are responsible for choosing the products they stock in their shops. No-one forces them to stock particular products, or to sell them. It's not their fault that the product was allegedly faulty, but they are still the ones who sold it and are therefore responsible. It is up to them to sort the problem out (if there is one) with their customer (this is basic contract stuff - the contract was between the customer and Apple). Apple then have the right to go after the company that made the allegedly faulty product.California said:
Don't get me wrong here - I'm not saying Apple are the bad guys by any means, this is just standard customer relations stuff, and I'm sure they'll be only too pleased to compensate the guy (if his story is correct).
As a sort of disclaimer, I have to add that I've heard only one side of this story, and there may be other factors which change the situation as we've read it here.
To be practical about it, EricNau hit the nail on the head when he said "I would just contact iFusion, explain to them what happened, and most likely they will give you your money back plus a little extra for paint as such (if you ask for it)." except I would contact Apple in the first instance.
Wow all this law suit posting.
I just saw these speakers in the local Apple Store. I walked away, very quickly.
I just saw these speakers in the local Apple Store. I walked away, very quickly.
What contract?stevep said:
From the bottom of the Sonic Impact i-Fusion speaker page, on Apple's store
Yikes! I am glad that your family is OK and that no one was injured. Man, that's scary, what happened....
Immediately after reading this thread I got up and unplugged my speakers (not the same brand or style as yours) because at the moment my iPod isn't sitting in the dock. No point in taking chances. I then had a look at the photos and realized that the speaker set you had is what I had briefly thought about buying before going with something else instead. I'd looked at the Sonic Impact set and liked a lot of things about it, but then saw something else which caught my fancy more. Whoo, I'm glad now that my choice was different than yours! Chances are, though, that whatever happened with your Sonic Impact speakers, it was a fluke, but nonetheless it would behoove anyone else who has this brand and style of speakers to take them in to wherever they purchased them and either have them checked over thoroughly or simply replaced without question.
Again, I'm glad your family is safe and that your house is OK.
OTB
Immediately after reading this thread I got up and unplugged my speakers (not the same brand or style as yours) because at the moment my iPod isn't sitting in the dock. No point in taking chances. I then had a look at the photos and realized that the speaker set you had is what I had briefly thought about buying before going with something else instead. I'd looked at the Sonic Impact set and liked a lot of things about it, but then saw something else which caught my fancy more. Whoo, I'm glad now that my choice was different than yours! Chances are, though, that whatever happened with your Sonic Impact speakers, it was a fluke, but nonetheless it would behoove anyone else who has this brand and style of speakers to take them in to wherever they purchased them and either have them checked over thoroughly or simply replaced without question.
Again, I'm glad your family is safe and that your house is OK.
OTB