Apple Officially Launches Third-Party USB Charger Takeback Program in 30 Countries

[gnasher729]

The reason they are doing this, is properly because there is missing sufficient protection in the phone, against being electrocuted in the first place. Putting xxx volt into the phone, should not cause the case to turn a into people zapper.

The phone doesn't become a "people zapper". The charger is what kills people. You don't need a phone connected to the charger, it will do that all by itself. In the case where a woman in China was killed, it was the charger killing her on its own.

Seriously, if you think that Apple or anyone else can build a phone that will protect you if the charger delivers 220 Volts, you should go back to your old school and ask your old physics teacher to explain that whole electricity thing to you, because you clearly didn't pay attention the first time.

The issue isn’t even unauthorized 3rd party chargers themselves. It’s ones sold in countries where piracy is rampant and consumer safety isn’t. China isn’t the biggest iPhone market, but this hasn’t happened in the United States, which is.

There are plenty of chargers on eBay in the UK that I wouldn't trust. Plenty that look very much like Apple chargers except they have printed "designed by California" or "made by Appel" or similar nonsense on them.

 

[thekingofnerds]

you should go back to your old school and ask your old physics teacher to explain that whole electricity thing to you, because you clearly didn't pay attention the first time.

Agreed.

10 amps + 220 volts + cheap plastic casing + poorly insulated wiring = Death.

Who woulda thunk?

Can't wait until someone blames a mobile device for lightning strikes, instead of the million volts that are traveling miles through the air which gladly strike anything, including non-metallic objects like trees. Oh wait.

 

[NewbieCanada]

One per iPad, isn't it? Not one per person.

Yes, you’re right. But not one per charger turned in. You need at least one charge and device for each one they let you purchase.

There are plenty of chargers on eBay in the UK that I wouldn't trust. Plenty that look very much like Apple chargers except they have printed "designed by California" or "made by Appel" or similar nonsense on them.

Yes, that’s quite true. However in the UK there’s also a well-established and regulated retail system that makes you far less likely to buy a dodgy charger on ebay and wait a week for it to arrive when you can pop round to Tesco and only have to worry about it being made of horse meat. In China they’ve actually had counterfeit Apple STORES.

http://www.tealeafnation.com/2013/0...-fake-apple-stores-booming-in-southern-china/

We have counterfeit Apple stores here in Canada too. They’re called “Samsung."

 

[kenetic]

It's not Apple fault and they are paying the price. Just to make everyone happy.

 

[donutbagel]

I wonder if we will see a similar scheme with Macbook chargers? is simply too much for some people, especially when the fake ones cost

I hope so. USB chargers aren't a big deal since everyone sells them, but there are only Apple and sketchy knockoff MacBook chargers. Jerks on eBay sell the knockoffs all the time, tricking customers into thinking they're Apple-made.

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It's not Apple fault and they are paying the price. Just to make everyone happy.

I'll bet they're still making a profit at $10 per wall to USB adaptor and are selling them to many people who would otherwise not buy them. These things are mass-produced.

 

[IndoX]

I'll clarify a bit:

You only get the USB Power Adapter - not the cable. It is ONE discounted price per serial number. You need the serial number of the device you're swapping it out for or you'll be told to go home and get it.

This is for a limited time only.

 

[donutbagel]

If the regular price of the Apple adapters was $10 they never would have had this issue to begin with...

I personally would not buy USB power adaptors from Apple unless they were miraculously cheaper than anything else. I don't really care about them looking stylish, and it's not like the Apple ones are anything special.

 

[demodave]

[url=http://cdn.macrumors.com/im/macrumorsthreadlogodarkd.png]Image[/url]


With Apple's USB Power Adapter Takeback Program officially launching yesterday, the company has now posted prices for additional participating regions, boosting the number of countries where consumers may trade-in a third-party USB charger for a discount on an official Apple charger (via 9to5Mac). While Apple originally expanded plans for the program last month to countries beyond the United States and China with seven additional countries, the recent move brings the amount of countries supported by the program to 30.

[cut image of list of new countries]

Apple is maintaining separate information pages for several countries involved in the program, while pricing in the bulk of the countries is summarized on a separate "other countries" page.

First introduced last month following the electrocution of a Chinese woman using a counterfeit iPhone charger, the recycling initiative is designed to allow iOS users to safely replace and dispose of questionable third-party power adapters.

Under the terms of the program, Apple will accept and recycle any third-party charger at any Apple Retail Store or participating Apple Authorized Service Provider, and will also provide an authentic charger for $10 in the United States, a $9 discount from Apple's regular pricing.

Article Link: Apple Officially Launches Third-Party USB Charger Takeback Program in 30 Countries

It's interesting (I guess) to look a the list of added countries, but, to me, somewhat being a travel and language buff, it was really interesting just to go to the main site, which lists the first ten countries introduced into the program, mostly, because a few of the countries have multiple language offerings. For example, Canada has English and French. (*That* I can read and understand.) Since they are listed as 30 countries total and 20 new ones were added, I can only assume that there are ten countries in the original list. If that is the case, then Hong Kong (English) is followed by Hong Kong in Cantonese and that "China" is written in both Mandarin and Cantonese.

Can anyone identify the countries associated to the "character"-written languages?

I also find it amusing that the newly added countries don't have multiple language listings and have to muddle through with English, because I have little reason to assume that many people in those countries will actually speak English well enough to benefit from the website.

 

[Ries]

The phone doesn't become a "people zapper". The charger is what kills people. You don't need a phone connected to the charger, it will do that all by itself. In the case where a woman in China was killed, it was the charger killing her on its own.

Seriously, if you think that Apple or anyone else can build a phone that will protect you if the charger delivers 220 Volts, you should go back to your old school and ask your old physics teacher to explain that whole electricity thing to you, because you clearly didn't pay attention the first time.

She was trying to make a call from the phone connected to the charger. Im a engineer and apparently you are a moron. This is how a over-voltage protector for a handheld device looks like:

http://www.onsemi.com/PowerSolutions/product.do?id=NCP370

Devices should NEVER end up with a charge that can kill you on a case, frying the electronics is fine. It is also not allowed to catch fire it such circumstances.

Edit: notice how it says "The wall adapter is disconnected from the system if the input voltage exceeds the overvoltage (OVLO) or undervoltage (UVLO) thresholds. "

 

[MacMulti]

So a bunch of cheapos go buy a cheap chinese adaptors and Apple has to replace them?

What nonsense. Those people deserve to have their phones blow up in their face for their cheapness.

i agree with you on the bunch..

I personally would not buy USB power adaptors from Apple unless they were miraculously cheaper than anything else. I don't really care about them looking stylish, and it's not like the Apple ones are anything special.

 

[gnasher729]

She was trying to make a call from the phone connected to the charger. Im a engineer and apparently you are a moron. This is how a over-voltage protector for a handheld device looks like:

http://www.onsemi.com/PowerSolutions/product.do?id=NCP370

Devices should NEVER end up with a charge that can kill you on a case, frying the electronics is fine. It is also not allowed to catch fire it such circumstances.

Edit: notice how it says "The wall adapter is disconnected from the system if the input voltage exceeds the overvoltage (OVLO) or undervoltage (UVLO) thresholds. "

Pretty insulting, but then you insult yourself by linking to a product that says:

Overvoltage Protection up to 28 V
Overvoltage Protection down to -28 V

which is going to do wonders for your health when you put 220 Volt into a phone.

Don't know what kind of engineer you are, but certainly not an electrical engineer. They know that 220 Volt is more than 28 Volt.

 

[macsrcool1234]

I know this is about USB chargers but I honestly understand how they feel. My Macbook Air charger started charging intermittently and a new one is a ridiculous $80 in the Apple Store. Went up on eBay and got a new one for $17 shipped. At the end of the day people take their own risks when they buy knock offs.

Apple, however creates the market in the first place with their ridiculous markups.

Also, wasn't the woman who was electrocuted charging in the shower? I mean, that's Darwin's law right there. Would an official Apple charger have made the difference?

 

[petalino]

Only a genius could have thought of this one.

So i am guessing the new original charger might cost Apple $2 or $3 or even $5.
Or even $8 (very unlikely).

This recall is a very clever advertising campaign: stay in the news and be considered as a company which cares about safety of its products, even to the point of exchanging a bad charger for a good one; at no cost to Apple of course.

Brilliant! This advertising campaign is brilliant and its free to Apple.

I bow to the geniuses at Apple. They do the exchange a their stores..... get people to come into their stores to do the exchange.... these people will probably buy more while there...... and at the same time Apple will be considered the samaritan-corporate hero by news media.

Nothing wrong with this strategy, in my view.

 

[Richdmoore]

I called my local apple authorized service provider and they said that they weren't participating in the program (Southern Oregon area).

I wrote to corporate relations to to check if they can refuse to participate in this program without violating their service agreements.

It's not a huge deal to me, but those who want to get new chargers at authorized service providers might want to check before they head down to get replacement chargers.

 

[Ries]

Pretty insulting, but then you insult yourself by linking to a product that says:

Overvoltage Protection up to 28 V
Overvoltage Protection down to -28 V

which is going to do wonders for your health when you put 220 Volt into a phone.

Don't know what kind of engineer you are, but certainly not an electrical engineer. They know that 220 Volt is more than 28 Volt.

You're right, I am not an electrical engineer Thou i have made simple boards with small simple CPU's on it. My experience in that part is mostly from device certifications, the last step is always simulation of lightning strikes and over-voltage.

I just googled the first device i found. The -30/30v (8kV/14kV transient) is the limit where the chip will still recover. There should be a warning somewhere in the data sheet saying it will fry above the limit and you can't expect it to work afterwards and a section on how the IC "fails".

Edit: Atleast there should be a SMD fuse, that one should have stopped the current.

 

[MH01]

Yes, because listening to you is how best to run a company.

Says a poster, on a forum..... Ha ha ha ...

 

[Lancer]

What about Australia?

 

[Gasu E.]

Great! Now I can get some additional 10/12W chargers for my several iPads for REALLY cheap

No one has mentioned the fine print.

"To qualify, you must turn in at least one USB power adapter and bring your iPhone, iPad, or iPod to an Apple Retail Store or participating Apple Authorized Service Provider for serial number validation. The special pricing on Apple USB power adapters is limited to one adapter for each iPhone, iPad, and iPod you own..."

 

[BandH]

Beware ANAL Apple Store Clerks & Manager

No one has mentioned the fine print.

"To qualify, you must turn in at least one USB power adapter and bring your iPhone, iPad, or iPod to an Apple Retail Store or participating Apple Authorized Service Provider for serial number validation. The special pricing on Apple USB power adapters is limited to one adapter for each iPhone, iPad, and iPod you own..."

BEWARE - Apple retail store clerks (including Store Manager) are very ANAL about what you turn in. It must be a generic fake USB knock-off. Although they state "turn in at least one USB power adapter" they won't accept just any regular USB power adapter.

I just tried to do this and my I brought an old USB adapter from a prior generation Samsung phone and after waiting 45 minutes to be "checked in" via the Genius Bar appointment system as a walk-in" I was told "that's a Samsung, not a 3rd party USB. We don't accept that".

So, if you really want to take advantage of this to get an Apple power supply for $10 instead of $20, head over to eBay ASAP and buy one of those generic Apple USB power supplies (approx $1.50 USD with free shipping) and hope you receive before this "limited time" promo ends.

Oh, and book a Genius Bar appointment in advance so you don't have to wait when you get to the store.

 

[Four oF NINE]

BEWARE - Apple retail store clerks (including Store Manager) are very ANAL about what you turn in. It must be a generic fake USB knock-off. Although they state "turn in at least one USB power adapter" they won't accept just any regular USB power adapter.

I just tried to do this and my I brought an old USB adapter from a prior generation Samsung phone and after waiting 45 minutes to be "checked in" via the Genius Bar appointment system as a walk-in" I was told "that's a Samsung, not a 3rd party USB. We don't accept that".

So, if you really want to take advantage of this to get an Apple power supply for $10 instead of $20, head over to eBay ASAP and buy one of those generic Apple USB power supplies (approx $1.50 USD with free shipping) and hope you receive before this "limited time" promo ends.

Oh, and book a Genius Bar appointment in advance so you don't have to wait when you get to the store.

Is this really the point of the program? What you're suggesting sounds unscrupulous to me.

 

[merkinmuffley]

Nice to see Apple step up like this. Good move.

 

[donutbagel]

So i am guessing the new original charger might cost Apple $2 or $3 or even $5.
Or even $8 (very unlikely).

This recall is a very clever advertising campaign: stay in the news and be considered as a company which cares about safety of its products, even to the point of exchanging a bad charger for a good one; at no cost to Apple of course.

Brilliant! This advertising campaign is brilliant and its free to Apple.

I bow to the geniuses at Apple. They do the exchange a their stores..... get people to come into their stores to do the exchange.... these people will probably buy more while there...... and at the same time Apple will be considered the samaritan-corporate hero by news media.

Nothing wrong with this strategy, in my view.

Exactly. It's still possible that they actually care, though, but we won't know.

 

[darkplanets]

Unnecessary, but a nice gesture.

To all those looking to abuse the system in here; shame on you.

If people want to be cheap, they can take the risks. It's not Apple's fault -- you were using an unauthorized charger of unknown quality. To imply that Apple should somehow be liable and responsible for putting in safeguards for illicit third party devices is absolutely asinine.

People need to take responsibility for their own stupidity instead of blaming others.

 

[donutbagel]

BEWARE - Apple retail store clerks (including Store Manager) are very ANAL about what you turn in. It must be a generic fake USB knock-off. Although they state "turn in at least one USB power adapter" they won't accept just any regular USB power adapter.

So you've answered what I've been asking. They only accept knockoffs of Apple chargers.

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Exactly. Then, people wouldn't need to purchase third-party ones.

(BTW, this q - whether the price of Apple's original chargers' is the main reason for even a lot of first-world people using cheap Chinese chargers - has been discussed a lot in the thread on the last accident in China.)

One already comes with the phone, and there are plenty of non-knockoff chargers for sale if you want another. Belkin, Samsung, and others make them. It's nobody's fault but yours if you buy a knockoff unless, of course, you are tricked into buying it. If I were to buy another, I'd never get one from Apple but from a reputable company offering cheaper ones.

 

[cclloyd]

When it says (inc VAT) does that mean that that price includes the vat or the listed price PLUS the VAT?