Apple to Charge $69 to Replace a Lost or Broken AirPod

[cocky jeremy]

Total ******* ripoff.

Tim Cook is a joke. The sooner he is fired, the sooner they can get someone in there to save Apple.

How this incompetent has lasted this long is beyond belief.

It's a ripoff to have to pay for losing something? Um, ok? Most companies would say, "Too bad, buy a new pair." At least Apple lets you buy just one.

 

[Xi Xone]

Are they releasing these in black ?

 

[pier]

And this is why wired headphones are still way better than wireless.

No need for a charging box, or batteries, or spending time charging. Also better audio quality, more environmentally friendly, and much more difficult to lose.

Oh dang, Apple forgot to put a headphone jack in the iPhone 7.

 

[paul4339]

Now, an event that happens all the time if you take the subway (people bumping into you), or run outside can cost you $69. LOL. Biggest joke of a product Apple has come out in a long time.

But oh wait I know what people will tell me "don't bump into people" or "move to Montana" or "just don't seek human contact"

how is this much different than the hands-free bluetooth mic/earbuds that people having been using for over a decade? You bump into them people using them in elevators, subways, etc all the time.

 

[citysnaps]

And this is why wired headphones are still way better than wireless.

No need for a charging box, or batteries, or spending time charging. Also better audio quality, more environmentally friendly, and much more difficult to lose.

Oh dang, Apple forgot to put a headphone jack in the iPhone 7.

Huh???

Apple included a pair of EarPods that plug right into the iPhone 7, just like with previous iPhones.

 

[ryanwarsaw]

You know what would be easier? If they were somehow connected so if one comes out, my $160 pair of headphones dont disappear and I'm crawling around the subway floor looking for it like some kind of bonobo. Ill give you an example. I rarely drop my phone but just yesterday I fell asleep on the subway and it fell out of my hand and slid downwards since the bottom of the car isn't totally flat. I kept looking under my seat to find it but couldn't. Luckily the woman sitting in front of me found it and gave it to me.

As for them fitting easier, that's pretty subjective since people's ears have slight variations.
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True but I suspect these will be the norm once the new phone comes out next year. Then what

We can only hope your brain doesn't fall out and slip into a crack given your logic.

 

[tech4all]

How so? Its (almost) the same as the current corded versions, except no cord. So what makes these worse? So the current EarPods are fine, but cut the cords and somehow they become horrendous? Your logic is beyond stupid.

It's a lazy design, much like the Magic Mouse with USB C port on the bottom. They could've designed something else, but they choose to just recycle the current design.

 

[ryanwarsaw]

Yeah but $69x2 is $138. What would keep two friends from going in, splitting the purchase of one pair, and then each going back claiming the other one was lost? Are these parts serialized?

Either way, that is a lot for a replacement, but who am I to judge. It would probably be smarter to just save the $69 for next year's model (likely with Bluetooth 5), and use the individual for calls/at your desk.

It would work if you share the charger I guess. Hard way to save some easy money.

 

[iSee]

Thank goodness we have the Sale of Goods Act in the UK, mandating a much longer warranty than 1 year.

That is nice. But you are paying for it.

The extra cost is built in to the price and is part of the reason Airpods cost more in the U.K. than the U.S.

 

[bjet767]

For those who think Apple is "ripping " people off with the price of these buds check this page out:

https://www.bose.com/en_us/products/headphones/earphones.html?mc=k3073411

Personally I'm considering buying a set.

Oh and I liked the Conan parody, funny stuff.

 

[paul4339]

And this is why wired headphones are still way better than wireless.

No need for a charging box, or batteries, or spending time charging. Also better audio quality, more environmentally friendly, and much more difficult to lose.

Oh dang, Apple forgot to put a headphone jack in the iPhone 7.

This is no different than the cordless phones vs corded phones. When cordless phones came out same argument applied: they needed base station, batteries, time spent charging, inferior audio, etc.

People eventually chose cordless phones because it offered more freedom to move around.

 

[mudflap]

Total ******* ripoff.

Tim Cook is a joke. The sooner he is fired, the sooner they can get someone in there to save Apple.

How this incompetent has lasted this long is beyond belief.

How is that a ripoff? A single, decent bluetooth headset, like a Plantronics Voyager Edge, is above $100.

 

[Blaze4G]

how is this much different than the hands-free bluetooth mic/earbuds that people having been using for over a decade? You bump into them people using them in elevators, subways, etc all the time.

Because those has a wire that connects to both earpiece. It is very unlikely both will fall out at the same time. If you're referring to those Bluetooth earpiece that only goes in one ear, then those had the rubber clasp thing that went around your ear. So extremely different.

 

[paul4339]

How is that a ripoff? A single, decent bluetooth headset, like a Plantronics Voyager Edge, is above $100.

agreed, also similar wireless earbuds from samsung are $199 and bragg dash earbuds are about $299...they have their pro/cons but it's all approx in the same ballpark.
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Because those has a wire that connects to both earpiece. It is very unlikely both will fall out at the same time. If you're referring to those Bluetooth earpiece that only goes in one ear, then those had the rubber clasp thing that went around your ear. So extremely different.

I mean the single ear-piece that you see a stereotypical businessperson use to talk on the cell phones with... there are many that don't have a "hook" around the ear.

The old ones needed a hook around the ear because of the weight. The newer ones that are appearing don't... it's just an evolution of the earpiece. (just do a google and out the evolution of Jawbone-style earpieces).

 

[ksnell]

Do both friends want to charge them? Are you going to share the charger?

Yeah I guess they probably wouldn't want them to just be ear plugs right?

 

[kazmac]

LOLOLOL... wow. $69 per AirPod? I may not understand bluetooth/wireless pricing but from my perspective these were already too expensive at $160.

So for me, this 6s+ looking like it will definitely be the last substantial purchase I make at Apple.

 

[paul4339]

The better question to ask, is how often has your regular Apple earbuds popped out of your ears (not due to yanking on the cord)?

If they popped out due to poor fit, your particular activity (such as playing basketball), etc, ,, then there's always earbuds from Beats (that connect both earbuds with a cord) and different models to choose from depending on your activities ... those Beats earbuds (that use the same W1 chip) market towards sports more.

 

[TroyBoy30]

I'll stick with jaybird

 

[bigjnyc]

Hopefully one of the 3rd party accessory makers will come out with a wire that attaches the EarPods to your iphone so if they fall out your ear, they won't go too far. Be great if you could charge them at the same time.

Sounds like a $75 must have addon.

why go third-party, apple already makes this accessory

 

[rock6079]

Now, an event that happens all the time if you take the subway (people bumping into you), or run outside can cost you $69. LOL. Biggest joke of a product Apple has come out in a long time."

I just bout a pair of Nike shoes. If I lose the left shoe, I have to buy a whole new pair.

I just bout a pair of cufflinks. If I lose a cufflink, I have to buy a whole new pair.

I just bought a pair of gloves. If one falls out of my bag, I have to buy a whole new pari.

I just bought screwdriver set. If I lose a screwdriver, I have to buy the set again.

I just bought AirPods. If I lose an AirPod, I can buy a replacement for less than half of the cost of a full replacement. Yeah, screw Apple!

 

[bluush]

Cord or cordless debate aside, Apple earbuds have always had terrible sound quality. Any price more than 'free' for these things is criminal.

 

[Mike Oxard]

Can I buy just one?

Going for the Uhura look?

 

[paul4339]

I just bout a pair of Nike shoes. If I lose the left shoe, I have to buy a whole new pair.

I just bout a pair of cufflinks. If I lose a cufflink, I have to buy a whole new pair.

I just bought a pair of gloves. If one falls out of my bag, I have to buy a whole new pari.

I just bought screwdriver set. If I lose a screwdriver, I have to buy the set again.

I just bought AirPods. If I lose an AirPod, I can buy a replacement for less than half of the cost of a full replacement. Yeah, screw Apple!

I think ear rings are might be a better example. People lose a single earring all the time... if you lose one, you lose it.

If you are afraid of losing it (or if it's your particular activity makes it susceptible for losing one), then get the kind that connects with a cord (Jaybird, Beats, etc)...

 

[Naraxus]

I'm waiting to see the justification for this blatant nickel & diming from the usual suspects.

 

[ipedro]

That's pretty reasonable. I just don't see how you can lose one outside of a freak accident. If you're not wearing them, put them in the case. It's an easy habit to keep.

As for falling out, the reason current earbuds fall out is because they're tugged by their wire. Bonus: the leading reason iPhones fall and break is because they were tugged by their earphones' wire.

Seems like a great investment on both accounts.