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

[Hectx]

It's a ripoff to offer a reasonably priced option to purchase half of a whole item in the chance you're irresponsible and lose one of your AirPods?

Not that I care either way, but at least get it straight. You get to purchase 1/3 of the device for about 40% of the total cost (including tax). It's $69 for headphones (2) and $69 for the charging case (1).
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You would have to do it twice because the article says if you lose one they replace for $69.

Three times, you need the charging case.

 

[Deuce on the Clock]

If you buy them this a good option rather than no option at all.

 

[randymac09]

Not that I care either way, but at least get it straight. You get to purchase 1/3 of the device for about 40% of the total cost (including tax). It's $69 for headphones (2) and $69 for the charging case (1).
[doublepost=1481833042][/doublepost]

Three times, you need the charging case.

You are correct, my mistake. I somehow completely missed the whole "battery case" row.. That's embarrassing. Thanks for the correction.

 

[bernuli]

why go third-party, apple already makes this accessory

OMG. Their innovation got right by me!

 

[impulse462]

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!

this is all fine if these are available as a stand alone purchase. my post is about when they become the default option
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We can only hope your brain doesn't fall out and slip into a crack given your logic.

typical apple sheep logic

 

[paul4339]

...
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.
...

This.

For me, when my ear buds fall out, it's usually because I've tugged on the earphone wire.

And yes, I have dropped my phone because I've tugged on the earphone wire.

 

[imronburgundy]

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.

Because investors care about one thing, money. As long as people keep buying their new crap in increasing numbers, Tim will stay.

 

[Hectx]

You are correct, my mistake. I somehow completely missed the whole "battery case" row.. That's embarrassing. Thanks for the correction.

No problem. The replacement prices due to lost items really should be a non issue anyway, just don't lose them. Paying $49x3 to replace faulty batteries seems a little step though.

 

[pjny]

I use Apple products for work after using PC's from 1986-2010. Apple products allow me to get my work done more efficiently and since 2010 I have never had to scour the internet for missing drivers, DLL errors, blue screens, etc. The apple ecosystem works for me and many of the apps such as textexpander have given me an edge when it comes to completing work quickly and accurately. The Macbook 12, despite the haters, was a godsend as the older Macbook was too heavy to carry around all day.

If I can save even 20-100 minutes a year untangling the earpod wires this product will be worth it.

 

[TheHorrorNerd]

So, complete battery service is $147.

That’s only $12 less than a whole new kit.

And that’s some fresh BS. Indefensible.

Being a former employee I would imagine the replacement parts are a full set. And you'd have to bring in the case and single AirPod

 

[MrGuder]

$69.00 yikes!! and believe me people will lose these, what a profit to be had.

 

[Thunderhawks]

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.

Hey TimMustGo,

Did you just sign up under another name ?

Please apply to the board of Apple and make a presentation why you would be better than Tim.

You can also post it on MR and I will let you know immediately, saving you a step.

 

[citi]

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"

So let me get this straight, you are running and one falls out of your ear. The MUSIC ACTUALLY PAUSES, (by default) but you keep running with no music and your AirPods no longer in your ear? Tell that doesn't sound absolutely crazy?

 

[robbyx]

And they expect wireless to take off? The greedy idiots.

I think $159 is a very reasonable price. Premium headphones, whatever the selling features, cost easily that much and more.

 

[Thunderhawks]

I'm just happy they have a program like this

Are you serious?
Completely opposite what everybody else thinks.

Nobody wants to be responsible for their stuff or actions.

The audacity to charge for that, and wait until it is discovered that it is not totally new.

And, if they lose one of them it's clearly Apple's fault.

Come to think of it, a class action suit seems in order, since everybody has different size ears.

While there are different radiation is not harmful claims, I try to use as little wireless as possible near my brain. Doesn't seem to make a difference, plenty of senior moments.

BTW: The design reminds me of Popeye's pipe, just stuck into ears.
Now, if they figure out how to drive these with spinach, we may be on to something!

To everybody who wants these: Enjoy both of them as long as you have both!

 

[rock6079]

this is all fine if these are available as a stand alone purchase. my post is about when they become the default option
[doublepost=1481833750][/doublepost]
typical apple sheep logic

Your post was not about when they become the default option. In fact, you simply referred to AirPods as ""Biggest joke of a product Apple has come out in a long time." Your post was not speculative in any manner. It seems your post was about AirPods as is, since that is the only way to get AirPods.

 

[AppleB]

It's so very simple. If a user is not feeling the AirPods don't buy them.
I'm not interested in them because there are so many other BT options that fit my needs.
If the cons like batt life, losing them outweigh the pros like instant pairing etc just don't buy them.
Some act as if Apple has a gun to their heads to buy their stuff.
No headphone jack?
Don't buy it.
No wireless charging Don't buy it.
No OLED screen? Don't buy it.
iPhone 7 same design as the the 6? Don't buy it.
If I like a Apple product and it fits my needs I strongly consider purchasing it. If not I keep it moving.

 

[oftheheavens]

so I went to the apple store today to pick up a nimbus and thought i would ask if there was even the slightest idea when they would first be available in store. 2 employees, 2 answers

1- sometime next week but shipping has slipped 6 weeks
2- the 17th is what I heard

I find neither of these to sound like they have been told anything. I'll check saturday if I am in the area otherwise I am checking first thing Monday morning.

 

[cosmic68]

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.

Exactly this. So many people losing their shizzle over the exact same design minus a cord.

I've been totally bemused by the hate when they're identical?

People are MENTAL!

 

[Night Spring]

Has anyone ever bumped into you so hard that your earpods fell out?

EarPods never stay in my ears. They fall out if I tilt my head the wrong way. Which is why I'm not buying AirPods.
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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.

Yeah, but those have noise canceling, which AirPods don't have. Bose makes a wireless earphone that doesn't have noise canceling, and they are priced the same as AirPods.

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.

As far as I know, truly wireless earphones, where the two pieces aren't connected to each other, has only been around for a few years. With earphones with wire connecting them, it doesn't matter if it falls out, because the keeps them around your neck. Other truly wireless earphones are conjured to fit much more securely in your ear, and have sized ear tips to provide better fit for different sized ears.

 

[Larry The L]

It looks horrendous

Very useful post.
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Yeah, but but but... What if I'm ripping Oak boards on my table saw, and the cord gets snagged on the blade, hurling my ear pods backwards into the wall behind me at 110 miles per hour. And I only have a $20 bill in my wallet. THEN WHAT?

There are many medications that can help this kind of thinking.

 

[Night Spring]

So let me get this straight, you are running and one falls out of your ear. The MUSIC ACTUALLY PAUSES, (by default) but you keep running with no music and your AirPods no longer in your ear? Tell that doesn't sound absolutely crazy?

No, I think most users would notice right away if an AirPods falls out. But there's no guarantee they will fall somewhere you can find them, especially if you are outside. Most of the time, you'd probably find it, but there's always a chance they'd roll off somewhere and you can't find it.

 

[PurpleSookie]

I wonder what the chance of even getting a replacement will be in the first few months!

Will they be using whole sets and just separating them? I'm probably more likely to misplace the charging case, any replacement of those?

Oh the questions!

 

[Cwolk]

So basically if you want a second pair of AirPods for yourself or a gift, just claim to Apple you lost them and you'll get a discount

Not really. $69 x 2 = $138 and they value the charging case at $69 also, so you might as well just buy a new box of them and save $48 vs buying everything separately.

 

[Night Spring]

I wonder what the chance of even getting a replacement will be in the first few months!

Will they be using whole sets and just separating them? I'm probably more likely to misplace the charging case, any replacement of those?

From the original article:

If you lose or damage one of the AirPods or the charging case, Apple will charge $69 for a replacement, regardless of whether or not the AirPods are still under warranty.

And usuallly, replacement parts are in a separate inventory than new products. No, they don't break apart a complete set to give you replacements.