Apple PR Blunder

[cobhc]

http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/personal_tech/article6736587.ece

I can't believe they'd have the balls to do this!

 

[ze kink]

Wow, that's fucking ridiculous, especially since it's the battery's fault for sure! At least I've heard of many other products of different manufacturers and the problem has always been pinpointed into a faulty Li-Ion battery. I remember when we had a mass exchange of some Nokia batteries here in Finland, when there were a case or two of exploding phones, and they noticed that the batteries were faulty. They then made an announcement that the batteries with the serial number beginning with certain numbers were faulty and will be replaced for free.

 

[SocialNumb]

Feels good man.

 

[cobhc]

They then made an announcement that the batteries with the serial number beginning with certain numbers were faulty and will be replaced for free.

That's what any normal company would do, but not Apple. Things like these give me even less faith in Apple and make me less and less likely to buy any of their products.

 

[slashvanyoung]

Yeah, people ALWAYS knock at companies like Microsoft or Google, but Apple is definitely not better.

I recently had to choose between the iPhone and the G1 (aka HTC Dream) and I eventually went with the G1... even though I'm not to big on Google's "Big Brother attitude". Apple's product policies were definitely not a pro for their side...

Edit: The reliability of their products is one of their most important sales factors, exploding iPods don't support that image to well.

 

[cobhc]

Yeah, I mean media player wise I'm more likely to go for the ZuneHD and phone wise I'll probably go with HTC.

 

[slashvanyoung]

If Logic, especially the new one, wouldn't be so sweet... I'd probably wouldn't be using anything Apple anymore. No, I don't hate, that's stupid.. I simply don't draw any advantages from their products.

 

[SocialNumb]

Personally, I would have made the family disappear. Apple FTW!

 

[006]

Ken Stanborough, 47, from Liverpool, dropped his 11-year-old daughter Ellie’s iPod Touch last month.

'nuff said...

Actually, would like to comment on this too:

Mr Stanborough contacted Apple and Argos, where he had bought the device for £162. After being passed around several departments, he spoke to an Apple executive on the telephone. As a result of the conversation, Apple sent a letter to Mr Stanborough denying liability but offering a refund.

The letter also stated that, in accepting the money, Mr Stanborough was to “agree that you will keep the terms and existence of this settlement agreement completely confidential”, and that any breach of confidentiality “may result in Apple seeking injunctive relief, damages and legal costs against the defaulting persons or parties”.

I find it funny people think this is "bad PR" or something. Lots of companies do this shit all the time. Let Apple do it though... OMGOSH! Consumer drops product, fucks it up, it explodes, Apple offers a refund but denies liability - well gee, are they suppose to apologize for the guy dropping it? LOL wow... Who is to say the iPod would have exploded otherwise? Last time I checked iPods were not designed to be dropped on the floor to function properly.

 

[Metaltastic]

'nuff said...

Dude, you can't be serious - I hardly feel it's fair to think that dropping something is sufficient explanation for it fucking exploding!

 

[006]

Edited post with more.

 

[jrt12]

i've read a number of articles/blogs lately where people are getting really fed up with apple's lack of service. seems like anytime a company starts making money hand over first, everything starts going downhill. wtf... i'm so sick of the short-sightedness and myopic bottom-line mentality of executives these days. hell, i know first hand, i work for some. but it still pisses me off.

 

[006]

They offered a refund. Doesn't sound like a lack of service to me. If I were in his shoes I'd take the money Apple offered, never mention it again and go buy another iPod.

 

[Glenn Fricker]

'nuff said...
... OMGOSH! Consumer drops product, fucks it up, it explodes,
Last time I checked iPods were not designed to be dropped on the floor to function properly.

Funny, I thought they weren't supposed to explode, even if dropped.

The 'gag order' does seem a little severe, IMO. Frankly, I'm glad the family went to the press.

 

[006]

Well, laptop batteries and car tires aren't suppose to explode either, but it happens every once in a while when somebody makes something that is defective. I'm sure Chrysler or whoever you use to work for has never done something similar

 

[slashvanyoung]

It's pretty ironic... If they just apologized and did the refund (and maybe some goody on top for the inconvenience), nobody would have noticed..

 

[006]

Hindsight is 20/20, as they say.

 

[SocialNumb]

I'm with 006. Thats why I wrote what I did. (not that I would really want the family hurt) Shit happens.

Personally, I've never, ever had an apple product go bad yet. Not in any way shape or form. (not saying it doesn't or wont happen)

 

[cobhc]

They offered a refund. Doesn't sound like a lack of service to me. If I were in his shoes I'd take the money Apple offered, never mention it again and go buy another iPod.

Yeah, but the refund was offered ONLY with the gag order. How many companies do you know that will give you a refund ONLY if you accept a settlement agreement? And threaten to sue you if you divulge any information about said agreement?

That's what I think is bad about this whole situation. Whether the consumer fucked up or Apple did, is not the argument. It's how they dealt with the situation, rather than just offering a straight refund, or if it's the consumer fault, simply saying it isn't covered under warranty and washing their hands of it.

Why are they trying to cover up the whole scenario with a private agreement?

 

[J.DavisNJ]

It's funny, but I always comment on how great their service is. My 3-4 year old G5 had a power supply blow up, haha. They replaced it free, no questions asked.

-Joe