Technology Liberation Front - Latest Comments in The Economics of iPod Repairs

Re: The Economics of iPod Repairs

David Wynn — Sun, 27 May 2007 00:00:34 -0000

I think Apple's iPod strategy has led to an interesting social tension, creating situations for a few people like the one listed above.

What I think is especially interesting is the price point that Apple has picked. Most people I know consider their iPods to be fairly significant investments, but Apple has created a strategy that forces them to overcome that feeling of investment in a time which I think many people find to be a little too short.

Granted, it's a smart decision since they sell more devices that way, but the pull that many consumers are feeling between paying what they consider a more luxury price for an increasingly commodified item creates a small, but interesting opening for repair services.

Re: The Economics of iPod Repairs

David McElroy — Wed, 23 May 2007 16:24:57 -0000

There are quite a number of non-Apple options for out-of-warranty iPods. For instance, take a look at these places that can fix or buy your dead iPod:

http://www.iresq.com/ipod/
http://podswap.com/
http://www.ipodrepairsquad.com/

Re: The Economics of iPod Repairs

Don Marti — Wed, 23 May 2007 14:45:46 -0000

Alternate business model: "Here's my current price list for used iPods. Give me your broken one. If I choose to fix it, I'll sell it back to you for half the going price, or if you don't want it I'll sell it to someone else and give you half the money. If I choose not to fix it, I'll take it apart and recycle it, and give you back part of the case to prove that I didn't lie about not being able to fix it."

Re: The Economics of iPod Repairs

Tim Lee — Wed, 23 May 2007 14:08:19 -0000

I think you're overestimating the tech savvyness of the average Apple customer. My guess is that somewhere between 95 and 99 percent of iPod customers would be terrified at the prospect of prying their iPod open, and wouldn't really have any clue what to do with it once they'd opened it. And a significant number wouldn't be able to get it back together again afterwards.

Now, part of the problem is Apple's decision to design their products in a way that discourages people from taking their gadgets apart. But given their general design philosophy, I don't think it's crazy for them to assume that the overwhelming majority of their customers are going to be neither willing nor able to attempt do-it-yourself repairs.

Re: The Economics of iPod Repairs

Julian Sanchez — Wed, 23 May 2007 13:03:26 -0000

Fine, look, I don't expect them to spend man hours repairing out-of-warranty items for free. But how about: "Well, try a reset, and if that doesn't work, you can pop it open at your own risk and look for loose connections." I guess what I'm annoyed about is the tendency to discourage simple DIY consumer repairs (it's kind of a pain in the ass to get an ipod open, as you may have noticed) in favor of moving new product. Maybe that's in Apple's short-term economic interest, but it seems like a poor way to build the kind of user loyalty for which the company's so renowned.