iPod advice? Sad runner...illustrated with smileys.

Giantess

So I ran with my iPod in the rain. I just got caught out, it was just cloudy when I started! But there was a downpour about a mile and a half from home, so despite being tucked under my t-shirt, the iPod got water damage and won't work.

This was the only device of its kind in my tightly-budgeted household. It was old, and shared between two people who loved it and used it every day. It was what we used for a car stereo, for a voice memo recorder, a running aid, a study buddy, and a home music system.

We were so sad, that I looked on Ebay for a replacement that we could afford. I found one for fifty dollars, newer than our old one! I skimmed the product description--it seemed pulled directly from the apple site. Seller with a good reputation. I bid, and planned to work some extra hours for the next month to pay for it.

It finally came today. It's hard drive is broken. :mad:

I went to go complain when I realized--a seller with such a good rep probably wouldn't go selling junk. I looked at the product description again. Sure enough, where I missed it the first two times, at the veeeery end of a description: Hard drive doesn't work. :embarassed:

No wonder I got such a "deal." :explode:

Well, buying another is right out. It was a splurge to start with. Fifty bucks might be pocket change to your average middle class person (it used to be for me!) but these days, I work myself to the bone for every last penny. :ohwell:

So aside from feeling INCREDIBLY stupid, I am angry and doubly sad. I'm not quite ready to give up, though. Which is why I'm typing an extended sob story into the community forums of the website I visit most! I've always had great advice from the community here, so I figured--if you all know how to cook, work out, and inspire, maybe you'll know about that exercise tool--the iPod! :flowerforyou:

Anyone ever had one repaired before? I'm looking for a company that charges fair prices for repairs to hard drives and water damage. I saw a few online, but I hesitate to use any of them without a good recommendation. I am NOT going to waste more money!

So, any suggestions or recommendations? :happy:

LindaLouLu

I don't know about repair companies, but I know when my husband accidently dropped my old one (2007 version) in the commode, I tossed & sealed it in a bag of rice. I don't remember how long it was IN there, but when I ran across it a few months later while packing I decided...eh, lets just see if it works? So I plugged it into the computer and left it for a few and when I came back it was working decent enough. There was something weird with the sound control, but overall it worked well enough to use for another year until it got stolen.:grumble:

Hope someone else has a smarter answer for you:flowerforyou: and I wish you the best of luck with it!

paulamarsden

could you youtube some vids and maybe make a good one out of the two damaged ones?

i would think the hard drive in the old one would be ok? id also leave poor feedback as it SHOULD state for spares/repairs in the title and TOP of the description on ebay, its very poor selling imo x

i just got a shuffle on ebay for £15. its functional and i just wanted it for the gym, alternatively do you not have a cellphone you could start to use as the music one?

Giantess

I did try the rice thing for a week with the wet iPod. Alas, my mistake was that it was turned ON during the wet phase, and that apparently fried its little brain. It still won't work.

The shuffle is a good idea. It will probably be more affordable than a repair. My phone is a "dumb phone" and like the iPod, so old that people remark and gasp in wonder when they see it. Hee hee. Still, a shuffle might be too little storage space for what we were wont to use the old one for. I'll still look for repairs.

Maybe my phone company will give me a free upgrade, though...hmm.

chooklady

oh I feel so sorry!

christine24t

could you write to ebay and explain the situation?

pixiexxgirl

You could always check QVC or HSN, They have bundles on ipod touches and for an 8GB i think itwas like 50$ a month for 5 months but you got the ipod, 5 sock covers, 5 straps for the sock covers (different colors!) a car charger, a wall charger, 2 pairs of headphones, a 50$ gift card for zino? i think it was, and a bunch of other stuff.

chooklady

You are going to have to come up with a way to get 'free' money so that you can get that iPod without impacting your budget/ feeling guilty.
Register with market research companies to taste food or take part in a discussion group about a new product advertising campaign= free $80 when it comes up usually twice a year. Register with lots of companies and always use this money for indulgences.
Sell that iPod on ebay , same description.
sell anything you don't need.

mrlazy1967

My daughter's ipod got water damage and was under 12 months old, it's not covered under warranty.. in the bin.
As for eBay, it's a case of Caveat emptor (buyer beware).. you have to read the description.
I agree with a previous post, ipod shuffle is cheap and cheerful but does the job.