Broken Ipod - what can I do with it?

[EllenFrasier]

My son won an Apple Ipod Video off of Ebay a couple of months ago. There was no warranty on it. The port on the Ipod where the USB cable goes to charge it or upload music is broken. We are not sure how it got broken, but he is accusing his younger brother of tampering with it (long story).

In any case, has anyone ever had this break on their Ipod and did you get it repaired? My son thinks he read somewhere that you can turn a broken Ipod into the Apple Store and they will give you a refurbished one. I'm thinking that is only if you bought it there. I'm not sure if it's possible to repair it or if we should just chalk it up as a loss. He paid for it himself and it cost him around $100.

 

[RitaE]

Well if it is just the USB port it is repairable. I've replaced numerous batteries and screens and hard drives, but I've never done a USB port so I don't know how hard it is as a DIY project. If you Google you can see several videos showing the process. Those ports actually do take a significant amount of abuse with the cords pulling, so don't be too hard on the kids. They break often just under normal use.

There are plenty of places that do iPOD repair. Google around and get a quote.

Otherwise, I think your best bet would probably be to sell it on EBAY for parts and then use that money to help buy the Refurb replacement.

 

[luvmy3]

You can also check You Tube for instructions on how to repair it. I had to replace the keypad on my phone and sure enough there was a video on there to guide me.
If you find it too difficult I would just do what the pp suggested, sell it for parts and use the money towards a new (or refurbished) one. If you do buy via ebay again, I suggest a warranty through Square Trade.

 

[dzneprincess]

You can get it repaired at the apple store even if you did not purchase it there. I have done so. P

 

[JCMHutch]

DH killed his 3rd generation iPod and ended up selling it on eBay for parts for $50 (he used points from Discover Card to buy it so that worked out well for him). He then bought a nano that died and was told it was unfixable. He may put the Nano on eBay and sell it as is for parts also. (Personally, I think he is deadly to iPods.)

If you send it away to Apple for repair you probably won't get the same on back, but they will fix it.

 

[pigletto]

I know you could turn it in at the Apple Store for a new one if you did not buy it there.. if it is still under warranty and you didn't cause the damage. I just returned dd's because the jack that the headphones plug into was loose and it was messing up the sound. However it was registered, and still under the one year warranty. I bought it at Bestbuy. But they won't do it if there is obvious signs of damage from dropping, or getting it wet.
If he got it new in the last year, register it online at the Apple site and it will tell you if it is still under the one year warranty.

 

[drgreene1096]

Target.com takes in used electronics on trade for Target gift cards.

 

[Sweettears]

Paperweight.

 

[MsStinkerBelle]

The Apple Store will give you a 10% discount towards a new iPod when you 'recycle' your old one. When DD11's old iPod Nano was slowly dying, I took it to the local Apple Store for a repair consult and that's what the guy at the Genius Bar told me.

 

[Green Tea]

Was it used on ebay? They carry a one year Apple warranty regardless of how you came into possession of it. Put the serial number into the support area on Apple.com and see if it is under warranty.

 

[rock_doctor]

How handy is he? Is he a patient person? If so i know you can get replacement parts for the ipods and you can just about rebuild it yourself. Changing the motherboard should be as easy as changing the battery. He just needs to search for the part and get it. It likely will come with instructions. If he takes it into apple they will just give him a discount towards a new one. I would try to fix it. It will be good for him to learn how to trouble shoot and repair electronics. It would be a good teaching moment plus he can replace the battery and maybe even up the flash memory and end up with a better ipod then he started with... He needs to get onto the ilounge forum and start to read. Now only will he have a place to "read-up" on the inner workings of the ipod it also gives him a place to ask questions in case something goes wrong.