Speaking of the iPod, here's an anonymous op-ed piece

Since I'm on the subject, here's some opinions from a private e-discussion with an individual who has spent years in the retail CE trenches, with his observations on the ways that he believes Apple and the iPod do a disservice the both their retail partners and their customers:

Subject: Here's why I don't like the iPod:

1) they're crap. they seem to break down all the time. When your store has to deal with four irate broken-iPod having customers a day, it clouds your perception.

2) Apple gives you a 15 day return policy only if the unit fails to power up. After that, too bad.

3) If you register your iPod for the 1 year warranty you get one free tech support call. After that, they charge you for the call.

4) You have to buy the $89.99 apple iCare exetended warranty to get free exchange on dead iPods for three years.

5) Even if you have the $89.99 iCare, you are still responsible for shipping and handling each time your iPod breaks.

6) Even if you have the $89.99 iCare, there is a greater than 50% chance apple will tell you that your problem isn't covered under warranty.

7) There are cheaper, more reliable mp3 players on the market, but Apple brainwashes people with endless tv commercials and celebrity endorsements, so that iPod is the only one people ask for by name.

8 ) Due to hardball business practices, Apple keeps the retail supply of iPods tight, so retailers are always out of them, generating greater excitement amongst young consumers who perceive that "everybody but me has one!"

9) Due to hardball business practices, Apple maintains price integrity by only permitting retailers to sell at msrp, which is a big fat 7% markup above cost. when you factor in lost staff productivity wasted on dealing with apple after-sales service for angry customers, it's not even worth selling them.

Wow. There's somebody who doesn't hesitate to tell you how he feels.

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