RSSCanadian iPod settlement resolves battery life claims
By Ed Oswald | Published May 9, 2008, 11:55 AM
Canadian owners of first, second and third generation iPods will be eligible for a $45 credit as part of a settlement over battery life claims.
Two lawsuits have been filed in the country. While one in Quebec was denied class-action status, the other in Ontario had been accepted by the courts. This agreement would settle both cases.
Even so, the deal needs to be approved by both courts: a hearing is set in Montreal for May 26, and Toronto on June 20.
Both cases claimed that the battery life of early iPods fell dramatically after just one year of use. While the company said that the devices should get about eight hours of playback time, by the second year this had dropped to only three.
An estimated 80,000 Canadians are expected to be eligible for the program, which could cost the company up to $3.6 million in lost revenues if all the credits are used. Users would be able to use the $45 for purchases at the Apple Store online.
This week's settlement does not mean the company is out of legal hot water in Canada just yet. Another suit in Quebec seeking class-action status revolves around Apple's claims of capacity in some of its players.
In that case, the plaintiff is seeking a full refund for the player, or a 7.5 percent credit that corresponds to the amount of reduced space on his iPod nano.
Apple had no comment on the suit.
It doesn't take a genius to figure out that products with build in batteries don't have a long life span, especially Apple products.
And Apple gets to screw them over again with that 45$ coupon. They're probably going to end up buying something with non user replaceable batteries again. Since Apple only has products with build in batteries. I think Apple is the first and only company ever to have a cell phone and a laptop with non user replaceable. You got to love Apple, they got screwing customers down to an art. LOL
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And they love it too. I think it's something similar to battered wife syndrome. Kick them in the head and they come back for more. At least the Canadians will get some of their money back.
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Wow... a $45 coupon.
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Even better, a $45 coupon at the Apple Store!
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