The Best Birthday Present Ever! Now even better..

A few years ago, I got a G5 iPod (iPod Video) for my birthday. Within a short period of months, or maybe weeks, I was telling anyone foolish enough to listen that it was the best birthday present ever! The only thing I would have changed about it was the battery life. I was working in a job of mindless drudgery at that time, and the iPod with 4k + pieces of music was a Godsend; it kept me from falling asleep, which had been a real challenge prior to that. I found that the brand new battery would only last about 5 hours. That got me well into the PM hours though, so: Mission Accomplished.

Over the years, the battery started gradually wearing out. Recently it got really bad. I recharge it at night at home. To reduce needless power consumption, I turn off the computer it charges at near midnight when I retire. Once I turned the iPod on at the office in the AM it would play for about a half hour before it quit.

NOT GOOD ENOUGH!

So, what to do? I looked on the Apple Inc. web site, and it appeared that their battery replacement service was designed to sell more new iPods. Muy Expensivo! So, I looked, but found no trees in my neighborhood, or near where I work that money was growing on, so that wasn't really an option.

What to do? Apple Inc., dating back to the days when they were still known as Apple Computer has always touted what they call "third party development opportunities" which some critics refer to as, well, never mind. This seemed like it might be one of those, so I googled for some relevant string - maybe "iPod G5 replacement battery DIY" (?) who remembers? - and came up with a number of possibilities.

I found DigiExpress in Pennsylvania had a battery replacement that came with a DIY kit and instructions. For cheap! It's tempting to say too good to be true, but actually, despite Apple Inc.'s inflated idea of the value of the iPod battery, I actually thought the price seemed about right. So I bought it.

Unfortunately, I screwed it up. When I got the iPod open, it didn't look like the picture in the directions, and then, when I looked, I saw I had broken the screen. From Best Birthday Present Ever to paperweight in 15 minutes: kind of depressing, especially considering the previously mentioned paucity of money growing trees in southern California.

What To DO? DigiExpress has a form submit page on the web site, so I sent them a quick note, asking what they could do to help me. Then I bundled up the iPod, ordered the battery install only service on the web site, and enclosed a letter with my original order and a copy of the new one.

After a brief conversation a couple days later with Michael at the company I paid them for the install of a new screen, which also was not expensive, ad they returned my iPod to me. Total downtime, about a week. They didn't charge me for the screen, either, which is a result I expect of the pitiful tone of my original email to them. I feel kind of bad about that, but decided I would blog about this excellent Customer Service experience so that the 4 people who read this blog could hear about this company, and each tell 4 more people, yada yada yada....

Best part of this is, now that I have a new battery, it holds a charge better than ever. Honestly. I did a test after I had had it for a couple days. I turned it on, stuck the earbuds in my pocket, and locked the iPod in the on position. Brand new, it was working for about 5 hours before it conked out from low battery. With the replacement battery, it went for 12 hours + before it stopped.

I am very pleased.

I recommend DigiExpress for all your iPod needs. Apparently, they do iPhone, as well.


DigiExpress
1700 Horne Blvd
Arnold, PA. 15068


412-480-3611