2 4-hour repair services company MacResQ has announced the launch of a repair service for Appleis iPod, specifically targeting out-of-warranty iPodis. The two iPodResQ programs will focus on repair and battery replacement.
The Nationwide iPod Repair Program costs US$29.00 and includes three-way overnight shipping, initial diagnostic service, and special packaging. Any additional work charges to repair an iPod will then be quoted to the customer.
The Nationwide Battery Replacement Service for all iPods will be offered at a special introductory price of US$79.00, which includes three-way overnight shipping, packaging, and all parts and labor for battery replacement.
If a customer would like to have the iPod battery replaced under the Repair Program, iPodResQ offers a discounted price of US$40.00 when other repairs are being made.
"We offer a premier service," Shannon Jean, President of ResQ Systems, LLC, told The Mac Observer. "Our iPod service is 24-hour turn-around and there is virtually no one in the country that we are aware of that is offering this service."
Mr. Jean said the iPod ResQ service should not be confused or compared with that of Appleis AppleCare Protection Plan for iPod. "AppleCare is a great thing," he said. "Our programs do not compete with theirs. This is strictly a program for those million or so iPods that are already out of (the one-year) warranty. If youire buying an iPod, we completely recommend you buy Appleis extended, two-year coverage. We are not competing for those customers."
Apple announced an extended warranty program for iPods in late November of last year for US$59.00. The plan extends the service and support coverage of an iPod, its included accessories, and iTunes to up to two years from the original purchase date. In addition, owners can get direct access to Apple experts for answers by phone for two years instead of 90 days.
The only part of an iPod repair that MacResQ could compete with Apple for would-be damage to a unit as a result of abuse. In those cases, Apple would not make repairs and cover them under the AppleCare program. MacResQ would quote a repair cost just as Apple would, and possibly at a more inexpensive price, Mr. Jean said. "The biggest difference in the case of a damage unit would be we could get it back to the customer in 24 hours. Apple would probably not be able to do that."