APX problem: an update

Two weeks ago, we have launched a worldwide campaign aiming to investigate how frequent was the "short lifespan issue" encountered by many APX owners. Over this period of time we have already collected more than 225 additional reports, and everyday in the dedicated topic of the Apple discussion forum there are new reports concerning dead APX, most of them dying 13 to 18 months after having it plug for the first time. Based on our current records, the average lifespan of a APX is 15.35 months!!
Hereafter is a graph indicating the percentage of recorded defective APX according to the production week at Foxconn (official manufacturer of APX for Apple in 2004 and 2005). One can immediately spot some “black production weeks”, one of them leading to 20% of the dead APX reports, but it also shows that the problem is spread over time, so if it is not a design problem, faulty components must be available in large stocks.

Today we want to mention a report from Australia that might change current Apple's policies concerning defective APX. Hereafter is a story from Greg Ryan describing his difficult negotiations with Apple Australia, and how action of a State Department has forced Apple to replace the defective APX free of charge.

I sent a registered letter of appeal to The Manager, Customer Relations, Apple Australia, to replace my APX stating my concerns and have had no reply this last 2 weeks. Still on the case though. This week I'm forwarding the same letter to our Dept. of Fair Trading with an official complaint that I believe Apple to be in breach of Fair Trading Laws. Hopefully they will be able to liase with Apple for me to achieve a satisfactory outcome, and then with some luck, if they set a precedent, they will go about fixing everyone's dodgy APX's. Will keep you posted, Gerard.
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Apple have just supplied me with a replacement APX. The Office of Fair Trading gave them a call. I sent my faulty unit in to Apple as requested through the Office of Fair Trading. A couple of days later I received a new one with a cover letter proclaiming that they had decided to replace it for me as an offer of good will. They still believe that they were not under any obligation to replace it, as it was past the 12mth warranty. I'm pleased that they've finally replaced it but I'm still not overly grateful as it took quite a bit of effort to get it replaced and I'm still of the opinion that Apple is obliged to supply products of a reasonable quality.
Anyway, for anyone appealing to Apple Australia to have theirs replaced you're quite welcome to quote my case number to let them know that there is a precedent. Apple Case No.58319882. I suggest speaking to Janine Beach if possible. She is the one responsible for eventually approving replacement. Good luck.

This is a good news for our Australian readers, but we expect that Apple will simply recognize the issue and agree to replace dead APX all over the world; considering that an APX dying couple of month after the warranty is not synonym of a premium quality product as Apple tends to make it believing to worldwide customers.