14 DAY TRIAL // Apple has announced a headphone-replacement program for owners of a third-generation iPod shuffle. The accessory, bundled with the music player upon shipping, seemingly fails under certain conditions. A small percentage of device owners are affected, Apple says. The company is replacing faulty headphones with mic for anyone who has acquired a supported iPod between February 2009 and February 2010.
“Apple has determined that the Apple Headphones with Remote included with the iPod shuffle (3rd gen) may fail under certain conditions,” a Support document on Apple’s site reads. “A very small percentage of iPod shuffle owners have experienced this issue. These headphones were included with the iPod shuffle (3rd generation) made between approximately February 2009 and February 2010.”
“If your headphones stop working or work intermittently […] Apple will replace them, free of charge, for two years from date of purchase […] Apple In-Ear Headphones with Remote and Mic and Apple Earphones with Remote and Mic which exhibit the symptoms noted above are also covered under this program,” the company adds.
Apple illustrates the in-line remote on the right earbud cable, so that customers can better identify the model they own. “Upon completion of your online service request,” to which the company links here, “Apple will send you a replacement along with a pre-paid return envelope so that you can ship back the original headphones,” the company states. “It's important that you return the original headphones so that they can be examined and recycled responsibly. If Apple does not receive your original headphones within 10 business days, your credit card will be charged a non-return fee,” the Support document reveals.
Introduced in March 2009, the 3rd-gen shuffle is still the world’s smallest music player at nearly half of the size of its predecessor, “and the first music player that talks to you,” Apple said in last year’s press release. The description was made in reference to the new VoiceOver feature that enables iPod shuffle to speak song titles, artists and playlist names. Visit Apple’s Support site here to learn more about how you can exchange your faulty earphones for a new pair.