Microsoft Is Giving Away Free Red 80GB Zunes

Consider it either a case of luck or a strike of misfortune. But no matter how you look at it, you could be one of the customers that receives a free Zune for Valentine's day. This is Microsoft's way of making amends, and not a promotion to take the wind out of Apple's iPods sales. Both companies are offering special edition digital media players for Valentine's day. Microsoft came out with a red variant of the 80GB standard hard disk model of Zune, and Apple offered a pink version of iPod nano. However, since the release of Zune 2.0, Microsoft has been offering customers the possibility to customize the appearance of their devices via Zune Originals, nothing more than artistic models and messages that can be laser engraved to deliver a personalized experience.

The problems started to appear due to the popularity of the red edition of Zune. It seems that the demand is so high that Microsoft has acknowledged that it will have problems delivering the orders by February 14, in time for Valentine's day. And just in case that the company will not make it, customers are offered a refund in full, although at the same time, they will still getting their Zunes.

"We wanted to provide you with an update on your order status. Due to some issues in our fulfillment center there remains a chance we will miss getting your Zune to you by February 14th. We are working hard to get your order to you as quickly as possible and we currently plan to ship your Zune within the next 3-4 days. Once your order is in transit, we will send you a shipping confirmation with a link for tracking," reads an excerpt from the email The Zune Originals Team is sending customers, as cited by Steve Clayton, with Microsoft International working on Software + Services.

Clayton praised the Zune team for the way they handled the matter, saying that a public apology, and showering customers with free Zune love, more than make up for any inconvenience. "Our goal is to provide a smooth customer experience for ordering, customization, and delivery. We sincerely apologize for not meeting that goal in this specific case. We will be refunding the entire amount of your order, which you should be able to see on your credit/debit card within 7-10 days. We hope you love your Zune and that you will accept our sincere apology," The Zune Originals Team added.