Apple is going to have to do something about the scratching

I don't have one yet but I do believe this.

1.Nothing is perfect.

2.If you don't want fingerprints, grease, or scratches, wash your hands and cut your nails.

I agree with the previous poster, although i can understand how one wouldn't want a major investment to look like something tossed into a drawer full of forks and spoons... when i had the 3rd gen ipod and the ipod photo they both scratched VERY easily! so its not like the Nano is the first to do this, but until the scratches take away from the MUSIC quality then i think apple should switch to a different casing

So if you bought a new Mercedes and the paint started to peel off the day after you bought it, then your attitude would be "Nothing is perfect?"

Scratches in general are one thing, but there isn't just "perfection" and "everything else" either. Build qualities vary greatly by product. Just look at some of the things around you as you type this and I bet you can see examples of this.

The usefulness of this thread is that it shows that Apple has collected many thousands of dollars in revenues, using premium pricing for a product of average build quality. We know this because this many people would simply not be abusing their iPods and most of us are second and third time iPod owners. It is less of a string of complaints and more a request for support. Hopefully someone will figure out how to properly repair and/or protect theirs so we can all follow suit.

It's not of the quality normally expected of Apple and it's also useful for all of us to see that the problem is widespread. There were no threads called "My 3G iPod is scratched!" with 50+ replies. There were threads, however, about battery life and even if Apple doesn't take note of these boards, the boards spark real-life conversation and word-of-mouth does spread which leads to consequences for the company's bottom line. I have told a few people already to hold off on getting nanos that would have otherwise purchased them already.

All it takes is a little bit of attention, which often begins at an individual level and will grow into media coverage if enough people are affected. There is such thing as bad publicity and no publicly owned corporation wants it. Keep posting here so we can help each other find out why this is happening. Keep making noise and encourage others to do the same and either Apple or another company will be able to take care of our needs.

1. Nothing is perfect - true

2. Cut your finger nails and wash your hands - that's not the problem.

I was just wondering, I've heard that RadTech's Ice Creme has worked wonders on previous ipods, does it work it's wonders on the nano too? Cause if it does, they'll be having a lot of business!

Ok, it's ridiculous to criticize people who are simply dissatisfied with a fairly expensive purchase. Of course they should complain to the stores - perhaps if they get enough returns/complaints, Apple will listen and fix it. But I'm sure someone somewhere in the Apple universe is taking notice of these boards. Perhaps someone in product development or customer satisfaction? And what would get their attention more than 1 thread on the scratch issue? 100 threads on the scratch issue. I came here to learn whether people are happy with their nanos as I consider buying one. The scratching issue makes me want to just buy a mini, except I'm not sure about how long it will be fully compatible in the future. Blast.

I too have a nano that seems to get scratched no matter what I do. I put it in an eyeglass cloth when I put it in my pocket, and other than that it's in my hand or my nano armband. It's covered with tiny scratches all over both the front and back, the button on the click wheel seems to be bearing the brunt of the assault. Apparently my nub of a thumbnail is somehow excavating the plastic there.

Today I pulled it out of its cloth and there is a nice big nick right next to the click-wheel. My nano looks like Marilyn Monroe now.

I've never had an older iPod, so I don't know how the material compares, but man, this stuff is DELICATE. I'm gonna go out on a limb and say they picked the materials on their "shiny" not their durability. Of course, what's the point of shiny if it lasts for less than a week even when you baby the thing like its a tube of nitroglycerin?

I'm not gonna freak out over this, everything eventually gets marred sometime, and then when it does, you can relax about it. Of course, if it is scratched so easily, what will it look like when I stop pampering it?

I just hope Apple changes whatever polymer they are using for the front and maybe coats the plating or changes its composition to make it harder.

When i heard of the new release of the Apple Ipod Nano
I got really confused, should i AGAIN sell the previous Ipod "predecessor" (Ipod mini 6gig)i had?
I lost count of the "Nano been scratched" posts, so i changed my mind, although at least 5 people already decided to pay a fair price for the second-hand Mini i own.
Great compliments for a company like Apple though, to allow people to discuss problems like these on their OWN site, the battery-life-issue of the older models Mini i'm shure, have been noticed by Apple this way too (AND been solved!, so don't feel not heard 🙂, i'm shure they will solved this Nano-scratch-sensitivity issue too.

Too many scratches, so I returned it, I've only had my nano for 1 week, I never dropped it never placed it in my pocket, it only stayed in my hands or on a special microfiber cloth.

I've never had product so few days and seen so much damage well lets call it wear and tear, You don't buy a BMW and expect to see the paint peeling off in a month.

I have been so let down by the quality of the iPod nano I am shocked.

Not in function, but in materials quality. Its like buying a TV made out of clay, or a wooden cell phone.

So long nano.

This is the best solution I have heard so far and I am strongly considering it myself. I used the same car paint analogy above as you can see. Did they charge or try to charge restock fee?

I was also considering using this as my 1 free AppleCare phone support case within the first 90 days of purchase to see what they say.

Aron Feibus check out Peter's post on Returned my nano below, We have returned them for the exact same reason.

Understand scratches no problem, But not after meticulous Care, and I mean OCD level of CAre.

Peter Grether, my situation is almost exactly alike. After 7 days of use, never in a pocket just on my desk and polished with a special non scratching cloth.

The back had several very sligh scratches, so did the front Totaly unaccepatble.

I was developing OCD just constantly polishing the darn think and keeping oils off.

The soft Lucite is so delicate its is just horrible quality of materials (beatiful, design and function)

But I would not buy a Wooden Bicycle, or a TV made from Clay.

I can not buy an mp3 player made out of plastic softer than some packaging materials.

The sheer fact that two people have returned a nano for the same exact reason indicates a huge problem for Apple. And more to come.

Its is so delicate soft unfeelable dust particles will scratch it.

The nano is nice but not worth developing OCD for.

I ordered the nano for my wife this past weekend, it came in today. She did not take it to work (wanted to leave it at home to charge)... Once it finished charging I got a hold of it while doing some work around the house. I had the nano in my pocket (cotton shorts) for about two hours while listening to music. when I took the Nano out, I was shocked then furious with the amount of scratches on the front (actually distorts viewing photos). I have been a MAC user for years, this is my third iPod. I have never had any issues like this before. I am really disappointed.

what was your reason for returning it? did apple store give you a hard time? will they even allow you to return just because of scratches?

I still believe all the ipods INCLUDING the ipod nano have the same casing/chrome+white plastic they STILL play music, dont they? but after all we DO have everything we want with the nano, we can't complain bout it not being small enough, or not having a color screen, so we have to complain bout SOMETHING else instead... as for the ipod nano being compared to cars, well you guys are PARTIALLY right, seein as cars (be them benz or beamers) depreciate in value after drivin them off the lot, ipods should be no different! right?

you're right, it is no different. i could go sell my ipod on ebay right now open box, used - and not get as much for it as i paid. i don't see the point.

I never complained about anything with my 3G ipod. i didnt mind the black and white screen when all my friends had their 4G color. i didnt envy the smaller size of my friends' minis. i wouldn't have even bought a nano if my 3G didnt break and had enough money for a 4G 60gb .

lack of features doesnt bother me. it's shoddy craftsmanship that does.