damage from sweat

Just lost my nano 6th to sweat...clearly apple designers are little dweebs who did not think about anyone using their Nano for exercise. Apple mp3 players are clearly not the way to go. Does anyone have good alternative brand suggestions?

I replaced my Gen 1 Nano under the upgrade program. What a great program, I thought...

First one lasted a week before it totally died (black screen, no audio). Second one lasted 6 weeks - took it to my local Apple store (Oakridge CA) today and they tell me it must have got wet, because the sensor inside is red.

It got sweaty, yes, but not wet. The lasting symptom is that volume increases when I press the down volume button...

It has a fitness program in it, and it can't get a bit sweaty ? That's almost funny.

For 'only' $60, they offered to replace it again. I refused, since I did not break anything...

The manager politely told me that no one was calling me a liar, but the sensor says it got wet, so it's out of warranty. Since I know it did not get wet, just sweaty (and that is a big difference in my opinion), I question the quality of the refurbs they use in their replacement program. My word against their sensor, so I lose.

I am an Apple developer, use a Mac Pro every day, and own a 4GS and a Touch. I'm very disappointed with this level of service...

Way to lose respect Apple. Back to my trusty Sansa Clip+ I guess...

Actually your sweat is worse than water due to the corrosive salt that is present. I've had mine more than a year and it is still plugging along but I clip it with the dock connector facing down if working out inside. When using it outside I use a silicone docking plug to keep sweat from dripping into it.

No argument: sweat is worse than water, at the same *pressure*.

Dropping it into, say, the deep end of a pool subjects it to significant water pressure that forces the water into the device, and therein lies the difference. I dropped a (non-Apple) phone into a pool once and when it did not work well afterwards, I did not blame the device.

My expectation of a product that is actively marketed for use in a fitness program is that it is reasonably sweat-proof. I think the multitude of comments here indicate that it often is not.

If it needs a silicone docking plug to make it fit for purpose, it should *ship* with one. Mine did not.

Mine didn't either, I just know I sweat a lot and where I clip it for use running outside I knew there was a risk of sweat running into the dock (and it does not have to be under pressure) so I found the plug. I could also have looked for a moisture-resistant case but this was much cheaper. As I said, indoors at the gym I'm just careful to clip it where sweat cannot run into the dock. Wasn't hard to figure out where that was or that sweat would corrode the iPod. My brother-in-law has run 3 maratons, 2 with a shuffle, one with a nano, and they are still running fine.

But if you feel it failed to meet your expectation call Apple Customer Service and argue your case. Or stick with your other player.

I am currently waiting for my 4th nano since Christmas 2011. The first was a present from my son and personalised. I only wear it at the gym, clipped to the neck-band of my t-shirt, as it is designed to do. It failed in early January, on the 3rd or 4th use. I had it replaced by Apple at no charge. The second one lasted even less time, before failing in similar circumstances. I simply threw this one away and paid for a replacement myself.

This has now also failed after only a short period. I spoke at length with a customer relations person who said they would deal with this as a service request, sending me a replacement and asking me to return the failed one for examination. He said that if it was found to have failed due to 'water damage', I would be charged for the replacement. Having now read these posts I now realise that I am not alone and that this player is simply not fit for purpose. Interestingly, the guy i spoke to said he was only aware of sweat causing damage when the set was worn on the inside of a wristband, nest to the skin - obviously he has not read these posts!

I would never where it clipped to the neck-band, I sweat far too much for that and mine would be dead within a day. Where does it say it was to be designed to be worn at the neck band?

Unless you have it in a waterproof case or have a cap in the dock connector any reasonable person can figure out within 1 Nano that perspiration and electronic equipment do not mix. I clip mine with the dock facing down lower down on my workout shirt. Have not even triggered the moisture sensor in 14 months or so.

I'm glad you've had a better experience than many of us here.

If you look at the pictures on the Nike part of the Apple website, the left hand picture clearly shows a lady in a red shirt wearing a Nano on the neck of her shirt. It's hard for Apple to then argue that this is an inappropriate use for it.

Specifically:

http://www.apple.com/ipod/nike/

If you then click on the 'Rock and run' link on that page, there's an image of someone in a green shirt, also with a nano clipped to their neckline:

http://www.apple.com/ipod/nike/run.html

I would say that any 'reasonable person' would expect Apple's website to demonstrate correct use of their equipment, unless the image is labelled 'this is not how to use this product'.

So, why is it so unreasonable for me to do this that it voids my warranty ?

Which is it Apple - fit for purpose or not ?

It appears that Apple do read this forum, as they just deleted my previous post, saying it broke some rules of this board. I had posted some URLs, perhaps that's not allowed ? Perhaps it counted as a link to a 'poll or petition' (explicitly against the rules here apparently) <sigh>

I wonder if I'm allowed to say that a web search will find at least one legal initiative that addresses the concerns in this thread, and that you can add yourself to that initiative via one of the sites that you might find ?

That would seem to me to be on-topic in this thread. Apologies to Apple if is is not.

Yes, the Community moderators do read it, or are alerted by other people to remove posts which violate the Terms of Use we all agreed to. You should have received an email telling you why your post was deleted, but since you posted links to outdated legal articles that have to do with iPhones and nothing to do with this thread yours was deleted. There is no doubt that moisture got into the users Nano.

I posted a link to an ongoing, existing piece of litigation that, while it currently names Iphone and Ipod touch, directly relates to the topic in this thread. I strongly suspect that if it finds in the plaintiff's favor, it will easily apply to Nanos too, since it specifically alleges that the moisture sensor triggering does not prove immersion, but it is true that I am not a lawyer, so I respectfully agree I could be wrong.

Outdated though, really ?

The latest filing was Feb 8th 2012, with the next conference set for March 22nd 2012

Not sure if Apple will let me post this, but search for Gallion, in context.

Yes, I did get an email 'explaining' that said that I had violated the terms of use due to:

"

Discussion of Apple Policies, Procedures or Decisions

Off-topic or non-technical posts

"

Not clear to me, but I don't really care to know more.

You and I are clearly not going to agree. I know I did not get my device 'wet' by any 'reasonable' definition of the word and that I feel let down. I'll stop posting now.

I had the same problem. I bought a Nano because it was supposed to be for running, and sports. After all, it has the Nike Plus application. And it is clip type. I used it for just a few months and it went dead. The Apple store told me it was "water damage' because they saw the indicator was half-red. I did not drop it in water, nor was it raining. I used my device the same way that everyone else in the gym was using their device. I used a 30 dollar Sansa,(a far superior device) in the same way for 3 years, and never had any problems at all. I bought the inferior Ipod Nano, and used it in the normal way, and it went dead. The Apple store refused to replace it unless I paid 60 dollars. I said 'no I am going to spend that money with your competitior'. I went to the electronics shop that same night and bought a Sony Walkman. Furthermore, Apple can forget that money I was going to spend on the New Ipad. I'll save that money and keep it in my pocket. I am now dis-recommending Apple products to everyone.

I would have to say this is the most ridiculous thing I have ever seen. I have had my 6th Gen Nano for about 6 months and use it at the gym as others have stated, as well as when I go running. I had a shuffle prior to this which I used exactly the same way for years and never had an issue. My nano started rebooting itself and after I sent it in to service they said I misused the product and it had water damage. I have never had it in contact with water. It has come into contact with perspiration, how is that misuse? The unit is designed to be light enough to clamp onto your shirt when exercising. That's the whole point of buying this unit. I paid for a replacement and am not happy about it but the customer service people on the phone from Apple were absolutely useless and would not help me out. So that being said, I will never buy another Apple product, will not buy music from their website and if this one goes bad will replace it with some other brand.😠

Uh-oh. This sounds exactly like my situation. My IPod just "died" at the gym. Screen went black. It's never been in water, but I suppose it's been in humid places like clipped to my clothing while exercising. It sounds like I'm not going to get a good response when I send it in! That's very lame!

I have had a few mp3 players over the years, the nano is the first one I had to worry about sweating on. It came with sport headphones with a short line I like clipping it on my collar now the thing is ruined. If apple can't build a device that can stand a little sweat then they should let us know or provide a case instead of the built in clip. Due to their poor engineering I am out several hundred dollars. At this point I won't be buying any apple products.