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Previous: Complex technology in modern cars | Main | Next: Fedex error message
February 7, 2005 12:29 AM
Broken: Single-headphone pad delivery
Michael Moore writes:
I have a nice pair of Sony headphones but the earpads had been deteriorating, so I decided to replace them. I ordered the item in the picture, paid my $2.50 shipping on a $6 part (sigh) and waited for it to arrive.
It finally shows up yesterday and guess what? Only one pad! For some inexplicable reason Sony only sells single pads. Last time I checked most humans have two ears. Of course nowhere on the item description do they explain you'll want to order two. So I'm ordering again, paying another $2.50 in shipping, and hoping for no more nasty surprises.
[That's what you get for ordering "PAD ASSY." -mh]
Why not phone the toll-free number and explain your situation? They might offer you free P&P as a goodwill gesture, and hopefully "fix" their site as a result of your feedback.
When I ordered ear cushions from Plantronics, they came in pairs fortunately ($5 CAN total to boot).
Unfortunately, it was broken for an entirely different reason: it took five months and repeated calls to get the order processed.
The site does say pad assembly ear. I do think this is a little confusing when dealing with earphones, but if you think about this as replacement parts as a whole, if you saw brake pad assembly, I would expect one assembly even though I have 4 wheels. I suspect that in general their parts system works pretty well, but a phonecall to customer support could prompt them to make this particular description more clear.
"if you saw brake pad assembly, I would expect one assembly even though I have 4 wheels."
Perhaps not the best analogy, since each caliper takes two pads, and I doubt you can buy an individual pad from most sources! Furthermore, in my experience, pads are sold per axle (i.e. in sets of four), but I won't claim that's universal.
I would say that selling a single pad is not broken, but that it could be more clearly described.
Not broken at all. There isn't a single hint that leads you to think that the pads come in sets of two. The assumption that they will come in pairs is broken.
well the assumption comes from the concept that all people are in posession of two ears... so obvious human biology is whats broken here.
Maybe next time you can actually get up and go to the store then...its cheaper, and hey human contact aint so bad!!
I've got a pair of headphones in front of me with one slightly worm pad and one totally shredded pad. No idea why they wore out at different rates, but just because I have two ears doesn't mean I need two pads at once. Still, it'd be nice if the site was clearer.
Isn't "fat piece of lard" a little redundant, you broken, nonworking anonymous, name-withholding poster?
When u pay 6 bucks i'd expect 2 ear pads. If its based on the assumption that your ordering one, shouldit say, in shiny, bold, crimson letters, SOLD IN PACKS OF 1, so the occasional idiot (no reference to original poster) thinks oh, i have two ears, and six bucks is a lot for pads, so, two it is!!!
I would expect 2 pads.
Unless of course the web site clearly advertised that they were selling only one pad.
They should sell them in pairs or make it clearer that there is only one pad in the set.
And, why are we insulting Michael Moore on a web site designed to expose the flaws in product design?
Honestly, stay on topic.
That is so typically Sony - I have a personal boycott on Sony as they never include any additional items in their products. eg you buy a digi cam with them, its another 50 bucks, to buy a case, another 50 bucks for a decent memory stick, and and and and
Does anyone know where folks can buy inexpensive earpads that fit Sony headphones? I have some deluxe Sony headphones which I can't use because of their deteriorated pads. I replaced them once because the original pair fell apart (with no use at all and sealed in a ZipLoc bag to protect them from air pollutants!), and so there is no way in hell that I am going to cough up Sony's ridiculously gouging prices for crap that doesn't hold up worth a damn!
I second the above request, I have a pair of mdr-v600s and it would cost me upwards of $30 to replace the pads (L and R sold separately?!) via sony's website. What's up with that? I could fork down another $20 and just pick up a new pair of headphones!
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Selling just one pad isn't broken (because one pad may wear out and need to be replaced), but the site needs to make it more clear that it is selling just one.
Posted by: _ at February 7, 2005 12:55 AM