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Podswap: Keep airpods alive and out of the landfill

thepodswap.com

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Re: Podswap: Keep airpods alive and out of the landfill

#21

Post by Scoundreller »

smoldesu wrote: post #5

So you're paying $60 to get your earbuds replaced, but you can't use the service if they have any external/cosmetic damage. Something here doesn't add up, is this just because Airpods don't have replaceable batteries?

> can't use the service if they have any external/cosmetic damage

My guess is that you're not getting your own airpods back, but someone else's. Quick turnaround that way and I think people want that for a product like this.

Positioning in Miami isn't ideal for turnaround, somewhere more central or a courier hub (Memphis or Louisville) would make more sense.

As repair-turnaround time is no longer an issue, and Airpods are small, they can fedex them to a low-cost country for repair. Miami has tons of connections to S. America, so maybe somewhere there.

Just a Fedex SmallBox holds a couple hundred airpods (they're 0.75inches if they were a rectangle, and smallbox is 200sqin), so they can really take low-cost to an extreme. If China, well, the batteries were going to be shipped from there anyway and that's most of the bulk anyway, but cylinders do pack better.

Here's a video of the whole process: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pE9aB5aPbMM

Many of these steps are scalable - could pre-tin battery leads, find a better solvent than alcohol to soften adhesive, custom heat protection cap rather than kitchen foil, dip metal cap in ultrasonic solvent bath, etc.

Maybe they have some domestic gigworkers in case they get really busy, but otherwise, save that dollar.

Re: Podswap: Keep airpods alive and out of the landfill

#22

Post by slg »

samatman wrote: post #14
bruceb wrote: post #3

I am pro refurbishing/reusing and having less waste but its hard to care about tiny airpods being tossed. Maybe they test the message and it resonated better than "Airpods should last longer than your last relationship" or "1 trick that Apple hates" etc.

It's just the Discourse in action. For whatever reason, AirPods, of all things, have become a go-to example of environmental waste and throwaway culture. It's bizarre to me. I'm fairly confident that for minutes of pleasure / embodied energy, AirPods score higher than almost anything else I own, certainly among things with a battery and chip. They also last multiples of the time I would get out of wired earphones, wh…

You can't just blame this on "the Discourse" or Apple haters. I have owned countless devices with batteries over my life. None has made me as acutely aware of its battery degrading as Airpods. Eventually I couldn't even make it through a full workout or work call on a single charge. They basically became worthless through nothing but normal usage. There was no visible physical damage. I treated them exactly how I was supposed to treat them according to Apple and still only got 2-3 years out of them. That is frustrating. It also is unlike many other Apple products as lots of people are perfectly satisfied with their 5+ year old Macbooks and iPhones.

Re: Podswap: Keep airpods alive and out of the landfill

#23

Post by qeternity »

ashayh wrote: post #8

Why do we need a separate business for this? Apple should be made to pay for it. If anyone finds an Airpod on the street or in trash/landfills, they should be able to take it to the nearest Apple store or mail it and get 20-40$ back for it. This should be the law for _all_ and any products, not just electronics. Large corporations have cleverly shifted the responsibility of recycling on the consumer, while they get t…

You can’t just claim that they’ve shifted responsibility without arguing your point. It’s clear you have an axe to grind, but at the same time, where do we draw the line of individual responsibility?

It’s not like we haven’t known for decades we were killing the planet…and yet here we all are. Why does the average Joe get off the hook here?

Re: Podswap: Keep airpods alive and out of the landfill

#24

Post by SV_BubbleTime »

denimnerd42 wrote: post #18
polishdude20 wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That might be what's already happening behind the scenes though. They tell you you're at 10% but that's actually 30% for example

10% vs 30% corresponds to whatever arbitrary voltage they select but I doubt they are selecting for battery durability over all else since marketing max run time is so important.

Automotive engineer that doesn’t work on EVs here… there is a lot that goes into the battery. Heating and cooling elements for instance. You’re right, max runtime is the number one factor, but this can be gamed just like MPG ratings.

I’m not sure many reviews are checking 0-60 times at 20% battery for example.

My EV has a hilarious “miles remaining” number that INSTANTLY changes when the HVAC is on, doesn’t matter if it’s only slightly on or not, I instantly “lose” 8 or 9%. It’s pretty loose. As to what I actually get? Doesn’t really matter, never even compared to rating, mfgs know we use these cars for city travel.

The small percentage of EVs you see on long haul highway, owners already know to carefully plan their trips.

Re: Podswap: Keep airpods alive and out of the landfill

#25

Post by tyingq »

specialist wrote: post #20

Just guessing: Podswap has stock of both new "blank" bud cases and batteries. Crack open buds using some kind of jig. Scoop out the electronics. Solder to new battery. Cram it all back together. That's how I'd do it. Bonus points for choice of colors. I'd love clear or forest green or deep purple. Watching a few air pod tear down videos, I find it weird the battery itself isn't part of the case. Like just use white i…

>Podswap has stock of both new "blank" bud cases and batteries.

They seem very picky about the condition of the case on what you send in, so I'm not sure they have a stock of new cases.

See: https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0520/9856/4273/products/ai...

Re: Podswap: Keep airpods alive and out of the landfill

#26

Post by reaperducer »

The web site states: "The first-ever battery replacement program."

I'm not sure this is true. Apple had an AirPods battery replacement program before COVID-19. I had my wife's done. I wanted to get mine done this past January, but it didn't seem to be an option anymore. Maybe because of the pandemic and the global supply chain problems and such.

"Only current" battery replacement program, maybe. But not first-ever.

Re: Podswap: Keep airpods alive and out of the landfill

#27

Post by specialist »

tyingq wrote: post #25
specialist wrote: post #20

Just guessing: Podswap has stock of both new "blank" bud cases and batteries. Crack open buds using some kind of jig. Scoop out the electronics. Solder to new battery. Cram it all back together. That's how I'd do it. Bonus points for choice of colors. I'd love clear or forest green or deep purple. Watching a few air pod tear down videos, I find it weird the battery itself isn't part of the case. Like just use white i…

>Podswap has stock of both new "blank" bud cases and batteries. They seem very picky about the condition of the case on what you send in, so I'm not sure they have a stock of new cases. See: https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0520/9856/4273/products/ai...

Oops. I misread that graphic. I thought it was examples of "before" air pods.

My puppy gnawed on my pair, so I was excited to get them rehabilitated.

Re: Podswap: Keep airpods alive and out of the landfill

#28

Post by KingMachiavelli »

qeternity wrote: post #23
ashayh wrote: post #8

Why do we need a separate business for this? Apple should be made to pay for it. If anyone finds an Airpod on the street or in trash/landfills, they should be able to take it to the nearest Apple store or mail it and get 20-40$ back for it. This should be the law for _all_ and any products, not just electronics. Large corporations have cleverly shifted the responsibility of recycling on the consumer, while they get t…

You can’t just claim that they’ve shifted responsibility without arguing your point. It’s clear you have an axe to grind, but at the same time, where do we draw the line of individual responsibility? It’s not like we haven’t known for decades we were killing the planet…and yet here we all are. Why does the average Joe get off the hook here?

Generic electronics recycling is very expensive. I had to recycle an old 55" rear projection TV and it cost $150. Good luck getting the average person to pay that instead of disposing of it (illegally).

It would be more efficient and cheaper for companies to create a recycling process and include that in the purchase price.

Re: Podswap: Keep airpods alive and out of the landfill

#29

Post by reaperducer »

seriousquestion wrote: post #10

I've heard, anecdotally, of people losing their airpods often. I haven't yet, but curious how common that problem is?

I've heard, anecdotally, of people losing their airpods often. I haven't yet, but curious how common that problem is?

It must be a thing, since Apple lets you use your devices to find your missing AirPods, and they are even part of the FindMe network.

I've sometimes wondered how many AirPods have been flushed down toilets around the world. Even if only .001% of AirPods meet their demise this way, considering the number of AirPods sold, it must be a pretty good number.

Re: Podswap: Keep airpods alive and out of the landfill

#30

Post by lttlrck »

ashayh wrote: post #8

Why do we need a separate business for this? Apple should be made to pay for it. If anyone finds an Airpod on the street or in trash/landfills, they should be able to take it to the nearest Apple store or mail it and get 20-40$ back for it. This should be the law for _all_ and any products, not just electronics. Large corporations have cleverly shifted the responsibility of recycling on the consumer, while they get t…

I agree that manufacturers should bear responsibility for recycling unwanted/returned devices - but why should they be forced to pay a bounty for lost/stolen devices?
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