I bought my first iPod at the Tenleytown Best Buy in June 2004. It was a 15 gig third generation clickwheel with a black & white screen. I usually don’t do this, but I also bought a two-year replacement plan, because I have a tendency to destroy and misplace gadgets. (I just used my cell phone insurance for the second time.)

Within a year and a half, my iPod was on its death knell. I brought it back and within 20 minutes, had a new, better iPod: a 20 gig color photo device. I re-upped my warranty plan, which was now limited to performance: they had to make sure it was dead before I swapped it in. This iPod was with me for two whole years. From Prague to Munich and to Amsterdam, and back to DC, it was with me around the world.

It died last month. After a few weeks of glitches and bugs, I finally got the iPod screen of death. I brought the receipt for the warranty with the dead unit to the Best Buy service desk. The turnaround this time was much, much slower. It was at the Apple service center for 5 weeks before I got word from Best Buy that my iPod was completely dead, and that I should come in to get a new one.

Though it took an hour and a half, being shuffled back and forth between customer service desks before I got a new iPod: this time, a 30 gig video. I didn’t get a new service plan, because by the time this one dies, I want to be open to getting an iPhone, or whatever is similar then, and a warranty wouldn’t cover it.

My one complaint is that the new iPod retails for $249.99, which is $50 less than I originally paid. I thought about pressing to get $50 credit, but decided against it so I could get out of the store.

I spent $299 on the original iPod, and $50 each on two service plans. So for about $400, I’ve had three brand new iPods, each one better than the last. Best Buy gets a lot of shit, some of it well deserved. But they honor their warranties, and I am a satisfied customer.