# Really, Apple? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 14, 2011, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-apple/585447 "2011-06-14T16:06:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2011, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-apple/585447/1 "2011-06-14T16:06:19Z")
I need a new USB/dock cord for my iPod – I listen to it mostly at work, and like to plug it in, instead of running it off the battery – so I checked the price at the Apple website, thinking I could run over to the Apple store a couple of blocks away. $19. Sheesh, really? Okay, gotta be some kind of discount at Amazon. Slightly – $1.90, free shipping. I ordered two so I’ll have a backup. ---
**Author:** ![feppytweed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/feppytweed/32/4280_2.png) [@feppytweed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/feppytweed)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2011, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-apple/585447/2 "2011-06-14T19:31:11Z")
I ordered about 6 off of Amazon several months ago. They are in my duffel bags, my car, work, and all over the house. 20 bucks for a tiny cable? No thanks. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2011, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-apple/585447/3 "2011-06-14T19:33:21Z")
[monoprice.com](http://monoprice.com) is another good source for these. ---
**Author:** ![sachertorte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sachertorte/32/3727_2.png) [@sachertorte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sachertorte)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2011, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-apple/585447/4 "2011-06-14T20:26:24Z")
I just bought one a week a ago too (on Amazon). I would have bought more, but I wanted to check out the quality first. Seems okay so far. ---
**Author:** ![koeeoaddi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/koeeoaddi/32/408_2.png) [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2011, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-apple/585447/5 "2011-06-14T20:49:05Z")
Good thing you didn’t have to replace the crappy power cord that came with your MacBook. [Almost $80](http://store.apple.com/us/product/MC461LL/A?mco=MTY3ODQ5OTY) for the one blessed by Apple. :rolleyes: Despite the dire warnings in the Amazon user reviews, I bought a knockoff for $20. It’s been almost a year now and it’s been fine. ---
**Author:** ![EvilTOJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee59a6/32.png) [@EvilTOJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EvilTOJ)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2011, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-apple/585447/6 "2011-06-15T00:08:29Z")
[monoprice.com](http://monoprice.com) is where I fulfill all my cabling needs. I got six HDMI cables there for something like $10 including shipping. Six of them! I’ll never need them all, but who’s to say I won’t? ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2011, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-apple/585447/7 "2011-06-15T00:40:17Z")
Anyone have a good recommendation for iPhone earbuds? Apple wants $29 for them but they only last a couple of months before they get snagged on a shrub while mowing the lawn and they’re done. ---
**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2011, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-apple/585447/8 "2011-06-15T01:28:36Z")
> [@Lamar\_Mundane](#): > > Anyone have a good recommendation for iPhone earbuds? Apple wants $29 for them but they only last a couple of months before they get snagged on a shrub while mowing the lawn and they’re done. [eBay](http://cgi.ebay.com/Original-Apple-iPod-earbud-Earphones-White-Brand-New-/120455889141?pt=Other_MP3_Player_Accessories&hash=item1c0bbb00f5#ht_4893wt_1026). I buy them by the dozen. My wife and kids are hard on them. ---
**Author:** ![Khendrask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3e96dc/32.png) [@Khendrask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khendrask)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2011, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-apple/585447/9 "2011-06-15T13:41:28Z")
I pretty much buy all my iPod/cellphone accessories through Amazon. Usually in multiples. I found a nice long charging cord for the iPhone for less than a quarter. The car usb adapter with retractable cable for it was around 80 cents IIRC. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2011, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-apple/585447/10 "2011-06-15T14:22:31Z")
> [@Lamar\_Mundane](#): > > Anyone have a good recommendation for iPhone earbuds? Apple wants $29 for them but they only last a couple of months before they get snagged on a shrub while mowing the lawn and they’re done. Any cheap earbuds will do - though the ones that come with the iphone have the built-in microphone / volume control. Earbuds aren’t worth spending a lot on. I typically spend 10ish bucks, they last a few months, then they wear out. Avoid Koss - which used to be a pretty good brand in large headsets, but their earbuds are CRAP. I’ve had several pairs, and they die within a month. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2011, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-apple/585447/11 "2011-06-15T14:25:04Z")
Oh - and re the docking cable: You can get a third-party one for 10 bucks from Amazon. No need to get the Apple brand. But if you think 20 is bad: I bought a car radio from Crutchfield. Listed as a recommended accessory was an iPod cable, Pioneer brand. 30 dollars. And it was about 2 feet long. It turned out, the radio came with a USB extension (plugs into the back of the radio, comes out to the front of the dash via a cubbyhole) - and _any_ USB cable would work with that. I returned the Pioneer cable, bought that 10 dollar replacement from Amazon, and have been perfectly happy. ---
**Author:** ![Lionne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Lionne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lionne)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2011, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-apple/585447/12 "2011-06-15T14:41:44Z")
I bought one for the AUX port in my car three years ago off Amazon…still working! $6 and free shipping. ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2011, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-apple/585447/13 "2011-06-15T17:22:08Z")
> [@EvilTOJ](#): > > [monoprice.com](http://monoprice.com) is where I fulfill all my cabling needs. But what if you need _stereo_ cables? ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2011, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-apple/585447/14 "2011-06-15T17:51:44Z")
It’s not just Apple - my Samsung smart phone has the same scam when you go to the local T-Mobile store - memory card for $20 but you get triple the memory for only $5 if you go to Radio Shack instead. Same price mark up for cables as well. I guess for those too lazy to shop around, these overpriced accessories are a nice profit maker. ---
**Author:** ![antonio107](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7ea924/32.png) [@antonio107](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/antonio107)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2011, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-apple/585447/15 "2011-06-15T18:01:14Z")
I get all my iPad/blackberry cables from Hong Kong, via EBay. 99 cents free shipping, if you look around! Earbuds? I get the Sony ones from radio shack/the Source, and with three replacements via the EWP, I’m good to go for a year. It’s the only purchase I make where the EWP is a no-brainer! ---
**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2011, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-apple/585447/16 "2011-06-15T21:56:58Z")
I bought new iPod usb cords at Amazon. They are Apple brand. Their price was only twenty cents. I couldn’t understand why, and thought it must be a typo, but that’s what the site said, and that’s what they charged me. ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2011, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-apple/585447/17 "2011-06-15T22:04:12Z")
> [@Napier](#): > > I bought new iPod usb cords at Amazon. They are Apple brand. Their price was only twenty cents. I couldn’t understand why, and thought it must be a typo, but that’s what the site said, and that’s what they charged me. They are not Apple brand, they are knockoffs. That said, the difference is usually negligible and the legit ones aren’t worth the premium. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2011, 7:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-apple/585447/18 "2011-06-16T07:30:21Z")
I actually wound up giving my power chord away because they were so cheap online.I likewise replaced someone’s USB cable when they let me borrow their iPod Shuffle. They had an Apple one that was barely holding together because they thought they’d have to buy an Apple one. I’m planning on buying a new adapter for my wireless router from Amazon soon. Six dollars with shipping. The actual replacement? $30. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2011, 9:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-apple/585447/19 "2011-06-16T09:54:38Z")
> [@Mama\_Zappa](#): > > Any cheap earbuds will do - though the ones that come with the iphone have the built-in microphone / volume control. > > Earbuds aren’t worth spending a lot on. I typically spend 10ish bucks, they last a few months, then they wear out. Avoid Koss - which used to be a pretty good brand in large headsets, but their earbuds are CRAP. I’ve had several pairs, and they die within a month. I’ve used Sony MDR-828s (I think the 818 is the same, just without the case) for years. Under 10 bucks and I’ve always been happy with the sound quality considering what I’m using them for. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2011, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-apple/585447/20 "2011-06-16T14:05:20Z")
> [@Napier](#): > > I bought new iPod usb cords at Amazon. They are Apple brand. Their price was only twenty cents. I couldn’t understand why, and thought it must be a typo, but that’s what the site said, and that’s what they charged me. 1. What did they charge you for shipping? 2. Like Omniscient said, at that price they’re knockoffs. Or else, possibly, they’re the older cords that only work with older iPods. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-apple/585447.md?page=2)