A sad day yesterday - my 80 gb 5g iPod had hard disk failure. I had bought a service protection plan through Best Buy. I took it in, they are going to mail it off and replace it with a refurb.

I'm a super careful iPod owner who puts an Invisible Shield on my iPod the first day I get it and always keep it in a case, so it was in excellent condition - no scratches.

Here are my questions:

1. Will the refurbed iPod be in good condition externally? I hate the thought of sending off my pristine iPod and getting back one that is scratched up.

I know I'm dreaming on these two questions, but....

2. Any chance that the refurbed iPod will have the new operating system with cover flow?

3. Any chance they might just replace mine with a new iPod or the 160 gb?

I'd love to hear from anyone who has sent their iPod in via Best Buy.
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UPDATE:

Just thought I'd let everyone know of my experience. Best Buy got my replacement iPod in yesterday. I went to pick up the refurb and made sure I opened it in the store. Glad I did. The front had obviously been "buffed" in an effort to get rid of scratches. There was an obvious ding on the side. The thing I couldn't take was a big, wide scratch all the way across the click wheel.

I am a super careful iPod owner who puts in Invisible Shield on my iPod the day I get it. To send off a well cared for iPod and get back one with a big scratch across the wheel was not cool! If I was a kid who brought in an iPod that was roughed up and scuffed up and got this one back, that's one thing; but to get back one that was in worse shape than what I sent in did not make me happy.

I refused to accept the iPod. It seems like they should make an effort to replace an iPod with another of a similar care level - if you send in an iPod in good shape, they should replace it with one in good shape, etc. Best Buy is sending it back for a different refurb. I'll keep you posted and let you know what happens next.
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That was good service from Best Buy. Did they give you a hard time about returning it.

Piano Man
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The guy had to go off and ask someone if they could send it back again. We'll see if I get back something better or something worse.....
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Things like that make me think it's better to get the extended warranty through Apple, then at least there's no "middle man." What if Best Buy would have said no, they wouldn't send it back again? Then you call Apple, but they tell you, sorry you bought the plan with Best Buy it's their call. That would suck!
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Trust me, I've thought of that since this incident...

But, good news! My story has a HAPPY ENDING! I went and picked up version number two of my refurb and I am very happy with it! There are a few minor scratches on the side, but the front and the back look great. No giant scratch right down the middle like the first refurb had.

Honestly, I'll admit I'm a little surprised that my situation worked out so well, because you hear so many Best Buy horror stories. So, "thumbs up" to Best Buy on this episode. :)

I'm so unreasonably glad to have my iPod back. I think I had ISA. (iPod Separation Anxiety)
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Your experience is strange since if you did it through Apple, their refubs are practically brand new. They have at times replaced the screen, battery, HD, exterior etc. They can consider a refurb someone who opened it and sent it back. I wonder where Best Buy sends them.
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Good question.

Any body out there who has worked for Best Buy and knows the answer to this question?
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