Broken headphones

[Ancalagon]

So I bought a Sony Mp3 player recently, and to my shock and amazement, the in ear headphones that were included were actually very good. So they became my headphones of choice for the past 2 months.

Now, the right side doesnt work anymore. if I fiddle with the plug, I can get it to work - briefly. So I think somehow good contact isnt being made between the headphone jack and the headphone plug.

My question is, why does this continually happen to headphones, and can anything be done besides buying a new pair? Its so irritating, they are fine in other respects. is it actually internal cable decay or something?

[KingGorilla]

I find it happens because on a particularly rough day, I really want to enjoy my iPod, but the cruelty of our chaotic world deems those moments of need to make me suffer just a little bit more.

The real answer is that most headphones, packed in ones more than others, are cheaply made. Held together by cheap adhesives in thin insulation. The wires work loose as you snag them, wind them up, etc.

[Seika]

Yup, included headphones always break.

Buy ones from a good brand and they will last. I still have these (http://us.creative.com/products/product.asp?category=437&subcategory=441&product=18004) I bought for my Zen Vision M almost a year and half ago. So far those headphones and the mp3 player have gone through falling numerous times at bus stops, bathrooms, being stepped on by kids, getting chewed by a dog (I'm not kidding!), and they still work like they did the first day. ;)

[Ancalagon]

Yeah, coincidentally yesterday was also the day I discovered that my bank in South Africa is still taking about $300 each month from my account every month, and my requests have fallen on deaf ears. Its a long story, but basically my mom stood suretyship for my student loans, I setup scheduled payments last year to pay it off, she died and the bank told me insurance would pay off, 11 months later, our lawyer says insurance does indeed cover the loan, but the bank is still taking its pint of blood from me every month, causing me to miss other payments because I only sent home enough money for them.

So yes, first the headphones breaking and then me finding out I've lost another $600 with almost no chance of getting it back, and am also behind on 2 of my other payments, lead to yesterday being a pretty lousy day. In fact, now that I think about it, the breaking headphones should have been my cue to just stay at home yesterday.

(EDIT: realized I had the Rand: Dollar exchange rate wrong)