Catalan Actress Exposes Andorra Store's Faulty AirPods After Year-Long Fight
A Catalan actress's viral videos reveal a year-long battle with an Andorra electronics store over defective AirPods bought at a discount, exposing expired warranties and poor customer service amid growing consumer complaints.
Key Points
- Anna Aumatell bought €199 AirPods in Escaldes-Engordany that wouldn't charge; one never worked.
- AirPods traced to 2022 Abu Dhabi sale with expired warranty; she filed Consum complaint.
- Store staff refused refund or replacement during filmed visit, suggested mailing to Apple.
- Viral Instagram videos spark backlash over Andorra electronics quality and possible fakes.
Catalan actress Anna Aumatell has updated her social media posts detailing a year-long dispute with an electronics store on Avinguda Carlemany in Escaldes-Engordany over defective AirPods purchased last August.
Aumatell, who visits Andorra annually, bought the Apple earbuds for €199—well below the €345 retail price—at the store. Staff described them as an older model with a compatible charger that would function perfectly. Back in Olot, however, the devices failed to charge properly despite several days of attempts. One earbud connected briefly to her phone, but the other never worked.
Using the invoice obtained via a friend, Aumatell learned from Apple that the AirPods had previously been sold in Abu Dhabi in 2022, with the warranty expiring in July 2023—well before her 2025 purchase. Shortly after discovering this, she filed a complaint with Andorra's Consum department.
This July, during her latest visit, she returned to the store and filmed two encounters. Employees, unable to resolve the issue on the spot, said the owner—who handles such cases—was absent and instructed her to return the next day. They lacked authority to provide replacements or process refunds, suggesting instead that she mail the items to Apple at her own expense for shipping. Aumatell, unable to stay longer, left without a solution, reiterating her demand for functional replacements since the originals had never worked.
The Instagram videos have gone viral, attracting hundreds of comments condemning the store's practices and broader concerns over product quality in Andorra. Commenters have raised suspicions of counterfeits or dumped stock from the UAE. Aumatell has shared ongoing complaints from other customers and expressed frustration with Consum's lack of progress. She refuses to post the devices or drop her claim, warning others against the outlet despite Andorra's former shopping appeal.
One employee threatened legal action over the videos; Aumatell maintains her account is accurate and stands ready to defend it in court.
The saga has intensified online scrutiny of the principality's retail reliability, particularly for electronics.
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