Even with a pretty big pricing gap ($100 for Apple and $60 for Podswap, per pair), this seems like a risky business to enter. What makes them think that Apple won't drop the price of their service by $30 and put them out of business?
Apple could do swaps much more efficiently due to their physical stores (where you could swap in real-time), and most people would pay a $10 premium over Podswap to have the Apple name behind their purchase.
The only thing that would give me comfort about Podswaps' business model is the fact that Apple undoubtedly would prefer to sell you a new pair rather than fix up your old pair.
That’s true, and I wasn’t suggesting they would undercut Podswap on price — just that they would drop their own price somewhat and eat up enough market that this business wouldn’t be sustainable.
Apple could do swaps much more efficiently due to their physical stores (where you could swap in real-time), and most people would pay a $10 premium over Podswap to have the Apple name behind their purchase.
The only thing that would give me comfort about Podswaps' business model is the fact that Apple undoubtedly would prefer to sell you a new pair rather than fix up your old pair.