have a brand new sansa fuze

the volume will work till up to half way then it just shuts off. turn it back down to half way and it works again… any ideas

Hold the powering off button for 15-20 seconds and then try again.

I just got a brand new one, too, and had the same problem. I used my own pair of headphones different from the ones they give you with it and it was fine after that.

Make sure you have pressed the headphone connector in firmly so that it is fully seated.  The connector has to be pushed harder than you would at first expect.  Lots of people have had that problem, including me.