Grrrr

Kapitan_Phillips · 05-03-09, 10:12 AM

AAARGH!

Today, I took my laptop in to PC World to have the battery, power adapter, keyboard and DVD drive repaired. They told me that my "PC Performance" cover (i.e. insurance) expired February. I asked the girl at the counter why I had recieved no indication of this, either by e-mail, phone call or letter. The reply was a few um's and ah's, and she said she would call so and so to enquire.

10 minutes later, she comes full circle and merely confirms that the policy is indeed cancelled. So, I ask for a quote on the work I needed done. She disappeared into a room full of technicians for a few minutes, and returned, telling me I would have to pay nearly £260 for the work I needed done. Remember, this work is merely replacing the battery (Advent batteries are around £70), supplying a new power adapter, (£40) fixing the keyboard (£25) and replacing the drive (£19)

For a total of £154, plus labour.

So, they are charging me £100 ontop of that just to fix it.

The thing that irritates me most is, I've only had the buggering thing for about 16 months. The keyboard trouble was my own fault, I spilt something on it, and I'm happy to pay to have that fixed. However, the battery dying, the powerlead dying AND the DVD drive dying within 16 months of purchase (The laptop was bought for £450) is pretty unacceptable. Then they had the gall to say "You'd probably be better off buying a new laptop".

Well, if it comes to that, I'll be shoving this one up your backside, PC World.

Tchocky · 05-03-09, 10:26 AM

A friend of mine works a PC World hereabouts, and there's no way I'd let him near any of my computers

And then there's that dodgy village constable, PC World.

SteamWake · 05-03-09, 12:21 PM

There mighty proud of their workmanship.

When laptops go bad its a nighmare.

I split the display on mine, and even doing my own labor, just parts it'll cost me nearly $200.00 us.

Fortunatly I got a little more than 16 months out of mine though.

So yea Im saving for a new one.

Id look into your claim of no notification on your warranty, was it an extended plan?

Jimbuna · 05-03-09, 12:37 PM

Throw it on the floor and claim on your parents house insurance under the accidental damage cover

CaptainHaplo · 05-03-09, 12:43 PM

Most PC repair firms have a minimum one hour charge - and most have a one hour minimum. Charging 100 bucks an hour as a PC tech is not unheard of at all. Here where I am, they range from 75 to 150 an hour.

Same concept goes for most other professions - plumbers, car mechanics, attorneys etc. If you take 5 minutes - or if you take 59 and a half - you pay for one hour of work.

While you have a gripe about the warranty period and the quality of the device, the repair fees are actually reasonable.

mr chris · 05-03-09, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimbuna

Throw it on the floor and claim on your parents house insurance under the accidental damage cover

Now that is a very good idea.
If your parents have not claimed for a while it could be a good idea. Why else do you continuously pay for insurance if you don't claim for something once in a while

FIREWALL · 05-03-09, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimbuna

Throw it on the floor and claim on your parents house insurance under the accidental damage cover

I give this post the... Gem of the Day Award.

Platapus · 05-03-09, 01:17 PM

One of the reasons I don't do laptops. The other members of my family have em and they always seem to have some problem with them.

Oberon · 05-03-09, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimbuna

Throw it on the floor and claim on your parents house insurance under the accidental damage cover

Insider advice

Jimbuna · 05-03-09, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oberon

Insider advice

Only if you get caught

Etienne · 05-03-09, 04:18 PM

Check your local consumer protection law. Around here, even if you didn't buy the extended warranty, you're covered for four years for manufacturing defects. (They'll still sell you the warranty, so that's essentially a scam...)

Anyway, check the regulation, you might have a recourse.

Spike88 · 05-03-09, 05:03 PM

I went to a local Tiger Direct once to buy ram. I ended up getting 2 2gig DDR2 for about $40 dollars. I had brought my actual computer to ask a few questions about the mother board. Once I purchase the ram, they say that they can install it for me here for free. I'm like sure why not and let them do it. As they're installing the ram, the guy tells me that if it wasn't for the fact that they had a special offer, it would cost me $40 dollars to put both ram chips in. That would of been $80 dollars that only takes 3 minutes to do.

Whenever I buy something from Bestbuy their always offering me extended warranties, even on things like video games. And they're usually like 20$ extra, I always decline.

Oberon · 05-03-09, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimbuna

Only if you get caught

That's the spirit

longam · 05-03-09, 05:55 PM

I really don't care for laptops in general, but when I purchase them for work I always get the 3 year bumper to bumper. After 3 years there ready for a new one anyway.

05-03-09, 10:12 AM	#1
Kapitan_Phillips Silent Hunter Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Swansea Posts: 3,903 Downloads: 204 Uploads: 0	Grrrr AAARGH! Today, I took my laptop in to PC World to have the battery, power adapter, keyboard and DVD drive repaired. They told me that my "PC Performance" cover (i.e. insurance) expired February. I asked the girl at the counter why I had recieved no indication of this, either by e-mail, phone call or letter. The reply was a few um's and ah's, and she said she would call so and so to enquire. 10 minutes later, she comes full circle and merely confirms that the policy is indeed cancelled. So, I ask for a quote on the work I needed done. She disappeared into a room full of technicians for a few minutes, and returned, telling me I would have to pay nearly £260 for the work I needed done. Remember, this work is merely replacing the battery (Advent batteries are around £70), supplying a new power adapter, (£40) fixing the keyboard (£25) and replacing the drive (£19) For a total of £154, plus labour. So, they are charging me £100 ontop of that just to fix it. The thing that irritates me most is, I've only had the buggering thing for about 16 months. The keyboard trouble was my own fault, I spilt something on it, and I'm happy to pay to have that fixed. However, the battery dying, the powerlead dying AND the DVD drive dying within 16 months of purchase (The laptop was bought for £450) is pretty unacceptable. Then they had the gall to say "You'd probably be better off buying a new laptop". Well, if it comes to that, I'll be shoving this one up your backside, PC World. __________________ Well, here's another nice mess you've gotten me into.

05-03-09, 10:26 AM	#2
Tchocky Navy Seal Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 5,874 Downloads: 6 Uploads: 0	A friend of mine works a PC World hereabouts, and there's no way I'd let him near any of my computers And then there's that dodgy village constable, PC World. __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

05-03-09, 12:21 PM	#3
SteamWake Rear Admiral Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 13,224 Downloads: 5 Uploads: 0	There mighty proud of their workmanship. When laptops go bad its a nighmare. I split the display on mine, and even doing my own labor, just parts it'll cost me nearly $200.00 us. Fortunatly I got a little more than 16 months out of mine though. So yea Im saving for a new one. Id look into your claim of no notification on your warranty, was it an extended plan? __________________ Follow the progress of Mr. Mulligan : http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=147648

05-03-09, 12:37 PM	#4
Jimbuna Chief of the Boat Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 250 metres below the surface Posts: 190,473 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 13	Throw it on the floor and claim on your parents house insurance under the accidental damage cover __________________ Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something. Oh my God, not again!!

05-03-09, 12:43 PM	#5
CaptainHaplo Silent Hunter Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 4,404 Downloads: 29 Uploads: 0	Most PC repair firms have a minimum one hour charge - and most have a one hour minimum. Charging 100 bucks an hour as a PC tech is not unheard of at all. Here where I am, they range from 75 to 150 an hour. Same concept goes for most other professions - plumbers, car mechanics, attorneys etc. If you take 5 minutes - or if you take 59 and a half - you pay for one hour of work. While you have a gripe about the warranty period and the quality of the device, the repair fees are actually reasonable. __________________ Good Hunting! Captain Haplo

05-03-09, 01:17 PM	#8
Platapus Fleet Admiral Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 19,361 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 0	One of the reasons I don't do laptops. The other members of my family have em and they always seem to have some problem with them. __________________ abusus non tollit usum - A right should NOT be withheld from people on the basis that some tend to abuse that right.

05-03-09, 04:18 PM	#11
Etienne Seasoned Skipper Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 695 Downloads: 1 Uploads: 0	Check your local consumer protection law. Around here, even if you didn't buy the extended warranty, you're covered for four years for manufacturing defects. (They'll still sell you the warranty, so that's essentially a scam...) Anyway, check the regulation, you might have a recourse.

05-03-09, 05:03 PM	#12
Spike88 Ocean Warrior Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 3,052 Downloads: 36 Uploads: 0	I went to a local Tiger Direct once to buy ram. I ended up getting 2 2gig DDR2 for about $40 dollars. I had brought my actual computer to ask a few questions about the mother board. Once I purchase the ram, they say that they can install it for me here for free. I'm like sure why not and let them do it. As they're installing the ram, the guy tells me that if it wasn't for the fact that they had a special offer, it would cost me $40 dollars to put both ram chips in. That would of been $80 dollars that only takes 3 minutes to do. Whenever I buy something from Bestbuy their always offering me extended warranties, even on things like video games. And they're usually like 20$ extra, I always decline. __________________

05-03-09, 05:55 PM	#14
longam Admiral Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 2,014 Downloads: 26 Uploads: 0	I really don't care for laptops in general, but when I purchase them for work I always get the 3 year bumper to bumper. After 3 years there ready for a new one anyway.