I bought a notebook in June of 2002, I want everyone too know that It is a iBuddie 4 928 or a desknote 928 made by ECS. I have had this note book less than five months before the stands broke off. Now yesterday 3/9/03 I was unplugging the power converter from the laptop and the ground peg came out.
I have e-mailed www.pcinfinity.net until blue in the face about the stands breaking off and they say it isn't covered by warranty because it isn't the note book it self. Now the ground wire has pulled out. This computer is an awsome computer but warranty sucks on it.
I reccomend that no one buys this computer, Costco sells as a northgate note book. I would like as many people as can to know this. I also order a part on www.desknote.net and they sent the wrong part, and they say all sales are final.
your situation explains why it's always good to get an extended warranty. I part time at OfficeDepot and I always push for our extended warranties, mainly on computer products over $180. I keep telling the customers that the manufacturer's warranty only covers certain parts and that our warranties cover everything, plus offer 24/7 tech support.
Did Costco have or offer an extended warranty of some kind??
"What I really need is a woman who loves me for my money but doesn't understand math."
Between my brother and I we have close to $5000.00 in computers through pcinfinity, they have had good support in the first year. The notebook warranty after I bought my was 5 years for $25.00 of coarse they only offered it after I had it six months. and wouldn't give me the extended warranty. Don't know if Costco has an extended warranty or not.
Tom
Last edited by Thomas Mackey; March 25th, 2003 at 02:07 PM.
I've found that "whitebox" laptops tend to be a little on the buyer beware side. Typically, if you buy a notebook from IBM, Dell, or HP/Compaq, you're going to get a good system. Notebooks aren't like desktop PC's where you can go to any computer place and buy parts.
As for extended warranties... I had a friend that was a manager for a major electronics company (I won't name them... but the initials are B.B.). He said that the extended warranties are typically worthless. I can't say anything about other extended warranties, but I can repeat what he told me. Basically, he said the majority (not all) of mfr. warranties would cover most damage inside the first year which is typically when the majority of damage takes place. He said that his company would typically defer warranty service as long as possible to the manufacturer so that they would not have to do it. Then, he said that he wouldn't let his worst enemy leave their computer in the hands of their technicians. He said typically, their technicians might carry something like an A+ Certification, but he'd seen every technician in his store damage computer systems because of stupid mistakes someone that knew what they were doing would not do. Several times, PC's were even handed back to customers in worse shape than they came in.
My thought... skip the extended warranty and find a trustworthy computer store (a mom and pop place... not a national store). If you need repairs, they're going to do a better job simply because they want return business.
Thomas, I see your point on how worthless extended warranties go, but in the case of an unknown company like ECS, extended warranties are recommended. If you buy a well known name brand or from a reputable store, than extended warranties are worthless. I'd say extended warranties are usually worth it on pdas because with computers, you can simply switch the parts out for newer ones and the cost of sending it in is much higher. Extended warranties are more for the average user who doesn't know much about how to troubleshoot computers. As long as the product has some sort of money-back guarantee without a restocking fee, then I'd probably not buy the extended warranty.
"What I really need is a woman who loves me for my money but doesn't understand math."
Just received the verdict from www.pcinfinity.net and ECS. www.desknote.net that by pulling out the converter out of the socket and thus pulling grounding peg out I void the warranty. So how is one to pull your converter out of the laptop with out pulling out the grounding plug out. This can happen to anyone who has a three prong power cord that connects to the laptop. the rounds ones can't do this.
Last edited by Thomas Mackey; April 7th, 2003 at 11:59 PM.
Ok, this is the tech that has been working with Thomas Mackey throughout this whole situation. He is the one that referred me to this site to read what he has posted.
I have done everything in my power to help him get this situation resolved to everyone's benefit. I have contacted ECS about their product numerous times to try and get him a replacement Desknote. ECS told me that since it was physical damage, and not a manufacturer defect, then they could do nothing for him.
I'm sorry that it has happened. Now I’m even more sorry that I have tried so hard to get this resolved because Thomas Mackey has threatened to "report" us to all the "national computer magazines" and slam us as much as he can.
In all honesty, I have NEVER seen anyone break off one of the legs let alone both of them. I have also never seen anyone pull the ground plug out of the desknote casing. This is obviously user error, and it is not our fault that it has happened. ECS has stated the same to us. Now that I have tried to help this guy and have gotten nothing in return except threats, verbal abuse, and just plain rudeness, I’ll think next time before going out of my way for a customer.
Alright, no I did not have him send it in to us. Mainly cause I didn't want to waste his money on shipping costs so we can see it. However, he did send us pictures of what happened and those were also sent to ECS. Our techs here at infinity do not service these desknotes. When we have problems that are not related to the CPU, RAM, or HD then we just ship it off to ECS for them to repair or replace. That is why I had sent ECS the pictures that we received. They said sorry, but it's not their problem. I know it sucks, but it is not something I can do anything about unfortunately.
And the comment on how I would not go out of my way for another customer does not mean that I will not HELP any customers. Next time I’ll just have the customer do all the dirty work instead of me doing it. I went out of my way and tried really hard to get this resolved for him. I spent allot of time on the phone with ECS, on hold, talking with their people while neglecting my normal duties to make this one customer happy. And I got nothing what-so-ever in return except what I stated above. I'm sorry this has happened, and I would be just as pissed, if not more than he is. I completely understand where he is coming from, but like I said, there is nothing I can do about it. I have tried very hard to help him and get this all worked out, then when I couldn't I got bashed for it. Ah well such is life, right?
It is obvious from reading this thread that Thomas is extremely upset and is 'banging his head against a brick wall' in trying to get some assistance.
I don't think that PcInfinity Tech has 'tried so hard' when all it appears he/she has done is to telephone the manufacturer, anyone can do that.
I wonder why Thomas has reacted in the following manner:
'Now that I have tried to help this guy and have gotten nothing in return except threats, verbal abuse, and just plain rudeness, I’ll think next time before going out of my way for a customer'
If you don't go out of your way to help a customer then you don't deserve any. What did you expect in return from Thomas? - A thank you for making a telephone call.
He has spent a lot of money with you and has more than likely recommended you to his friends and associates so at the end of the day PcInfinity Tech will be the loser.
Come on PcInfinity have a bit of heart and rebuild the trust that Thomas originally had in you. You never know but he maybe singing your praises from the rooftops if an agreed situation was met and that must be better for you.
Ok, then tell me what else could i have done for him? I didn't "just call" ECS. I spent HOURS on the phone with them, sent them pictures, tried to get them to do something, or at least ship us the part ot have us fix it. They refused to work with me, and said that the entire motherboard inside the thing would need to be replaced.
No i didn't want a Thank you, or anything like that. But he could've been a little nicer about it and not made threats, etc.... Cause i did everything in my power, and then some, to try and fix this for him. If you guys can think of anything else, i'd be more than happy to hear some suggestions
I again agree with Triple7, always two sides to a story.
PcInfinity Tech - Obviously ECS are the problem here and not yourself. You are a distributor of their product and as Triple7 says I would have another chat with, preferably one of the Managers/Supervisors of ECS and argue your side as to trying to give one of their customers support and keeping up 'the good name' of the company.
Thomas Mackey - It would now appear that PcInfinity Tech has been trying to help you to resolve your problems. If ECS are not willing to play ball to reach a mutual agreement then take some legal advice about your statutory rights in your country.
It is a manufacuture defect for the simple reason all I did was pull out the convertor from the note book and the grounding plug sucked it out of the notebook, the convertor (power cord) comes with the laptop. How is one to pull out the the power cord then?
If the power cord is sucked out then it is not fault of the user it has to be the fault of the note book or the power convertor.
In all fairness Jay did do all the things he said he did, I'm not personnely blaming him. but if you sell a product and don't stand behind the prodcut you sell then then you have no recourse. This was caused by no fault to my own.
Jay put another tech on the phone and he literally said I was a moron for pulling the ground out of the laptop. Then he asked me if I had touched anything inside the notebook. I haven't touched the note book since the pulling the ground out of the note book.
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