VirtualInsanity
Feb 6, 2004, 04:11 PM
So here's the story. I waited all summer long for new powerbooks after saving enough to buy one, and I didnt want to but an old one with the knowledge of how soon the new ones were due. I have an imac at home, and we have used macs in our house since the performa 6200 days so I knew what I liked.
Sadly, as everyone knows, no powerbooks came during the summer (break). I waited a week into university, but then I crumbled as you cant enter university without a computer and I had no idea when they could be. I bought a Sony VAIO GRX-700, as I thought Sony was well known for their quality products and good customer service. Nice computer on paper, and nice in person, although I found XP intolerable form the start, and little things that everyone who uses windows though was normal (crashes, slowdowns, bloated, overly complicated design, etc )frustrated me as I was used to the stable, beautiful, efficient world of mac os x. Naturally, mac powerbooks came out exactly one week later:mad: but i managed to get beyond that and continue with my life.
Fast forward five months to now. I was impeccably careful with my computer, but while typing merrily on my VAIO, the T key pops off. Just the key, everything else is fine. I would fix i myself, but the spring under the key is made up of three tiny, complicated bits of metal and so thers nothing I can do. I restart (the computer froze whehn the key broke off) and guess what? The screen doest work. It flickers and the colours are wrong and there are these white spots. No worries though right? Its still under warranty!:D
WRONG. It turns out that I bought a US model through a canadian online retailer (tigerdirect...be warned!!) this is what happens... So I phone up Sony Canada (im in ontario canada) and tell them about my problem. They put me on hold for forty minutes. They come back and tell me they will send a box the next day to pick it up after I fax them the appropriate warranty documentation, theyll pay for everything... "we take care of our customers, Sir!"
Three days later there is still no box. Meanwhile I have a useless computer to use for school/life. I call back and they tell me the process has been frozen by management. I ask why, but they put me on hold for more uncountable minutes. They come back and tell me they have assigned my case to a customer service representative. I explain politely that I need my computer for everything, an they explain happily that thats why this agent will call me in 24-48 hours.
2 days later they call me, and tell me that they can't honour the warranty as it is a US model and therefore the Canadian service centers have neither the parts nor the knowlegde to fix it. I have to go through Sony US. Fine, thanks for nothing.
I ask to be switched to the line that deals with Sony US technical support and they helpfully do so. Then a tech promises that a customer service rep will call me back form the US division in 24-48 hours. I thank them for their help.
Two days later sony US calls. They cannot ship to an address in Canada. They suggest I contact Sony Canada. I tell them I did and they don't have the parts. They ask if I have an address in the US they could mail it to where I could pick it up. I explain (politely) that I do not as I am a Canadian and not an American, and as such I live in Canada, not the US. They tell me there is nothing they can do.
So here I have a computer, five months old and yet utterly useless, and by some ridiculous loophole, it is not covered under warranty and I have to pay to fix it myself. I am a student, and its not going to be cheap. I have been harassing tiger direct twice daily telling them it was false advertising to suggest the computer was under warantee on their website, etc etc. but so far the person hasnt been able to find a solution. So....im wishing I had waited for the powerbook:(
Anybody have any suggestions?
This is yet another example of why the mac is the better way, as we all knew all along.
:D
Sadly, as everyone knows, no powerbooks came during the summer (break). I waited a week into university, but then I crumbled as you cant enter university without a computer and I had no idea when they could be. I bought a Sony VAIO GRX-700, as I thought Sony was well known for their quality products and good customer service. Nice computer on paper, and nice in person, although I found XP intolerable form the start, and little things that everyone who uses windows though was normal (crashes, slowdowns, bloated, overly complicated design, etc )frustrated me as I was used to the stable, beautiful, efficient world of mac os x. Naturally, mac powerbooks came out exactly one week later:mad: but i managed to get beyond that and continue with my life.
Fast forward five months to now. I was impeccably careful with my computer, but while typing merrily on my VAIO, the T key pops off. Just the key, everything else is fine. I would fix i myself, but the spring under the key is made up of three tiny, complicated bits of metal and so thers nothing I can do. I restart (the computer froze whehn the key broke off) and guess what? The screen doest work. It flickers and the colours are wrong and there are these white spots. No worries though right? Its still under warranty!:D
WRONG. It turns out that I bought a US model through a canadian online retailer (tigerdirect...be warned!!) this is what happens... So I phone up Sony Canada (im in ontario canada) and tell them about my problem. They put me on hold for forty minutes. They come back and tell me they will send a box the next day to pick it up after I fax them the appropriate warranty documentation, theyll pay for everything... "we take care of our customers, Sir!"
Three days later there is still no box. Meanwhile I have a useless computer to use for school/life. I call back and they tell me the process has been frozen by management. I ask why, but they put me on hold for more uncountable minutes. They come back and tell me they have assigned my case to a customer service representative. I explain politely that I need my computer for everything, an they explain happily that thats why this agent will call me in 24-48 hours.
2 days later they call me, and tell me that they can't honour the warranty as it is a US model and therefore the Canadian service centers have neither the parts nor the knowlegde to fix it. I have to go through Sony US. Fine, thanks for nothing.
I ask to be switched to the line that deals with Sony US technical support and they helpfully do so. Then a tech promises that a customer service rep will call me back form the US division in 24-48 hours. I thank them for their help.
Two days later sony US calls. They cannot ship to an address in Canada. They suggest I contact Sony Canada. I tell them I did and they don't have the parts. They ask if I have an address in the US they could mail it to where I could pick it up. I explain (politely) that I do not as I am a Canadian and not an American, and as such I live in Canada, not the US. They tell me there is nothing they can do.
So here I have a computer, five months old and yet utterly useless, and by some ridiculous loophole, it is not covered under warranty and I have to pay to fix it myself. I am a student, and its not going to be cheap. I have been harassing tiger direct twice daily telling them it was false advertising to suggest the computer was under warantee on their website, etc etc. but so far the person hasnt been able to find a solution. So....im wishing I had waited for the powerbook:(
Anybody have any suggestions?
This is yet another example of why the mac is the better way, as we all knew all along.
:D
