Monday, April 09, 2007

Public Service Annoucement

I've mentioned before that my laptop is not charging - it's been about 3 weeks since I've been able to use it. In that time, I've been checking out all possibilities for getting someone (or some company) to pay for it, besides us. The warranty ran out March 4 and it stopped working on the 10th. Grrr. One day, I happened to think about the extended warranty on Visa cards. I checked and we had this feature on the card we used to buy the laptop!! What a great thing, right? While I was talking to the customer service rep, she asked me what price I paid for it. I had the credit card statement in front of me, so I would have to figure out the price without the sales tax. Point #1: be sure to keep the receipts, even when you move! They also require a copy of the manufacture's warranty, which I think is here in this house. Brad hasn't found the receipt at the old house - I'm hoping and praying that I will. Of course, that all may be in vain because she informed me that the Visa card had to be used for the entire purchase - no cash, checks, or gift cards. Being the financially savvy consumer that I am, I had used $150 in gift cards that I had earned as a reward from a different credit card. That may void the extended warranty offered by Visa. Double Grrrr! So, Point #2 of my Public Service Announcement: When making a larger purchase, such as a laptop, don't use gift cards or cash or checks or anything else besides your card if you have an extended warranty feature. Wish I had known... I'm going to try to get them to pay my claim anyway, so we'll see. Right now the computer is somewhere in transit to be fixed by Best Buy. I took it to Staples, where I purchased it, but they no longer sell Gateway computers, so they don't service them either. This is really getting to be frustrating! I've even left out the part about talking to five different Gateway reps about this issue. I never did get a resolution from them.

5 comments:

Amy said...

Ick. Of course, you could just splurge and buy an Apple. If something fails that's their fault, they usually replace it, even if the computer isn't under warranty. :) Anyway, I hope this gets settled soon. I know how crippled you probably feel having been there myself recently.

Jaena said...

I'm sorry, Kari. Jim would have told you not to buy a Gateway. He has worked on many (more than others when he does repairs.) We think they spend most of their money on cool marketing campaigns and that the computers have suffered.

I'm with Amy - get a Mac. :) BUT, I hope it all works out for you in the meantime.

Keri said...

Oh geez that's NO fun!!! I spilled coffee on my laptop this past week and it stopped recognizing the hard drive! Luckily it works now that it's dried out, but I was so sad at the thought of losing my laptop!!!

Mine is a Dell, and they sent me a new hard drive without even asking why I needed one! Although, now I don't think I need it.

Amy said...

Hey--I found a COL Terhune living on Colonel's Row this morning. I know it's probably no relation, but it made me think of you. Just like the Grist Mill sign at Indian Cliffs Ranch. :)

Anonymous said...

I have recently been pondering these "name brand" purchases for computers... I do a fair bit of PC troubleshooting and I have come to a couple realizations... 1) We choose to buy brand name computers because of their 'customer service' - we don't want to be left without help by purchasing a home built PC from a local expert... they aren't always available... 2) Most people that call the customer support quickly realize that the only support they are receiving is supporting the idea that 'they aren't helping me!'

I just had a friend buy a Dell and he called to get some help from them... then after they went in circles for about 1hr... he called me and we got it worked out... much less than 1hr...

I say all that to say... don't buy name brand for customer support.. I have given Dell my last $ after my battery issues with our 2 PDA's and Kari's as well.

Once we can afford an Apple, I will consider it... until then I will stand around wondering how people can afford to buy such expensive hardware :-) I know they are good.... but I am too cheap to spend more than 500 on any computer... I just gave Kim my 'old' computer from 2002. It was high end then and it's still running circles around a lot of stuff today... I paid 400 for my components + 100 for extra memory a couple yrs ago and it's still rolling strong...

Vision Computers has an avg. hold time for customer support of 15secs. - I have never tried this company, but they seem to offer quality built systems and have the support to go along with... kinda like a Dell/Gateway once was...