I am SO MAD!

[lottaLove]

Long Vent!!!

OK so here is some background on what happened. I bought a laptop in August 2005. Shortly after I bought it, the screen stopped working. Because it was under warranty, I brought it in to get fixed. They kept it for about 3 weeks, then returned it to me saying they didnt fix it because it wasnt broken.

I took it home, it worked for about a day, then the screen stopped working again. Once again, I brought it in, they kept it for 3 weeks, and returned it saying they didnt fix it because it wasnt broken.

I took it home again, and this time it worked for around 3 days before the screen stopped working again. This time I brought it in, and got really upset, and insisted that they open it up and fix whatever was broken in it. Well finally after speaking to the manager, the technician opened up my laptop and fixed the problem. Only...

When he was fixing the screen, he broke the power supply. So when I got my laptop back after about a month, the screen worked wonderfully, but the battery wouldn't charge. So once again, I had to bring it back to the store. This brings us to around July of 2006. This time when I brought it back, they kept it for about a month again, and replaced the motherboard. When I got it back, it was working fine. Until....

Around 3 weeks ago, I moved my laptop from where I usually keep it at my desk to my kitchen so that I could use a recipe that I had stored on it. As soon as I set it on my counter in the kitchen, it started making a crunching noise, and a horrible burning smell and smoke was coming out of the back. I got someone at my work (who is a laptop technician) to open it up and see what was happening, and a straight pin fell out!! Apparently, last time I had my laptop serviced, they technician left a little piece of himself in there, and when I moved it the pin was placed in such a way on the system board as to create an electrical short.

I brought this in, and I was furious. My laptop warranty expired in August, and they are refusing to service it. (even though they broke it). They are saying that it would just cost them too much to repair it, and it is over a year old so I should be looking into an upgrade anyways. I showed them the pin, and they are telling me I must have put it in there myself. (the guy I got to look at it at work said the only way it could get in there is when the previous tech had the actual laptop case open for service).

I went to the store yesterday and argued with the manager for 45 mintues. He eventually offered me $200.00 off a new laptop from their store, in exchange for my current broken laptop. I told him that was a slap in the face, because 200 will barely cover the taxes, not to mention the fact that I don't want to spend another dime at their store. He told me that if I can get my technician to come in and sign saying the cause of the damage was due to a faulty repair, we will be able to work something out.

Well I did just that. My technician went in today to speak with the manager, and he was told that the manager was in a meeting until 1. So he called the store after 1 pm instead of going down there again, and the manager said "I refuse to discuss it" and hung up the phone!

I don't even know what to do anymore. I filed a complaint against the technician with their head office, and my coworker filed a complaint against their manager for his rude behaviour. The people who take complaints sounded sympathetic, but that doesn't necessarily mean anything. I am just so angry and upset! I finally had the thing paid off in June, and they went and fried it on me.

Thanks for letting me vent!

[JustMegan79]

go to planetfeedback.com

[suzysaver]

Report them http://www.bbb.org/

[Buckeye5]

IMG I cannot believe that. I was mad just reading your story!!! That is a horrible way to practice business!!! I would try to get the phone numbers of the higher ups, if not the highest person in charge. That is just WRONG!!! I am mad for you!!!!

[Nada.Leona]

I agree, begin your complaints. Write to local newspapers, write to their head business people, write to other laptop companies, write to just about anyone you think would have any valid opinion in this situation -- all it's going to cost you is a few minutes time and some postage.

ALSO... written word is better in this type of situation than emails, phone calls, or personal visits. Why? Because you are giving them a hard copy of the situation, not something they can delete or forget about.

[Darlene]

Oh my. Is this Best Buy or Comp USA or...? Sounds like one of them.

I'm so sorry you are hitting the proverbial brick wall and hope you can get some satisfaction. Scream it from the mountaintops to all who will listen w what store treated you so poorly so they don't shop there. Hitting them in the wallet is often your only recoarse.

[lottaLove]

It is the Staples Business Depot chain in Canada. I'm going to be calling their head office again today, and hopefully getting some kind of a response.

[YankeeMom]

Report them http://www.bbb.org/

Ditto!!! That is just unacceptable!

[emily_hope]

I would tell everyone I knew! And I would definitely report them to the bbb.

[Stella]

On my local news they have a segment where they go after companies that have bad business practices. They then air it on the news (broadcasted in the whole san francisco bay area) and about 99% of the time the customer gets their money back, or the item replaced for free. See if there is something like this in your area. I would report them to the BBB also. It seems like as many times as you had your laptop in there it shoudl be considered a "lemon" and they should give you a new one. In one year you barely even got to use it.