Pocket PC irritation
So in June I decided to buy a pocket pc. I made a significant mistake
though -- instead of researching online, and then checking Ebay, I just went
to Best Buy. Best Buy only had 2 to choose from (other then Blackberries),
both HP IPAQs. I didn't buy the extended warranty -- partly because I never do, and partly because I assumed its warranty was at least a year anyway.
Exactly 5 months (to the day) after purchasing it, it stopped working. I
called HP tech support of course. That's when I learned that the warranty
was only 90 days, and it would cost me $49 to have even phone support (but I
was told that if a repair was needed, the 49 would be credited against the
cost). I wasn't thrilled, but went ahead. The tech was pretty sure I
needed my ROM flashed, but couldn't find any where to send it to me to
synch, so I needed to send it in. She thought it would probably be another
$25, not great, but in for a penny in for a pound, right?
Imagine how thrilled I was when I called to authorize the repair, to be told
that a 5 month old pocket pc needed its motherboard replaced -- at a cost
that was more then half what I paid for it in the first place! Needless to
say, I'm having it sent back unrepaired, and I won't be buying HP or Compaq
in the future.
I sent a polite letter of complaint to HP's CEO Mark Hurd as well. Not that
I expect that to do anything more then make me feel better.
though -- instead of researching online, and then checking Ebay, I just went
to Best Buy. Best Buy only had 2 to choose from (other then Blackberries),
both HP IPAQs. I didn't buy the extended warranty -- partly because I never do, and partly because I assumed its warranty was at least a year anyway.
Exactly 5 months (to the day) after purchasing it, it stopped working. I
called HP tech support of course. That's when I learned that the warranty
was only 90 days, and it would cost me $49 to have even phone support (but I
was told that if a repair was needed, the 49 would be credited against the
cost). I wasn't thrilled, but went ahead. The tech was pretty sure I
needed my ROM flashed, but couldn't find any where to send it to me to
synch, so I needed to send it in. She thought it would probably be another
$25, not great, but in for a penny in for a pound, right?
Imagine how thrilled I was when I called to authorize the repair, to be told
that a 5 month old pocket pc needed its motherboard replaced -- at a cost
that was more then half what I paid for it in the first place! Needless to
say, I'm having it sent back unrepaired, and I won't be buying HP or Compaq
in the future.
I sent a polite letter of complaint to HP's CEO Mark Hurd as well. Not that
I expect that to do anything more then make me feel better.