Laptop mouse button - Options?

Timmymna

Hi, I thought I would check here before trying to go straight to the retailer.
My dad has a HP laptop which after a couple of months developed a dodgy mouse button, it will work but has to be pressed in a certain way pretty hard to get it to register.
I tried to get it repaired for him but unfortunately after a lot of messing about the pick up was arranged and came while they were on holiday and was never rearranged, he just learned to live with it.

The button has now become completely unusable but the one year warranty has now passed.
Can I ask the retailer to fix this under the Sales of Goods act that it should still be working for a reasonable length of time, the rest of the laptop is working okay.

Thanks for any help on the matter.

halibut2209

It's certainly possible, although the odds are stacked against you.

The core of the issue now is that it's down to YOU to prove that the product was faulty from purchase. The fact that you didn't rearrange a pick-up will indicate to the retailer that it wasn't an issue, and they will undoubtedly refuse to help you.

That will leave you with the recourse of persuing through the small claims court, and all it will take from the retailers is that they offered to collect for a repair, and you - through inaction - declined.

If you want to persue them, an independant expert will need to be arranged to evaluate the laptop, and for him to declare it was not fit for purpose.

But at this late stage, given the months of usage with the fault, it's a very tall ask.

Timmymna

Thanks Halibut, I thought that might be the case. I'll send off an email asking if they can help just in case they are feeling generous but I won't be surprised if they say now.
Cheers.

IndigoBlue_2

Hi,

I have this exact same problem with my Sony Vaio, seems like a common problem on laptops these days. My PC is now out of warranty period however I contacted Sony and they say they will repair it for free, however I can't be bothered sending my laptop away as it is needed for work purposes so I just use a wireless mouse now.

Forgive me if you have said but have you contacted the manufacturer HP themselves? They might do it gratis for your father. What was the retailer? Not PC World by any chance?

Timmymna

Sorry I should have said it was originally HP that were going to repair it. It was purchase online, off the top of my head I can't recall if it was Ebuyer or Dabs.
After missing the first pick up I never managed to rearrange another attempt because my dad is always using it for work and it seemed like it would cause more hassle not having it for who knows how long compared to having to click a little harder.
Anyway I'll shoot off an email to both, what's the worst that could happen?

IndigoBlue_2

Yes very good. It's a very delicate thing and shouldn't be messed around with other than the manufacturers actually as the motherboard is directly under the mouse buttons and they have some sort of pressure pads on them. So flimsy if you ask me.