Vaio Laptops- Don't buy them!!

robert_harper_2000

My friend bought a £900 Vaio brand new from Sony Centre after 14 months it needs £300 of repairs!! He was told should have taken out warranty - I wrote off letters explaining Sales of Goods Act and how goods should last slightly longer. It isn't as though he has even used it much, and it never left his flat. I have started a small claims court claim and thought it would be useful to get some other cases in case it does end up in court. My other friend comes in (not knowing about my other friend) and is annoyed as he needs his laptop for his medical degree but he bought a Vaio and now after 14 months it needs £600 of repairs!!! PC World told him he should have taken out the warranty!!

I cannot believe this!! When will these firms take responsibilty for importing inferior quality goods.

What does everyone else think, anyother Vaio users out there?

dangeroussports

Calm down man!

Keep your control.

Its a SONY VAIO. Its one of the highest quality products out there. Relax, it will get settled. You should be glad its not a DELL or a Tesco jobby.

Write to Sony.

robert_harper_2000

I have written only to get the response to reply to where I bought it so I wrote to Sony Centre and they said 'no' no to anything, just should have purchased warranty. I get abit carried away but it felt like I had uncovered a conspiracy! lol

RadoJo

I'm sure you're right about the quality Dangeroussports, but it shouldn't be up to the customers to write to Sony - the SOGA is clear that the contract is between the store and the customer. Apart from which, it does sound like the first example was purchased direct from Sony, in which case he obviously has contacted them, to no avail.

It sounds as though both these stores are relying on people's lack of knowledge about their rights to try and push sales of warrranties, which is really cheeky! If 14 months is considered a reasonable life-span for a laptop by the stores, then maybe it would be best left to the courts to disabuse them of that illusion...!

dangeroussports

Absolutely correct.

robert_harper_2000

Exactly, I begged my friend to let me help him. So far he has agreed to me writing a letter! but I mentioned it may have to go to small claims and that he would win as it is unreasonable. He is abit worried about costs (I explained costs are limited) and doesn't want to... guess they might be able to get away with it!

Unless I take him to court to take them to court!? lmao

pinkshoes

14 months lifespan for a laptop is a little low!! I'd say 2 to 3 years would be more reasonable, especially for something that cost £900, and most the time you'd need to buy a new one because you require higher specs to play the latest games, not because it's broken!!

I have an Acer, which cost me £600 about 27 months ago, and it's still fine. A little slow with some of the latest Sims2 games (!!) but will be fine for another 9 months! The only thing i can fault it with is the left click button, which has been used so much the silver colour has worn off and it's now white!

I'd challenge the shop who sold you this, and write a letter to the managing director telling them that you're disappointed with the performance of a high spec product! If it was a £250 laptop from Tesco, then 14 months would be a reasonable performace, but not for a Sony Vaio

littleowl

I bought a new Sony Vaio some four years ago. I have never had a problem, it still runs extremely well and I expect it to do so for many more years.

I think it unfair to warm people against buying Sony Vaios, they are excellent machines.

However, I feel your friend has been very unlucky and has every right to pursue the vendor. No laptop of the Vaio quality should have a life of 14 months - that is patently ridiculous - in fact I am sure that any good laptop should have a life far longer than that.

As for warranties - I've never taken out an extended warranty yet and believe they are mostly a con. If goods do not perform as they should then the vendor is the first port of call.

Get your friend to ask Sony if they believe that one of their wonderful machines should require such expenditure after 14 months. Point out that the owner purchased the Vaio because of their excellent reputation - he is now calling this into question.

Above all, as pinkshoes said, find the name of the Managing Director or Sales Manager and put the question directly to them. They do care about their products and I am sure would not want it known that reliability ios being called into question.

robert_harper_2000

Well I'll be writing to PC World but Sony didn't seem to care, it is dissappointing as my brothers and I always buy stuff from Sony but certainly won't be now!

Appreciate your views- reassuring I'm helping him out correctly

I thought it was fair to warn as so far the only Vaio Laptops I know have all broken in a much shorter than expected lifespan and the companies have yet to show any kind of emotion!

louidog

littleowl wrote: »

I bought a new Sony Vaio some four years ago. I have never had a problem, it still runs extremely well and I expect it to do so for many more years.

I think it unfair to warm people against buying Sony Vaios, they are excellent machines.

However, I feel your friend has been very unlucky and has every right to pursue the vendor. No laptop of the Vaio quality should have a life of 14 months - that is patently ridiculous - in fact I am sure that any good laptop should have a life far longer than that.

I totally agree and love my Vaio too!

In saying that PC World do seem to have their own set of rules to play by....good luck with it all Robert

Noz

Surely one bad experience doesn't condemn the whole range?