Microsoft Tablet from Currys, advice needed

kiis102

Hello everyone, hit a little stumbling block and need advice.

OK so I bought a Microsoft Surface Pro 3 tablet from Currys just over a month ago for £450 (It was a display model as they didn't have any new in stock).

Unfortunately the tablet now has a cracked screen so I need to get it repaired. I just contacted Microsoft online who advised me that the tablet does have a Hardware Warranty still active (for another 2weeks) however Cracked screen isn't covered.

A charge of £260 would be required to basically replace the unit so I said ok. As they were about to process the replacement, the advisor told me that because the item is a display unit, they can't replace it and that Currys should not have sold it to me.

Microsoft have told me that I need to take it back to Currys who will charge me the £260 and replace the unit but Currys now no longer sell the Surface Pro 3 tablet as a newer model is out.

I now have a tablet with a cracked screen that Microsoft won't fix and told me that Currys shouldn't have sold it to me. I'll be phoning Currys in the morning but I just need some legal advice on where I'll stand as I don't think Currys will be able to replace the unit. Ideally I'd settle for a refund but I'm not sure I'll get one.

wealdroam

kiis102 wrote: »

Hello everyone, hit a little stumbling block and need advice.

OK so I bought a Microsoft Surface Pro 3 tablet from Currys just over a month ago for £450 (It was a display model as they didn't have any new in stock).

Unfortunately the tablet now has a cracked screen so I need to get it repaired. I just contacted Microsoft online who advised me that the tablet does have a Hardware Warranty still active (for another 2weeks) however Cracked screen isn't covered.

A charge of £260 would be required to basically replace the unit so I said ok. As they were about to process the replacement, the advisor told me that because the item is a display unit, they can't replace it and that Currys should not have sold it to me.

Microsoft have told me that I need to take it back to Currys who will charge me the £260 and replace the unit but Currys now no longer sell the Surface Pro 3 tablet as a newer model is out.

I now have a tablet with a cracked screen that Microsoft won't fix and told me that Currys shouldn't have sold it to me. I'll be phoning Currys in the morning but I just need some legal advice on where I'll stand as I don't think Currys will be able to replace the unit. Ideally I'd settle for a refund but I'm not sure I'll get one.

As you seem to be willing to pay for this repair, are there no other repairers available?

But then you say you'll settle for a refund from Currys.
If the screen has been user damaged, why should Currys offer a refund.?

kiis102

wealdroam wrote: »

As you seem to be willing to pay for this repair, are there no other repairers available?

But then you say you'll settle for a refund from Currys.
If the screen has been user damaged, why should Currys offer a refund.?

I don't mind paying Microsoft/Currys to repair the tablet as I'd get a replacement unit instead of just a screen replacement + they're more reliable but it's more difficult to find 3rd party places that fix the Surface Pro 3. I did have a Google for 20minutes before contacting Microsoft.

I'd be happy with Currys replacing the Unit but I don't believe they stock the tablet anymore. It's not even on their website. When I purchased it, it was a clearance item.

pappa_golf

as this is probably accidental damage , what about house insurance


or even "pop" somebodies "bubble" , for a month

kiis102

pappa_golf wrote: »

as this is probably accidental damage , what about house insurance


or even "pop" somebodies "bubble" , for a month

Don't have house insurance, don't even know anyone who has it to be honest. Hopefully Currys will help out tomorrow assuming they talk to Microsoft.

SnowTiger

Presumably Microsoft offers a 1 year warranty. If there's only two weeks of it left, the device may have been sat on the shop floor with all and sundry playing with it for the past fifty weeks. I'm guessing the warranty was activated, perhaps automatically, when the device was initially switched on and set up. £450 for such a device seems excessive.

How did the screen break? Did you drop it or knock it?

wealdroam

kiis102 wrote: »

Don't have house insurance, don't even know anyone who has it to be honest.

You really need to reconsider your options.

Here is are the first few sentences from MSE's Cheap Home Insurance article:

There are three main home insurance policies: building, contents and combined building & contents cover. Buildings cover protects the structure, the fixtures and fittings in your home; while contents insurance covers your belongings.

Combined buildings & contents cover is only suitable for people who own their homes. If you rent, buildings cover should be handled by your landlord. Contents cover, however, is a policy that everyone should consider.

Why does it matter what insurances other people have?

foxtrotoscar_2

kiis102 wrote: »

Don't have house insurance, don't even know anyone who has it to be honest. Hopefully Currys will help out tomorrow assuming they talk to Microsoft.

I know no one who doesn't have it...a couple of £'s or so a week for buildings and contents is really a no brainer.

ScorpiondeRooftrouser

foxtrotoscar wrote: »

I know no one who doesn't have it...a couple of £'s or so a week for buildings and contents is really a no brainer.

I find it hard to believe either that he can say nobody he knows has house insurance, or that you can say with any certainty that everyone you know does.
I would expect that most people I know have it, but I have never discussed it with them on account of it being staggeringly tedious.

AJXX

Screens on the Surface Pro are ridiculously hard to replace - the housing usually ends up bent or slightly disformed from the drop which results in the new glass refusing to fit in - these units are so compacted together that even the slightest bend/dent causes hell.

This is why MS usually just replace the device.

As for the OP, sounds like they're up a particular creek without a paddle - can't see curries refunding this if the OP has damaged the screen and as for curries attempting a repair; OP would be better off taking it to a cobblers and letting them do it. Would not let curries/pc world/knowhow do any sort of hardware repair at all.

I'd suggest OP shops around more in future, the SP3 has been on eBay circa £400-£500 for some time now, most of them are referb units and include 1 year warranty, although the odd new one appears from time to time as well; http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-MICROSOFT-SURFACE-PRO-3-PC-WINDOWS-12-TOUCHSCREEN-TABLET-i3-64GB-SILVER-/252258588572?hash=item3abbc8979c:g:0esAAOSwa39UsihL

chancesare_2

Why would house insurance pay for damage to a screen.