Failed repair of tablet computer

Paul.Wo

Hi Everybody,

Thanks in advance for any advice.

My 3 year old Android tablet developed an intermittent then permanent failure to charge via its USB port. I believe this was probably due to wear or damage to the connector. After some googling I found a company offering to fix my device for a reasonable price. I posted it off two weeks ago and it was returned apparently fixed 4 days later. I did notice that the connector seemed slightly misaligned, but was satisfied it was working. Then after 4 days, the intermittancy returned and it stopped charging at all after 6 days. I had paid £29 online by credit card.

Reporting this to the company their representative questioned whether I was using the correct charger, and claimed that with 4 years experience he had never seen such a repair fail so quickly. I know something about electronics and I don't believe him. A connector repair on a modern circuit board is a skilled manual job requiring good eyesight, dexterity and concentration. A rushed, tired or otherwise below par operator could easily make a poor job of it. Alternatively there could have been another fault on the board that they didn't spot.

Although their website mentions a 90 day warranty period, it is not exactly clear whether this applies to my repair job. Now, that I don't really trust the company should I be badgering them to take back my tablet and fix it properly or just give me a refund. Perhaps I should try another company, leaving this one a bad review on Trustpilot.

What would you do?

societys_child

I know something about electronics. .

What would you do?

I'd have fixed it myself.

Jumblebumble

societys_child wrote: »

I'd have fixed it myself.

I know plenty about electronics having been an electronics development engineer in the past but i do not have the necessary tools or skill to be able to rework at PCB level.

Paul_DNAP

Paul.Wo wrote: »

What would you do?

I'd buy a fresh one then have a go at putting a new connector on myself once I've got the new one running, just for the sheer joy of fiddling with it.


If I were you, I'd give them another chance to put the USB connector on again, they ought to do it under the original £29 and their warranty.


And lay off the Trustpilot sulking, and accept that some faults just can't be sorted with such complicated devices, it may not be a simple connector issue, but you'd know that since you know a bit about electronics.

danthemoneysavingman

Use the warranty yep

Spank

To the people saying do it himself, replacing the USB connector is an easy job (just need a soldering iron, solder and wick), taking apart the tablet is quite a task.

societys_child

Spank wrote: »

To the people saying do it himself, replacing the USB connector is an easy job (just need a soldering iron, solder and wick), taking apart the tablet is quite a task.

It can be, that's where thought, experience and a bit of nous come in . .