HELP! Laptop died, need a new one

Darkangel

Help!
My laptop died a death the other day and annoyingly it's a few months out of warranty and there's nothnig I can do except take it to PC world to get it repaired (could cost me around 300 pounds as it looks like a motherboard problem).

I may work out better for me to get a new laptop altogether so I've had a look at the cheap laptop thread but was wondering if there were any offers out there where I can get money off a laptop (like take out a new mobile phone contract,　get a free laptop, would be nice if that existed! Or any good cashback sites where I can a decent return on buying online)

I would like a mac book or even a toshiba HD laptop but I fear it would be wishful thinking to get one cheap. I can't afford too much (around 500 pounds) and I don't have much time to surf the net for deals as I'm limited to my internet access now! My only specifications are I need a lot of hard drive space and not a celeron processor (though I can't afford to be too picky at the moment!)

sjrinteriors

ok get yourself onto ebuyer.co.uk. I appreciate that you have limited internet access but it would be worth doing it.. Good deals on laptops. I wouldnt bother taking it to PC World either and please dont buy one from them.. They are more likely to make a bigger mess of it and wouldnt know the difference between a PC and a copper...

Conor_3

I'd actually buy a laptop from PC World as their prices are very competitive on laptops and their range unmatched.

Most laptops now come with 120GB HDDs as standard, even the sub £400 range.

superscaper

Out of interest how old is your laptop? If it isn't that old then why not get it repaired (without charge) through the retailer, doesn't matter whether the warranty has expired. Surely that'd be the cheapest option.

Darkangel

superscaper wrote: »

Out of interest how old is your laptop? If it isn't that old then why not get it repaired (without charge) through the retailer, doesn't matter whether the warranty has expired. Surely that'd be the cheapest option.

Hi,
My laptop is just over 15 months old. I took it back to Comet yesterday and they said because it was out of the 12 month warranty They wouldn't do anything, they just gave me the number for Acer. I called them and they said it would cost me 41 pounds for them to look at it (non refundable), then they can tell me what is wrong with it and tell me how much it would be to repair.

That's when I went to PC world where they at least looked at it. The tech guy spent 5 minutes fiddling with it and eventually told me it was more than likely a motherboard problem (couldn't actually confirm it as I would have to book it in for a healthcheck, 50 pounds which I declined). He said if it was a motherboard problem then I would be better off buying a new laptop altogether. I am deply gutted about having to buy a new one, especially as all my itunes and downloads are on there but I think there is a way of rescuing the data (?)

I am annoyed that Comet wouldn't even look at it and that I had to go to their competitors for help (I feel a complaint letter to customer services coming on!). what really got my goat was I called Comet customer support in the morning,　explained that it was just out of warranty and the guy said to take it to their store and they would be able to fix it in store or send it off for me. I spent 2 hours trying to get to their store and was pretty much turned away straight away.

Sorry, I think I went on a bit there!

andysstuff_2

Have you got an independant computer shop in your area - usually found off the main shopping area.

You may well find that they will properly diagnose the problem for you and offer you a cheqper repair.

Just a thought.

superscaper

Wow 15 months old? I wouldn't even consider paying for a repair or buying a new one. Comet (if that's who you bought it off) will be obliged to fix it then if it's a fault (ie not accidental damage) no matter what they say. Next time go in with a print out of the Sale of Goods Act. This is definitely a case of them just being stubborn and you completely with the law on your side.

superscaper

andysstuff wrote: »

You may well find that they will properly diagnose the problem for you and offer you a cheqper repair.

Just a thought.

Why pay anything though when the OP is entitled to have it repaired/replaced for free by Comet. The Sale of Goods Act covers you with the retailer for a "reasonable time" up to six years after purchase. A laptop should reasonably be expected to last about 4 years without inherent fault.

andysstuff_2

superscaper wrote: »

Why pay anything though when the OP is entitled to have it repaired/replaced for free by Comet. The Sale of Goods Act covers you with the retailer for a "reasonable time" up to six years after purchase. A laptop should reasonably be expected to last about 4 years without inherent fault.

Depends how stubborn they are. If they dig their heels in it may just be less hassle for the op to look at other options. May be cheaper than buying a new one.

superscaper

andysstuff wrote: »

Depends how stubborn they are. If they dig their heels in it may just be less hassle for the op to look at other options. May be cheaper than buying a new one.

Well if the repair costs something like £40 or more (and it's likely to) then it'd be cheaper simply to take them to small claims court over it (even then you'll get the court costs back at the end when you win).

Comet are known to be stubborn http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2007/jan/28/consumernews.observercashsection
but to give up because "it may just be less hassle" isn't really in the ethos of this site. It's about standing up for your consumer rights.

Darkangel

superscaper wrote: »

Wow 15 months old? I wouldn't even consider paying for a repair or buying a new one. Comet (if that's who you bought it off) will be obliged to fix it then if it's a fault (ie not accidental damage) no matter what they say. Next time go in with a print out of the Sale of Goods Act. This is definitely a case of them just being stubborn and you completely with the law on your side.

I don't know much about the sale of goods act but if I can get it repaired for free all the better! I don't particularly want to buy a new one as I don't have the money and am gutted to lose all the data on my hard drives (but I hear there is a way go get it back?)

If I am within my rights and they should fix it for me then I will happily argue and fight with Comet about it. I just assumed that they would only cover me for 12 months and then I was on my own!

I almost did lose my temper with the woman in comet but I thought I should probably get my facts straight before charging in there.

Thanks for the advice though!