OT: Catch 22 with manufacture warranty on new PCs.

[RMZ]

Off Topic:

So I called Gateway support today and ask them if I install a new
video card in my system if I void the warranty and they assured me
that "Yes, you will void the warranty". Yes, I know this is common
practice by several major PC makers now, but I have to wonder how they
can legally get away with this.

Think about it.

The PCI Express port and the PCI slots are all advertised features of
the computer on the box. Since these are advertised features you are
paying for one would think they are features that would be covered
under warranty, yes? However in order to make use of these features
(or to even test that slots are working properly) you would have to
avoid the warranty. You see how this is a "catch-22"?

I wonder if anyone has ever tried to challenge one of the big PC
makers over this. I just bought a Gateway that apparently has a bad
PCI-E port and I am about to try. I suspect if they were to get a
letter from an attorney (and this would be all on principle, since the
PC in question is a sub $500 bargin retail job) that Gateway would
opt to make good on it, we shall see. But it doesn't answer the
unlined question, how do PC makers get away with this.

 

[the wharf rat]

So I called Gateway support today and ask them if I install a new
video card in my system if I void the warranty and they assured me
that "Yes, you will void the warranty". Yes, I know this is common
practice by several major PC makers now, but I have to wonder how they
can legally get away with this.

Think about it.

Ok....

So, ummm, how would they know?

 

[Mick Murphy]

No Catch-22 at all!

If you bought a new car with a 4-speed Gearbox, and you put a 5-speed
Gearbox in it, you void tha Warranty!

Use abit of logic. You are changing the product that you bought under
Warranty
It is no longe the product that you bought from them; so NO Warranty.

If you want a computer to be the way YOU want it to be, BUILD it yourself!

 

[Augustus]

So, ummm, how would they know?
A lot of the manufacturers have a warranty seal on the case that's damaged
when you open the case. No intact seal, no warranty. And most of these are
return to depot for service Acer is one example. Dell's warranty is not
voided by upgrading. They'll just ship you the broken part. Which is why I
usually recommend Dell boxes to the average user.

 

[David B.]

Actually that's a bad example. In the case of the car they cannot void the
warranty on the remainder of the factory parts, they just don't provide
warranty on what was replaced by you. They can only deny warranty if they
can prove one of the parts you added caused the failure of the factory part
still under warranty.

 

[David B.]

Don't take the support persons word for it, read the warranty statement and
see what it says on the subject, if you ever need warranty service, just
don't tell them about the video card.

 

[CB]

Off Topic:

So I called Gateway support today and ask them if I install a new
video card in my system if I void the warranty and they assured me
that "Yes, you will void the warranty". Yes, I know this is common
practice by several major PC makers now, but I have to wonder how they
can legally get away with this.

Think about it.

The PCI Express port and the PCI slots are all advertised features of
the computer on the box. Since these are advertised features you are
paying for one would think they are features that would be covered
under warranty, yes? However in order to make use of these features
(or to even test that slots are working properly) you would have to
avoid the warranty. You see how this is a "catch-22"?

I wonder if anyone has ever tried to challenge one of the big PC
makers over this. I just bought a Gateway that apparently has a bad
PCI-E port and I am about to try. I suspect if they were to get a
letter from an attorney (and this would be all on principle, since the
PC in question is a sub $500 bargin retail job) that Gateway would
opt to make good on it, we shall see. But it doesn't answer the
unlined question, how do PC makers get away with this.

RMZ,

The solution is simple. Never buy anything from Gateway again. You
could also post your problem in any and all forums you can find, warning
other people to stay away from Gateway.
There is a very simple solution to your problem. In the future, before
you purchase anything, ask the company if changing something will void the
warranty. If they say no, get it in writing. Have them send you an email
verifying what they said in order to protect yourself. If they don't want to
answer take your business elsewhere.
I heard horror stories about Gateway years ago. I decided at that time
to never do business with them.
Have a nice day.

C.B.

 

[RMZ]

RMZ,

The solution is simple. Never buy anything from Gateway again. You
could also post your problem in any and all forums you can find, warning
other people to stay away from Gateway.
There is a very simple solution to your problem. In the future, before
you purchase anything, ask the company if changing something will void the
warranty. If they say no, get it in writing. Have them send you an email
verifying what they said in order to protect yourself. If they don't want to
answer take your business elsewhere.
I heard horror stories about Gateway years ago. I decided at that time
to never do business with them.
Have a nice day.

C.B.

C.B.

Thanks for the heart felt advice, unfortunately this is not limtied to
Gateway. It seems HP, SONY and the new retail Dell systems all have
seals on the back that prevent the case from being opened and once
that seal is broken the warranty is void. If the problem were isolated
to Gateway I would not have posted in the first place, but it is not.
It appears this is general practice with desktop PCs sold at
retailers. I'm not sure if built-to-order Dell and HP's have this seal
I would guess they do not (can anyone confirm?)

Someone provided a very bad analogy related to an automobile part
warranty being voided. Since the PCI-E and PCI slots are advertised on
the box of the Gateway PC a proper analogy for how ludicrous this is
would be if Toyota were to advertise as a feature pre-wiring and a
built in slot on the dash for a third-party GPS reciever and then turn
around and state that if you make use of that option you void the
warranty on the car. Essentially that seems to be what these big PC
manufactuers are doing. Why has no one brought it up as an issue?
You've got me on that.. I assume it has to do with failure rate being
so low that the odds of someone having to make the manufactuer make
good or fight them have been nominal, but as written that's what they
are doing and it's insane.

 

[Alias]

C.B.

Thanks for the heart felt advice, unfortunately this is not limtied to
Gateway. It seems HP, SONY and the new retail Dell systems all have
seals on the back that prevent the case from being opened and once
that seal is broken the warranty is void.

Wow, so opening the case just to clean out the dust would make the
warranty void? That really sucks. I'm glad I only do white boxes.

Alias

 

[Guest]

Wow, so opening the case just to clean out the dust would make the
warranty void? That really sucks. I'm glad I only do white boxes.

Alias

See If You Stick With Ubuntu Just FYI You Won't Have Any Problems With That
Kind Of Stuff. Just FYI

 

[caver1]

C.B.

Thanks for the heart felt advice, unfortunately this is not limtied to
Gateway. It seems HP, SONY and the new retail Dell systems all have
seals on the back that prevent the case from being opened and once
that seal is broken the warranty is void. If the problem were isolated
to Gateway I would not have posted in the first place, but it is not.
It appears this is general practice with desktop PCs sold at
retailers. I'm not sure if built-to-order Dell and HP's have this seal
I would guess they do not (can anyone confirm?)

Someone provided a very bad analogy related to an automobile part
warranty being voided. Since the PCI-E and PCI slots are advertised on
the box of the Gateway PC a proper analogy for how ludicrous this is
would be if Toyota were to advertise as a feature pre-wiring and a
built in slot on the dash for a third-party GPS reciever and then turn
around and state that if you make use of that option you void the
warranty on the car. Essentially that seems to be what these big PC
manufactuers are doing. Why has no one brought it up as an issue?
You've got me on that.. I assume it has to do with failure rate being
so low that the odds of someone having to make the manufactuer make
good or fight them have been nominal, but as written that's what they
are doing and it's insane.

Thats not true about Dell and Gateway having seals
that you dare not break. I have both and there are
no seals. Besides there is times that you call
support and they will have you open the case to do
things.
caver1

 

[RMZ]

Thats not true about Dell and Gateway having seals
that you dare not break. I have both and there are
no seals. Besides there is times that you call
support and they will have you open the case to do
things.
caver1

There most certainly ARE seals on current Gateway and Dell desktops. I
purchased a total of four PCs in 2007, two of which were Gateway
desktop systems and both had seals that had to be broken before the
case could be opened... I have a Dell recently purchased from Walmart
that also has a seal on it... Perhaps you purchased on-line and
recieved a system without a seal, I said before I don't believe they
apply a seal to their on-line "built to order" systems, but the pre-
built retail systems certainly do have them.

If you break them you void the warranty.

 

[Alias]

There most certainly ARE seals on current Gateway and Dell desktops. I
purchased a total of four PCs in 2007, two of which were Gateway
desktop systems and both had seals that had to be broken before the
case could be opened... I have a Dell recently purchased from Walmart
that also has a seal on it... Perhaps you purchased on-line and
recieved a system without a seal, I said before I don't believe they
apply a seal to their on-line "built to order" systems, but the pre-
built retail systems certainly do have them.

If you break them you void the warranty.

So what are you supposed to do if some hardware goes bad and you need to
open the case to replace it? How can you keep the inside of the case
clean? How can you upgrade hardware?

Alias

 

[Bob]

Self Build is the best option, I have fallen foul of these issues in the
past, now I build my own, manage my own and support my own (occasionally
with the help of the fine folks here)!

 

[Stephan Rose]

So what are you supposed to do if some hardware goes bad and you need to
open the case to replace it? How can you keep the inside of the case
clean? How can you upgrade hardware?

Honestly, none of those tasks are probably things that the average person
should be or even is capable of carrying out. Most can't manage anything
beyond click 'n drool and we all know this.

Also, I *can* understand companies such as HP.

How can you expect them to warranty a machine where half the hardware has
been replaced with different / upgraded parts? That can't be warrantied
realistically...

Realistically, if you want to mess with the hardware of your system then
you should be building your own in the first place. If you just want
another appliance next to your Toaster, go buy a HP or equivalent.

--
Stephan
2003 Yamaha R6

å›ã®äº‹æ€ã„出ã™æ—¥ãªã‚“ã¦ãªã„ã®ã¯
å›ã®äº‹å¿˜ã‚ŒãŸã¨ããŒãªã„ã‹ã‚‰

 

[Alias]

Honestly, none of those tasks are probably things that the average person
should be or even is capable of carrying out. Most can't manage anything
beyond click 'n drool and we all know this.

I think computer users are becoming more savvy, although the majority
are still like you say.

Also, I *can* understand companies such as HP.

How can you expect them to warranty a machine where half the hardware has
been replaced with different / upgraded parts? That can't be warrantied
realistically...
True.


Realistically, if you want to mess with the hardware of your system then
you should be building your own in the first place. If you just want
another appliance next to your Toaster, go buy a HP or equivalent.

Also true and the warranties aren't really worth the paper they're
written on anyway.

Alias

 

[The poster formerly known as 'The Poster Formerly]

C.B.

Thanks for the heart felt advice, unfortunately this is not limtied to
Gateway. It seems HP, SONY and the new retail Dell systems all have
seals on the back that prevent the case from being opened and once
that seal is broken the warranty is void. If the problem were isolated
to Gateway I would not have posted in the first place, but it is not.
It appears this is general practice with desktop PCs sold at
retailers. I'm not sure if built-to-order Dell and HP's have this seal
I would guess they do not (can anyone confirm?)

HP does not do this to their business machines. Dell should have lots
of customization features and options (and possibly HP too) which equate
to a 'built to order' PC.

Someone provided a very bad analogy related to an automobile part
warranty being voided. Since the PCI-E and PCI slots are advertised on
the box of the Gateway PC a proper analogy for how ludicrous this is
would be if Toyota were to advertise as a feature pre-wiring and a
built in slot on the dash for a third-party GPS reciever and then turn
around and state that if you make use of that option you void the
warranty on the car. Essentially that seems to be what these big PC
manufactuers are doing. Why has no one brought it up as an issue?
You've got me on that.. I assume it has to do with failure rate being
so low that the odds of someone having to make the manufactuer make
good or fight them have been nominal, but as written that's what they
are doing and it's insane.

--
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"Fair use is not merely a nice concept--it is a federal law based on
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creativity and innovation that is a hallmark of this country. Consumer
rights in the digital age are not frivolous."
- Maura Corbett

 

[Brian W]

No Catch-22 at all!

If you bought a new car with a 4-speed Gearbox, and you put a 5-speed
Gearbox in it, you void tha Warranty!

Use abit of logic. You are changing the product that you bought under
Warranty
It is no longe the product that you bought from them; so NO Warranty.

If you want a computer to be the way YOU want it to be, BUILD it yourself!

Yep, that's what I always do, that way you can be sure of what's in there,
and the OEM O/S install isn't full of unwanted crap. And of course, a HDD
can be partitioned to keep data away from the O/S when doing a self-build.