Warranty Voidance of hardware?

[Chadder007]

I have been working on PC's for 3 years at my current job. I have worked with other companies computer such as Gateway/Dell/ Fujitsu/ IBM. For installing cards and such in PC's they said it was ok to install all of these myself and to help them out with diagnostics since I am A+ certified. Well today I had to call in a laptop for Fujitsu. The MiniPCI card that is in the unit that is accessible beside the memory slot is just under a removable plastic cover. Of course I would have to remove this cover to install other memory upgrades also. The tech support told me that I voided the warranty since I opened it and that they would fix the unit, which I found the MiniPCI card that came with the unit from Fujitsu was the cause of the problem (It wouldn't boot at all if the card was installed, it would only boot if I would take it out). Anyway, I have been told before that it was ok to work on these in the manner since I am certified. But this guy was like "Well, sorry but your going to have to pay for it and your warranty is now void". I can say now that Fujitsu has possibly lost an order of 50 new laptops if he did this just be to an @$$.
Anyone else know how these warranties work now? We had purchased extended warranties on all of our units.

 

[microAmp]

I had somewhat of a similar experience like that. Friend (no PC experience) of mine had a Dell computer, tech support figured the mobo. was giving him problems on his PS2 mouse port. They sent him a replacement motherboard (they really discouraged him on having a Dell support guy come out and replace him self).

If he replaced the mobo. on his own, it would have voided the warranty, if he had them on the phone while he did this, it would not void the warranty. So one day he called me up, I went over there, he called up support and I started yanking stuff out.

 

[dkozloski]

It never ceases to amaze me that people in business feel they have something to gain by abusing the customers. I would suggest that you talk to the support tech's supervisor and if that doesn't help go on up the chain. I wouldn't be surprised if he dreamed up a "policy" on the spot.

 

[newbiepcuser]

Did you get the rep's name? I would trying contacting their corporate or sales department and let them know why Dell is winning the way with service like theirs. Not saying Dell is whole lot better but they taking a big bite out of the corporate world now.

 

[MikeMike]

the only time i did this was on a gateway, they had a void if removed on the panel, and i removed it to install something, somehow i proceeded to break sumtin by putting in a pci card into a pci slot, but they didnt care to much.

now that compputer is in a closet, just waiting for me to get done d/ling linux
its an old 233 p2

 

[microAmp]

Originally posted by: newbiepcuser
Did you get the rep's name? I would trying contacting their corporate or sales department and let them know why Dell is winning the way with service like theirs. Not saying Dell is whole lot better but they taking a big bite out of the corporate world now.

My friend got a huge run around before hand. He talked to several of them before hand before one finally said he would send a motherboard. My friend waited a bit over a week (TO: Austin, Tx down the road from their HQ) shouldn't take too long depending on where they send it of course, Austin or some where else like Memphis...

It never came, he called back saying he never recieved it, they looked into the records saying it was never submitted to send him one.

Since then I hate Dell Tech support, now that it's moved.... I wont' even comment on that.

Yeah, he got the names of all of them but that one problem one. Even talked to one of their bosses about it.