PB Tech laptop repair nightmare

Forums › Laptops and mobile computers › PB Tech laptop repair nightmare

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loceff13

1065 posts

Uber Geek

#2205434 27-Mar-2019 00:59

shk292:

A shame PB tech didn't just sell you a USB audio sound card, they sell quite a nice one for $38 https://www.pbtech.co.nz/product/AUDCRE0163/Creative-Sound-Blaster-Play-3-External-Sound-Card

Would laptop speakers work with a USB soundcard? and $38? OP would probably be fine with one for ~$5 on TradeMe.

Surely they tested a different/the windows default audio driver too?

1101

3122 posts

Uber Geek

#2205544 27-Mar-2019 11:22

"laptop as its about 7 years old"

lower your expectations.
They are doing the best they can, with OLD no longer supported hardware .
Its PB who will be taking the risk on sourcing used replacement parts , dont expect miracles.

David321

485 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2205547 27-Mar-2019 11:28

1101:

"laptop as its about 7 years old"

lower your expectations.
They are doing the best they can, with OLD no longer supported hardware .
Its PB who will be taking the risk on sourcing used replacement parts , dont expect miracles.

My laptop was sent to Auckland and sent back to chch saying they cant fix the mother board, it has taken the customer (me) to suggested the replace rather than repair the motherboard to which they have said is possible but they will send it to Auckland again after it has already been there. Not to mention they kept lowering the price from $400 down to $200, makes me think the $400 was a rip off.

You suggesting me to lower expectations suggests this level of service is acceptable for you? I think most customers would prefer the fair and honest price straight away.

_David_

timmmay

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#2205549 27-Mar-2019 11:33

The amount of time they've likely spent on this already has probably cost them hundreds of dollars of labor already, with no revenue. They'll probably lose money no matter what they do at this point, it's a no win situation for them. They should probably just give it back and say "sorry we can't help".

I think your expectations are too high. Their service hasn't been great, and it's been slow, but I think they're doing you a favor by even looking at it.

Suggest you either accept the fault or buy another laptop. They don't last forever, 3 years is a pretty good lifespan, 7 years is great.

allio

885 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2205552 27-Mar-2019 11:36

Just buy a bluetooth speaker.

1101

3122 posts

Uber Geek

#2205559 27-Mar-2019 11:44

David321:

My laptop was sent to Auckland and sent back to chch saying they cant fix the mother board, it has taken the customer (me) to suggested the replace rather than repair the motherboard to which they have said is possible but they will send it to Auckland again after it has already been there. Not to mention they kept lowering the price from $400 down to $200, makes me think the $400 was a rip off.

You suggesting me to lower expectations suggests this level of service is acceptable for you? I think most customers would prefer the fair and honest price straight away.

The varying costs :perhaps they are trying to at least make some money on the repair . They need to factor in possible issues with used mb's
Sometimes techs price repairs really high just to put the customer off, as its just not worth the time & effort involved .

What they should have done is sell you one of their ex lease laptops instead.
Offering to source a replacement MB was a mistake ,on something that old . I bet thats why they didnt at first offer it.

Have you ever tried to trace the cause intermittent faults . Any idea just how long that can take .
They are doing the best they can, with OLD no longer supported hardware .
Its PB who will be taking the risk on sourcing used replacement parts ,to help you out . I'd bet they would rather not
have to deal with this .
They know that if they source a used mb from overseas, you could then just cancell the job , or not bother to pickup & pay when done. It happens

SpartanVXL

1314 posts

Uber Geek

#2205573 27-Mar-2019 11:46

David321:

You suggesting me to lower expectations suggests this level of service is acceptable for you? I think most customers would prefer the fair and honest price straight away.

He's saying to have the right expectations going in. The service is not acceptable sure, but as others have pointed out hoping that you could get repair/replacement on a 7 year old laptop for a minor fault at pbtech was going to be a long shot at best.

Sound cards on a laptop are likely to be soldered on and not a separate card. This means that if there is a fault somewhere PBtech would pretty much replace the entire motherboard, which on a 7 year device (or older depending on manufacture/release date) not even the manufacturer would take back as it would be a end of life product. The fair and honest price would have been to refuse to service it.

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bruce93

2 posts

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Inactive user

#2205574 27-Mar-2019 11:47

If i were you, i don't even bother repairing this laptop.

David321

485 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2205603 27-Mar-2019 12:40

Yeah I figured they were just trying to make some money back with the original quote of $400, but then I was thinking would it really be the techs who try to recover lost money on looking at my laptop? I think it would be more likely they just quote based on estimated hours of labour and parts cost? but then the fact he kept lowering the price (three times) suggests they wanted to do the replacement rather than he me flat our refuse the repair and just pay my $65 inspection fee.

They have told me its a NEW motherboard, and I have seen new motherboards for this laptop on aliexpress so think sourcing new ones should still be possible, I am not sure why did not ask me if I wanted a new one fitted while it was still in Auckland before they cancelled the job and sent it back though.

The new laptop I would like which meets my minimum requirements is $1568 so I figure its best to take a chance at a cost of $200 (considering I would have to pay $65 anyway), and have this laptop for another year or so (maybe even longer as it would be a new motherboard and I also have a new SSD to put in it).

Bit gutted I have to wait another three weeks but that is just the way it is I guess.

_David_

xpd

Geek @ Coastguard NZ
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#2205668 27-Mar-2019 13:55

trig42:

Sounds really weird.

IMO, there is no way they have a new motherboard for your laptop, certainly not for $200.

Surprising what people have kicking around their storage units..... still the occasional story pops up online of unopened Amigas being found in the back of stores etc ;) But then sold for a small fortune... so a 7 year old laptop board would probably have a larger premium on it.

On the other hand tho, if they were going to bin it and someones asked for one last second, then money is money... :)

Gavin / xpd / FastRaccoon / Geek of Coastguard New Zealand

LinkTree

Quinny

885 posts

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#2205677 27-Mar-2019 14:12

I have had great repairs via PBtech in Chch and overall found them great to deal with. But then I do send a lot of people and business their way and they know me now. It can depend on who you get as my Mums pc one person was awesome when dropped it in and was able to show the issue and later another got stuck and said it was fine and to come to collect (went back to person 1 and no it wasn't just a very tricky bug). Like others I think they are trying rather than have an unhappy customer to drop the price to something you will sign off on, that will hopefully fix the issue (and who knows it just might not) and move it out of the branch and back to you. 7 years old I too would just live with its quirks and tell it how good it is lasting so long.

David321

485 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2205693 27-Mar-2019 14:41

Yeah the thing is the laptop still runs great, it can get a little slow at times but I'm am hoping the 500gb ssd I got for it will speed it up significantly, the thing is when your sound works intermittently it is very frustrating epically when it's the only thing wrong with the laptop, which is why I have decided to spend the extra $130 on top of the inpection fee to have it fixed.

_David_

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