Harvey Norman: mains power may over power your harddrive and crack the disc inside

Forums › Laptops and mobile computers › Harvey Norman: mains power may over power your harddrive and crack the disc inside

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coffeebaron

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#1237606 13-Feb-2015 20:15

sbiddle: Completely and utterly off topic but may I present to you the $10,000 directional Ethernet cable.

http://arstechnica.com/staff/2015/02/to-the-audiophile-this-10000-ethernet-cable-apparently-makes-sense/

These are actually truly amazing for master filter installs on VDSL. 17a profile up to 2km from exchange. Perhaps TimA should get one installed.

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mattwnz

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#1237617 13-Feb-2015 20:40

I was at a retailer today and a woman wanted to buy an iPhone 5s. The retailer said they didn't have any instock but had plenty of 5c models(no surprise). But when quizzed about the difference, they said mainly it was one had a plastic back and the other was glass. Also the s had a better camera but that was about all. So you can't really trust what any of them say, as they simply aren't qualified.

frankv

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#1237758 14-Feb-2015 08:54

coffeebaron:
sbiddle: Completely and utterly off topic but may I present to you the $10,000 directional Ethernet cable.

http://arstechnica.com/staff/2015/02/to-the-audiophile-this-10000-ethernet-cable-apparently-makes-sense/

These are actually truly amazing for master filter installs on VDSL. 17a profile up to 2km from exchange. Perhaps TimA should get one installed.

Yup, can confirm this... I'm only 1.5km from our exchange, so it only cost me $1,500,000.

mckenndk

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#1239233 15-Feb-2015 08:52

mattwnz: I was at a retailer today and a woman wanted to buy an iPhone 5s. The retailer said they didn't have any instock but had plenty of 5c models(no surprise). But when quizzed about the difference, they said mainly it was one had a plastic back and the other was glass. Also the s had a better camera but that was about all. So you can't really trust what any of them say, as they simply aren't qualified.

Alot of people like this are on minimum wage plus commission so the more you sell the more you earn, its hard to tell if they know what they are talking about or just making things up.
All in all never trust sales and marketing do you own research.

1101

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#1239809 16-Feb-2015 11:03

sidefx:

I wouldn't trust Monster. But I'm sure AudioQuest has you covered while also improving the fidelity of your power.

You may mock, but AudioQuest power cables do sell, for $500 - $1000+++ . And audiofool fuses are also available.
The sad thing is, so many believe they can hear genuine improvements buy using a $500 power cable....how can a 1M cable can make any diff when the
other 30M of internal house power cable remains unchanged, not to mention the length of wire going back to the substation
:-)

Harvey Norman used to stock Monster branded USB and Printer cables. Now for some reason they didnt sell well, at $60+ for a USB or printer cable Im not sure why

[Moderator edit (MF): company name]

MadEngineer

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#1239811 16-Feb-2015 11:06

The Stupid Tax appears in many places.

You're not on Atlantis anymore, Duncan Idaho.

dickytim

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#1239958 16-Feb-2015 12:44

MadEngineer: Crack up. I was given a mates 13 month old laptop to check as it wasnt booting up and thought I'd call Harvey Normans incase they might be able to make a quick exception for a fail just out of warranty

I can tell by the clicking that the hdd has failed

I was told no to the warranty as its past 12 months. When questioned on cga he stated the fault could be caused by power overheating the hardrive and mentioned nz's hydro generation. I actually started laughing at him and questioned if he was serious before hanging up.

I'll let my mate push this further if he wishes or save time and he can simply buy a new hdd.

Doesn't that in itself make the device not fit for purpose?

They have basically stated that the laptop should fail if it is run on mains power for a year....

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wsnz

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#1240141 16-Feb-2015 16:08

What I'd like to know is whether it's official company policy at the major chains to refute CGA requests from customers, and whether this comes from head-office?

Recently I've had them quoting exact sub clauses in the manufactures warrantee in an attempt to escape liability. Another told some colleagues that they had never lost a claim in the disputes tribunal against customers who didn't elect to take the extended warrantee option, so they would be wasting their time. Based on this it’s not just ignorance of the law (not that it is an excuse!)

Who here has a “friend” who works/used to work there who is in the know? Is it part of the induction training?

MadEngineer

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#1240345 16-Feb-2015 20:00

Well.

I called Acer back after initially being told that the device was out of warranty. Now they're happy to repair the device under a 13 month policy they have (something I've used too many times before with Acer).

You're not on Atlantis anymore, Duncan Idaho.

freitasm

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#1240387 16-Feb-2015 20:33

They can't have a 13 month policy as an excuse. The consensus is that under the CGA laptops (and components) should last longer than 12 months.

They make it sound like they're doing you a favour when in fact they are getting out of you taking them to the cleaners.

MadEngineer

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#1240479 16-Feb-2015 23:17

So if it went to small claims, how would one defend against their suggestion that the laptop may have been dropped? Would they be made to have it tested? How could you trust their testing? How do you defend against say water damage that you have no explanation for?

You're not on Atlantis anymore, Duncan Idaho.

1101

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#1241367 18-Feb-2015 10:25

wsnz: What I'd like to know is whether it's official company policy at the major chains to refute CGA requests from customers, and whether this comes from head-office?

Recently I've had them quoting exact sub clauses in the manufactures warrantee in an attempt to escape liability. Another told some colleagues that they had never lost a claim in the disputes tribunal against customers who didn't elect to take the extended warrantee option, so they would be wasting their time. Based on this it’s not just ignorance of the law (not that it is an excuse!) Who here has a “friend” who works/used to work there who is in the know? Is it part of the induction training?

Its now a offense under the CGA to mislead customers as to their CGA rights, especially when trying to sell warranty extentions.
The law is quite clear regarding this. Why is that not being enforced, why are these big retailers not being prosecuted ?
There is even a new law that there is a 'cool down' period where you can change your mind & legally be entitled to a refund of the purchased Warranty extention .

Margins on PC's laptops, etc are pretty slim, so warranty extentions are a good source of profit for them.
Same with hifi exotic audio cables, huge profit margins in those.

http://www.consumeraffairs.govt.nz/for-consumers/goods/warranties#obligations

http://www.comcom.govt.nz/fair-trading/fair-trading-act-fact-sheets/extended-warranties/

raytaylor

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#1245800 24-Feb-2015 18:46

markl:

Wet electricity is a REAL PROBLEM! Stop mocking it!!

This is why I only buy laptops with switchmode power supplies so that they can filter this stuff out and correct the output voltage.

Ray Taylor

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raytaylor

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#1245804 24-Feb-2015 18:53

MadEngineer: So if it went to small claims, how would one defend against their suggestion that the laptop may have been dropped? Would they be made to have it tested? How could you trust their testing? How do you defend against say water damage that you have no explanation for?

You may be surprised to learn that the moisture stickers they put on phones are 99% of the time produced by 3M.
3M have stated that a number of factors may trigger the sticker to change color.

When you send your phone in for repair under warranty, they then try to claim moisture damage from being in your pocket (I have seen this while waiting in line at the vodafone store in napier)

I politely interrupted them and stated that the phone was therefore not fit for purpose as only an idiot would sell a phone and not expect it to be kept in a trouser pocket.

http://www.cnet.com/news/apple-settles-iphone-water-damage-lawsuit-for-53m/

Thats one example.

Ray Taylor

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MadEngineer

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#1246281 25-Feb-2015 12:10

raytaylor:
markl:  <br><br>Wet electricity is a REAL PROBLEM! Stop mocking it!!
<br><br>This is why I only buy laptops with switchmode power supplies so that they can filter this stuff out and correct the output voltage.

do you run a drain pipe or put a bucket under those power supplies of yours? :D :D :D

raytaylor:
MadEngineer: So if it went to small claims, how would one defend against their suggestion that the laptop may have been dropped? Would they be made to have it tested? How could you trust their testing? How do you defend against say water damage that you have no explanation for?

http://www.cnet.com/news/apple-settles-iphone-water-damage-lawsuit-for-53m/

awesome, cheers for that

You're not on Atlantis anymore, Duncan Idaho.

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