Hi, just wondering if I have any rights in this situation:

I have a Gateway NV54 Laptop (Acer hardware)
Bout a Month ago the middle power-pin in the connector (on the laptop) broke away and made it impossible to charge/power the laptop yet it would run on battery.

I spoke with Gateway/Acer and the guy on the phone said from my description it sounds like Physical Damage so wouldn't be covered under warranty but they would still look at it which involved sending the unit to Australia and could take 3-4 weeks before I got it back.

Because of the message they were unlikely to cover it, I took it to a local computer firm here in Hamilton, who said they had to send the unit I assume up to Auckland to get a quote done and repair.

Took around a week and a half to get a quote which was $182, so I said yep go ahead with it.

I called the computer shop yesterday to find out when the laptop will be available to pick up, only to be told that after they installed the new pin and went to test it...something (a surge?) went through the laptop and shorted out the motherboard rending the laptop now useless. 

Now comes to my question, the morning I took my laptop in I was able to successfully start the laptop on its Battery and it ran fine. The repair shop kept well away from the liability issue, saying there was likely another fault there that when they went to test the new power plug would of cause the short-out on the motherboard. Laptop I believe has not arrived yet back in Hamilton so only going off what I've been told, not seen a repair report, etc.

Pretty much do I have a leg to stand on here or am I going to have to wear the cost of a new laptop?

Thanks