PB Tech and 'Failed' Hard drive

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wreck90

780 posts

Ultimate Geek
Inactive user

#65798 6-Aug-2010 17:34

4 weeks ago , bought a 2.5" 640gb hard drive from PB tech for my windows 7 laptop.

Formatted as ntfs, all was OK for a couple of days, then, suddenly couldn't read some files/folders.

Ran chkdsk, took a long time (~10 hours) to run, reported 6 files with bad sectors, 13 clusters added to bad clusters file, and correct errors in volume bitmap.

Hoping it was a one off, I continued using the drive.

Several days ago, similar problem but more files could not be read, and opening some folders windows reported a corrupted folder message.

Ran chkdsk, that took nearly 24 hours to run, reported similar errors as before, and also corrected errors in the MFT DATA attribute (whatever that is).

I did not trust this drive anymore.

Returned to PB tech, they ran HD Tune check, which took about 2 minutes to run. HD Tune reported no errors so PB Tech said there is nothing wrong with the drive and I should continue to use it.

I told them chkdsk reported all of these errors, and they said chkdsk was crap and HD tune was much more accurate and used by the drive manufacturers to verify drives.

I asked the service tech to open the corrupted folder, and as expected windows showed the corrupted folder message. He told me that it was just a 'software' problem and he could fix it. I said OK, and he proceeded to reformat the drive, then said it was fixed .

I told them this was a ridiculous fix and asked for a new drive.

They said if I wanted a new drive, they would have to send the drive overseas, and wait for the manufacturer to diagnose and fix the problem. But, in the meantime I would not be able to use my laptop and they would not provide a replacement drive for this time either.

Finally, a line of customers formed behind me, and after an hour of arguing they gave up and just gave me a drive, threatening me that if the replacement drive failed they would not replace it.

I was absolutely amazed by their attitude. Computer Lounge (whom I often deal with) would just replace the drive immediately.

But surely, reformatting the hard drive is not an adequate fix? Especially with the errors chkdsk had reported (although, they did not care about this as they believed chkdsk does not work).

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203 posts

Master Geek

#364360 6-Aug-2010 18:11

Sounds like they ran the quick test in hdtune. They should have run the long test or ran a tool like seatools. Also they could have looked at the SMART data. Overall a typical example of poor customer service.

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Username01

141 posts

Master Geek

#364371 6-Aug-2010 18:27

PB Tech - where exactly

wreck90

780 posts

Ultimate Geek
Inactive user

#364374 6-Aug-2010 18:34

The penrose store.

I was getting really annoyed with them. They were quite happy for me to lose use of my laptop for some weeks while they shipped the drive overseas back to the supplier.

wreck90

780 posts

Ultimate Geek
Inactive user

#364375 6-Aug-2010 18:35

dannyres: Sounds like they ran the quick test in hdtune. They should have run the long test or ran a tool like seatools. Also they could have looked at the SMART data. Overall a typical example of poor customer service.

I'm not sure they were interested in running long tests. They said the test they did is the one the manufacturers use to decide if the drive is faulty.

gumdigger

429 posts

Ultimate Geek

#364406 6-Aug-2010 19:43

Only shop at ComputerLounge very good kiwi owned company. i dont understand why people would shop anywhere else because they even match prices. without sounding racist, off all the [removed racist comment] computer owned business iv dealt with, i have always noticed the arrogance and attitude towards such things. when you want to buy something = you are most welcome but RMA = you are not welcome in fact if the problem is not straight forward you will be treated as a stupid.

And how dare they threaten you mate, I think you should teach them a lesson and next time you go take a print out of relevant consumer act.

EDIT MOD RC: If you do not mean to be racist, then avoid making racist comments.

heavenlywild

5041 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#364413 6-Aug-2010 20:04

The Penrose store is quite busy. Take it to another branch if you can.

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nzpat

167 posts

Master Geek

#364415 6-Aug-2010 20:08

I had the same thing happen to me at the Downtown PB Tech store. I bought a 500gb, laptop drive it started failing, making random clicking sounds, files corrupting etc. They wouldnt replace it (Heck the tech didnt even know what hfs+ was). Argued with them for about 50minutes I got fed the same lines as you, I gave up and bought another one elsewhere. Usually there quite good but in this case they sucked.

jarodcn

32 posts

Geek

#364450 6-Aug-2010 21:03

gumdigger: Only shop at ComputerLounge very good kiwi owned company. i dont understand why people would shop anywhere else because they even match prices. without sounding racist, off all the [removed racist comment] computer owned business iv dealt with, i have always noticed the arrogance and attitude towards such things. when you want to buy something = you are most welcome but RMA = you are not welcome in fact if the problem is not straight forward you will be treated as a stupid.

And how dare they threaten you mate, I think you should teach them a lesson and next time you go take a print out of relevant consumer act.

EDIT MOD RC: If you do not mean to be racist, then avoid making racist comments.

Don't u know computerlounge got their HDD from PB tech aswell?

mentalinc

3169 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#364455 6-Aug-2010 21:11

I had no issues with a faulty drive I had (PB Tech Downtown).
Told them it was failing SMART showed them the result i had done at home.
New drive in about 5 mins.

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Elpie

1304 posts

Uber Geek

#364521 7-Aug-2010 00:32

Contact their Operations Manager, Les Ludlow, and explain the situation to him. His phone & email address are here:
http://pbtech.co.nz/index.php?page=contact

He may be able to help. He certainly seems sincere in emails but wasn't effective in resolving an issue I had with them. You may have better luck.

I bought a Linksys router from their North Shore branch which didn't work from day one. Cisco authorised an RMA and it was sent back to PB Tech. It took 3 months of emails, phone calls, and frustration before I got the replacement router. This one worked for less than 6 months then suddenly died. Cisco authorised its return and replacement & told me I had been sent a second-hand, probably refurbished router. It was still under original warranty. From 6th April till 16th June I was on a merry-go-round with PB Tech. Eventually Les Ludlow said he would sort it out if I sent the router directly to him. So, I sent it off in June. When I called them at the beginning of July they said they had no record of it. The warranty expired at the end of July & my router was sent back to me with a note saying it wouldn't be repaired because it's out of warranty (damned good trick that!)

Cisco are ducking for cover, saying that its the retailer's responsibility to honour the warranty, so my battle continues. Even if it gets resolved now I don't need that WAG310G. I had to buy another router to stay connected.

My advice to anyone considering buying from PB Tech is DON'T!

Lias

5575 posts

Uber Geek

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Lifetime subscriber

#364549 7-Aug-2010 07:51

Apart from 1 HDD at Xlan 2009, I've never brought anything from the Auckland PB Tech, but I regularly buy things from the Hamilton branch, and have never had any issues. Jann & Hayse and the rest of the guys have always given me good service, good prices, and efficent RMA's where needed.

My 2 cents.

I'm a geek, a gamer, a dad, a Quic user, and an IT Professional. I have a full rack home lab, size 15 feet, an epic beard and Asperger's. I'm a bit of a Cypherpunk, who believes information wants to be free and the Net interprets censorship as damage and routes around it. If you use my Quic signup you can also use the code R570394EKGIZ8 for free setup.

richms

27977 posts

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Lifetime subscriber

#364852 7-Aug-2010 23:11

Ive not had issues like that at PB, but I havent been in for about 3 years now since they are so damn expensive compared to the others.

Richard rich.ms

gumdigger

429 posts

Ultimate Geek

#364890 8-Aug-2010 01:02

jarodcn:
gumdigger: Only shop at ComputerLounge very good kiwi owned company. i dont understand why people would shop anywhere else because they even match prices. without sounding racist, off all the [removed racist comment] computer owned business iv dealt with, i have always noticed the arrogance and attitude towards such things. when you want to buy something = you are most welcome but RMA = you are not welcome in fact if the problem is not straight forward you will be treated as a stupid.

And how dare they threaten you mate, I think you should teach them a lesson and next time you go take a print out of relevant consumer act.

EDIT MOD RC: If you do not mean to be racist, then avoid making racist comments.

Don't u know computerlounge got their HDD from PB tech aswell?

So? doesn't mean a thing. at least they do there basics right.

BinaryLimited

796 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

#1053059 25-May-2014 20:01

Disgusting customer service !!!
The store manager (Terry Xiong) at the Manukau branch is the worst. Iv had 4 different rude experiences from the Manager and 2 other staff members. They stand around (including the manager) chatting to each other instead of doing sales or checking with a client if they need anything.

Returned a HDD today which failed. Was told that i cannot get a new 2yr warranty with the new product which i just replaced with a faulty drive.
Except i would continue the remainder of the warranty???
Surely the hardware is under warranty from the supplier???

So then we asked the staff member ( Leon in Returns ) if he needs to update the serial number on the old receipt and his reply was " no they are the same number ".....Clearly they are not !!!

So now when this HDD breaks, how am i able to return it???
The S-E-R-I-A-L-S DO NOT match!

Blah, cancelling all accounts with them and refuse to give them my money.

Binary Limited - Safe. Secure. Simple. ™
www.binarylimited.co.nz

Inphinity

2780 posts

Uber Geek

#1053062 25-May-2014 20:05

BinaryLimited: Disgusting customer service !!!
Returned a HDD today which failed. Was told that i cannot get a new 2yr warranty with the new product which i just replaced with a faulty drive.
Except i would continue the remainder of the warranty???
Surely the hardware is under warranty from the supplier???

If you purchased a drive, and it failed & was replaced under warranty, you get the balance of the warranty, not a complete new warranty period.

Edit: p.s. nice thread necro :P

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