OT: Catch 22 with manufacture warranty on new PCs.

Off Topic:

So I called Gateway support today and ask them if I install a new
video card in my system if I void the warranty and they assured me
that "Yes, you will void the warranty". Yes, I know this is common
practice by several major PC makers now, but I have to wonder how they
can legally get away with this.

Think about it.

The PCI Express port and the PCI slots are all advertised features of
the computer on the box. Since these are advertised features you are
paying for one would think they are features that would be covered
under warranty, yes? However in order to make use of these features
(or to even test that slots are working properly) you would have to
avoid the warranty. You see how this is a "catch-22"?

I wonder if anyone has ever tried to challenge one of the big PC
makers over this. I just bought a Gateway that apparently has a bad
PCI-E port and I am about to try. I suspect if they were to get a
letter from an attorney (and this would be all on principle, since the
PC in question is a sub $500 bargin retail job) that Gateway would
opt to make good on it, we shall see. But it doesn't answer the
unlined question, how do PC makers get away with this.

In article <a53d00a6-cd61-460e-92e9->,
RMZ <> wrote:
>
>So I called Gateway support today and ask them if I install a new
>video card in my system if I void the warranty and they assured me
>that "Yes, you will void the warranty". Yes, I know this is common
>practice by several major PC makers now, but I have to wonder how they
>can legally get away with this.
>
>Think about it.

Ok....

So, ummm, how would they know?

No Catch-22 at all!

If you bought a new car with a 4-speed Gearbox, and you put a 5-speed
Gearbox in it, you void tha Warranty!

Use abit of logic. You are changing the product that you bought under
Warranty
It is no longe the product that you bought from them; so NO Warranty.

If you want a computer to be the way YOU want it to be, BUILD it yourself!

"RMZ" wrote:

> Off Topic:
>
> So I called Gateway support today and ask them if I install a new
> video card in my system if I void the warranty and they assured me
> that "Yes, you will void the warranty". Yes, I know this is common
> practice by several major PC makers now, but I have to wonder how they
> can legally get away with this.
>
> Think about it.
>
> The PCI Express port and the PCI slots are all advertised features of
> the computer on the box. Since these are advertised features you are
> paying for one would think they are features that would be covered
> under warranty, yes? However in order to make use of these features
> (or to even test that slots are working properly) you would have to
> avoid the warranty. You see how this is a "catch-22"?
>
> I wonder if anyone has ever tried to challenge one of the big PC
> makers over this. I just bought a Gateway that apparently has a bad
> PCI-E port and I am about to try. I suspect if they were to get a
> letter from an attorney (and this would be all on principle, since the
> PC in question is a sub $500 bargin retail job) that Gateway would
> opt to make good on it, we shall see. But it doesn't answer the
> unlined question, how do PC makers get away with this.
>
>
>

> So, ummm, how would they know?
>

A lot of the manufacturers have a warranty seal on the case that's damaged
when you open the case. No intact seal, no warranty. And most of these are
return to depot for service Acer is one example. Dell's warranty is not
voided by upgrading. They'll just ship you the broken part. Which is why I
usually recommend Dell boxes to the average user.

Actually that's a bad example. In the case of the car they cannot void the
warranty on the remainder of the factory parts, they just don't provide
warranty on what was replaced by you. They can only deny warranty if they
can prove one of the parts you added caused the failure of the factory part
still under warranty.

--

----
Crosspost, do not multipost http://www.blakjak.demon.co.uk/mul_crss.htm
How to ask a question http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375
__________________________________________________ _______________________________


"Mick Murphy" <> wrote in message
news:6D4BB53E-74B4-41D7-AC1D-...
> No Catch-22 at all!
>
> If you bought a new car with a 4-speed Gearbox, and you put a 5-speed
> Gearbox in it, you void tha Warranty!
>
> Use abit of logic. You are changing the product that you bought under
> Warranty
> It is no longe the product that you bought from them; so NO Warranty.
>
> If you want a computer to be the way YOU want it to be, BUILD it yourself!
>
> "RMZ" wrote:
>
>> Off Topic:
>>
>> So I called Gateway support today and ask them if I install a new
>> video card in my system if I void the warranty and they assured me
>> that "Yes, you will void the warranty". Yes, I know this is common
>> practice by several major PC makers now, but I have to wonder how they
>> can legally get away with this.
>>
>> Think about it.
>>
>> The PCI Express port and the PCI slots are all advertised features of
>> the computer on the box. Since these are advertised features you are
>> paying for one would think they are features that would be covered
>> under warranty, yes? However in order to make use of these features
>> (or to even test that slots are working properly) you would have to
>> avoid the warranty. You see how this is a "catch-22"?
>>
>> I wonder if anyone has ever tried to challenge one of the big PC
>> makers over this. I just bought a Gateway that apparently has a bad
>> PCI-E port and I am about to try. I suspect if they were to get a
>> letter from an attorney (and this would be all on principle, since the
>> PC in question is a sub $500 bargin retail job) that Gateway would
>> opt to make good on it, we shall see. But it doesn't answer the
>> unlined question, how do PC makers get away with this.
>>
>>
>>

Don't take the support persons word for it, read the warranty statement and
see what it says on the subject, if you ever need warranty service, just
don't tell them about the video card.

--

----
Crosspost, do not multipost http://www.blakjak.demon.co.uk/mul_crss.htm
How to ask a question http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375
__________________________________________________ _______________________________


"RMZ" <> wrote in message
news:a53d00a6-cd61-460e-92e9-...
> Off Topic:
>
> So I called Gateway support today and ask them if I install a new
> video card in my system if I void the warranty and they assured me
> that "Yes, you will void the warranty". Yes, I know this is common
> practice by several major PC makers now, but I have to wonder how they
> can legally get away with this.
>
> Think about it.
>
> The PCI Express port and the PCI slots are all advertised features of
> the computer on the box. Since these are advertised features you are
> paying for one would think they are features that would be covered
> under warranty, yes? However in order to make use of these features
> (or to even test that slots are working properly) you would have to
> avoid the warranty. You see how this is a "catch-22"?
>
> I wonder if anyone has ever tried to challenge one of the big PC
> makers over this. I just bought a Gateway that apparently has a bad
> PCI-E port and I am about to try. I suspect if they were to get a
> letter from an attorney (and this would be all on principle, since the
> PC in question is a sub $500 bargin retail job) that Gateway would
> opt to make good on it, we shall see. But it doesn't answer the
> unlined question, how do PC makers get away with this.
>
>

"RMZ" wrote:

> Off Topic:
>
> So I called Gateway support today and ask them if I install a new
> video card in my system if I void the warranty and they assured me
> that "Yes, you will void the warranty". Yes, I know this is common
> practice by several major PC makers now, but I have to wonder how they
> can legally get away with this.
>
> Think about it.
>
> The PCI Express port and the PCI slots are all advertised features of
> the computer on the box. Since these are advertised features you are
> paying for one would think they are features that would be covered
> under warranty, yes? However in order to make use of these features
> (or to even test that slots are working properly) you would have to
> avoid the warranty. You see how this is a "catch-22"?
>
> I wonder if anyone has ever tried to challenge one of the big PC
> makers over this. I just bought a Gateway that apparently has a bad
> PCI-E port and I am about to try. I suspect if they were to get a
> letter from an attorney (and this would be all on principle, since the
> PC in question is a sub $500 bargin retail job) that Gateway would
> opt to make good on it, we shall see. But it doesn't answer the
> unlined question, how do PC makers get away with this.
>
>
>

RMZ,

The solution is simple. Never buy anything from Gateway again. You
could also post your problem in any and all forums you can find, warning
other people to stay away from Gateway.
There is a very simple solution to your problem. In the future, before
you purchase anything, ask the company if changing something will void the
warranty. If they say no, get it in writing. Have them send you an email
verifying what they said in order to protect yourself. If they don't want to
answer take your business elsewhere.
I heard horror stories about Gateway years ago. I decided at that time
to never do business with them.
Have a nice day.

C.B.

On Jan 3, 5:28 pm, CB <C...@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
> "RMZ" wrote:
> > Off Topic:
>
> > So I called Gateway support today and ask them if I install a new
> > video card in my system if I void the warranty and they assured me
> > that "Yes, you will void the warranty". Yes, I know this is common
> > practice by several major PC makers now, but I have to wonder how they
> > can legally get away with this.
>
> > Think about it.
>
> > The PCI Express port and the PCI slots are all advertised features of
> > the computer on the box. Since these are advertised features you are
> > paying for one would think they are features that would be covered
> > under warranty, yes? However in order to make use of these features
> > (or to even test that slots are working properly) you would have to
> > avoid the warranty. You see how this is a "catch-22"?
>
> > I wonder if anyone has ever tried to challenge one of the big PC
> > makers over this. I just bought a Gateway that apparently has a bad
> > PCI-E port and I am about to try. I suspect if they were to get a
> > letter from an attorney (and this would be all on principle, since the
> > PC in question is a sub $500 bargin retail job) that Gateway would
> > opt to make good on it, we shall see. But it doesn't answer the
> > unlined question, how do PC makers get away with this.
>
> RMZ,
>
> The solution is simple. Never buy anything from Gateway again. You
> could also post your problem in any and all forums you can find, warning
> other people to stay away from Gateway.
> There is a very simple solution to your problem. In the future, before
> you purchase anything, ask the company if changing something will void the
> warranty. If they say no, get it in writing. Have them send you an email
> verifying what they said in order to protect yourself. If they don't want to
> answer take your business elsewhere.
> I heard horror stories about Gateway years ago. I decided at that time
> to never do business with them.
> Have a nice day.
>
> C.B.

C.B.

Thanks for the heart felt advice, unfortunately this is not limtied to
Gateway. It seems HP, SONY and the new retail Dell systems all have
seals on the back that prevent the case from being opened and once
that seal is broken the warranty is void. If the problem were isolated
to Gateway I would not have posted in the first place, but it is not.
It appears this is general practice with desktop PCs sold at
retailers. I'm not sure if built-to-order Dell and HP's have this seal
I would guess they do not (can anyone confirm?)

Someone provided a very bad analogy related to an automobile part
warranty being voided. Since the PCI-E and PCI slots are advertised on
the box of the Gateway PC a proper analogy for how ludicrous this is
would be if Toyota were to advertise as a feature pre-wiring and a
built in slot on the dash for a third-party GPS reciever and then turn
around and state that if you make use of that option you void the
warranty on the car. Essentially that seems to be what these big PC
manufactuers are doing. Why has no one brought it up as an issue?
You've got me on that.. I assume it has to do with failure rate being
so low that the odds of someone having to make the manufactuer make
good or fight them have been nominal, but as written that's what they
are doing and it's insane.

RMZ wrote:
> On Jan 3, 5:28 pm, CB <C...@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
>> "RMZ" wrote:
>>> Off Topic:
>>> So I called Gateway support today and ask them if I install a new
>>> video card in my system if I void the warranty and they assured me
>>> that "Yes, you will void the warranty". Yes, I know this is common
>>> practice by several major PC makers now, but I have to wonder how they
>>> can legally get away with this.
>>> Think about it.
>>> The PCI Express port and the PCI slots are all advertised features of
>>> the computer on the box. Since these are advertised features you are
>>> paying for one would think they are features that would be covered
>>> under warranty, yes? However in order to make use of these features
>>> (or to even test that slots are working properly) you would have to
>>> avoid the warranty. You see how this is a "catch-22"?
>>> I wonder if anyone has ever tried to challenge one of the big PC
>>> makers over this. I just bought a Gateway that apparently has a bad
>>> PCI-E port and I am about to try. I suspect if they were to get a
>>> letter from an attorney (and this would be all on principle, since the
>>> PC in question is a sub $500 bargin retail job) that Gateway would
>>> opt to make good on it, we shall see. But it doesn't answer the
>>> unlined question, how do PC makers get away with this.
>> RMZ,
>>
>> The solution is simple. Never buy anything from Gateway again. You
>> could also post your problem in any and all forums you can find, warning
>> other people to stay away from Gateway.
>> There is a very simple solution to your problem. In the future, before
>> you purchase anything, ask the company if changing something will void the
>> warranty. If they say no, get it in writing. Have them send you an email
>> verifying what they said in order to protect yourself. If they don't want to
>> answer take your business elsewhere.
>> I heard horror stories about Gateway years ago. I decided at that time
>> to never do business with them.
>> Have a nice day.
>>
>> C.B.
>
> C.B.
>
> Thanks for the heart felt advice, unfortunately this is not limtied to
> Gateway. It seems HP, SONY and the new retail Dell systems all have
> seals on the back that prevent the case from being opened and once
> that seal is broken the warranty is void.

Wow, so opening the case just to clean out the dust would make the
warranty void? That really sucks. I'm glad I only do white boxes.

Alias

"Alias" <> wrote in message news:flk0ns$qea$...
> RMZ wrote:
>> On Jan 3, 5:28 pm, CB <C...@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
>>> "RMZ" wrote:
>>>> Off Topic:
>>>> So I called Gateway support today and ask them if I install a new
>>>> video card in my system if I void the warranty and they assured me
>>>> that "Yes, you will void the warranty". Yes, I know this is common
>>>> practice by several major PC makers now, but I have to wonder how they
>>>> can legally get away with this.
>>>> Think about it.
>>>> The PCI Express port and the PCI slots are all advertised features of
>>>> the computer on the box. Since these are advertised features you are
>>>> paying for one would think they are features that would be covered
>>>> under warranty, yes? However in order to make use of these features
>>>> (or to even test that slots are working properly) you would have to
>>>> avoid the warranty. You see how this is a "catch-22"?
>>>> I wonder if anyone has ever tried to challenge one of the big PC
>>>> makers over this. I just bought a Gateway that apparently has a bad
>>>> PCI-E port and I am about to try. I suspect if they were to get a
>>>> letter from an attorney (and this would be all on principle, since the
>>>> PC in question is a sub $500 bargin retail job) that Gateway would
>>>> opt to make good on it, we shall see. But it doesn't answer the
>>>> unlined question, how do PC makers get away with this.
>>> RMZ,
>>>
>>> The solution is simple. Never buy anything from Gateway again. You
>>> could also post your problem in any and all forums you can find, warning
>>> other people to stay away from Gateway.
>>> There is a very simple solution to your problem. In the future,
>>> before
>>> you purchase anything, ask the company if changing something will void
>>> the
>>> warranty. If they say no, get it in writing. Have them send you an email
>>> verifying what they said in order to protect yourself. If they don't
>>> want to
>>> answer take your business elsewhere.
>>> I heard horror stories about Gateway years ago. I decided at that
>>> time
>>> to never do business with them.
>>> Have a nice day.
>>>
>>> C.B.
>>
>> C.B.
>>
>> Thanks for the heart felt advice, unfortunately this is not limtied to
>> Gateway. It seems HP, SONY and the new retail Dell systems all have
>> seals on the back that prevent the case from being opened and once
>> that seal is broken the warranty is void.
>
> Wow, so opening the case just to clean out the dust would make the
> warranty void? That really sucks. I'm glad I only do white boxes.
>
> Alias

See If You Stick With Ubuntu Just FYI You Won't Have Any Problems With That
Kind Of Stuff. Just FYI