Stupid question!!!

I have a two month old Gateway 7510gx that i am unhappy with. The screen flickers, there's an irritating clicking noise if you gently push on the case near the touchpad, also there is already a small crack up near the right hinge (I baby this thing!)

Is there any way I can do enough damage this computer with out them knowing in order to get a brand new laptop under warranty?

I know that this is a stupid and unethical question, but I had to save for such a long time to get this, there is no way I can afford another laptop.
And after having this much problems with a 2 month old lappy, I just want a new one!!!

Thank you for any info/advise!!

 

Why not just have them repair yours? If that's all that's wrong with it...it all sounds fixable, to me. Try calling Gateway and see if they'd agree that those problems should be repaired.

If you get a new machine...no idea what may or may not be wrong with that one...and force you to go through another whole set of issues.

 

If you don't like it, get it fixed and sell it. Since it is still quite new, I presume that it has little or no wear, and also that you still have all the original accessories, boxes, manuals, etc.

 

Try exchanging it at the store where you bought it first. It sounds to me like you got a lemon.

 

Thanks for the comments and advice guys. The main reason that I don't want to keep it is that the crack on the top near the right hinge is bound to get larger. Right now it's about 1/2 inch long and not real noticeable unless you look for it. I know that I can get everything else fixed, but that crack will probably just get worse.

I bought this lappy from Best buy. There policy is to only accept returns for the first 14 days. I took it on day 19 or 20 and they were complete dicks about it. Not only did they refuse to exchange it, they blamed me for the damage to it!

Since I have to send it in anyway for repair, I just wanted to know if there was anyway to get a new laptop back! Thanks again!

 

Did you pay by credit card? You may have some avenues there if you did.

 

I think I did, I can check my receipt later, but what would my avenues be?

 

Call the credit card company and tell them BB sold you a broken notebook. I think, and I may be wrong here, by accepting the credit card they accept certain terms from the credit card company one of which is being able to return your notebook. You could try to deny payment. Better Business Bureau is another option.

 

That notebook is under warranty, and all the faults you've experienced are associated with the line. Get it fixed through Gateway.

 

So there's a crack on the hinge? Again...call Gateway and see if they'll agree to fix it. If they replace that component...what's the problem?

Have you even tried to talk to Gateway about this? You need to at least give them a chance to offer to fix it.

 

When I got my hinges fixed (btw, they are going out again ), I just took it to bestbuy and they sent it to Gateway for me.

I feel sorry for Gateway, having acquired a company that likely damaged their reputation of build quality.

 

Actually the crack is on the lid, to the right of the right hinge. So I'm sure that they will blame me for it. It just sucks to have this many problems so soon. If I wasn't so broke it wouldn't be so bad!

 

I've got a crack in the same place leeer73, wonder if it's a design flaw.

 

Again...just ask them. You should at least give them a chance.

 

Hey, thanks again for all of the advice. I'm going to go onto their anline support right now. I'll post thier responce to the cracked hinge in just a little while. Wish me luck!!

 

The transcrpits!

05 Dec 2005 07:14:46 AM Doug_GWPR271 says: Hello Lee. How are you today?

05 Dec 2005 07:14:55 AM lee says: im fine, how are you?

05 Dec 2005 07:15:15 AM Doug_GWPR271 says: I'm doing great. Thank you.

05 Dec 2005 07:15:54 AM Doug_GWPR271 says: How may I assist you today Lee?

05 Dec 2005 07:16:40 AM lee says: well, this is a new laptop for me and already i've had some issues that require it being sent in for repair, now I just noticed that my right hinge is cracked already

05 Dec 2005 07:17:45 AM Doug_GWPR271 says: You want your laptop to be sent in for service?

05 Dec 2005 07:18:38 AM lee says: it is going to be sent in for a intermittent screen flicker and, so i was wondering if they can take care of my hinge issue at the same time

05 Dec 2005 07:19:22 AM Doug_GWPR271 says: Yes because you are still in warranty.

05 Dec 2005 07:19:52 AM lee says: i'm just worried that the hinge will be blamed on me and they will refuse to fix it!

05 Dec 2005 07:20:33 AM Doug_GWPR271 says: Since when did the hinge got broken?

05 Dec 2005 07:21:16 AM lee says: i just noticed it 3 or 4 days ago. It is a hairline crack, not really notieacble unless you are looking for it.

05 Dec 2005 07:22:05 AM Doug_GWPR271 says: Oh I see. Lee please hold while I confirm your warranty.

05 Dec 2005 07:22:14 AM lee says: ok

05 Dec 2005 07:26:31 AM Doug_GWPR271 says: I have just confirmed with my superior that you can send your notebook and have it serviced regarding the flickering issue. But if the technicians find it(hinge) over used or anything that was caused by a customer, they will definitely call you before repairing or replacing the part(hinge) of your notebook.

05 Dec 2005 07:27:08 AM lee says: what would determin over use?

05 Dec 2005 07:29:54 AM Doug_GWPR271 says: Are you sure it was not dropped?

05 Dec 2005 07:30:06 AM Doug_GWPR271 says: Or any incident that may have caused the crack?

05 Dec 2005 07:30:47 AM lee says: lol i have never dropped this. if i did, u would see some sort of contact damage. There is none. just a crack.

05 Dec 2005 07:32:29 AM Doug_GWPR271 says: Okay I'll just process the service request regarding the hinge. And if ever the technicians in our service center find it customer induced, they will definitely call you before doing any repair or replacement.

05 Dec 2005 07:33:00 AM lee says: ok, so when it gets sent in for the flicker, will they already know to check the hinge also?

05 Dec 2005 07:33:20 AM Doug_GWPR271 says: I'll just add your inquiry today on your previous issue, that is regarding your hinge.

05 Dec 2005 07:33:22 AM Doug_GWPR271 says: Yes.



Well sounds to me like no matter what, I'l probably get blamed for it and have to pay for the repair. What do you guys think?

 

The hinge is a recognized design flaw inherent to these notebooks. The old eMachines 68xx line and the Gateway 74xx and 75xx all use the same chassis from Arima, and the hinge cracking has occurred in each one (albeit with much less frequency in the 75xx line).

This is something you can bring to their attention, that you aren't the only person who has had this problem and that you can prove it's a design flaw and not your fault.

 

No it doesn't. It sounds like they're honestly willing to consider fixing it. He hasn't seen it, so for all he knows, there's scrapes and scratches indicating abuse, all around it, so he's not gonna get caught telling you he'll fix it he's gonna think it's customer abuse later.

I'd say there's a good chance they'll repair it for free. Especially, since as has been mentioned numerous times, previous versions of this shell had hinge issues. And still...even if they don't cover it, they may only charge you the cost of parts, which could be like $30 or something...which would suck, but you'd probably lose more money selling the laptop and having to buy another one. Just send it in and see what they do.

 

Surprisingly. Gateway sounded reasonable to me as well. They could not say without looking at it that the hinge problem was the result of a flaw or the result of an accident. It does sound to me, howerever, that the hinge was a flaw from the getgo. Please keep us posted on how you make out.

 

Well I just got my return box from gateway. I'll be sending it in tomorrow. I will keep you guys posted!!!

 

So far so good, DHL just delivered my lappy to gateway today.

Just in case they will not fix the hinge (which I assume involves changing the lid) Does any one know how much it might cost me out-of-pocket?

 

Okay guys, I sent my lappy out on wednesday, today is tuesday and I just recieved it! That is awsome considering that I live in Hawaii, and it got shipped to Texas! There were three main issues that needed addressing, 1) cracked hinge 2) intermittnet flickering screen 3) anouying clicking noise from the case when you gently press down on it.

Well the changed the lid, so the cracked hinge is gone! I don't know about the flickering screen, and they did nothing to fix the noise coming from the case.

I am please with the service, and the speed that they fixed this, I just wished that the told me what, if anything was done for the flickering, and also a reason they did not fix the noise. I called the tech support to see if they knew anything, and acording to them, they still had my lappy. I told him that I recieved it today, and he said "oh".

Oh well, all in all, I'm content. I have 1 more month to decide if I want to send it back in or buy an extended warranty. Wish me luck!!

 

So they made a minor mistake by not fixing the noise(a mark on them), but not too big of a deal as functionality is still there. See? Have a little faith.

Let us know if the flickering problem arises again. And is the fan noise intermittent? I can't remember. Perhaps they just did a cursory examination and didn't notice it. I bet if you sent it in again for htat specific issue, and dictated that it was the 2nd time, they'd be more thorough, at least I hope.