HP Envy 14 With Radiance order cancellation discussion:

You can actually buy the accident protection 3 months afterward. I'm thinking about just doing that and waiting a few weeks then filing a claim. hp screwed a lot of people so I don't think my conscious comes in to play on this one. I remember some one a while back doing this.

 

My only concern with doing that is the hard drive. Doesn't the hard drive have a shock sensor. If they're able to look at the records of any drops then they might refute your claim.

 

However, you don't have to send them your HDD cause you want to keep your information from getting a mandatory factory-wipe protocol they use for all repaired machines.

 

Oh man, so sorry to hear that, after all you've been through, it really sucks.

I bet the envy isn't the only thing you wanna replace now.

 

My Envy 14 story is finally at an end, I'm keeping the machine I bought, it's great so far with the occasional hiccup (driver related, usually).

My final build: i5-580, 4GB (1 dimm), 620 GB Hdd, Brightview screen

My final cost after all the refunds from HP and taxes: $662

Can't really beat that with a two year warranty (three with AmEx). Plus, it's pretty apparent from lovelaptops experience that they can't warranty service the Radiance screens anyway. Alls well that ends well.

 

Ok, so here's my update:

After my Envy 14 that was delivered 1/27 with a defective Radiance, it has done nothing but sit gathering dust at the service depot. As most of you know, I had the GREAT MISFORTUNE, through no initiative of my own, to have an "Executive Case Manager" assigned to my case. This is an HP corporate group, not the kind of case managers we're all used to who help escalate problems we have with tech support at times. Instead, this group claims: absolute supremacy on all matters dealing with your case. They silence all people from tech support and customer support, and apparently they have the authority to do so, as everyone I called to find out if/when my Radiance screen will be replaced said "sorry, but I'm no longer allowed to speak to you about your case; an Executive Case Manager is assigned, and only she can talk to you.

Well, I just recalled I started a whole thread about this, so long story short, never, not once, did this ECM do anything at all about trying to get my Radiance replaced. From the get go, her only intent was to propose I take an alternate computer. When I asked about my Envy, she said: "I don't know anything about it; they won't tell me a thing." On the one hand, she said she is the top authority, refused to let me speak to her supervisor ("I am as high as you can go; my supervisors do not speak to 'consumers.'"

The good news/bad news story is that when she finally offered me an alternate, it was an Elitebook 8540w with the Dream Color 2 screen and a faster cpu than on my Envy (Core i7-620), more RAM (8GB) and otherwise she tried to match the configuration of my Envy. It's a "better" computer, lists for $3,000, street price $2,300, but also heavier by 2.5 lbs with power brick (150 W due to DC2!), gets one hour on a battery charge, etc. Though she over-specd some things, she underspecd others, and though she said I could have input, she refused every single request I made, even when it actually lowered the price of the 8540w.

I have never had a more frustrating experience with HP. No matter what problems I ever had with a computer, I could always reach someone with both authority and intelligence who would intervene and make things right. Like a broken clock, at least this ECM was "right" twice a day, and though it is not what I wanted, she is providing, new, a theoretically better computer than the Envy - even though it is entirely too heavy and too power-inefficient to be used for travel, as I intended for the Envy. But, at least it is a "commodity" I can sell and get substantially more money than I paid for the Envy, and use that $ to buy something else, probably waiting until the SB models are out and either getting one of them, or perhaps getting a great deal on a closeout of a previous gen Core i model.

Sorry this is repetitious with much of what I wrote on the thread warning that you stay away from these ECMs, I thought it was worth letting you know that:

a) HP is playing entirely fast and loose about the Radiances
b) It is highly doubtful you can get a warranty replacement for yours, should it malfunction
c) the case manager is a kiss of death, the end of the line, taking away any options you might want to pursue, except the ONE option they offer/shove down your throat
d) Since they are authorized to be very generous about the replacement, should you get one assigned, insist on something worth far more than the model they refuse to fix.

So ends any connections between me and the Envy. According to the ECM, my Envy will simply be "sent to the HP recycling center, implying it would be gutted for parts, nothing more.

I hope someone will pursue this issue of the Radiance fiasco. It's one thing that they over-committed and realized they had to cancel orders, quite another for them to run down their inventory to ZERO!

Oh, finally, fwiw, I did place an order for a Radiance screen from the parts store while they were still saying they were available, just delayed. If you believe they will ever ship me one, I have an airplane hanger to sell you, lol.

 

Sandy Bridge processors in Dell XPS's as of today. Where you at HP..come on already!

 

I second that motion!

KJ

 

I'm actually feeling better about HP not being able to warranty radiance laptops. Because I have 2 years now to use the laptop and if it ever goes bad. I figure they'll offer me cash or a nice discount on a new laptop.

 

I might have missed your previous postings on how you got your envy for $662. That's an awesome price. I have the exact build as your as a result of the radiance cancellation...but the best HP could do was $774 out the door. How did you get the additional $112 in savings? Please share so i could possibly reduce my price.

 

The 12 is probably a tax difference, as for the other 100, when I called and inquired about returning the unit they offered me the discount. Give it a go.

 

If you are still in the period where you can return for a refund, it is definitely worth a try. Call the Resolutions Dept: 888-227-8451 and ask for "Long" or Owee (pronounced oh-ee); They are great and will always give you a good deal. Even if you are past your refund time frame, ask anyway. Tell them others got better discounts. Tell them you are really bummed that you didn't get the screen you ordered. Owee in particular is very knowledgeable about the Radiance fiasco. Good luck. For $662, that is worth doing, even with the BV screen. Had I know it was an option, I would have done it, but my "Executive Case Manager" would not allow me to get a different Envy. So instead I get this alabtross of an 8540w with a $425 screen (Dream Color 2) which everybody seems to worship, but nobody seems wiling to pay for.

I used to advocate HP to everyone and tell them: don't worry if you get a lemon; they will take great care of you. No more, not for me.

 

I learned the same lesson as you after I had to sue them to make good on a warranty. *shrug* The settlement paid for this laptop and I pocketed a few hundred bucks. The thing about corporations is that there's really no point in bing mad at them (or evangelizing them), just go with whoever gives you the best deal, make sure they live up to their end of the bargain and you'll be fine.

 

I am not really understanding the whole situation but, this whole thing is pissing me off . I originally ordered my hp envy 14 beats edition on jan 25 and the original ship date was Feb 16, it was then pushed to feb 22, then to feb 24 and now it has been pushed to march 11. so what should i do?

 

lol wow sorry to laugh but that's just ridiculous. I would definitely cancel my order and get HP to give you a nice discount on a different computer.

 

I'm not sure what specs you were looking for but ebay has beats edition envies available. HP will keep extending the date until you give up. They have a hard tim saying sorry we are actually out of that and will not be making anymore. I'm sure you can get a serious deal if you complain to enough people for long enough. Good luck man.

 

Well put. I thought I was doing people a favor telling them that at least with HP (as compared, say to Dell) I had always gotten a fair shake from them in the end, and never had to "fight" for it; they were professional and clearly wanted to resolve things so they had happy customers. I'm still inclined to thing this is true, but certainly not if you have the great misfortune to be put in the clutches of the "Executive Case Management" team. In general, I have always found the managers in the Resolutions Dept. to be exceptional.

But no more recommendations from me. Caveat Emptor!

 

So did you get your 8540w or are they making you wait months for them to ship it?