Replacement Config Won't Match Original?

Hey everyone, I purchased an ENVY 15 from HP's website a few weeks ago while the 30% Bing Cashback was going on, and I just received it yesterday. Core i7 processor, SSD + HDD combo, 6GB of RAM.

Overall, I love this machine. It's a great powerhouse, and I love what it can do. However, this particular laptop showed up damaged, and I chatted with an HP representative online to see what they could do.

The representative told me that they could process a return and exchange for the laptop, but they do not offer the Core i7's for the ENVY 15 anymore. So my options were to either have it replaced with a Core i5, or choose an ENVY 14 or 17 instead.

I looked at all my options pretty thoroughly. The 14 is a smaller screen than what I would have liked, plus it has a weaker graphics card, and I cannot get the SSD/HDD combo that I purchased for my ENVY 15. I could match my configuration pretty closely on the 17, but it's much larger than what I need, and it's heaver, which makes it unattractive and pretty inconvenient for lugging it around school in the fall. This is why I made my decision for the ENVY 15: Perfect size, a configuration to match my needs, and I already purchased a case for it!

I asked the chat representative if there was a phone number to call in order to chat with a supervisor about this, and she gave me one to the Resolutions Team. I spoke with a representative on the phone, and she more or less repeated the same thing.

My question to you guys is: Has this happened to you, by any company? Was it ever resolved? I'm really trying hard to figure out why they would offer Core i7's one week, and remove them as an option the next. Did they not think situations like this would happen where notebooks would need replacing? All I want is to get the laptop that I chose and with the configuration I paid for. I have no idea why they can't match my configuration on my order.

 

Happens often enough.

Best thing to do is go with an i5 and 8GB RAM.

In the future, if you're handy, you can swap in an i7 if you really need it.

 

Does it really? I'm surprised there haven't been more people complaining about something like this. I still don't understand why it's such an issue for HP, though. It's certainly possible, as they just offered it a few weeks ago.

Well, no, not with the graphics card they would give me, which is only for dual core processors. And I wouldn't have USB 3.0 ports either. I'm a bit stuck as far as my options go.

 

You can roll the dice and send it in for repair.

BE sure to take pictures of the unit. Also include a note for what needs repair. Put the note between the keyboard and screen when the notebook is closed. You can even include a pic of the damage with the note. This lets the "script tech monkeys" know what needs repair and that you took pictures of the unit so they better be careful.

 

XD Rolling the dice, indeed. I've read the horror stories...HP never even offered to repair it, but I think they would if I asked them about it. Although, the wait without a laptop that I may or may not get back in one piece doesn't seem too attractive.

I know, I'm ruling out all of my viable options, but I have 20 days to decide, I guess. They said their offers change all the time, and the i7's might return. I'm not holding my breath, but it's possible. If not, I'll probably just keep pressuring the representatives to see what they can do. I've heard they can be pretty accommodating.

 

A month or two ago, I ordered the i7 Beats edition CTO and somehow between the time that I put the order in my shopping cart and when I paid for it, they removed the i7 option from the Beats CTO. The order went through but just before the build date HP called to tell me I had to cancel and I could only order a replacement with i5 and wait several more weeks for a new order to be built.

A few i5 owners on here have bought the 2nd gen i7 motherboard for around $400 or so and upgraded themselves. I was told the only tool needed was a small Phillips head screwdriver.

 

Wow, are you serious? That's horrible. I hope they gave you some type of compensation for that. I wouldn't have accepted the i5 at that point.

After shelling out for a nearly $2000 laptop (okay, I didn't end up paying that much after cash back, but it's how much it's worth), I don't think I'd like to pay $400 just for the motherboard, not to mention the price of the processor itself, all because of whatever the hell is going on at HP.

I'll wait to see if they end up releasing the third generation of ENVY 15's in the next few weeks, since apparently a few signs are pointing to that. If not, I'll just give another call to HP and see what they'll do.

Thanks for your input, guys. =)

 

Different components get phased in and out every day. Its too bad that they don't offer the i7 anymore but on the consumers end there isn't much you can do :/