BEWARE of PC Microworks .... Do NOT send in your systems for repair

kevin this is very good news maybe they are still in the game

 

Yah, PCMW is back in business for us

 

I got through also. They asked me to send my system in. I refused and the solution was for me to identify which 8800 is causing the issues and send that in. That way I still have a functioning machine.

 

For everyone in this thread that has had an experince with PCMicroworks, I'd strongly recommend going to ResellerRatings.com's link to PCMicroworks and writing a review of your experience with them.

Often, there's no incentive for a company to improve its customer service unless enough customers with bad experiences take the time to warn others. At the point bad reviews affect sales, companies act.

Likewise, here's the link to the Better Business Bureau in Oakland, CA. They are the BBB chapter responsible for businesses in Freemont, Ca.

Take the time to help relate your experience and help others.

Finally, I would strongly recommend using only your credit card to make purchases over the internet. Credit card companies have a low tolerance for shoddy business practices and often refund money for bad purchases within minutes of contacting them. If you have mailed your laptop back to PCMicroworks for repairs and have not recieved it nor any response from customer support phone calls or emails, the credit company will likely simply refund your money and remove the funds directly from PCMicrowork's bank.

 

I echo Travesty's ideas. Purchasing with a credit card is essential over the internet. You have a lot more protection provided by your credit card company. If you can only afford your purchase by using the cash discount price you are probably spending too much.

I was calling PCMW for the 3rd day in a row when I finally got through. If I had not gotten through I would have called my CC company to reverse the charges.

I am not happy with having to wait 3 days just to talk to someone. Especially considering that I paid $600 for the highest level of warranty service from PCMW. My only saving grace is that my laptop is still functional while one of my 8800s is defective.

In comparison, I purchaed a dell XPS1330 for my wife. She had an issue with her video card and a technician was at our house the next day to change out her motherboard. That is the kind of service that I need for a business laptop.

As much as I like Sager/Clevo, I am seriously considering going with Dell when I have to replace my machine because I can not afford weeks of downtime waiting for warranty service.

I am sedning back my defective 8800 today and I will keep this thread updated with how longs things take.

 

The problem is happening again, I was not able to contact them for 3 days straight again! Did anyone contact them for the last 3 days?

 

I have not tried.

My 8800 was delivered to their offices today. I will wait until Monday to try to contact them.

Try on Friday. Last Friday was when all of us got through. It would seem that if this Friday you get through maybe that is the only day they are manning the phones.

 

Well I have not heard from them since mid last week, when they stated that they would send me my XR5 by the end of last week, or early this week at the latest. I sent them several emails since then, explaining that if I don't have a tracking number by Wednesday (today), that I was going to take a trip down to them, and get my unit, fixed or not. No response thus far.......Fail

 

my freind said he went by there and the door was locked and no one was there but the signs and everything were still up.. so not sure. he said he knocked for a few minutes because he heard people inside but no one aswered the door and it was during business hours

 

Yep, that's exactly what I said would happen earlier in this thread.

Honestly, you guys are like Charlie Brown, lying on your back suprised that Lucy pulled the football away.... again. Did you honesty beleieve that they really ever had telephone problems? They didn't. That's just the same tired old lie they tell all their new customers who don't already know better.

Just get your money back if you can before they declare bankrupcy and warn everyone you know about PCMicroworks/Matt O'Byrne.

 

All of you who are having these problems (and paid by credit card) really need to contact your credit card company and find out what they can do, and try to get a refund from the credit card company, also go to the better business bureau immediately as well as reseller ratings.com and give your bad review as others mentioned in this thread. Stop waiting on these incompetent thieves and do something...

 

I seriously doubt if credit card companies will do anything just because PCMW aren't picking their phones, or not answering the doors. Holding a laptop for 3 months isn't anything new, Dell do that all the time.

 

On the other hand, _Dell is not a tiny little operation with a tarnished history (whether deserved or not), and most likely has continual business dealings with the credit card issuers in the millions of dollars - I daresay that a credit card company is going to be a lot less worried about _Dell holding onto a system for 3 months without explanation than it would be in the instant case.

 

but you can call dell and have them pickup the phone, right?

if a company doesnt ever pickup during "office hours" doesn't that strike you as being a little fishy? i mean, they offer support for their systems, right?

they do have email. if they never respond to emails, doesn't that come across as fishy?

as shyster said, PCMW is not even close to the size of dell. CC companies know of dell. many CC companies probably have never heard of PCMW..

 

Don't get me wrong guys. I never liked PCMW, but some of the posts in this thread seem over concerned. Maybe they are just giving sloppy CS at this moment, not closing down, yet.

 

and if they are in the process of closing down, wouldn't you rather be safe with your laptop or money, or both, then be screwed out of your laptop/money etc.

 

Look, one dude Bmonk I think has been without his laptop for almost 4 friggin months, this goes above and beyond sloppy CS right now, and we're not talking about a few hundred dollars being kept here, we are talking THOUSANDS of dollars, if your credit card company can't or won't help you, and the better business bureau can only do so much, and if talking to the police or a lawyer can't get this resolved in a timely fashion then I think its time to go get what belongs to you and have a long chat with the people at PCMW about that diamond warranty, and the money they OWE you which can be used to repair it elsewhere in a timely fashion...

 

dammit. Well, I can't get my money back since I paid through money transfer. And if I get my money back, I'm sure it will not be in full.

 

I honestly think those of us who have already sent them out notebooks should organize as a group and stake out there location. I'll sit there over night if I have to.

 

So I started following this thread when I thought I was going to purchase another Sager...been following since just out of curiosity. At first I was thinking that there was maybe a bit of hysteria going on with regards to the problems with the company. But...I just now went on to the pcmw website to get a look at it for myself, and the first thing that struck me was the fact that they were offering $1000 off the purchase of ANY laptop. I mean Dell can perhaps cover that kind of offer due to their volume, but a small boutique shop can't possibly maintain that for even a short amount of time. Anyway it seems extremely desperate. Just for kicks I thought I would configure a system to see what happened and this is what I got:



Maybe they're updating their site, maybe I'm getting caught up in the emotion of this thread, but I would definitely be doing anything and everything to get my money back asap.

Good luck to all already involved.

 

Very good call Bmonk, that's what I would do, I have an aggressive personality though and probably wouldn't wait for a group, but you would probably accomplish more with a group without getting into legal trouble.

Wait out there as long as you need to until someone comes out that you can confront, and if they become evasive do what you need to do (as legally as possible) to get your point across that you are not taking this crap anymore. Tell them you have no intentions of becoming hostile, but follow them to find out where they go, keep a tight leash on these people make sure you find other outlets to reach them or contact them from besides the workplace in case they decide to close up shop and run away with your property.

 

Uh, I'd be careful with that. What you've just described is, technically, called stalking, and it is, if I recall correctly, criminally illegal in California (where PCMW is located).

 

Even here on the other coast, if you're on my property and I tell you to leave, I can call the cops and they will ask you to leave. If you do not - they will arrest you.

 

I think all (legal) options should be exorcised to the full extent, when you have someone who obviously has no regard for the law possessing thousands of dollars worth of your property and wont give it back, you need to weigh all your options carefully.

Some of these people really cant afford another laptop and have paid for these laptops expecting them to survive 3 to 5 years or more even. If this company is contemplating closing up shop and running then those people with their 3000$+ pieces of property being held there are in an extremely tight spot.

If their credit card companies cant get them any money back, if the BBB can't get them their laptop back, if the police have no legal grounds to arrest any of these people and get the people their laptops back and if a lawyer isn't an option for those who really don't have the money or the time to spend the potential months/years in court fighting these people who will probably not even pay up anyhow then what to do?

I think confrontation is really the only option left, and one or two people going there to ask for their laptop back is probably going to PCMW the flight instinct so it might be in the best interest of any parties who are currently having their multiple thousands of dollars worth of property illegitimately held to find alternate ways of reaching those people who are keeping their property from them so they can call them at home to ask when they are getting their laptops back, and have an address to send police to if all else fails. I think in this situation it is fair and within the law so long as there are no threats or bad intentions other than finding legal ways to get their stuff back. I think in this particular case it shouldn't be looked at as stalking, more like investigating.. If we can make citizens arrests then we should be able to do mild forms of citizens investigation, how are these people supposed to protect themselves if the law looks at the victims as the criminals?

 

We as American citizens can legally gather in protest outside of any business we want. Call it what you want, its not illegal to wait outside a place of business especially during business hours. I have not made any threats other than taking legal action if I do not receive what I have payed for in full.

 

That's great, you should be able to go to the media as well. Try talking to local news stations that are hard on shady business, every big city has their own kind of news segment dedicated to the correction of shady businesses. If you can get media involved they should be a big help as well and it wont cost you anything. Media will also go to their home and bug them if they can't get through to them at work.

 

That's all well and good; however, (i) don't forget to whom you're speaking, and (ii) it would be an even worse shame if your own intemperate actions doubled, or tripled, any losses you might ultimately be faced with. It would be very cold comfort to know that you had confronted your foe, if that same act earned you a year behind bars, or a $5,000 fine, or even $20,000 in attorneys' fees defending yourself from charges of civil and criminal trespassing and stalking.

Just in case anyone's interested, the California statutes on stalking can be reviewed here:

• Criminal Stalking
• Civil Stalking

 

Now that is the sanest suggestion I've heard so far. Many local and regional television stations have their own consumer advocates who will do precisely that, particularly if they can smell a big, juicy story in it with lots of sympathetic victims (so bone up on making pathetic puppy eyes, not evil eyes ).

 

Shyster1 is giving you guys the free legal advice, listen to him!

 

Shyster you are a wealth of information. I just gathered all the documents you included in your Hybridgear thread, connecting PC MicroWorks with Hybridgear. BTW, anyone ever notice that the Main sales guy everyone talks to is Thomas? Not just Thomas, but Thomas Matthews. Oh but wait, isnt the CEO and Registered Agent for Service of Process, one "MATTHEW THOMAS" O'BYRNE. I really do think hes everyone.

Anyway I had a sit down with my Lawyer (aka, pops) and we/he came up with a game plan. I am just going to post part of an email I just sent to the entire PC MicroWorks contact list, aka, one jerk. Let me say first, that this is in response to an email I received AN HOUR AGO!!, in which "Thomas" said he was out all week, and hes going to "try" and get my machine sent out tomorrow.

Part of my reply:

"I truly hope for both our sakes that we can resolve this privately. However, I am at the end of my patients. I am going to lay a few things out. If my machine IS sent back TOMORROW we can avoid quite a headache, one, I am however, preparing myself for right now.

I have gathered documents connecting PC MicroWorks and Matthew Thomas O'byrne (funny coincidence of a name) with Hybridgear, reports made by other customers who have unresolved conflicts, along with all the documents concerning our current conflict, to send to the Public Inquiry Unit, at the Office of the California Attorney General. The purpose of connecting Hybridgear with your current Corporation is to give reason to "Pierce the Corporate Vail", which can be done when its shown that the Corporation is fraudulent, and solely meant to perpetrate a scam. At that point the shareholders are pursued.

My Lawyer has advised that at this point, your withholding my personal property is well within legal justification to notify the Alameda County Sheriffs Office of a theft. A duplicate packet of the documents I have gathered, will be sent to the Alameda County Sheriffs Office as well."

 

Man oh man, I am sure i would love to be a fly on the wall when the owner reads that. I agree that getting the media involved is also a good idea.

 

Yeah so I got caught up in the emotion of the thread. You can now configure again. I will refrain from adding fuel to the fire in the future.

Definitely agree with approaching the media. The story it seems to me would be even more attractive to them with the documents connecting pcmw to hybridgear.

 

So.......this week is almost ended.

 

@BMonk:

The one thing to keep in mind with PCMW and Mr. O'Byrne if you decide to go the legal route is to avoid trying to bluff them into acceding to your demands - as the track record in the Brazos County litigation demonstrates, they are not particularly nervous about ignoring legal process or about suffering judgments. The docket in that case, No. 07-001632-CV-361 has just been updated to reflect the fact that the court in that case rendered summary judgment against Mr. O'Byrne, and yesterday issued a writ of execution against Mr. O'Byrne on that judgment. The amount of that judgment is about $75,000, plus interest at 5.25%.

That, of course, is not the end of things by any means, as the plaintiff - O'Byrne's old landlord in Texas, must now take that judgment and writ of execution and seek to have them enforced in California, which may take quite a while, notwithstanding that process from sister states is entitled to full faith and credit. Basically, the next step is for the landlord to file papers in California state court - most likely, something like this Form EJ-105, Application for Entry of Judgment on Sister-State Judgment, in the Alameda County Superior Court.

 

I was able to call them yesterday but not again today!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

I'm going nuts here!

 

I really suggest to all having problems with PCMW who paid by credit card, to call your credit card company asap, and explain the situation to them and ask them to refund the amount of your laptop. If they cannot or will not do that then ask them what steps you can take with them given the situation to file for some type of financial recuperation.

Now since some wont be able to get any refund from certain credit card companies considering the time elapsed since purchase, credit card company policies, and some have paid by money order, the media really needs to get involved here. I suggest the creation of a thread dedicated solely to victims of PCMW, who haven't gotten their laptops back and haven't received any financial compensation from them for parts or laptops not fixed/returned or warranties not honored and are being ignored etc.

They can congregate there and pass information back and forth, and it would be a good place for a news agency to document to show people what is really going and what people are going through and to show people why they need to stay away from PCMW and Matt O'Byrne.

 

Including those who's having great experiences?

 

Oh I'm so so sorry let me change that for you sir.... and BTW just who is having great experiences with them?

 

Whoever is not having probs with their laptop is

But then again, they are not really experiencing them..

 

I think its time there be a stickied thread warning about PCMW. Can this be done?

I am completely convinced Matthew Thomas O'byrne is simply having people send their hardware back, with no intention of sending it back, maybe even selling it to new customers, which would explain how they are able to give that $1,000 off any notebook deal.
My last several communications over the past month included me practically begging to have my XR5 sent back, even if it were not fixed. I sent an email to the entire PCMW contact list, aka one guy, stating that if I did not have a tracking number by today I was contacting the Alemeda County Sheriffs Office, which I am now going to do, since I received no response. A breach of warranty is one thing, which would go to small claims court. Theft of a $4,500+ computer is however a criminal act, and a very good reason to involve the police.

 

Have you called the cop yet?

 

This involves a business/organization meaning its a civil matter. Police dont deal with civil matters.

 

Categoricals aren't completely applicable here; there are large gray areas, where a purely civil matter begins to insensibly shade over into a criminal matter.

 

i still cant understand how you people can buy or send your laptops for what ever reason to PCMW when you know this they lie to me for two weeks and this was enough for me to leave my warranty and forget about them and this after they replace my first laptop for free because i receive empty box

 

Where are you getting your warranty support from now GanGstaOne?

 

from nowhere.. if there is a problem i will fix it myself just order the parts
and even if this company was good i will never send my laptop someone else
to repair it

 

For those that purchase through PCMW, you still have warranty on the barebones through either Sager, Eurocom or Pro-Star depending on the serial number... since PCMW gets their barebones through one of those three Clevo importer OEMs.

So keep you systems if you can, DO NOT send them in to PCMW.

Contact the importer OEM that the barebones came from, and they will help you.

I will sticky this thread for now.

 

Thanks for the info Gophn

 

I am seriously annoyed by the unprofessional dealings with PCMW now.

Even if they are going out of business, at least return the property of their customers back so that they can have a chance to get it repaired through the importer OEM of the barebones..

... not play possum and just disappear.... thats just pathetic and cowardly.