Micromedics, Yay or Nay?

My Sager 8790's optical drive finally failed on me last night.

I called up Phillips today (thank goodness for the 3 year warranty until 11/07), and got a claims number and they said they'd send a technician out to take a look at my machine.

I'm in the 20678 and 20657 region of the country, and I'm 99.9% sure that there's no tech within 50 miles of me. They also recommended that I ship the machine to Micromedics for repair.

I hung up the phone nicely, and starting searching here and the Notebookforums to get an idea on how Micromedics does their customers. What I'm finding is horrifying. Extensive wait times, packing problems from them, new problems upon receiving a 'repaired' machine, and 1 reply on resellerratings.com that was very bad.

So now I'm at a crossroads. I have a laptop with a bum drive. I have the service manual that I 'found' online and feel confident in my skills to replace the drive myself if I ordered the correct one from Newegg, or another site. But, this would mean that I'd spend $$ on the new drive when I should be sending it in and having others repair it for free minus the shipping probably I'm at work typing this, so I don't have the machine in front of me for Level 2 Support to walk through the troubleshooting process with me.

- Can I demand that they ship it to another company, aside from Micromedics?
- If not, should I go ahead and attempt to swap the drives myself? Like I said, I have the Service Manual. For reference, I uploaded it to share:


Any advice would be appreciated,
Boogieman

 

Replacing your ODD isn't difficult... But if it's in the warranty, then you'd be losing out on the cost of the ODD.

 

This is true, considering a replacement of the exact same drive would run me $150-$200 per PriceGrabber.
http://computers.pricegrabber.com/dvd-rom-dvd-writers/toshiba/m/7752025/

 

Try calling them up to see if they'll ship the replacement drive to you, along with a return package for the burned out drive..

 

Given Micromedics' rep, are you willing to be out of more than just the cost of the drive + time in order to "save" on the warranty? They might fix it just fine. Personally, I've seen enough of them to never ever want to do business w/ them.

I'd try calling up Phillips and seeing what your options are. If Micromedics is the only option, then you never know- if they dick you around enough, perhaps you can get a new machine out of Phillips

 

Like the OP said, you can get one at newegg. newegg have laptop burner for around 50-60 bucks.

Maybe OP can call and asks for the new drive to be shipped to him. Installing the burner isn't hard at all. If you can't then I think it's easier just to get it from newegg.

 

I went Newegg'ing for a new drive while at work, this is what I came up with..

When I consider how much it would cost to ship + insurance to Micromedics (if I take that route), it will be less then $60 (new drive price + tax shipped). I just have to call Phillips, let the monkey on the other line decide that my drive is officially dead, and ask him about buying a new drive and if it would void the warranty.

 

Teh Call of Phillips
Update:
Called Tech Support back, talked to a really nice dude named Gary. By the end of the trobuleshooting, my drive doesn't like CD's at all, but will need a Data DVD only (no more adult DVD's on this thing anymore )

I told him point blank I do not want this thing going to Micromedics. He said he couldn't give is personal opinion as to my choice, but he told me that he understands my problem and agrees with me. Gary seems to know that Micromedics is garbage. :laughing:

Phillips will be calling me within 48 hours to tell me what my options are.

---Edit---
The Beginning Of Teh Circle Jerk

Spoke with Richard from Phillips dispatch, he said he would be shipping me a box to go to Micromedics. I told him very nicely that my laptop will not be going to Micromedics per my request to Gary the technician. I told him to refer to the technician's notes and confirm my request. He promptly referred me to customer service while he'd look fro another repair provider.

Spoke to Lindsay, who was a very nice lady southern accent and all. She basically told me that since I'm not an authorized repairperson of Sagers, that any work on my laptop will void the warranty. (Glad I didn't tell her I clean the heatsink and such bi-monthly ) She also noted to me that she has 'heard' stories about Micromedics, and understands my concern.

Richard will be calling me back within the hour to discuss possible local options that I can go with. I'd be happy to drive 2-3 hours to a repair place that's OK'ed to work on Sagers, anything but Micromedics.

 

This keeps getting more interesting - keep us updated please.

 

Oh noes!

Phillips is REALLY efficient with their calling their customers. Spoke with Richard again. He tried helping me with finding local repair shops that would be able to work with my machine. He said that IF I found one, that the repair shop would have to call Phillips and jump through their validation department to ensure that they were legit.

Clear as mud?

I think I'm setting myself up for failure, considering my sub rural location yields **** for repair shops, and I don't think Sager would be very considerate of telling me that a repair shop that they authorize will be nearby. So I agreed to have a Micromedics box shipped to me, so that I can send it back to them.

*curls up to fetal position

I'm realizing that I should've sold this thing on eBay as is and hope for $~750, since I'm eye-humping the 5790 like no tomorrow. I figured that I'd be better off selling it with everything working, ODD and all, hopefully getting ~$1000.

Hey Chaz, how much do you think a used 8790 (3.2 Ghz P4, 2 GB o' 400MHz, dual 60GB 7,200 RPM HDD, 1580x1050 WSXGA+, ATI-M 9700 256MB) would go for? Are my estimates on par with a 3 year old machine?

 

I really don't know how much that machine would go for -I've never been good at estimating the selling prices of used things. I'd check eBay for similar machines.

Well, it looks like you did the inevitable. At least you shouldn't have to pay for shipping if they are shipping you a box.

 

Run away - you are better replacing your drive yourself. Just eat the cost and next time don't buy an extended warranty because more often than not your computer will get fixed by a place like Micromedics.

-Former Micromedics Tech.

 

Getting Started...


These are picture of the box that Micromedics sent me:





Qwerty, I'm seriously thinking about buying my own, but I eventually want to sell it for money for a new laptop. Should I take a chance and buy a new drive and fix it, voiding my laptop in case something REALLY bad happens?

I'm going to call Phillips right now and tell them (and try to show them) what they sent me.

I have the original Sager box at home, considering sending IT in, but I'm worried that that'll pitch a fit, saying "You used the wrong box, we aren't doing ****"

Sent this to Micromedics Contact Us:

 

That is in awesomely bad shape

 

Tis.

Someone recommeded to me that I should buy a drive, throw it in, and see if it works. If it doesn't, put the old one in and send it back.

 

Small update:

Bought this drive from Zipzoomfly.com per G-Ohama from NBF.com's review of a 8790, hope it works when it comes in. Qwerty will be calling me to talk me out of sending my 8790 to Micromedics; he won't have to say too much, but it will ease me mind when I look at my warranty.

Worst case scenario for me would be that the new drive doesn't work quite right or totally screws up the system would be to put the old drive back in and send it, as if nothing happened.

 

The new drive came in Wednesday, read back one or two posts for exact make and model:


First I had to remove the old drive. It was actually quite simple to do. First, see the white looking bracket in this picture? It's a screw that serves a dual purpose:
1) Holds the ODD in place.
2) Holds the memory/heatsink/processor/important **** piece on.


Side By Side of the new drive and the old drive. Notice the bracket screwed on by the two screws. Note: These screws are as small as about a piece of rice. If you're doing this, keep a magnet around so that you don't lose these!


Empty hole where old drive used to be. Note the PATA power plugin and the bracket location.


The old drive removed with the bracket on it.


The new drive with the bracket on it.


Easy does it.... the drive went in nicely. Required a little push at the end for it to line up with the screw hole and the plugin to the PATA power slot.


Success! See how the bracket is lined up?


Finished product. The drive isn't spring/tray loaded; it's like in-car CD players. Sucks it right on in.


Now that the new drive is in, Windows is running and finding the drive normally, time to do some basic read tests from burned and pressed/bought media:

Data CD - Pressed (Guild Wars) = Passed
Video DVD - Pressed (Jackass) = Passed
Audio CD - Pressed (Van Halen's 5150) = Passed (and ripped successfully )


Data DVD - Burned = Passed
Audio CD - Burned = Passed

I've yet to burn CD's or DVD's, but when I do, I'll post the results of the tests.

 

You made the right choice. Especially because you only have 3 months of warranty left. I bet you could even lie and say that you never changed the drive yourself.

And I don't get why everyone is so tensed up about warranty. I always void my warranties the first day I get items. I think I even voided the warranty on my 5790/M570RU last night by opening it up and switching around some parts (but then again, that would be ridiculous because I did buy a barebones).

 

I only got tensed up because the company I'd be sending my machine to has a really bad reputation and it was my only option as far as warranties go.

I just hope nothing but happens while I still have this machine, at least until November.