Warning! Never Buy A Toshiba Laptop!

After owning several problem-free Compaq and Dell laptops over the past 15 years, I made the mistake of buying my first Toshiba, a Satellite L675D. I admit that I was enthralled by the 17” display. Big mistake. HUGE MISTAKE. Less than four months after purchase, my wife opened the laptop one evening and the screen showed a crack in the upper right corner. I sent the laptop to the Toshiba repair depot and they claim she accidently damaged it and they want $325 to repair it. BTW, the entire system only cost $530 brand new. According to Toshiba Customer Relations (and I quote) the "accident was caused by opening the case too hard". I asked how that was even possible. Seriously, how do you open a laptop too hard? Toshiba said (and I quote), "you could have pulled too hard". If anyone from Toshiba is reading this, refer to T1-1174583 case # 110 331 001 320. I swear these are exact quotes. I currently own several Toshiba products, but after this experience I will never purchase another Toshiba product of any type in my lifetime. And now whenever I see someone even looking at a Toshiba laptop in Best Buy, HHGreg, WalMart, etc, I will warn them not to even consider Toshiba. Stick with manufacturers who stand behind their products. Toshiba is not one of them.

 

I'm sorry with your troubles, but if you think that it is only a Toshiba problem, then your in for a big surprise. The whole lot of them have low-end laptops (including yours), where they expect you to purchase and rebuy when their cheap, Friday-night special craps out after 1-2 yrs. They will refuse to budge on any warranty work and will use the phrase "Sorry" a lot. It's the great "supply-side" economics at work.

I think the only fix you can do (besides paying Toshiba), is buying a new screen from a LCD online retailer and install it yourself (probably cost $150).


Also, I've learned over the years to buy from a good retailer. This included places like Costco. They have a 90 day return policy, and if the manufacturer gives you the run-around (like in your case), Costco will replace your product for a comparable product at their expense.


Again, sorry for your troubles and good luck

 

It shouldn't matter if the laptop cost $530 or $1799, if the laptop was advertised with a warranty, it should be covered regardless. Unless the technician has substantial proof that the laptop has been damaged by the end user, it's inane to automatically accuse the damage was done by its user.

If the crack on the screen is a spider-web crack, then it can be concluded that the screen was struck by something and thus warranty work can be denied, but if it's just a regular line crack with no indication of impact anywhere on the chassis or lid, then how can they pinpoint the damage being caused by negligence or accidents?

I've owned numerous laptops of different brands, and the M645 is my first from Toshiba. Dell so far has given me the most grief (Three times!), and while their laptops are decent, the customer support is absolutely sub par. If Toshiba doesn't deliver on their end if something goes awry with this laptop, I wouldn't purchase from them again either.

 

I wouldn't be so quick to give up on Toshiba. Like any customer service calls, if you can manage to escalate your call up to the highest of management, they will be more than willing to help you. The lower guys can't do much and try to not do much.

I've overclocked and fried my Toshiba a505's mobo and they replaced it under warranty. Given, they probably couldn't tell it was OC'd because I wiped the HDD before I sent it in and it was simply software OCing...

 

uh yah, because screens spontaneously crack for no reason whatsoever all the time bro.

nor do i believe this is this is some sort of engineering flaw, or poor build quality/material issue as i've never heard of this happening before with any laptop, never mind a Toshiba unless the user mishandled it themselves. and if it were an assembly line flaw i'm sure it would've been noticed on day one of you owning it not four months down the road lol

here's what i think happened. some, if not all, Toshibas have a latch that locks the cover down when you close it. someone forgot about it and tried to force open the lid by lifting from that corner without releasing the latch resulting in the crack. and now you want a free ride from Toshiba. sorry but i have no sympathy for you and i think Toshiba is completely right in wanting to charge you for repairs.

nice try tho, bro

 

I have never damaged any notebooks that I have owned, but knowing how notebook computers are constructed, there are a few precautions to keep in mind. The LCD panel itself has a piece of thin glass on it. Since the LCD lips of the majority notebooks do flex, it is a poor idea to open or close the lip by holding the corner. Whether the glass would crack depends on how tight the hinges are and how fast it was pushed too. I feel your pain on the warranty claim, but I guess they all suck regardless of brands and products in reality, and depends on where you are. Just for comparison, my A60 is still working fine after 6 years of daily use. Then again, I am not rough of my stuffs.

 

After three unsuccessful RMA's with a Toshiba Satellite A305, you can count me in on never buying another Toshiba!

 

Why is there another thread about this. Was the other one full.

My feelings (see other thread) MEH!

 

the lcd and battery of toshiba is my main problem. You were right about the difficulty of opening your laptop and I think that is one of the properties of every toshiba models...you should try to negotiate for its warranty...

 

Thread resurrected to point THIS out.

 

The neighbor's friend screwed up. He marked up the HDD (tampered) and Toshiba denied the warranty claim. That "tech" mistakenly applied procedures where he works and ruined the neighbor's chance of getting warranty work. Also, it sounds like the "neighbor" was more a client than a neighbor. Otherwise, interesting that the "tech" sends in the computer and receives the follow up email regarding the denial and tampering of the HDD. Just get a new HDD for the neighbor and don't go marking up things.Each company has their own policy, and employees have to follow certain procedures. Does this "techie" buy something at a store and when he returns it, he marks up the box or UPC code "defective"? I think the stores would not appreciate and "X" on returns, and that's just on an exterior carton.

 

I would fight that HDD claim. Service.Net [the contracted repairer] can be a-holes. Write your BBB and file in small claims if need be.

Rule #1 of a laptop under warranty: don't open it up and tinker around with it.
However, I would still fight it.

 

Rule #2 of anything under warranty: if you do open things up, don't go and mark them up!