Didn't do my research...found out too late :(

I guess I am really naive and I did not check around much when I bought this Sony FZ. The model I have is the 430E. It SUCKS compared to what I could have gotten on the Sony Style website. I got my model on sale for $849, which I thought was a great deal. I did look around a bit, but didn't know anything about the XBrite Hi-Color screens or the fact that I probably needed a better graphics card than this one has. When I looked at the Sony site I must have missed this particular model because all the others were over $1,200. Well, I found the FZ290EB is going for $999 on sale and has a better processor, the Hi-Color screen, the NVidia graphics card, an HDMI port, and bluetooth. Guess what? This is the 15th day I have had the computer. I just found this out this morning. It's too late to take it back to WORST BUY. I am so mad at myself for not looking around better. I am just now becoming more adept at online shopping. I always figured the manufacturers sites were more expensive than retail. WRONG on that one. Even Circuit City now has better deals on the FZ series (which they just posted!) and just a day ago took my model off their site. Probably due to poor sales. Ugh!! I need to stop being an impulse buyer! Never again! No wonder my model is selling so slow on the Best Buy site even though they say they are sold out online and the price went back up to $1,049.

To add insult to injury I found the same $999 model from the Sony site at another online computer store for $789!!! That's even cheaper than this stripped down piece of crap I got. Only thing better about my model is the hard drive is bigger 250GB compared to 160GB and 3GB of RAM versus 2GB RAM. But I would not have cared about the RAM, you can always upgrade that. *Bummed out*

 

Actually, try taking it back to BB and ask them to return so you can trade up. Its worth a shot, and you'll only have a chance if its the 15th day.

 

i agree with Greg

 

Yes, but guess what? The return policy is 14 days! I missed it by one stinkin' day! I wish I had found this deal yesterday. I called BB and they said nope. So, I'm screwed. The don't carry the model I want anyway. And even if they did and it was within the 14 days, BB does not do trades when you bought the computer from BB.com. They only do returns. Yes, I would have to pay the restock fee, but it's worth it! It would about even out if I got the one for $789 I saw online.

Well, I'm gonna start looking at some better graphics cards. *Sigh* Now I just have to spend MORE money. Sheesh.

 

Yeah, go for that.

 

Don't stew over it long - chalk it up as a lesson learned. You'll save more the next time. You still love the laptop itself, don't you?

BTW - I like BB, but I only buy small items, TV's or items that are not cheaper anywhere else (re: iPod's) there. When it comes to electronics, the web is your friend.

 

Okay, called BB and they said they would take it back! I'm in luck. The only thing I'm still stewing on is that the one I'm exchanging for has a smaller Hard Drive, 160GB to the 250GB I have now. Is that gonna make that much difference? I mean I only used 40GB of the 200GB I have on my desktop that is 2 years old? I will also have to throw in an extra gig of RAM. I should just go for it right?

 

Yep. Go for it. Good luck.

 

This thread is in total contradiction to this

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=258978.

 

Yes, go for the exchange. Upgrades are fairly easy to do and you *should* have a better notebook in the end compared to the stock hardware.

I would suggest ordering the service manual for your (new) notebook from Sony Parts & Services. This will give you all the information you need to determine which upgrades will work in it.

Make sure you do research on the drive and memory before you upgrade. Some drives run cooler than others while maintaining the same speed. Some are quieter. Others have a larger cache. Same thing with memory - not all is the same. Faster (quality) memory is usually better than the stock memory Sony provides. (they cut as many corners as they can to reduce costs). If you intend to upgrade do your research first!

Good luck!

 

You Americans need to get a service like price spy that helps you find the cheapest price for electronics.

www.pricespy.co.nz

 

there are plenty of sites like that in the US. what, u think only NZ has sites like that??

 

LMAO at Cool Guy. I know man, what an 180 I did on that one! I went from "I'm in Love with my FZ" to "This stripped down piece of crap." LOL!! I knew as I was bratting how it was going to contradict what I said earlier. Heh. Well, I posted on the other thread how I am keeping what I have due to the shady ass website that was offering that model at $789.

The company they go through for their transactions are under criminal investigation. Ha! To buy it off the Sony site would end up costing me close to $300 more when you factor in the BB restocking fee. So screw it! I'm happy! There is no way I could have done better at the time. The other model went on sale a week after I already bought this one. So as my parents always taught me, "Shut up and be happy for what you have." LOL.