Sony Vaio CR series Help

Hi,

I have had my Vaio CR series for almost a year now, and recently have noticed that there was a screw missing in the battery compartment (when the battery is removed), this screw is one of the screws which holds the keyboard in place.

The problem it is causing is the keyboard is very "bouncy" because it is only being held in place by one screw. I fear that if the screw isn't replaced it will cause further damage. I did not take the screw out, I believe that when I was typing with the battery out it must have pushed the screw out. Then again Screws don't just fall out!!!

I have been in touch with Sony Support but they want £21.09 for the screw including postage. Now I have a few questions is there anywhere else I could get it cheaper whether it be Online.. or a direct retailer in the UK?
Are screws covered under the standard 1 year warranty?

I have attached a picture of the given area (same picture I sent to sony for them to identify it). Any help would be greatly appreciated

Thanks
Nas

 

You could probably find them on ebay or any well-fitted pc reseller store. Ask Sony or look on the internet to find out the exact screw type. £21 is way too much, they're ripping you off big time. About the warranty, you'll have to read their terms, but I've never heard of screws being excluded!!

 

Sony charges crazy for screws. Well this obviously isnt your fault, but even if it was, you could act ignorant and basically try to trouble shoot it from the start. It will take a while and you'll probably end up having to send your whole unit into the repair facility (for free under warranty). However, if you talk to the representative about your keyboard feeling loose and flexing a lot, he or she MAY just decide to send you the screw for free. I've personally gotten sent the hard drive panel for free because apparently the screws snap easily when torqued (why i guess is the reason why the screws are not that tight on the vaios - although ive tightened all of mine just a little).

Anyways, if you spend some more time on the phone, acting like you have no idea what happend and once they tell you to check for the screws, and you go "oh is there supposed to be a screw here?" blah blah. And say you never take the battery out etc...they may just take the blame and say it was a manufacturing defect.

 

Thanks very much for the response, they have been helpful. I decided to search around ebay and found a set of screws for $4 and $30 for shipping to the UK. The only good thing is that they are a full set of screws, for the whole laptop. The listing says it is for the Sony Vaio VGN-CR 220E and mine is a CR 11ZR, now I assume that the screws used are the same seeing how they are both CR series, am I right in thinking so?
But I still don't like the fact I have to pay around £17 for a set of screws.....

I guess I will try to phone them.

Any further suggestions welcome

Nas

 

Update:

So I thought I'd reapproach the situation, this time using the Sony Phone Support. So I pretend that I had no Idea the screw was supposed to be there, and also I was very polite etc. End Result, The price is now £26!!!! so by deciding to phone instead of e-mail the screw goes up another £5. I was still under the standard 1 year warranty and they said the screw is a cosmetic feature and that this is not therefore covered under warranty. I asked why couldn't you just give it for free? they replied saying that they were going out of their way to send out the screw to me, therefore needed to be paid. However they did offer to come and collect my laptop for 10 days which would have been in excess of £100...

So Instead asked for the screw type which they gave, and I checked on ebay and I was in Luck. I managed to purchase a FULL set of screws for my laptop as oppose to the single screw sony were selling. The best part, I got the whole lot off ebay for $4 + $8 (£6) 1st class UK shipping and Sony wanted £26!

Shame on Sony for charging so much for so little, I say poor customer service.

Anyway my laptop keyboard is full fixed and a bit of tape covering the screw to avoid any future mishaps.

Thanks for all suggestions
Nas