Sony Vaio VPC-Z1 UK Replacement Keys

Hi guys,

I have been having a bit of a nightmare with Sony support. Basically, when my laptop first arrived, my F7 key always looked a bit "off" - the backlight under it always seemed brighter, and it was slightly raised on one side, but I ignored it - how often does anyone use F7?

Anyway, I was cleaning the keyboard because it has that stupid type of keyboard that picks up every bit of oil (drives me mad!) and the F7 key just came off. It wasn't even a harsh cleaning!!

I emailed sony and they gave me 3 options. Find a replacement key on eBay and replace it myself, pay for someone to repair it (collect it), or get a replacement keyboard. They will not cover it on the warranty even after explaining how they key was ... but to be honest for how much one key is likely to cost I cannot be bothered to waste my energy / time on it!

I cannot however find any replacement keys for it on ebay or other websites that do replacement keys. Does anyone have any ideas? Trying to get sony to help isn't going well...

One other question I have -- are all the keyboards on the Vpc-Z this type that picks up the oil so much? My previous Z (VGN-Z) had a different type of keyboard that wasn't like it...

Thanks!

 

My Z keyboard also gets dirty very easily...took me a while to get used to it...

 

Great... now they reply saying they don't know where to get replacement keys either, so I have to get a new keyboard for £101.90 gbp. wow. I just asked for them to pass the case to a member of management, they should be replacing it for free. It's a brand new laptop - not even a few weeks old, and I made it clear from the start the F7 key always looked raised on one side.. so it was clearly defective.

Sigh at their customer service

 

DanielUK, my key 'P' was also uneven but I normally try to clean really soft. When I got mine I clean almost everyday for the oily keys but now i get used to it.

Please keep us update on your situation.

 

be careful with that then bryan, my cleaning wasn't even intense. Is yours really raised though? The backlight under my F7 was always noticeably brighter because of it.

I'll let you know what happens with Sony. I really hope they replace it, or I'll consider sending it back. I refuse to shell out another £100 for a laptop of this price. We shall wait and see

 

yea. My 'P' button raised at bit higher than other keys. So I can get used to that. What i find funny was Z series is a premium laptop why they keys are so easily attached by oil Maybe sony is saving on their key for profit.

 

I think the material the keys are made from are different from the rest of the Sony range simply to differentiate the Z from the rest of the range. A work colleague has the Vaio E and it has plastic keys rather than the rubberised ones of the Z.

I think the Z keyboard look and feel is reminiscent of the Spectrum ZX 81 (for those who remember it)...ahh, the good old days (TLL, Manic Miner, Pyjamarama,...).

 

Oh sure I like the keyboard. It feels brilliant to type on. It's just an oil hogger!

 

Okay.. Sony have now emailed back saying they passed it to a member of management for review, but they see it as physical damage so I have to pay!!

I'm so disgusted with them right now. I sent a reply back asking how they deem it physical damage when I made it very clear from the start that the key was obviously not securely sitting as it was raised and blah blah... let's wait and see what they reply.

Do I have any grounds to return the laptop to them? I am seriously that annoyed I would rather buy another £1600 laptop from someone else. My issues have been this nvidia crashing one which has been mentioned many times on the forum, and this key issue. Just wondering where I stand with it. It's only 3 weeks old.

Thank you guys...

 

Well looks like they aren't replacing it. So disappointed! Does anyone know where I can find a new F7 key, I seriously don't fancy paying for a new keyboard.

With regard to my last post... where would I stand with returning it?

Thanks.

 

daniel,

I'm guessing that your in the UK ?

In that case use the trading standards people to beat Sonys CS

I think you can argue that the Sony wasn't right in the first place and key came off after you wiped So the unit that you got wasn't "Marketable quality"

You can find your local trading standards office in the directory
Also you can look at making a small claim in the court

Making a Claim

But trading standards should be your first call !!

Joe

 

Cheers Joe. Maybe when I mention that to sony they'll budge. I'm so totally pi** off with them though. and yes, I'm from the UK

 

Also if you used a credit card to buy it .. you can use them to beat up Sony as well

BBC - X-Ray X-Guides - Returning defective goods to a shop

 

wow. That bad news. hm... have you tried the method mention by JoeDarkness? I dont know how good was sony service but after hearing your complain seems like sony always say how good they are at service but when problem arise they try ignoring it.

 

I've never had a problem with Sony before, but the way they've handled this situation is disgusting! I know it's just a key, but it's infuriating me how they're handling it!! I'll see what they reply as I mentioned trading standards so I'll keep you guys informed.

Thanks again!

 

i have the same problem, with a vpc-ea2s1e laptop.
my C key came off after first week, and they won't replace it, in romania.
they suggested i should buy a new keyboard for ~100euros.

they said it's physical damage and the warranty dosen't cover this.

my problem is that i can't find anywhere a key for this model, for VPC-EA series.
does anyone know with what other keyboards is this one compatible?
the guys at sony coulnd't give me even the model number, part number, or something to search for, and they didn't tell me if there is another model with the same keyboard.
it's really annoying!

 

The other option is to contact the retailer (sonystyle or whoever it was). Tell them that the unit is defective and sony is refusing to repair it. You should be able to get a full refund through them.

 

what's the keyboard replacement part number to look for in case of VPC-Z1?
My ESC key popped off, I have noticed the tiny plastic arm is broken. I still have all the tiny parts so I might try to glue and push back in.

When searching for replacement key on eBay, what do I look for? What other Sony laptops have the same keys as VPC-Z1?