sony reps idiots or cheaters?

I believe the X200 series docks are the best that ever had. anyway a Z is still better

 

Their website (not directly) says that Canadian service spotty.

Also is there any reputed DIY solutions? Ordering replacement parts online and fixing as necessary - I'm pretty comfortable with that, I fix stuff around the house all the time (TV, Xbox, DVD, etc.)

@MSIQ I agree the Z series are very well built with the specs to boot. But it doesn't support Linux very well (the current Z has proprietary RAID), and it's just soooo expensive .

 

^z's raid works just fine in Linux. Its a pretty standard ICHx raid setup. There's good instructions on the forum here.

 

indeed, it should be fine with Linux - especially when Beaup says so!

 

Oh dear it seems I'm surrounded

 

haha, sorry if it seems offensive
indeed you can do the mod and see how it happens
I am not really a linux user but I do have friends who does that

 

I don't know what became of this, seeing nothing for the past 2 days, but I did want to mention two options you may want to consider if applicable:

1) If you paid by credit card, report the "fraud" to your card company and they are obliged to take the charge off your account as long as you can prove you sent it back to Sony. You will have to pay the shipping charges, but send it slow boat to China method and good riddance! (All bank card cos are different in how they handle these; it's a Federal law that they must take it off your acct if you can make a decent case that they provided inferior goods, but diff banks have diff procedures.

2) If you paid thru PayPal they have even better consumer protections. Can't tell you exactly what they are, but I researched them when I was selling some items and their policies are very pro-consumer.

FWIW, I have now heard more horror stories about Sony than just about any other computer company, even Dell and HP. Are they just a dreadful company that rips off any customer who has a problem with one of their products? It appears as if the only satisfied customers are those who have never had a need for service of any kind. Finally, why do they generally come out in the top half of most of the customer satisfaction surveys if no one has ever reported a remotely positive experience with them in all of NBR??

 

So, today, the Sony rep came over to my house for on-site repair/replacement and replaced my palmrest as well as tightened my hinges. My fan has started to start buzzing, but seeing as he was just a contractor, i didn't want him disassembling my Vaio (he was going to fix a Dell printer after his visit). Image below of my Vaio w/ the new palmrest next to the old one.

 

Consider that people tend to only complain as opposed to praise a company for it's service. People expect great service, so when they receive it, they don't complain, but when they get bad service, they let all hell break loose. Personally, I think if you are persistent and calmly state your reasons, they'll listen (or, just hang up and call again or at another time since Sony reps are varied in their service)

 

Did you get to keep the old piece?

Was it easy to take that piece apart?

 

yep i got to keep the old piece. It wasn't too hard, there's about 4 screws to remove from the keyboard side and then you gotta unhook the connector for the touchpad. Then the palmrest is simply attached by 2 latches to the keyboard. Remove those two and it comes right off.

 

That's nice to know that it's easy to take apart. I don't like how I've dented mine on the right side by holding the computer with one hand pressing my thumb downward where the palmrest is. Since it's not solid, the plastic has pushed in in a few areas. Since I have the glossy palmrests, it's really easy to see the dents in light.

Don't know if I'd want to change it out. It's just nice to know I have the option.

 

I have said/written words similar to yours many a time, and by an large they are true, though I have found companies go through cycles and during their down cycles, you can't buy a break. Dell was like that for all of 2009 so I blacklisted them and may give them a try again soon. HP just broke my tolerance after an 18 month "honeymoon." I am one of those odd ducks who crow about my good experiences on NBR and even write commendation emails in behalf of excellent call center agents. But I know bad when I experience it and if it happens twice in 6 months, the company is gone for me for at least a year.

So with SONY, my newest brand "relationship," I'm loving the products but feeling really nervous in case anything goes wrong. I did manage to escalate a problem today and went from a caricature of a "global" call center agent from hell to an incredibly smart, helpful, apologetic 2nd level, in the Phillipenes, no less. Redeemed, for now. I just wish there were at least a couple of positive Sony stories posted every few months, just to know it can happen.