BEWARE of buying from HP

BEWARE of buying form HP

First of all, the quality of the computer I got sucked in exactly the worst way. That thing you always dread happening happened: just a few days after the store’s 90-day money back guarantee expired, the hard drive crashed. Test after test showed it was irreparably defective. And yeah, I’m talking literally less than 2 weeks after the store’s money back guarantee. (I bought the thing 3/13/09 and the hard drive crashed 6/29/09.)

So I try to use HP support to see how to get the warrantee service. After about 2 hours chatting w/ some girl, she determines that I really have a problem that needs fixed. So, I arrange to have a box sent to me so that I can send them my computer. After a few days, the box still isn’t there, so I call back. They didn’t send it because they couldn’t verify my credit card number—in case I take parts off of the laptop to keep or something. . . So when were they going to call and let me know I needed to supply more info.

Anyway, I try again to get a box, and a few days later it comes. So, I ship my computer to them, thinking that it will actually return to me repaired within a couple or few days as they promise. (Shipped it on 7/20/09.) So on 8/3/09, I finally start wondering where the thing has disappeared to, and call in to get some info.

After spending more than FIVE AND A HALF HOURS on the phone with HP waiting for someone to talk with me about when I might get the thing back, they still couldn’t tell me ANYTHING about when I might get my computer back from them. And no, I am NOT exaggerating. I have checked my call log to verify. Call 1: 46 minutes; Call 2: 1 hour 54 minutes (I kid you not); Call 3: I’m on 3 hours 6 minutes and 37 seconds at the moment of this writing. Anyway, the last word I heard is that some case manager (whoever that’s supposed to be) is supposed to get back with me in a day or two. That’s right in 24 to 48 hours, as they articulate it, I should hear from someone about what might be happening with my computer.

In the mean time, wish me luck. . . oh yeah. . . and buyer beware on getting quality products from HP. . . and heaven forbid you get a bum machine. . . you will rue the day you spend 5 hours on the support hotline. Best of luck to you.

p.s. if you can think of any way I can legally make it sting HP for the time it has cost me, let me know before the Christian side of me convinces me not to seek vengeance. ;)