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Laptop from Soundstore

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  • 24-05-2010 4:29pm
    #1
    Declan Carey
    Closed Accounts Posts: 105 ✭✭


    Bought a Laptop in Soundstore at Christmas.

    But now it won't charge / turn on. I reckon the battery is dead and the lead for charging it is broke so I can't turn it on.

    What are my rights here? Am I entitled to a full refund, or are they obliged to repair / swap it for another?


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    #2
    RangeR
    Registered Users Posts: 7,265 ✭✭✭RangeR


    Declan Carey wrote: »
    Bought a Laptop in Soundstore at Christmas.

    But now it won't charge / turn on. I reckon the battery is dead and the lead for charging it is broke so I can't turn it on.

    What are my rights here? Am I entitled to a full refund, or are they obliged to repair / swap it for another?

    Repair, Replacement or Refund. The choice is not up to you or the shop but try to come to some agreement. If no agreement can be found, you will either have to walk away or go to court [small claims]


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    #3
    Declan Carey
    Closed Accounts Posts: 105 ✭✭Declan Carey


    RangeR wrote: »
    Repair, Replacement or Refund. The choice is not up to you or the shop but try to come to some agreement. If no agreement can be found, you will either have to walk away or go to court [small claims]
    Thanks for the help. Will be paying them a visit tomorrow.


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    #4
    TheDriver
    Registered Users Posts: 12,516 ✭✭✭✭TheDriver


    batteries generally only have 6 month warrenties and be careful with the broken lead, they might tell you the battery can't last forever and you broke the lead yourself. But try them out anyways


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    #5
    RangeR
    Registered Users Posts: 7,265 ✭✭✭RangeR


    TheDriver wrote: »
    batteries generally only have 6 month warrenties and be careful with the broken lead, they might tell you the battery can't last forever and you broke the lead yourself. But try them out anyways

    BS. A computer was purchased [not a battery]. It should last for up to 6 years, under Irish law. It's the time frame [up to 6 years] that is as question. Only a court can specify that.


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    #6
    Declan Carey
    Closed Accounts Posts: 105 ✭✭Declan Carey


    RangeR wrote: »
    BS. A computer was purchased [not a battery]. It should last for up to 6 years, under Irish law. It's the time frame [up to 6 years] that is as question. Only a court can specify that.
    I don't think its the battery.

    When I take out the battery and just plug in the laptop normally, it still doesn't turn on.

    I won't be leaving the store tomorrow without some kind of resolution anyway!


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    #7
    Cabaal
    Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators, Regional South East Moderators Posts: 28,497 Mod ✭✭✭✭Cabaal


    Declan Carey wrote: »
    I don't think its the battery.

    When I take out the battery and just plug in the laptop normally, it still doesn't turn on.

    I won't be leaving the store tomorrow without some kind of resolution anyway!

    You mentioned in the first post that the power lead is broken, how did it break?


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    #8
    dudara
    Registered Users Posts: 33,518 ✭✭✭✭dudara


    RangeR wrote: »
    BS. A computer was purchased [not a battery]. It should last for up to 6 years, under Irish law. It's the time frame [up to 6 years] that is as question. Only a court can specify that.


    It should last a reasonable amount of time - the definition of reasonable depends on the product in question. You have up to 6 years to seek redress - not 6 years of product lifetime.


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    #9
    Declan Carey
    Closed Accounts Posts: 105 ✭✭Declan Carey


    Cabaal wrote: »
    You mentioned in the first post that the power lead is broken, how did it break?
    I've since checked the lead on a neighbours laptop, and it's working perfectly.

    I assume now its the plates or connector inside the laptop where one would plug in the lead.

    It was working perfectly last night, plugged it in this morning and no joy.


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    #10
    MunsterCycling
    Registered Users Posts: 4,864 ✭✭✭MunsterCycling


    TBH that has all the signs of a machine that has had a hard life, I'd prob tell you "See you in Court"


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    #11
    sunnysoutheast
    Registered Users Posts: 2,072 ✭✭✭sunnysoutheast


    Declan Carey wrote: »
    I've since checked the lead on a neighbours laptop, and it's working perfectly.

    I assume now its the plates or connector inside the laptop where one would plug in the lead.

    It was working perfectly last night, plugged it in this morning and no joy.

    Is it completely dead, or is it just that Windows won't start? Have you tried your neighbour's power lead (if they are compatible)?

    My approach, given that it's only five months old and presumably under retailer warranty (and assuming that there are no obvious signs of external damage) would be to go in at a quiet time and calmly explain the situation, stressing that having a computer is vital. I'd be surprised if you weren't offered a replacement if there is one in stock as I've found Soundstore very reasonable on the one occasion I've had to return something. I think it's unlikely you'll be offered a refund (and you have no right to insist on one) and I think it's reasonable to ask for more than a repair on a 5 month old computer.

    Let us know how you get on.

    SSE


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    #12
    Declan Carey
    Closed Accounts Posts: 105 ✭✭Declan Carey


    MunsterCycling wrote: »
    TBH that has all the signs of a machine that has had a hard life, I'd prob tell you "See you in Court"
    It's in (well was) perfect condition, and was always used on a desk and never flung around the place. There isn't a mark on it.
    sunnysoutheast wrote: »
    Is it completely dead, or is it just that Windows won't start? Have you tried your neighbour's power lead (if they are compatible)?

    My approach, given that it's only five months old and presumably under retailer warranty (and assuming that there are no obvious signs of external damage) would be to go in at a quiet time and calmly explain the situation, stressing that having a computer is vital. I'd be surprised if you weren't offered a replacement if there is one in stock as I've found Soundstore very reasonable on the one occasion I've had to return something. I think it's unlikely you'll be offered a refund (and you have no right to insist on one) and I think it's reasonable to ask for more than a repair on a 5 month old computer.

    Let us know how you get on.

    SSE
    Its as dead as a doornail. Tried neighbours lead (he has exact same laptop) and his doesnt work. There's just an orange light on the front blinking (which doesn't happen on his one when it's off). I'm guessing the blinking orange light is some "charging error" light. The battery is also fine, tried it in mate's computer. Definitely something to do with where I plug the lead in I reckon.


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    #13
    TheDriver
    Registered Users Posts: 12,516 ✭✭✭✭TheDriver


    RangeR wrote: »
    BS. A computer was purchased [not a battery]. It should last for up to 6 years, under Irish law. It's the time frame [up to 6 years] that is as question. Only a court can specify that.

    Dell striked up this a while back because people plug in their laptops all day every day ruining their battery very quickly. Battery technology at the budget market isn't great and they need to be treated properly so batteries would have a reasonable lifespan of much less than 6 years. e.g. rechargeable batteries can only be recharged couple of hundred times yet a laptop docked all day is constantly charging and hence burns a memory effect very very quickly. Sorry OP, I know off topic. Good luck tomorrow as sounds like you are very careful with everything.


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    #14
    sunnysoutheast
    Registered Users Posts: 2,072 ✭✭✭sunnysoutheast


    Declan Carey wrote: »
    It's in (well was) perfect condition, and was always used on a desk and never flung around the place. There isn't a mark on it.


    Its as dead as a doornail. Tried neighbours lead (he has exact same laptop) and his doesnt work. There's just an orange light on the front blinking (which doesn't happen on his one when it's off). I'm guessing the blinking orange light is some "charging error" light. The battery is also fine, tried it in mate's computer. Definitely something to do with where I plug the lead in I reckon.

    Yeah, looks fairly terminal. The laptop I have (Lenovo - best brand ever!) glows Orange and flashes just before the battery dies.

    I'd go into Soundstore and explain it to them, I'd say you'd get a replacement TBH given it's only 5 months, they were fine with me (not a computer). I'd ignore all the "stand up for your rights, wait until there's a big crowd, make a show of them" talk you may get or have seen on threads on similar topics, but it's up to you how you approach things. Good luck!

    SSE


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    #15
    sunnysoutheast
    Registered Users Posts: 2,072 ✭✭✭sunnysoutheast


    TheDriver wrote: »
    Dell striked up this a while back because people plug in their laptops all day every day ruining their battery very quickly. Battery technology at the budget market isn't great and they need to be treated properly so batteries would have a reasonable lifespan of much less than 6 years. e.g. rechargeable batteries can only be recharged couple of hundred times yet a laptop docked all day is constantly charging and hence burns a memory effect very very quickly. Sorry OP, I know off topic. Good luck tomorrow as sounds like you are very careful with everything.

    Most modern batteries should be Li-Ion which don't suffer from the memory effect. Ni-Cd (ancient) and Ni-MH (medieval) do.

    SSE


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    #16
    keithclancy
    Registered Users Posts: 9,208 ✭✭✭keithclancy


    RangeR wrote: »
    BS. A computer was purchased [not a battery]. It should last for up to 6 years, under Irish law. It's the time frame [up to 6 years] that is as question. Only a court can specify that.

    A battery is a consumable item with a finite amount of charges.

    Just like a car, the consumables such as filters, tyres, brake pads are not covered by the warranty.


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