Thread: Harvey Norman 2 for 1 laptop deal

Originally Posted by BMKal

Don't know why the negativity about Acer. The one I'm typing this on is over a year old now and has never missed a beat. The Mrs has one almost as old as mine, and never a problem with that one either.

We both have larger laptops, both better known brands, but wanted something smaller for travelling, so both have Acer netbooks. Because of my job, I hardly ever use the larger laptop any more, and this little thing gets used almost every day - and is constantly getting banged about in carry-on luggage.

So far (touch wood), I've had a better run out of this little thing than I've had out of some of the supposedly "reputable" brands. I got it cheap - on special at Office National - bundled with a carry bag (which I never use) and an external DVD read/write drive that we use fairly often. I make a habit of working off external hard drives, which I back up regularly. If the netbook dies, I'll throw it in the bin and buy another next time they're "on special".

I guess it is a lot like cars. If someone that was considering buying a LR looked at this forum, they would probably be scared off.

My issue with Acer, and it is only my own observation, started when the in-laws bought an Acer laptop. 3 months out of warranty, and the hard-drive fails big time.

Now, I didn't expect a new hard-drive, not at all. But, as pc's these days no longer ship with ANY operating system discs, I couldn't load Windows back on, as I didn't have a copy.

I rang Acer, and explained the situation to them, and asked if they could forward a copy of the OS disc. I already had the product codes etc, but just needed the disc.

Basically, I was told in no uncertain terms, that it was their responsibility to make a full backup when they purchased the machine. Acer refused to assist in any way. I even offered to purchase the disc, but was told that it wasn't possible.

Now, I accept that yes they should have made a back-up, but they are grand-parents, not overly computer literate, and were just happy that they managed to un-pack & set it up themselves.

In the end, I rang Microsoft, explained the situation to them, and they were able to assist. They mailed me a copy of the disc, free of charge. As I said, I already had the product code, but couldn't get a copy of the program.

Over the next 12 months or so, there were other, unrelated issues with this machine, as well as 2 other machines of the same brand, owned by friends.

So, basically, I have had enough of them. I dont expect something for nothing, but good old fashioned customer service does go a long way.

And I know my own little silent protest about one company or another is never going to affect their bottom line, but if a company can't support their customers, well, I have trouble supporting them.

Yep .............. I get where you're coming from. I previously had an almost identical experience ............ with a Compaq.

I think these days it's more about where you buy your laptop from rather than the brand you buy. If you buy your computer from Hardly Normal or Office Works (which we all do because it's cheaper ), you really can't expect any reasonable level of support when something goes wrong. Most of the sales people they employ don't know the first thing about the products that they are selling to start with.

But if you buy your computer from the small local computer store, small business or family owned, and you have a problem - you are much more likely to find the support that you need to get it fixed. In most cases, the bloke behind the small business has started up on his own because he knows a bit about computers, and probably makes more money providing technical services to other businesses etc than he does in selling computers - whereas the likes of Harvey make their money from bulk-buying at the cheapest possible price, and flogging as many as they can to the pulic. Service is not big in their business planning.

In my opinion, the brand name on the computer has little to do with the issue. I've had more problems over the years with the so called "recognized" brands than I've had with the newer "cheapies" on the block ............. but that's just my experience - everyone will have their own.

i was never a fan of acer but i am even less a fan of toshiba in the cheaper range of products.

as for no support from acer, my experience is the exact opposite, the service i have gotten from acer makes toshiba service look like the amateur hour.

i still dont like all the crap acer install on machines but i would rather that than the manufacture you see on a lot of toshiba laptops.

toshiba service must be way better down south than they are up here going by all the glowing reports in here.

last week alone we had 4 in with crook hingeing, screen cost $65 bucks and the surrounds up to $175... how does that work?

but not as bad as in the old days when toshiba wanted $390 for a floppy drive

I won't tell the Mrs that Dave. She's sitting next to me at the moment with her Acer running her e-mail and gossip programs, while she is doing her business accounts on her Toshiba.

Originally Posted by DT-P38

You are entitled to your opinion Tombie.

Its just a shame you're not prepared to express it here so we can explore and dissect it. In a previous life I spent nearly 20 years in the Retail Industry, so you might be able to teach me a few more things.

To be honest, I am not sure though... just one look at your "family offensive" avatar tells me I am not likely to see much sense in much of what you say. I'm not a fan of those stickers either, but that twist on it is a bit too close to home for myself with a Mrs and 3 kids.

Based on that picture I think that if I caught you at the wrong time, you might want to harm my family... is there another point to it that I might actually be missing?

Dave.

P.S. I actually meant individually you will not regret it. Collectively (as a people and a Nation) I reckon we have a mass of issues to work through in regards to the quality and competitiveness in local manufacturing and retail big business. What I see is that big retailers are mostly similar to politicians at the moment... a group of greedy "cream croppers" sitting up top bleeding their industry/country dry in the name of profits. More truely, with only their own intents and purposes at heart and not a fair output for the little guy (their customers/voters).

i personally wouldn't bother trying to explain to you as you obviously have a preconceived decision that would be not swayed with any amount of facts, so its would be a pointless discussion, but keep on talking to yourself if that thrills you :P
but i will try, quickly, try and keep up.
what do you think is going to happen to online pricing as soon as all the retails shops close down due to no customers ?
hmm let me propose that due to lack of real world competition the prices will go up, after all they are still businesses and isnt the idea of a business to make profit, and if you have no competition left can't you set your own prices?
i guarantee you everyone going to online buying is one of the worst things that could ever happen to an economy, you are immediately going to be sending all the profits overseas, nothing left for the local economy, 10's of thousands of local jobs gone, oh and all the retail investment properties - gone so the property market will crash, i could go on, but as i said no point, but hey, up to you if you only care about yourself and not the economy or the country

just be interesting to see you organising your next landrover direct from england, i am really interested how thats going to turn out for you

wow, that came across way more patronising and agressive than intended, , please no offense intended, but i find it difficult to emote in words without sounding bitchy when i re read it.

Originally Posted by incisor

i was never a fan of acer but i am even less a fan of toshiba in the cheaper range of products.

as for no support from acer, my experience is the exact opposite, the service i have gotten from acer makes toshiba service look like the amateur hour.

i still dont like all the crap acer install on machines but i would rather that than the manufacture you see on a lot of toshiba laptops.

toshiba service must be way better down south than they are up here going by all the glowing reports in here.

last week alone we had 4 in with crook hingeing, screen cost $65 bucks and the surrounds up to $175... how does that work?

but not as bad as in the old days when toshiba wanted $390 for a floppy drive

By the sounds of it, your line of work is pretty much exactly the business I had before I left the UK, Inc. There were a few laptop brands that I used to rub my hands together when I was given them to fix:

• Dell - easy fix, easy to get parts. Easy money.
• HP/Compaq - easy fix, almost as easy as Dell to get parts
• Toshiba - bit of a pain to get parts, and normally a design fault of some sort prevented an easy fix
• Cheapo clones (Packard Bell, eMachines, Advent), generally advised to chuck in the bin rather than repair (apart from one glorious money maker!)
• Acer - parts rarer than rocking horse ****, but a 10 minute fix once you'd spent 10 days on the phone trying to find the parts.

Oh those were the days of working 90 hour weeks......

Originally Posted by BMKal

But if you buy your computer from the small local computer store, small business or family owned, and you have a problem - you are much more likely to find the support that you need to get it fixed.

Agree wholeheartedly, we are fortunate to have a computer boffin who has a little local shop, lives in the area, and his children go to school locally.Nothing is too much trouble for him, he does house visits, doesn't charge like a wounded bull, and if not too busy will let you into his little workshop area and explain what he is doing. Needless to say, he is a very busy man. [good bloke as well] Bob