| Author |
Message |
catboy
Guest
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 Posted:
Mon Oct 31, 2005 9:38 pm Post subject:
Fujitsu Siemens - my experience |
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Firstly I apologise for what I am sure is just another rant on the
internet, but I felt that should anyone considering a new laptop be
looking for information, then this might just be of assistance.
Late 2004 I bought a Fujitsu Siemens laptop computer for slightly over
£1000 (Amilo D1845), which as a travel photographer seemed to suit my
needs. Well apart from a very buggy system which never seemed to work
entirely properly, a few months later, whilst shooting in America
(where i work regularly for extended periods of time), the battery died
(after maybe two months of light use). I also had various other
problems, so I called the customer service department, who informed me
that my warranty was only valid in the UK. So, as I was due to return
to the UK six weeks later for a short period, I struggled on without
the option of using a battery. Upon my return to the UK I returned the
machine for repair where a new battery and a new motherboard was
supplied.
This lasted for about 2 and a half months. I am now back in the US
with another faulty battery and left in the situation of trying to deal
with one of the worst customer service operations I have ever had the
misfortune of dealing with (perhaps with the exception of Cingular!)
Firstly I spoke with Barry Maybell, who seemed to take great glee from
the situation that he would not help me because my warranty was not
global (think laptop, think portable!!!), despite the fact that the
problem was a reoccurence of a supposedly remedied repair. I then asked
to speak to his supervisor, Paul Crisp, who was an arrrogant little
desk jockey who does not seem to understand the basic concepts of
customer service, and seemed completely smug and satisfied with the
predicament that his company had left me in, and who refused to letme
speak to his manager as "this is what i get paid for".
I am now in the US, unable to use my laptop without a mains connection,
which is going to cause me a great deal of problems over the next four
months, until I return to the UK, and then there will be no easy remedy
to the problem as the warranty will have expired.
Anyway the moral of my story is, if you are thinking of buying a laptop
computer, then think very carefully and DO NOT BUY ANYTHING FROM
FUJITSU SIEMENS. If you do, I hope you do not have any of the
experiences that I have had with them. |
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John Doue
Guest
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| Posted:
Mon Oct 31, 2005 9:53 pm Post subject:
Re: Fujitsu Siemens - my experience |
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catboy wrote:
| Quote: | Firstly I apologise for what I am sure is just another rant on the
internet, but I felt that should anyone considering a new laptop be
looking for information, then this might just be of assistance.
Late 2004 I bought a Fujitsu Siemens laptop computer for slightly over
£1000 (Amilo D1845), which as a travel photographer seemed to suit my
needs. Well apart from a very buggy system which never seemed to work
entirely properly, a few months later, whilst shooting in America
(where i work regularly for extended periods of time), the battery died
(after maybe two months of light use). I also had various other
problems, so I called the customer service department, who informed me
that my warranty was only valid in the UK. So, as I was due to return
to the UK six weeks later for a short period, I struggled on without
the option of using a battery. Upon my return to the UK I returned the
machine for repair where a new battery and a new motherboard was
supplied.
This lasted for about 2 and a half months. I am now back in the US
with another faulty battery and left in the situation of trying to deal
with one of the worst customer service operations I have ever had the
misfortune of dealing with (perhaps with the exception of Cingular!)
Firstly I spoke with Barry Maybell, who seemed to take great glee from
the situation that he would not help me because my warranty was not
global (think laptop, think portable!!!), despite the fact that the
problem was a reoccurence of a supposedly remedied repair. I then asked
to speak to his supervisor, Paul Crisp, who was an arrrogant little
desk jockey who does not seem to understand the basic concepts of
customer service, and seemed completely smug and satisfied with the
predicament that his company had left me in, and who refused to letme
speak to his manager as "this is what i get paid for".
I am now in the US, unable to use my laptop without a mains connection,
which is going to cause me a great deal of problems over the next four
months, until I return to the UK, and then there will be no easy remedy
to the problem as the warranty will have expired.
Anyway the moral of my story is, if you are thinking of buying a laptop
computer, then think very carefully and DO NOT BUY ANYTHING FROM
FUJITSU SIEMENS. If you do, I hope you do not have any of the
experiences that I have had with them.
Well, I sympathize with your experience. Did you try contacting the UK |
tech support while in the US to try and see if they might help you out?
It is vital that you let them know the situation (preferably in writing)
to preempt "your warranty is expired" problem.
--
John Doue |
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bxf
Guest
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| Posted:
Mon Oct 31, 2005 11:12 pm Post subject:
Re: Fujitsu Siemens - my experience |
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catboy wrote:
| Quote: | Firstly I apologise for what I am sure is just another rant on the
internet, but I felt that should anyone considering a new laptop be
looking for information, then this might just be of assistance.
Late 2004 I bought a Fujitsu Siemens laptop computer for slightly over
£1000 (Amilo D1845), which as a travel photographer seemed to suit my
needs. Well apart from a very buggy system which never seemed to work
entirely properly, a few months later, whilst shooting in America
(where i work regularly for extended periods of time), the battery died
(after maybe two months of light use). I also had various other
problems, so I called the customer service department, who informed me
that my warranty was only valid in the UK. So, as I was due to return
to the UK six weeks later for a short period, I struggled on without
the option of using a battery. Upon my return to the UK I returned the
machine for repair where a new battery and a new motherboard was
supplied.
This lasted for about 2 and a half months. I am now back in the US
with another faulty battery and left in the situation of trying to deal
with one of the worst customer service operations I have ever had the
misfortune of dealing with (perhaps with the exception of Cingular!)
Firstly I spoke with Barry Maybell, who seemed to take great glee from
the situation that he would not help me because my warranty was not
global (think laptop, think portable!!!), despite the fact that the
problem was a reoccurence of a supposedly remedied repair. I then asked
to speak to his supervisor, Paul Crisp, who was an arrrogant little
desk jockey who does not seem to understand the basic concepts of
customer service, and seemed completely smug and satisfied with the
predicament that his company had left me in, and who refused to letme
speak to his manager as "this is what i get paid for".
I am now in the US, unable to use my laptop without a mains connection,
which is going to cause me a great deal of problems over the next four
months, until I return to the UK, and then there will be no easy remedy
to the problem as the warranty will have expired.
Anyway the moral of my story is, if you are thinking of buying a laptop
computer, then think very carefully and DO NOT BUY ANYTHING FROM
FUJITSU SIEMENS. If you do, I hope you do not have any of the
experiences that I have had with them.
|
Sorry for your problems, but I don't think it would have been
unreasonable on your part to enquire, at the time of purchase, whether
or not the laptop carries an international warranty, especially since
you obviously depend on one. I'm not sure why you are blaming the US
branch for failing to provide a service that, according to the terms of
the warranty, they are not expected to provide.
Finally, I know batteries are not cheap, but perhaps it would have been
worth your while to buy another one while in the US. At least you would
have the benefit of the two batteries in the future, and this could
prove useful. |
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John Doue
Guest
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| Posted:
Mon Oct 31, 2005 11:22 pm Post subject:
Re: Fujitsu Siemens - my experience |
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bxf wrote:
| Quote: | catboy wrote:
Firstly I apologise for what I am sure is just another rant on the
internet, but I felt that should anyone considering a new laptop be
looking for information, then this might just be of assistance.
Late 2004 I bought a Fujitsu Siemens laptop computer for slightly over
£1000 (Amilo D1845), which as a travel photographer seemed to suit my
needs. Well apart from a very buggy system which never seemed to work
entirely properly, a few months later, whilst shooting in America
(where i work regularly for extended periods of time), the battery died
(after maybe two months of light use). I also had various other
problems, so I called the customer service department, who informed me
that my warranty was only valid in the UK. So, as I was due to return
to the UK six weeks later for a short period, I struggled on without
the option of using a battery. Upon my return to the UK I returned the
machine for repair where a new battery and a new motherboard was
supplied.
This lasted for about 2 and a half months. I am now back in the US
with another faulty battery and left in the situation of trying to deal
with one of the worst customer service operations I have ever had the
misfortune of dealing with (perhaps with the exception of Cingular!)
Firstly I spoke with Barry Maybell, who seemed to take great glee from
the situation that he would not help me because my warranty was not
global (think laptop, think portable!!!), despite the fact that the
problem was a reoccurence of a supposedly remedied repair. I then asked
to speak to his supervisor, Paul Crisp, who was an arrrogant little
desk jockey who does not seem to understand the basic concepts of
customer service, and seemed completely smug and satisfied with the
predicament that his company had left me in, and who refused to letme
speak to his manager as "this is what i get paid for".
I am now in the US, unable to use my laptop without a mains connection,
which is going to cause me a great deal of problems over the next four
months, until I return to the UK, and then there will be no easy remedy
to the problem as the warranty will have expired.
Anyway the moral of my story is, if you are thinking of buying a laptop
computer, then think very carefully and DO NOT BUY ANYTHING FROM
FUJITSU SIEMENS. If you do, I hope you do not have any of the
experiences that I have had with them.
Sorry for your problems, but I don't think it would have been
unreasonable on your part to enquire, at the time of purchase, whether
or not the laptop carries an international warranty, especially since
you obviously depend on one. I'm not sure why you are blaming the US
branch for failing to provide a service that, according to the terms of
the warranty, they are not expected to provide.
Finally, I know batteries are not cheap, but perhaps it would have been
worth your while to buy another one while in the US. At least you would
have the benefit of the two batteries in the future, and this could
prove useful.
I tend to agree, especially since the OP mentionned he had a |
professional need for his machine. Personally, I would have bought a
laptop in the US to take advantage of the price difference and shipped
back the Fujitsu for repair in the Uk. Having a spare machine when you
need it for your business is no wasted money.
--
John Doue |
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catboy
Guest
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| Posted:
Tue Nov 01, 2005 4:06 am Post subject:
Re: Fujitsu Siemens - my experience |
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Well, yes buying in the US and / or a spare battery would have been
nice, but fujitsu siemens are not in the US marketplace (to my
knowledge), and it was the UK "customer service" agents I talked to.
They were astronomically unhelpful. A spare battery would of course be
the answer, but thus far I have had two batteries both of which lasted
less than three months: faulty battery or faulty machine? I don't know.
And yes another laptop would be the answer but it would cost me another
$1500 for the spec of machine I would require, and I am on a very low
self-employed income.
Also, at the time of purchase I was working in the UK and did not
foresee my transfer to the US. But to be honest, it never even occurred
to me that I would need an international warranty.
What appalls me though is Fujitsu Siemens complete lack of interest in
trying to help me, particularly as this is a reoccurrence of a problem
supposedly fixed less than three months ago. New batteries are £111
($200) and I have no reassurance that this is going to last any more
than the others. |
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Lurking Rat in 'Da Hood®
Guest
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Edward W. Thompson
Guest
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| Posted:
Tue Nov 01, 2005 7:21 am Post subject:
Re: Fujitsu Siemens - my experience |
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On 31 Oct 2005 14:06:19 -0800, "catboy" <rabs@mailcity.com> wrote:
| Quote: | Well, yes buying in the US and / or a spare battery would have been
nice, but fujitsu siemens are not in the US marketplace (to my
knowledge), and it was the UK "customer service" agents I talked to.
They were astronomically unhelpful. A spare battery would of course be
the answer, but thus far I have had two batteries both of which lasted
less than three months: faulty battery or faulty machine? I don't know.
And yes another laptop would be the answer but it would cost me another
$1500 for the spec of machine I would require, and I am on a very low
self-employed income.
Also, at the time of purchase I was working in the UK and did not
foresee my transfer to the US. But to be honest, it never even occurred
to me that I would need an international warranty.
What appalls me though is Fujitsu Siemens complete lack of interest in
trying to help me, particularly as this is a reoccurrence of a problem
supposedly fixed less than three months ago. New batteries are £111
($200) and I have no reassurance that this is going to last any more
than the others.
|
Sounds like time to speak to a solicitor. The machine as you describe
it appears not to be suitable for the purpose for which it was
intended. I hope you have all your experiences recorded. |
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bxf
Guest
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| Posted:
Wed Nov 02, 2005 4:35 pm Post subject:
Re: Fujitsu Siemens - my experience |
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catboy wrote:
| Quote: | New batteries are £111
($200) and I have no reassurance that this is going to last any more
than the others.
|
Incredible. The same rip-off, again. So far, I am aware of 850 Euros to
replace a laptop screen (Toshiba), and now roughly 150 for a battery.
With these two items we've come close to the price of a new laptop. Is
this shit ever going to stop? Probably not as long as we keep on buying
and paying these prices, and often for sub-standard products. |
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catboy
Guest
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| Posted:
Fri Nov 04, 2005 1:22 am Post subject:
Re: Fujitsu Siemens - my experience |
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Thanks to everyone for the input, particularly the link to the US
division of Fujitsu Siemens, who could not have been more helpful.
They have agreed, depite it being a UK only warranty, to repair my
laptop free of charge. Now that is more the level of service that I
would expect from a company manufacturing such an important item as a
laptop. Lets hope the repair works this time.
So, buy in the UK for twice the price and receive half the level of
service, or choose to shop elsewhere. Personally, my experience of FS
in the UK was dismal and something I would not wish upon anyone. |
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