Thank you soo much for this information. Karen ----- Original Message ----- From: Ray and Sue Owen <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Wednesday, August 28, 2002 8:33 PM Subject: Re: [folkschool-list] The incredible shrinking warrantee
> Jon: > > There is a little known law in Maine - an Implied Warranty Law - that makes > purchase of an extended warranty unnecessary. Please see this chapter from > the Maine Attorney General's Consumer Guide ( which I put online for them as > a volunteer when Bucky was in Augusta) > > http://www.state.me.us/ag/clg4.htm > > Everything purchased (both new or used) in Maine is, by Maine law, under > warranty for 4 years, no matter what the warranty that comes with the > article says. If you have trouble convincing a manufacturer or store to > honor this law, the Attorney General's office has a Consumer Division which > will mediate for you. > > This works not only on computers, but anything purchased in Maine (except > used cars). It is a very important law that we are very fortunate to have. > You may notice on warrantees small print which says "Other laws may apply". > Maine has one of those laws. > > Sue Owen > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Jonathan Falk" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Sent: Thursday, August 29, 2002 3:35 PM > Subject: [folkschool-list] The incredible shrinking warrantee > > > > I've noticed that computer makers have been reducing the length of their > > standards warrantees. For instance Dell, which used to offer standard > > 3-year warrantees on all but their cheapest models, now only offers 1-year > > standard for most of their desktops and notebooks. > > > > For desktop computers, I don't think that it's worth it to pay for an > > extended warrantee in most situations. Desktop components are so > > inexpensive and so easy to replace that I think most people are better off > > taking their chances. Also, if a component is defective it is more likely > > to fail in that first year than later. > > > > Laptops are a different story. They are both much more expensive to > repair > > and more likely to need repairs, since they are carried around, banged, > > jostled, etc. In my opinion, it makes sense to get a 3-year warrantee, > > even if it costs a couple of hundred dollars extra. (I don't think longer > > warrantees are worth it, since after 3 years a laptop is getting pretty > > obsolete, anyway.) It also makes a difference what type of warrantee you > > get. he best warrantees are those that guarantees quick on-site > > service. The next best require you to ship the notebook off, but that > > guarantees a 1-day turnaround and overnight shipping. > > > > I had an experience recently with my 2-year old Dell Inspiron 5000 laptop > > that made me feel very lucky to have a good warrantee. On a Saturday > > morning a few months ago, I tried to plug the power cord into the laptop, > > but it didn't want to go in. I took it out and couldn't see anything > > wrong, so I tried again and pushed harder (too hard). It went in with a > > pop, but there was no power going to the laptop, and I discovered that I > > had driven one of the 3 little contact pins in the socket on the laptop > > right into the machine. (Moral #1 - if you're going to work on a weekend, > > make sure you've had enough coffee first.) > > > > After uttering a few carefully chosen phrases, I got on the phone to a > Dell > > support tech, thinking I would need to have the little socket the power > > cord plugs into replaced. The Dell person knew exactly what I was talking > > about, and informed me I would need a new motherboard, since it was all > one > > unit. Since I have a 3-year, on-site next business day warrantee (which > > came standard with my laptop) she arranged to have someone call me Monday, > > and come out to the house on Tuesday. Meanwhile, I had jury-rigged > > something with a cut-off straight pin and a little Scotch tape (don't ask) > > so that I could continue to use the laptop without draining the battery. > > > > The repair tech, who is from Bangor, showed up as promised on Tuesday, and > > he was really good. In a few minutes he had disassembled my laptop into > > many small pieces, and about 5,000 little-bitty screws. An hour and a > half > > later I was back in business, at no cost and only minimal inconvenience. > > There is no way I could have done this job without having parts and screws > > left over when I tried to put it all back together. > > > > I don't know how much this job would have cost without the warrantee, but > > I'm guessing well over $500. (Moral #2 - the good warrantee was a good > idea). > > > > Jon > > > > Jonathan Falk > > Pine Tree Folk School > > RR 2, Box 7162 > > Carmel, ME 04419 > > (207)848-2433 > > <http://www.ptfolkschool.org> > > > > > > > > **Folkschool-list archives are at: > > <http://www.mint.net/folkschool/helpnet/archives.htm> > > Sponsored by Pine Tree Folk School > > > > > > **Folkschool-list archives are at: > <http://www.mint.net/folkschool/helpnet/archives.htm> > Sponsored by Pine Tree Folk School > > > > **Folkschool-list archives are at: <http://www.mint.net/folkschool/helpnet/archives.htm> Sponsored by Pine Tree Folk School ==^================================================================ This email was sent to: [email protected] EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84vzQ.a9gqS3 Or send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^================================================================
