Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!cs.utexas.edu!usc!apple!vsi1!daver!lynx!vik
From: vik@lynx.uucp (Vikram Sohal)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga
Subject: warrenty repair
Keywords: A500, Warrenty Repair
Message-ID: <7890@lynx.UUCP>
Date: 19 Jul 90 16:52:38 GMT
Reply-To: vik@lynx.UUCP (Vikram Sohal)
Distribution: na
Organization: Lynx Real-Time Systems Inc, Campbell CA
Lines: 40

Recently I took my A500 to "HT Electronics" a local "authorized" dealer 
here in the San Jose area to get it fixed under warrenty. The dealer initially 
told me that they would not fix it even though it was under warrenty and they 
were listed in the Authorized Warrenty Repair Location list that 
Commodore includes with all their hardware products. They claimed that 
they did not have to repair any hardware that was not purchased from 
their store. After a little haggling, they said that they would fix it
but it would take around 2 weeks! because they were going to put me in a queue
behind all their regular customers. They told me to take it back to the place 
I brought it from and that they would fix it. I told them that the warrenty
had said especially not to do that but to bring it to the the nearest
authorized warrenty repair site. Theirs was the first one who's location I
knew how to get to that was listed in the repair location list.  He also added
that it is difficult to get reimbursed from Commodore for warrenty repairs and
that was the main reason for their policy. 

   I find this kind of behavior inexcusable for an "official" dealer and 
I encourage any of you considering doing business with this dealership to
think twice. The only way that we customers can have any kind of effect on this
kind of flim-flam is to let others know. I don't think that they realize that
most of the money that they are going to make is going to be from people 
purchasing perhiperals and software from them, and not from the system units.
In fact, I had already purchased over $500 worth of software and hardware from
these people, but since I did not purchase the actual A500 from them, they 
give me this kind of treatment.

  An interesting side note, as I was arguing with the dealer, a Commodore 
employee listened in and took my side, the dealer seemed to ignore him, even
when the employee offered the dealer a 1-800 number to call to get a 
clarification of policy. I have already filed a dealer complaint with 
Commodore and will hopefully see some kind of action against these guys.

  On a closing note, have any of you had similar problems with Commodore
dealers? how about mail order houses?


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Vic Sohal - vik@lynx.uucp
Lynx Real-Time Systems
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