by Jondi Schmitt

Created on: June 17, 2008

The first thing to remember when dealing with the possibility of a warranty swap out is the retailer and/or manufacturer will do everything they can to avoid swapping the product. This is especially the case if the warranty is from the retailer and not the manufacturer.

A few years ago, I purchased a computer from a major electronics retailer. It was a decent laptop computer, not the top of the line but it was well above the low-end laptops the retailer carried. I paid extra for the retailer's 3 year extended warranty.

Within one day, that laptop was malfunctioning. I took it back to the retailer and they confirmed there was a problem, but also told me they didn't have any more of this model in stock. I had to pick a different computer. So, I did. It was not exactly what I wanted, but it was not too bad.

All was well with the computer for a while. But eventually it started malfunctioning. I took it back to the retailer and they had to send it off to their repair center. It had to have the hard drive replaced. Fine. They covered it under my extended warranty, charged me $90 to pull my data off the bad hard drive (I thought that was a little excessive, but whatever) and all was fine.

Several more months went by and the little by little the fan on the computer started making a loud rattling noise. I ignored it for quite a while, but a loud noise isn't good when you try to use a laptop in a classroom or business situation! Eventually, it had to be dealt with. So my computer and I made another visit to the retailer. Again they had to send it off. This time, they kept it for way too long. One week went by...nothing. Two weeks...nothing. Three weeks, I go in and complain. The guy at the retailer tells me he doesn't know what is going on, but says he will call me as soon as he knows anything. Four weeks, nothing. I call, the guy says they have had it there for over a week! WHAT! I go get it, complain that they didn't tell me it was there. Whatever.

A few more months pass by. The fan is doing well. The hard drive is doing well. But lo and behold...the computer still has major issues. It is messing up left and right. So, one more time, we pack up and head to the retailer.

This retailer has a 'no lemon policy.' The policy says if there are three major issues with the item, they replace it. The catch? They replace it if it requires a fourth repair.

So, they send my computer off again. This time is needs a new motherboard. Basically, this when I got it back from this repair...it

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