Friend Got a Laptop - Had Issues out The Box and Things Have Gotten Worse

LRuddaga on 21/01/2021 - 22:18
Last edited 21/01/2021 - 23:06

Hey guys,

Friend of mine got a laptop and 2 days into owning it she noticed the screen started flickering. I advised her to return it but it went away and she argued that it wasn't a big deal and she needed it for work. A month went buy and she noticed it flickering still. She brought it to me to show it to me and when i opened it I noticed a weird small semi circle at the bottom of the screen. I didn't think much of it and gave the laptop back to her. When she opened it at home she sent me a pic and show me that the screen had a crack now going through it from the small semi circle mark (which was actually a crack itself) and going through 1/4 of the laptop screen.

In all honesty if I had to guess, the laptop had this initial weird crack at the bottom (which might have been causing the flickering) and continued opening and shutting of the lid eventually caused it to crack.

She's contacted JB to see if she can get a refund (or store credit) but what to people think her actual chances are?

I realise she probably should've listened and returned it when it was flickering after she opened it but I think that this laptop just came with physical damage on it that got progressively worse.

Here's a pic of the flickering before the crack started appearing - https://ibb.co/SRtk7SZ

Computing Computer Laptop

Comments

  • DashCam AKA Rolts on 21/01/2021 - 22:26
    +5

    It's going to be difficult to claim it was damaged upon receipt, after this period of time, unless there is some clear internal issue due to a manufacturing fault.

    • Ruddaga on 21/01/2021 - 22:30
      +1

      She's got pics of the screen flicker pre screen crack tho. Hoping that counts for something

      • DashCam AKA Rolts on 21/01/2021 - 22:31
        +1

        That screen crack is going to be an issue though.

        • Ruddaga on 21/01/2021 - 22:32

          Yeah I'm aware. I'm annoyed at her for just not taking it back. She hasn't dropped it or thrown anything at the screen. It's literally just cracked from her opening it up…. I'm hoping JB are a bit understanding about it. I've owned laptops which I've actually dropped and they've been ok…. I've heard some horror stories about Razer laptops, but didn't realise things like this.

          • Quantumcat on 21/01/2021 - 22:34
            +2

            @Ruddaga: Hopefully it has something faulty at the hinge which will be clear when they open it up

  • funnysht on 21/01/2021 - 22:39

    your friend needs to get an ozbargain account and post him/herself

    • Ruddaga on 21/01/2021 - 22:41
      +2

      This comment is very useful. Thank you.

      • funnysht on 21/01/2021 - 22:42
        -3

        No problem

    • Quantumcat on 21/01/2021 - 23:22
      +1

      Username does not check out

  • holdenmg on 21/01/2021 - 22:54
    +3

    Sounds like the Laptop has been shut on a Headphone earpiece by the owner after purchase.

    • Ruddaga on 21/01/2021 - 23:01

      The owner doesn't use headphone pieces they have a headset.

    • bazingaa on 21/01/2021 - 23:29
      +1

      something like this happened to me, I slept on the laptop while the charging cable was stuck between the keyboard and the screen.
      when I woke up, the screen was in multiple colours like a lantern. Cost me ~$60 to swap the screen.

  • bazingaa on 21/01/2021 - 23:24

    I noticed a weird small semi circle at the bottom of the screen. I didn't think much of it and gave the laptop back to her. When she opened it at home she sent me a pic and show me that the screen had a crack now going through it from the small semi circle mark

    so, you broke it ?

    • Ruddaga on 21/01/2021 - 23:27

      To reiterate, there was no man handling or dropping or accidental damage to the laptop. The laptop screen just appeared to get damaged from use.

      • bazingaa on 21/01/2021 - 23:34

        https://ibb.co/SRtk7SZ

        by the looks of it, data paths are damaged (does it has a flimsy lid?). did you try to press around the edge and see what happens ( at your own risk) ?
        is it a 1366*768 VN panel? should be a cheap replacement if the damage is not in the motherboard to panel data cable.

        • Ruddaga on 21/01/2021 - 23:35

          I never saw the flicker. It came and went. That's why she didn't return it straight away.

  • AustriaBargain on 21/01/2021 - 23:50

    Are you asking OZB if you owe her a new laptop? If you broke it maybe one of your own insurance policies would replace it.

  • WreckTangle on 22/01/2021 - 10:41

    The retailer is going to say the user broke, the screen at this point. The original flickering photo is irrelevant cos they'll say it was taken after the screen was broken. And since it wasn't returned as DOA it’s going to be be very hard to prove it was already broken

  • holdenmg on 22/01/2021 - 12:05

    Is this a Mac Laptop with Applecare… if so there may be a claim either under Warranty or Accidental Damage.

  • FocusRider on 22/01/2021 - 12:09

    Why don't you wait for her to go back to JB see if she gets a refund or store credit and go from there? What's the point of posting here if she hasn't gone yet?

    • Ruddaga on 22/01/2021 - 19:03

      Yeah she took it in today. See how she goes.

  • Ruddaga on 12/02/2021 - 09:09
    +1

    For those who care, JB agreed to repair it free of charge. Which was awfully good of them. So goes to show all the people who said "yeah no chance" that it never hurts to try.

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