Store told me yes, and I mentioned that I couldn't try the display model because it required admin access to do so (Install directx and visual c that some games need). But their policy online says unopened, unused, original packaging. So I'm a bit confused. There are so many acer aspire variations that it's basically impossible to look up benchmarks and go "Yeah it should be good".
Can You Really Return a Used Laptop to Officeworks? (Not Suited for Purpose)
bluejeans on 08/03/2025 - 19:57
Comments
You wanted to install direct x and visual c on their store demo laptop?
FFS.
On the phone they said I'm welcome to try out my programs and games, now it's reasonable to assume that you would need to install prerequisites for some of them, as you would on any pc. I don't know about you but I can't afford to pay $700 and just go "Oh well, too bad, maybe I can flip it to get half my money back".
Cash converters always let me do it until a change in management.
I don't know about you but I can't afford to pay $700 and just go "Oh well, too bad, maybe I can flip it to get half my money back".
Then maybe don't buy a $700 laptop?
Just a thought.So how do I buy anything, ever? Everything I own has been tested before purchase, apart from the stuff that'll either work or not work to the point where consumer law kicks in.
Everything I own has been tested before purchase
That's what a showroom is for.
Man internet shopping must be hard.
Maybe they are terrible at reading laptop specs…
I agree. FFS & SMH.
How hard is it to cross reference the specs with what the games require? Also, acer sucks.
Few games list the igpu equivalent for their specs. The one benchmark list I came across that compares igpus to normal video cards, is treated like a productivity benchmark, it has little relevance to gaming performance.
What games are you trying to play with an igpu?
Can it play Crysis?
Probably because igpus aren't for playing games, you need something with a dedicated card unless you are playing old stuff. That's why there is no igpu in the compatibility list.
I am going to go with this. Your chance of getting a refund are close to slim
If you are serious about PC games then you buy a dedicated gaming computer
Not a "general purpose" laptop.
Not suited for purpose may come under Australian consumer law if they *the salesperson) told you that it could do something that it cannot. In your dscription, sounds like you have just changed your mind.
Search the screen for a dead pixel or something.I don't have it yet. My decision to purchase it depends entirely on whether it can be returned.
Simple. Ask them if the battery will last for the day at school. They'll say yes. If it's a gaming laptop, it won't. There is your "out" for Australian Consumer Law.
That'll end up being a he said she said argument.
Record the conversation.
Sounds like a gamble, headache, and a waste of time.
A $700 laptop is not going to run much in terms of pleasant gaming in general, few games will be the exception.
Just let us know the game and we can tell you yes or no because games are usually either very light or very heavy.
I don't have it yet. My decision to purchase it depends entirely on whether it can be returned.
FFS don't buy it then.
this seems like an I didnt do my research properly before purchasing
OP hasn't purchased yet. They want to buy, test its real life performance and then return if it doesn't meet their expectations. lol. FFS². The entitlement here is unbelievable. That's why the specs are printed on the box or website and programs/games list minimum and recommended specs. FFS.
And look where they are now. A dodgy subset of kogan.
How did your PS5 return go?
@MS Paint: I ended up keeping it, I was going to have a friend buy it while i was done with it but they wanted to do it on a payment plan! Mainly keeping it because you just know that gta 6 won't be on pc at the same time as console. Also, most system requirements do not take laptops into account. You don't know what you're talking about, you just want to drag me through the mud without acknowledging the flaws in your claims.
You don't know what you're talking about
As the owner and user of a gaming laptop and desktop (which I built) I think I have a fair idea but you do you.
If your budget for a "gaming laptop" is $700 you are going to have to keep your expectations low. The experience will be very average at best.
@MS Paint: No, my point is that the cpu side of things in the requirements are misleading. You can run Starfield surprisingly well on an old 4c/8t cpu - certainly well enough to be the minimum. Also a modern 4c/4t cpu is going to be faster than an 8 year old 4c/8t.
wow.
WOW
Cool, now it bothers you, too, I'll have another $700 to get a better laptop!
Dell offer free returns if it’s within 14 days
It’s written on their site
Don’t risk it with a dodgy salesperson’s word for it
100000% no.
NGL you're every retailer's worst nightmare.
Maybe do your due diligence/research before inconveniencing some poor retail assistant who's just trying to get by on minimum wage.
Else if price is an issue just buy off marketplace. I picked up my Asus TUF for 75% less than retail knowing full well it could play every game under the sun.
Harvey norman let me test the tv first. I didn't get that tv immediately but when I did, I made sure that the person allowing the test got the commission. I've had no issues with officeworks with things up to about $200… all opened and used but very neat and indistinguishable from being new, apart from my declaration that I had used it and found out it was unsuitable. No retailer ever kicked me out for returning something that had been used.
People in the second hand market can not like you testing first, either. Guy with an ancient monitor said it was insulting to him for me to want to test it. He hadn't turned it on in 15 years, that was the issue, I wasn't treating him like a liar as he thought.
I think you may need to take a look at yourself and manage your expectations.
Oh sure, I'll just go around spending thousands of dollars on things that have a 20% chance of being of use! Like I said to someone else - if you're so triggered about someone on the internet wanting to return a laptop that has been used, you're welcome to buy it for me and that'll solve your issue with me and my issue with the return.
@bluejeans: It's like you don't want to take accountability for your decisions and would prefer to go through life thinking your actions have zero ramifications.
@Drakesy: If I buy this without testing and it's not suitable, there's nobody to blame except myself - accountability. Making an uninformed purchasing decision is not taking accountability.
Making an uninformed purchasing decision is not taking accountability.
Which by not doing your due diligence before buying is literally it.
If i buy a car, take it home and realise that the fuel consumption is higher than expected and acceleration slower that i thought that's on me.
If i buy a car and i can't fit my bike in the back, that's on me
if i buy a Toyota Rav4 and realise after the fact that i can't put roof racks on it to carry my kayak, thats on me IYKYK.No takesies backsies.
Officeworks (and most other retailers {Good Guys, HN, etc.}) won't allow such a return or agree to your terms in writing.
Go buy and Apple if you want to try hardware, and then return it afterwards within their allowable timeframe.
$700 budget won't go far on an apple "gaming" laptop.
Lenovo might let you return if you're not happy with the laptop - you'd need to check their Australian return conditions.
I think you need to do the legwork of identifying the minimum graphics card needed the play the games you like by reading forum posts. Then check the benchmark of the laptop's GPU is higher than the minimum GPU you've identified. And don't go less than an i5 CPU. It's a massive hassle and it's time consuming, but everyone does it if they don't want to buy top of the line.
Surely this is what Reddit for (asking obscure question and actually getting a real answer).
It probably makes sense to you that 'oh it's just harmless software' you're installing, but a) the salesperson has absolutely NFI what you're doing, and b) even if they did, they couldn't make sure they could restore it back to original without re-imaging it back to stock which takes time and who knows if that store even has someone who can do that.
It's like walking into a car dealer and asking if you can, dunno, see if this bottle of engine oil you brought in runs in their car well.
Would you like it if you were trying to sell a computer on gumtree, and a potential buyer had to install something on it first to see if it went alright? What if every potential buy wanted to do that…not a policy you want to keep up, yeah?
Seriously - there's probably subreddit for that line of laptops.
Dick Smith let me take a laptop back once.
OP, the real question you should be asking is this one:
If another person such as yourself bought this laptop from Officeworks, tested the crap out of it, didn't like it, and somehow managed to return it back to Officeworks, would you then buy such a laptop (with no mark down in price)?
Lets see if you can answer this question honestly.
Best question.
Everything’s pointing to No except for that one dude.
If you are going ahead then ask for it in writing first.