Laptop Hinge Breakage

octave

Member
I beg your pardon because I don't speak English very well. However,
I'm really angry. PCSpecialist is above all the bad service specialist.

Unfortunately, it is now common to have problems with new devices soon after purchase but fortunately, normally, there is the guarantee which allows to exchange or repair the defective model.

But at PCSPecialist, they want to charge me a repair fee for a laptop I bought in September.

I explain to you :

The hinge of the computer, undoubtedly too fragile or badly assembled, was damaged causing inconvenience then preventing the closing of the screen.

I contacted the after sales service explaining the problem and attaching photos. I was offered to return the computer.

Obviously, the hinge being askew, the screen broke when closing the computer despite all the precautions taken to avoid breakage.

I contacted the after sales service to clarify the problem by attaching a photo again. A note was added to the file specifying the screen breakage due to the damaged hinge.

I packed and sent the package. More than ONE MONTH later, on March 17, there are already 12 days, I finally receive an email from PCSpecialist telling me that the repair of the screen is not covered by the warranty on the pretext that it has been broken when packing!

However, I had taken the trouble to mention, supporting photos that the screen was broken BEFORE the packaging because of the damn poorly assembled hinge !!!

I recontact the after sales service who is well aware of the situation, who sympathizes but who is not responsible for the decision and who transmits to his superiors.

It is impossible for me to have telephone contact with a superior who has decision-making power on the pretext that they do not speak French.

So I imagine that there is indeed a problem of translation and understanding on the notion of breakage BEFORE packaging and breakage DUE to a defective element.

So I make a formal complaint on March 23 as PCSpecialist advises to do when you are not satisfied. I explain there once again, as I do in this post, the entire chronology of the case.

To date, I have not received any notice of receipt and even less response to this formal complaint.

My computer has been down for 2 months now. It's just pitiful!
 

ubuysa

The BSOD Doctor
It would appear that you broke the laptop through negligence. It's nonsense to blame the poor construction of the laptop. No warranty covers user negligence.
 

barlew

Godlike
How exactly did the screen break, I.e. what was it about the original hinge fault that caused the screen to break? Have you got any pictures you can show which would help better explain this?
 

octave

Member
I'm sorry. I don't speak english.
I'm trying to explain the best I can the situation. Ubuysa, please read carrefully my post. It wasn't a negligence. The hinge, undoubtedly too fragile or badly assembled, was damaged. The screen broke because of the damaged hinge.
Barlew, I sent photos to the after sales service before sending the laptop.
Here they are.
 

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Deleted member 17413

Guest
I assume the screen was really stiff/firm to move when you first got it?
When did the side of the case/screen pop open like that?
 
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barlew

Godlike
I'm sorry. I don't speak english.
I'm trying to explain the best I can the situation. Ubuysa, please read carrefully my post. It wasn't a negligence. The hinge, undoubtedly too fragile or badly assembled, was damaged. The screen broke because of the damaged hinge.
Barlew, I sent photos to the after sales service before sending the laptop.
Here they are.
I'm still trying to get my head round how the screen broke.

So you noticed the hinge was faulty before the screen broke?
Then you contacted PCS and told them about the hinge?

At what point did the screen break and what action caused it to break (i.e did you close the screen and it just broke?) ?

Did you tell PCS that you were concerned that closing the screen would damage it because of the hinge prior to the screen breaking?
 
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DavidStopher659

New member
My sympathy goes to Octave because:
Essentially the same thing happened to my HP Envy touchsmart about a year after purchase - the hinge mounting failed, the case upper parted from the lower case at the hinge point. This was under normal use, NOT careless use. The loose bits got into the fan, which was not a nice experience. Repaired locally (out of guarantee), but the screen wiring was affected and the screen was never the same after that.
The hinges need to be stiff of course, but the design must suit this requirement. One of the reasons I will not buy another HP laptop.
 

octave

Member
So you noticed the hinge was faulty before the screen broke?
yes
Then you contacted PCS and told them about the hinge?
yes
At what point did the screen break and what action caused it to break (i.e did you close the screen and it just broke?) ?
yes
Did you tell PCS that you were concerned that closing the screen would damage it because of the hinge prior to the screen breaking?
yes

I told PCS that I dared not close the screen because of the damaged hinge. When I tried, the damage got worse.
I had to close the screen to be able to send it to PCS. I closed it as slowly as possible. Despite all my precautions, it broke.
I notified PCS and sent a photo before sending the laptop back.
PCS is on top of it all.
PCS is in bad faith!
For 2 months already!



Thank you for your post DavidStopher659

The hinges need to be stiff of course, but the design must suit this requirement. One of the reasons I will not buy another HP laptop.

One of the reasons I will not buy another PCS laptop!
 

barlew

Godlike
yes

yes

yes

yes

I told PCS that I dared not close the screen because of the damaged hinge. When I tried, the damage got worse.
I had to close the screen to be able to send it to PCS. I closed it as slowly as possible. Despite all my precautions, it broke.
I notified PCS and sent a photo before sending the laptop back.
PCS is on top of it all.
PCS is in bad faith!
For 2 months already!



Thank you for your post DavidStopher659



One of the reasons I will not buy another PCS laptop!
OK so what was PCS response when you told them you were worried about closing the screen because in your opinion it was in danger of becoming damaged?

Did you wait for that response before you tried to close the screen?
 

ubuysa

The BSOD Doctor
I'm sorry. I don't speak english.
I'm trying to explain the best I can the situation. Ubuysa, please read carrefully my post. It wasn't a negligence. The hinge, undoubtedly too fragile or badly assembled, was damaged. The screen broke because of the damaged hinge.
Barlew, I sent photos to the after sales service before sending the laptop.
Here they are.
Are you saying that the hinge was damaged when you first received it from PCS?
 

octave

Member
OK so what was PCS response when you told them you were worried about closing the screen because in your opinion it was in danger of becoming damaged?

Did you wait for that response before you tried to close the screen?
It didn't happen like that.
I told PCS in my first email: The laptop ordered on 08/31/2020 is damaged at the hinge (see photos attached).
What are the terms of the warranty for reimbursement of the repair?
Currently, the computer is open. I dare not close it because when I try, the damage gets worse
.
PCS didn't tell me not to close the screen. The technician replied: You would have to send the laptop back to us in England so that a technician can fix it. Please request an RMA.
I applied for an RMA.
To send the computer, I had to shut down the laptop and the screen broke. I immediately notified PCS by sending a photo.
The technician added the broken screen to the RMA note. Then I sent the laptop in and waited over a month for a response from PCS.
You see, there's no point in arguing and accusing me of intentionally breaking the screen or of mistreating the laptop hinge. The hinge got damaged despite normal use of the laptop (I'm careful) and the screen broke due to the hinge.
PCS knows all about it and I'm tired of having to repeat the same thing and worse, of having to justify myself.
Are you saying that the hinge was damaged when you first received it from PCS?
No. I don't say that. The hinge got damaged 4 months after purchase. It is not because of shock or neglect. The laptop was used normally. I am careful.
 

barlew

Godlike
It didn't happen like that.
I told PCS in my first email: The laptop ordered on 08/31/2020 is damaged at the hinge (see photos attached).
What are the terms of the warranty for reimbursement of the repair?
Currently, the computer is open. I dare not close it because when I try, the damage gets worse
.
PCS didn't tell me not to close the screen. The technician replied: You would have to send the laptop back to us in England so that a technician can fix it. Please request an RMA.
I applied for an RMA.
To send the computer, I had to shut down the laptop and the screen broke. I immediately notified PCS by sending a photo.
The technician added the broken screen to the RMA note. Then I sent the laptop in and waited over a month for a response from PCS.
You see, there's no point in arguing and accusing me of intentionally breaking the screen or of mistreating the laptop hinge. The hinge got damaged despite normal use of the laptop (I'm careful) and the screen broke due to the hinge.
PCS knows all about it and I'm tired of having to repeat the same thing and worse, of having to justify myself.

No. I don't say that. The hinge got damaged 4 months after purchase. It is not because of shock or neglect. The laptop was used normally. I am careful.
Ok well if that's exactly what happened, in my view you have covered yourself by telling them the screen will get damaged if you close the laptop. You had no way to send the laptop back with the screen open.

The next question, which to be honest is between you and PCS is whether or not the hinge was damaged through some fault with the laptop or incorrect use. I will not speculate here its pointless.

Which warranty did you get with the laptop and how old was it when you booked out the RMA?
 

octave

Member
Thank you Barlew

gold warranty of 3 years
The laptop was about 4 months old at the time of the RMA. 2 months ago already !!!
 

barlew

Godlike
Thank you Barlew

gold warranty of 3 years
The laptop was about 4 months old at the time of the RMA. 2 months ago already !!!
In that case as long as everything happend the way you described you are fully covered.

You have already logged an official complaint so you will need to be patient and wait for a response.

Unfortuneately in the current crazy times we live in this will take longer than usual. When you do get a response, if there is any confusion from PCS due to the language barrier or just more clarity is required, it would be worth sending them a link to this thread as it will provide them quite a concise picture.

Finally I know its frustrating (I know I've been there many times) please try to be patient and keep a level head when you do get a response, even if its not too your liking initially. PCS are very good at resolving these things through the complaints process.
 
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octave

Member
Many thanks for your wisdom Barlew.
I agree with you. I am indeed awaiting an official response from PCS which is unfortunately slow to come despite all my attempts to resolve this conflict for 2 months.
Thanks again :)
 

barlew

Godlike
Many thanks for your wisdom Barlew.
I agree with you. I am indeed awaiting an official response from PCS which is unfortunately slow to come despite all my attempts to resolve this conflict for 2 months.
Thanks again :)
Keep us updated.
 

octave

Member
Ubuysa, you are fabulous!
I DON'T KNOW. Because the hinge was too fragile or badly assembled, perhaps.

I repeat once again that I did not abuse the laptop.
The hinge is a highly used part on laptops. Mainly when the shell is thin.
I have already had several laptops which have had weaknesses at the level of the hinge. It is common. But usually this happens AFTER SEVERAL YEARS of use and mostly on entry-level laptops.
Here, after only 4 months, it's just unacceptable. And I figured PCS didn't offer entry-level laptops. But I was probably dreaming.
Moreover, PCS has never contested the cost of repairing the hinge. It is the repair of the screen that is the problem because they consider that the screen was broken DURING packaging.

I have already said that they were in bad faith because I clearly indicated, with photos to support, that the screen was broken BEFORE packaging. But I have already said all that. I am tired. Please Ubuysa CAREFULLY read the entire thread and once again excuse my poor English if you are having trouble understanding what I am trying to say.
 

ubuysa

The BSOD Doctor
Ubuysa, you are fabulous!
I DON'T KNOW. Because the hinge was too fragile or badly assembled, perhaps.

I repeat once again that I did not abuse the laptop.
The hinge is a highly used part on laptops. Mainly when the shell is thin.
I have already had several laptops which have had weaknesses at the level of the hinge. It is common. But usually this happens AFTER SEVERAL YEARS of use and mostly on entry-level laptops.
Here, after only 4 months, it's just unacceptable. And I figured PCS didn't offer entry-level laptops. But I was probably dreaming.
Moreover, PCS has never contested the cost of repairing the hinge. It is the repair of the screen that is the problem because they consider that the screen was broken DURING packaging.

I have already said that they were in bad faith because I clearly indicated, with photos to support, that the screen was broken BEFORE packaging. But I have already said all that. I am tired. Please Ubuysa CAREFULLY read the entire thread and once again excuse my poor English if you are having trouble understanding what I am trying to say.
I understand exactly what you're saying about having to close the laptop to send it to PCS, but the root cause of all your issues is that the hinge was broken, which you said happened 4 months after you took delivery. You also say that usually this happens AFTER SEVERAL YEARS of use and mostly on entry-level laptops. I've had more laptops than I can remember, many of then 'entry level', and I have never had a broken hinge on any of them.

I fully appreciate that PCS are saying the screen was broken during packaging and that you were unable to close the laptop without damaging the screen. I also appreciate that you warned PCS that this would happen.

But none of that would be relevant if you hadn't broken the hinge.
 
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