Source
r/Ebay•
purpleroad

Laptop died after 4 months. What should I do?

Question

Hi all! I've never run in this situation before, but I bought a like-new i7 Pixelbook Go in the middle of July from Ebay through PayPal. Two and a half weeks ago, the laptop died suddenly, and the Google Pixelbook website told me to take it to an Asurian store (uBreakItIfixit) for repair. It would not light up indicating a charge and would not turn on. After an extended break, the store called me today and said that the Chromebook was unrepairable due to a bad motherboard. What are my options here going forward (I'm guessing I have a $600 paperweight after 4 months of use), and what should I do to avoid this happening in the future?

Posted Dec 1, 2022, 10:43 PM UTC

021
ebaycantstopmenow•

This isn't an eBay issue. Unless you purchased a warranty you are SOL. In the future don't buy this type of item on eBay, buy it from a retailer and purchase a warranty.

29
DenaBee3333•

Exactly that.

4
Eastbound_Stumptown•

Electronics fail. Used electronics fail faster and carry no warranty. There’s not much you can do besides avoiding second-hand electronics or hoping that components don’t fail.

7
lilpumpgroupie•

Pretty generous assuming the person who sold it didn't know this computer was terminally damaged and found some sort of way to keep it running for a while. People do this with cars all the time, and sell cars that they know are gonna break down soon. But the profit is in buying the car is at a huge discount (because it has some massive issue that's complex amd hard to diagnose if you're not a professional, and then flipping it to somebody who doesn't know the problem. The oldest scam in the book.

-12
fabregazzzz•

Total lack of logic.

7
YogaYodaYoda•

I don't think even Apple would be capable of making a device that failed inconspicuously after 4 months.. Insinuating that the seller knew or made it fail (or work for x months) is ludicrous

3
ssateneth•

Nothing, unless you purchased a squaretrade warranty when you bought the item.

ebay will not help you, and paypal said they do not consider their 6 month purchase protection a "warranty" (I won a paypal chargeback as a seller on the premise that the buyer said paypal was a warranty)

2
No_Possession_508•

Sell it on EBay and buy another one. 😂

2
Final_Priority110•

You could try replacing the board? Try an independent shop. Buying used electronics is very common and most last fine. Some people don’t realize have common issues and it doesn’t matter new or used.

1
Paracosm24•

Yeah, as others have said, this isn't an eBay issue, or an issue related to your payment provider. The best solution i can think of is to either:

  1. Replace the logic board with a new one, doing it yourself
  2. Take the laptop to a computer repair store, they will either replace the logic board, or repair the current one (some repair shops will even go to component level, I know of one in the UK that does). However, taking it to a shop may cost more than a DIY repair.
1
NEHOG•

Do you have a written warranty? What does that warranty specify exactly as remedies and term?

If not, you are on your own on this. There would be no warranty, and unless you could sweet talk Apple into fixing it, you're out of luck.

1
CATIONKING•

What should you do? Don't buy "like new" electronics on Ebay. Either buy older stuff that 10-20% of the cost of new (so you don't care so much when it breaks) or buy new stuff from authorized resellers with full warranties.

1
fabregazzzz•

Get it repaired. Common sense.

0
more_beans_mrtaggart•

Throw it down the stairs and call your insurance.

It’s a bit r/illegallifeprotips but it’s small guy vs corporates out there.

-1
AwfulPhotographer•

What insurance?

1
more_beans_mrtaggart•

Ah, no house/contents insurance…

0
trader45nj•

I've never seen one that pays for dropped electronics. Typically it's for fire, theft, storm, etc. And typically they have a $500 or so deductible. And even if you file a claim for a $600 item and get paid $100, good chance they will raise your rate.

1
BooBear999•

It depends on your insurance company. I have an $16 yearly rider on my policy for electronics up to 10k. There is no deductible for the rider.

Covers everything from dropped to spilling a drink on it.

2
more_beans_mrtaggart•

I’m in the UK, and I’m with a premium insurance provider (NFU).

So all my electronics and personal items/valuables are covered at home and outside. I have to list anything over £1500 ($1800?) and I’m paying £260 a year with a £75 excess (deductible).

I’ve done the laptop drop once, and they tried to repair it, gave up and replaced with new 👍.

Claimed for a phone that went down the toilet.

They gave me cash (£5.5k) to replace the power tools stolen from my garage.

I’ve had one small rise in 10 years.

1
Lickmybuttnow•

Im gonna get downvoted, but you can do a chargeback for item not described. You have 6 months from date of purchase.

-1