Pixel C refund outside of warranty?

pupdog on 03/12/2017 - 07:19

This is more or less a repost from Whirlpool but I haven't had much response there as that thread is dying:

I have had a love/hate relationship with this tablet. That is, I loved it when it worked, and I hated it when it didn't. As you can probably guess, I'm back to the hating. Because this is the fourth time this ##!!#%%% thing has broken in a year and a half. I can't really fault Google's customer service (to date) because each time I lodged a request, they quickly issued a replacement. I just wish these damn things would last a bit longer than a few months. It's not like they were cheap either.

Until now, each time it broke it was the same problem: an unresponsive pixel snowstorm across half the screen while the other half continued to work normally. This time though, the power button feels sticky and unresponsive. I can only power up the device by depressing the button for a while. What's more, the device switches to this unresponsive state after a minute or so of non-use. A device reset hasn't resolved the issue. I'm sure this is a hardware issue again.

I probably should've asked for my money back on the third time. Three times is a pattern after all and it was still under warranty then. But I couldn't see where else to go, so hope won over experience. And wisdom. Now I'm out of warranty and I have no faith in the durability of these shoddy things. I know I probably have a good chance of getting a replacement out of Google but do people think I have any chance of getting a refund at this stage?

Electrical & Electronics

Comments

  • whooah1979 on 03/12/2017 - 07:35

    unresponsive pixel snowstorm
    Three times is a pattern

    what does google say?
    https://www.google.com.au/search?q=unresponsive+pixel+snowst…

    https://www.google.com.au/search?q=unresponsive+pixel+c&ie=u…

  • pupdog on 03/12/2017 - 09:01

    Thanks but that's not the (current) problem. My question isn't how to repair; I'm actually seeking people's thoughts on whether I can obtain a refund from Google outside of the warranty period.

    • whooah1979 on 03/12/2017 - 09:08

      Have you contacted google and asked them to provide you with reasonable remedy?

  • pupdog on 03/12/2017 - 09:34

    Not yet. I'm trying to work out the best way to approach this first so I'm seeking advice here. The ACCC site says, "Your rights under the consumer guarantees do not have a specific expiry date and can apply even after any warranties you’ve got from a business have expired.", which is my situation. It's about 6 months out of warranty. I haven't claimed anything outside of warranty before.

  • akyeeeahdude on 03/12/2017 - 10:36
    +2

    Google are really good in regards to providing a refund. I helped a mate out - he bought a new Nexus 5 from them a few years back and they had to replace it with a refurb twice. The second replacement refurb was DOA so I explained to Google that I believed he was entitled to a refund under ACL and after checking with a Manager, they agreed. Not bad considering it was just on two years since the initial device was purchased.

    • pupdog on 03/12/2017 - 11:05

      I see. That's encouraging to hear. Thanks. I think I will go ahead and ask for a refund.
      If I get the money, I think I'll replace it with an Ipad. Google seems to have abandoned the tablet market. It's a shame because I prefer the flexibility of Android over IOS.

      • follow on 05/12/2017 - 11:21

        Samsung? Sony?

        • pupdog on 05/12/2017 - 19:50

          Well, I'm looking for a quality tablet and I think Sony's last tablet - the Z4 - would be a backward step from the Pixel C. And while the Samsung does have an excellent screen in the Tab S3, it seems pricey. If I could get a good deal on it, I might consider it but otherwise I'm inclined to get an iPad. At least Apple are still invested in tablets - they have heaps of tablet optimised apps versus a handful in the Google Play store. Given that Google has failed to build a tablet optimised user interface and app ecosystem in these last few years, it seems unlikely they will ever do so. I will not be holding my breath. That the market is in decline is perhaps the final nail in the coffin for Android tablets.

          I, however, like the form and am not interested in convertibles which seem to have replaced tablets as the next thing.

        • follow on 05/12/2017 - 20:44

          @pupdog: just had a look. Wow! Tab S3 is pricey as heck. Might as well get the iPad at that price.

        • pupdog on 05/12/2017 - 21:42

          @ZubatRingo: Yes, exactly. I can't see them selling many of those at that price.

  • pupdog on 05/12/2017 - 19:51
    +1

    Good news. After a twenty minute phone call last night and some deliberation time on the part of Google, they have, to their credit, agreed to refund my money. Now to look for my next tablet.

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