What to Do When a Toshiba Laptop Turns out Not to Be Toshiba after All

dosada on 11/03/2023 - 23:18
Last edited 12/03/2023 - 10:32 by 1 other user

I have a bit of a weird issue with a shop and hope someone has an idea of what would be the right thing to do.

I have purchased a Toshiba Portege laptop from a shop as click and collect. Paid the order and collected the computer the next day. It was very important to me to purchase a Toshiba laptop as they have been amazing over the last few decades i have used them.

I get home, unpack, and set up the computer and there is nowhere a sign of Toshiba anywhere. I have a look at the Toshiba site and realize that Toshiba is no longer making or selling laptops. Googling a bit longer and it turns out that Dynabook is now owned by Sharp.

Email to the shop in the hope that they would understand that this is not what i purchased. The best they can offer is a refund minus 15 % restocking fee for a change of mind.

Am i wrong here? It is not a change of mind, i wanted and paid for a Toshiba laptop, but this one is not Toshiba. I believe i have been misled by the seller by clearly naming the computer "Toshiba Dynabook Portege" when it has nothing to do with the brand.

Any thoungts?

Computing Computer Laptop Toshiba

Comments

  • Hybroid on 11/03/2023 - 23:27
    +1

    I think you maybe had a valid case if you were still stood in the shop and rejected acceptance of the item as "not as described".

    But you have technically now accepted it as-is and taken it home. So it would indeed be change of mind.

    • dosada on 11/03/2023 - 23:38
      +1

      But isn't a seller required to sell me that what they claim that they are selling? How could I have seen who the manufacturer of the computer is?

      It's still a pr
      Portege Dynabook, just not made by Toshiba

      • Hybroid on 12/03/2023 - 00:03
        +7

        I imagine you would check the box if it's new or product itself if used before leaving. Seems like a basic thing to cross-check the model and spec of something you buy before you take it home.

        https://www.gadgetvoize.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Gadge…

        https://dattocommerce.azureedge.net/0-master/productimages/f…

        The Portege was never made by Toshiba anyway. It was produced by a subsidiary (Toshiba Client Solutions Co), not parent company itself, which was bought by Sharp and is now rebranded Dynabook. It's technically still a "Toshiba Protege" just not branded as such.

        They're all made by Foxconn just like almost every other computer electronic. If the specs are all correct, then there's no difference at all.

  • CodeXD on 11/03/2023 - 23:31

    I have purchased a Toshiba Portege laptop from a shop as click and collect.

    Make sure you get clear evidence that the laptop you intended to buy is a Toshiba Protege. Get screenshot from the website if they are still selling the laptop, your invoice, etc.

    Are the specs of the laptop you received the same as listing? If they lie about the make and model, other things could also be amiss.

    • dosada on 11/03/2023 - 23:39

      I do have a screenshot, it says even on the invoice Toshiba Portege Dynabook. The specs are as shown on the site, they are correct.

      • CodeXD on 11/03/2023 - 23:47
        +7

        I believe i have been misled by the seller by clearly naming the computer "Toshiba Dynabook Portege" when it has nothing to do with the brand.

        According to wikipedia…

        In June 2018, Toshiba sold 80.1% of its Client Solutions (personal computers) business unit to Sharp for $36m, with an option allowing Sharp to buy the remaining 19.9% share.[94] Sharp renamed the business to Dynabook, a brand name Toshiba had used in Japan, and started releasing products under that name. On June 30, 2020, Sharp exercised its option to acquire the remaining 19.9% percent of Dynabook shares from Toshiba.[95]

        Since Sharp bought the personal computers business unit of Toshiba, they can actually put Toshiba on the product listing.

        • dosada on 17/03/2023 - 22:09

          I don't get it. I would understand it if Sharp was selling the computer as a Toshiba Dynabook Portege, that would be fine. But they are not Sharp is nowhere mentioning Toshiba, only the retailer.

  • wasdw246 on 12/03/2023 - 00:28

    what exact model is it? (and how much did u pay?)

  • garetz on 12/03/2023 - 00:42
    +6

    Toshiba is just a brand, it doesn't dictate the parts inside. You got what you asked for, as far as the structure of the business and naming rights are irrelevant.

    You should of done more research before buying it.

  • FullPrice on 12/03/2023 - 06:42

    You always have options OP

    https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/451528

  • Worf on 12/03/2023 - 08:02
    +2

    I think 15% re-stocking fee is reasonable given that you have unboxed/opened the device and tried setting it up.

  • solidussnake on 12/03/2023 - 08:04
    +4

    Lol another banger from OP great Sunday morning material

  • apsilon on 12/03/2023 - 08:06
    +2

    Toshiba have been making, or in most cases branding, rubbish for over a decade IMO so you're probably better off TBH.

    Need more info before I could say who's in the right though in terms of what was sold and purchased. Link to the item at the online store purchased from and pic of the box for a start.

  • TheRealCher on 12/03/2023 - 08:41

    Dank pods…all you need to know about toshiba this week

  • ram4ram on 12/03/2023 - 10:04

    What makes you think it isn't a Toshiba? No Toshiba branding?

    • dcep on 12/03/2023 - 12:58

      not a single toshiba word on the box or laptop itself

  • GordonD on 12/03/2023 - 10:36
    +2

    What do you do when a Toshiba turns out not to be Toshiba?

    Cheer.

    The normal situation is that something bought based on its brand name turns out to not be really that brand. What the purchaser ended up with is less valuable because of that.

    In this case its the Toshiba brand name that would be dragging the product's value down, because Toshiba's management wrecked their company's reputation. So the product the buyer got, thinking its a Toshiba, is worth more because it isn't. Would another purchaser be entitled to compensation because they saw the product didn't refer to Toshiba, and bought it because of that, only to find the Toshiba name in the invoice?

    And, anyway, Sharp bought the right to use the Toshiba brand name. So it can use it or not use it as it wishes. So the OP has no legal claim to any compensation that the advertising referred to it as a Toshiba, but the product documentation doesn't.

    • dosada on 17/03/2023 - 22:08

      Sharp bought the right to use the Toshiba brand name. So it can use it or not use it as it wishes.

      I have figured that out by now and that is perfectly fine. But Sharp DOES NOT use the name Toshiba anywhere. Only the retail store does.

  • Manny Calavera on 16/03/2023 - 15:33
    +3

    OP is going to be upset when he opens up that IBM Thinkpad.

  • ocular on 17/03/2023 - 00:17

    just looked at the specs of the dynabook Portege X30 and X40 models, seem very Toshiba like with feature packed small light form factor wiith magnesium case and 3 yr warranty. Looks like a portege, was formerly branded Toshiba. I have had 10 yrs daily use and gone thru 2 portege laptops. This is where I will be heading next.

  • Heaps for Cheaps on 17/03/2023 - 21:37

    I guess it's a little like Sony VAIO, which was sold off and now is VAIO… However, it's not a Sony VAIO anymore…
    So you should be refunded as they lied about the brand, otherwise you wouldn't have purchased it…

    But what can you do? Throw a brick through the window and let down employees tyres.

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