Very BAD Experience with eMachines and Gateway (Gateway bought eMachines and their problems).

The GOOD: when I received this notebook I was amazed how fast it was. It came with the AMD 64 processor, and it was just as fast as my desktop. I loved it.

The BAD:

Issue/problem 1.

I have purchased my eMachines, top of the line notebook in April 2004. Since day one the DVD burner did not burn DVD?s. It did burn CD?s but DVD?s would always come out corrupt.

I called tech support and was told to:
1) use their software -> did not work
2) I tried NERO Burning Rom -> did not work
3) finally they told me to reinstall windows?I said what does this have to do with it, and I will have to backup all my stuff and spend several days reinstalling and configuring all my software. This is because you do not get a windows disk you get a Norton ghosted set of CD?s that completely wipe your HD. PAIN.
OK so finally I broke down and reinstalled -> still did not work Needless to say I was very frustrated at this point. In total I have burned about 18 DVD coasters in the different trials that the tech support asked me to perform.

But what can I do, I use this notebook for work so I figured that I will just live with this and just stick to CD-r.

Issue/problem 2.

About 3 months after receiving the notebook, I started to notice that the hinges for the LCD are starting to crack. I checked out different forums on the net and it was a common occurrence. Most people said that they got it fixed under warranty since it was an issue with the hinges.

Issue/problem 3

About 6 months after receiving the notebook, my screen started to flicker. I mean the brightness would suddenly be dark, bright, dark?etc. The frequency of this flickering would be from 2 or 3 times per second to about 1 per 2 seconds. Very hard on the eyes.

Issue/problem 4.

About 10 months after receiving the notebook, some of the keys started to stick in the upper position.


Since I was using the notebook for work I could not just send it in and twiddle my thumbs. I was waiting for a less busy time, well that never came, so before my warranty ended I figured that I should bite the bullet and just send it in.

While I was on the phone with the tech support they said that it usually only takes a week for a return trip but in rare cases it can take up to two weeks. I though well a week, two at the most, I will just do it. Beside, it was very frustrating trying to use it with keyboard sticking and the display flickering. Near the end I started plugging in a monitor and an external keyboard to make it usable !

The VERY BAD

So I shipped it off on March 3, 2005.

2 weeks later. I call the service and I am told that the screen is on back order and it could be another week. I asked if I could get some kind of free-be upgrade for waiting this long. The service guy replied I can?t authorize it I will have to connect you the manager, so I said sure. The manager said that they can not do any upgrades, but they can extend my warranty by the amount of time that the notebook is in service, so I said ok I understand, thanks. Oh well worth a try.

4 weeks later. NO notebook ! I call the service (this was Monday), I asked about my notebook and was told that they are still waiting for the display which is still on back order. This display is one of the more common displays for notebooks, regular 1280x800, widescreen format. So I asked to speak with the manager.

Manager:
Oh I remember you, I spoke to you the last time.

Me:
Hello, yes, well I use my notebook for work and it has been 4 weeks, I need my notebook back or a replacement. If you can?t fix my notebook please send me another one.

Manager:
We don?t do that.

Me:
It?s been 4 weeks?.and you don?t know when you will receive the display, I really need my notebook.

Manager:
Sorry, I can?t do any thing about that.

Me:
OK, if I don?t receive my notebook by Friday I am going to write a letter (this letter) and send it to eMachines and Gateway officials, and any publications that will publish this, to make sure to warn people or businesses thinking about purchasing equipment from eMachines or Gateway.

Manager:
You can do that, but I can?t guarantee that you will get it back by then.

Me:
Ok thank you.

NOW over 5 weeks (and counting) later, still no sign of my notebook !

The moral of this story if you want a computer that you will be able to use, DO NOT buy eMachines or Gateway.

Thank you.

 

Call eMachines back up and demand to speak with their corporate office.... when my notebook was put on "hold" when I sent mine in for hinges, that's what I did after going thru 3 managers (the most helpful manager went by the name of RON). Needless to say I got mine back 2 days later. And this has been since March 3, and they replaced my screen so they're excuse of no screens in bullcrap. Second advise, call every single day, twice a day if need be... Result will happen, just keep on demanding to speak to managers, and then there managers, heck demand to speak to the president of the company.

Stylee -
M6809 • WinXP Pro SP2 • Athlon 64 3200+ @ 2.1ghz • 7200rpm 60GB • 4200rpm external 80GB • 768mb pc2700 • Radeon 9600 @ 418.5/216 • 3DMark2001 11442 • 3DMark03 3010 • AquaMark3 25751

 

peter 969, are you in Canada or the USA?




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My Canada Does Not Include Celine Dion

 

I am in Canada, what difference does that make ?

thanks

 

That explains everything...
Canadian laptops are sent to Siberia for repairs.
That's why there has been such a long turn around on yours...

I sent mine in on April 14 (Thursday) and got it back on the 18th (Monday) with new hinges and a screen. I've had wonderful service from Gateway on this issue as well as a couple of others (software related). It seems that there may have been a shortage of LCD's around late March, early April. Good luck... I hope you get yours back soon.

Oh, by the way, I'm just kidding about the Siberia thing....



-Airdog
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M6809 • WinXP Pro SP2 • Athlon 64 3200+ @ 2.0ghz • 80GB • 1.2Gb pc2700 • Radeon 9600 • 802.11g Wireless • DVD±RW • USB 2.0 • Firewire • 6 in 1 Media Reader

 

Mine took 3 weeks to return. Most Canadian laptops take about a month or more turnaround, and to make it worse, they ran out of LCD's




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My Canada Does Not Include Celine Dion

 

Small update:

[ !] NOW 8 Weeks and no notebook !

I have spoken with head office and I keep getting the same story, it will be ready soon, but no promisses...[ !]

 

I literally got mine back in 2 days from ship to back at my door...with the problem fixed.

 

Here's My Terrible experience (In Canada)

Bought My Notebook (M6809) Jan 28th
--Wouldnt run on battery, called emachines (30 dollar long distance call) and was told it would have to be sent in for repairs that would take 7 to 10 days.

-- Notebook came back 4 in weeks , they gave it a new battery and motherboard, and it had developed a problem where it would shut off randomly. Called emachines and they said i had to send it in again. Two weeks later the notebook Came back and all they did was reinstall the factory software (which i did before i sent it off)

--Called emachines again furiously and they said it had to be repaired again, I was pissed cause i was sure they would just try the "factory reinstall of software" thing again.

--Notebook is at repair depot for 4 weeks before i give them another call. They said they had replaced the fan and the wireless card and were still doing some diagnosis, quoted 2-3 more days max. 1 Week later I called up again and they said they were waiting for more parts.

--May 27, Finally got notebook back from emachines. The thing seems to be working properly. It only took four months total to get all the problems worked out.

--May 27, I closed my screen for the first time and it seems that the screen hinges were cracked while it was at the repair depot. DAMN!!! Now I'm considering whether or not I should get it repaired.

I can sympathize with anyone who is having a problem. This is ridiculous. I bought the computer cause my old one was practically dying and I needed it for school. This problem has spanned 2 school terms and many many assignments that I needed a reliable computer for. I'm never buying an emachines again.

 

It could be worse; at least you can get warranty repairs. When my hinges started cracking after about 4 months, Gateway told me that since I bought my computer from Best Buy that it had no factory warranty and I'd have to get it fixed through Best Buy. Well, I told Best Buy I didn't want an extended warranty (since they said Gateway had a year on it), and so only had a 90 day warranty from them! And Gateway tells me it will cost over $400 to fix the problem (they want to replace the entire lid).

So I'm glad I don't care about cosmetic issues on my computer. Should it becomea structural problem, I'll just sell mine to some sap and buy a new computer. From HP.

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Gateway 7422GX: AMD Athlon 64 3400+, 1024MB DDR RAM, 64MB Mobility RADEON 9600

AVERATEC AV3270-EH1: AMD Mobile Sempron 2800+, 512MB DRR RAM, 64MB (shared) S3G Unichrome

 

My experience with Emachines was excellent.

No complaints whatsoever but that was back in October 2004.

Tell it like it is...NOT how it should be

 

OMG! This reminds me of my old HP N3410. It had the screen replaced twice, motherboard once, video card THREEEEEE times, and HD once in the time period of ONE year. Needless to say It was with them more then it was with me. It ended up biting the big one 2 months after the year warranty was up. I never got it fixed because it was just a money pit.

I just purchased a dell inspiron 6000 for school and work. I was going to get an eMachines laptop because I have liked them since they came out (never researched them though). I should of know that they wouldn't be that good considering the quality of my desktop. my eMachines desktop motherboard went out 2 weeks after I bought it. The only thing I really like about my eMachines desktop was the case...so now it has went through major surgery...replacing everything that eMachines gave it with new stuff.

 

It sounds like the majority of issues are stemming from Canadian customers.

 

Well, I shipped it back for the screen hinge problem, but just before I did I noticed that there was cluster of lit pixels in the centre of the screen. I added a note in the box about this problem and they replaced the LCD. So I finally have a funcitioning laptop 5 months after the problem started. It turns out that 2 of the rubber feet on the bottom of the laptop are missing now. I really dont think I should have to send it back for this, hopefully they can just ship some new rubber feet to me.

 

Oh great... now the Hard Drive has started to make a really bad noise (think of a garbage disposal). Im going to call emachines and ask about the rubber feet and a new hard drive. I think I should have a direct line to their support line. Worst Laptop Ever! Ive already been without this thing for at least 100 business days since I bought it. I know every company makes a lemon here and there but...this is fricking ridiculous.

 

Emachines are cheap in general, I've heard from their OEm guys that they use cheap transisters and materials for the inner components.... If you want good service go for DELL, if you want quality notebooks go for an ASUS notebook. It's the best there is.

 

OR move to the US and buy a Gateway jk

I have had no bad experience in any way. Even with the 4 yr old (i think) desktop that is still ringing like a bell. And Gateway tech support, works really well. With chat, my rep responded within 5 seconds after I started the chat window. The only reason I needed tech support was because I thought that there was a problem with my speakers, turns out I over looked the wave balance... idiotic, I know.