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View Full Version : Warning on Gravity, ebay & spares.


Jayell
03-28-2003, 05:31 PM
A word of warning to those who buy through ebay! I have bought and sold over 60 items in 1.5 years with no problems until now.

Yesterday i dropped my 2 week old NX70 (Grey limited edition jobbie :D ) onto a stone step. it cracked the glass and has been leeching more and more LCD fluid since. The screen needs replacing.

I bought the unit off a big dealer on ebay (UK) and he could not confirm the country of origin (a warning that hindsight now kills me). Having consulted many sources in choosing my replacement PDA for my Palm Vx i choose this cracker. I bought it and loved it for 2 weeks before gravity shattered Clie life.

Today i asked the UK sony Clie support line not for a warranty repair, but for a replacement screen. The chap asked for my serial number, after quoting it he replied "We cannot offer any service or spares support as this is an Asian Clie".

Sony's policy is not to support a model from another part of the globe, and i was to contact Sony Asia for help. I pleaded only to buy the relevant screen or screen + hinge without a warranty claim as this damage was my fault. They wouldn't budge. I pleaded that this policy must be questionable under law (UK), and demanded to be given an alternative Sony service contact person.

I now have an escalation number i'll pursue on Monday once the Blood pressure reduces. But this sorry saga has taught me:

1. Be certain you know the country of origin of the Clie when buying from ebayers and that it matches your own Geo. Somehow the serial number determines this (prefix ?)

2. Someone get a spares business going on these things - there is a market. Unless the screen costs 50% or more of the cost of the unit in which case it might be wothwhile acting as a buzzard over damaged but good screen NX70's on ebay going cheap.

3. Remember Newton, he was dam right.

Appreciate thoughts, pointers and contact of spares merchants from the wonderful Cliesource community. As i tread the path of repair for my trusty Clie i'll drop updates to the thread.

Is the screen between a) NX70 and 60 identical ? and b) NX70 and NR series identical ?

Gutted
J

Kesh
03-29-2003, 12:30 AM
It's a pretty common policy. And you won't find a spares market... I'd guess that, like Apple Computer, Sony only sells parts to repair centers.

Jayell
04-04-2003, 03:14 PM
Kesh,

After a week of hunting around i confirm there are no stockists of replacement screens in existance. Looks like i need to prey on ebay for alternative nx60's or even discounted nx60's when the NX replacement model arrives ;->

My solution was found through my insurance company who's approach was to simply send me a new one. I'm pleased however we are becoming a more disposable society, rather than fix and repair anymore. Not sure i like the economics of Tech world from a recyclability standpoint.

Thanks
J

Alistar
04-04-2003, 03:37 PM
Originally posted by Jayell
Kesh,
I'm pleased however we are becoming a more disposable society, rather than fix and repair anymore. Not sure i like the economics of Tech world from a recyclability standpoint.

Thanks
J

Yea I always get the in store extended warranty and whenever I take it back to take advantage of it I just walk in and say its broken and they give me a new one without even asking what was wrong with the old one.