Am I getting ripped off on computer repairs?

So a couple weeks ago, my laptop stopped working. It was a Sager N-series, which are supposedly pretty reliable. Unfortunately it was just outside of the parts warranty range, by about 2 weeks. The power light would come on, occasionally staying on, except nothing would pop up on the screen. It would just stay black until the power shut itself off. I had no idea where to start on the fixing, so I assumed it was something wrong with the graphics card (worst case scenario) or maybe a loose connection somewhere. I didn't want to void my labor warranty by screwing around on it, so I just sent it in. Before I did that, I took out the HDD and placed it in an external enclosure. The drive booted just fine and I was able to back-up everything. So I sent it in to the manufacturer and a week and a half later I get my the details on what needs to be replaced. They say I need a new CPU, 2 new RAM sticks, AND a new HDD. I have extreme trouble beleiving this is even possible. I know the HDD was still working, and it seems ridiculous that both RAM sticks failed too, even if the processor was broken. I should note that I didn't drop the laptop or spill water on it, it just stopped working overnight when it booted fine the night before. How should I go about addressing this? I am not willing to drop 400 bucks on repairs that seem suspicous to me...

400 bucks will get you a new laptop. Don't bother with paying that repair botch. clyde46

Exactly. But this was an 800 dollar laptop, and I would want something equivalent to that, so I don't want to spend the extra 400 dollars when I can get this fixed. Worst case scenario, I pay for the repairs. But I'm just wondering if this is fishy to you guys too. I'm trying to figure out if there is any other avenue that I can go about to find out if this is legit or not.

yes it's fishy

just tell them not to replace the hd and ram

you could probably rma the hd yourself anyway if it was broken

Did you have issues with your laptop prior to it not turning on? If not what the repair people are telling you is your CPU, both ram modules AND the HDD stopped working simultaneously...PernicioEnigma

laptops are very difficult to repair yourself, which is one of the reasons why i never buy expensive laptops anymore. Anything more than $900 including tax for a laptop is a waste. If it fails then its not as big of a deal as if an expensive $1500 laptop failed on you. That actually happened to me and i learned my lesson...now all I buy is cheaper $300-$500 laptops from craigslist. Hasn't failed me yet.

laptops are very difficult to repair yourself, which is one of the reasons why i never buy expensive laptops anymore. Anything more than $900 including tax for a laptop is a waste. If it fails then its not as big of a deal as if an expensive $1500 laptop failed on you. That actually happened to me and i learned my lesson...now all I buy is cheaper $300-$500 laptops from craigslist. Hasn't failed me yet.

blaznwiipspman1

my np8130 is still doing fairly well

[QUOTE="PernicioEnigma"]Did you have issues with your laptop prior to it not turning on? If not what the repair people are telling you is your CPU, both ram modules AND the HDD stopped working simultaneously...JigglyWiggly_

[QUOTE="blaznwiipspman1"]

laptops are very difficult to repair yourself, which is one of the reasons why i never buy expensive laptops anymore. Anything more than $900 including tax for a laptop is a waste. If it fails then its not as big of a deal as if an expensive $1500 laptop failed on you. That actually happened to me and i learned my lesson...now all I buy is cheaper $300-$500 laptops from craigslist. Hasn't failed me yet.

JigglyWiggly_

my np8130 is still doing fairly well

extended warranty is a sham, a laptop should function well for at least 2 -3 years without any problems. Why does someone have to pay $300 to expect something like that out of their laptop.

[QUOTE="JigglyWiggly_"]

[QUOTE="blaznwiipspman1"]

laptops are very difficult to repair yourself, which is one of the reasons why i never buy expensive laptops anymore. Anything more than $900 including tax for a laptop is a waste. If it fails then its not as big of a deal as if an expensive $1500 laptop failed on you. That actually happened to me and i learned my lesson...now all I buy is cheaper $300-$500 laptops from craigslist. Hasn't failed me yet.

blaznwiipspman1

my np8130 is still doing fairly well

extended warranty is a sham, a laptop should function well for at least 2 -3 years without any problems. Why does someone have to pay $300 to expect something like that out of their laptop.

Thanks for the advice guys. I'm gonna call them up tomorrow and see what is happening. If they continue to be ridiculous, I'll probably try replacing the RAM and HDD myself. The motherboard sounds like the most likely culprit, but that would suck if that's the issue.

[QUOTE="PernicioEnigma"]Did you have issues with your laptop prior to it not turning on? If not what the repair people are telling you is your CPU, both ram modules AND the HDD stopped working simultaneously...JigglyWiggly_

what is the item that ALL 3 of those listed items plug into...............THE MOTHERBOARD :D it must be an issue with the mobo

[QUOTE="PernicioEnigma"]Did you have issues with your laptop prior to it not turning on? If not what the repair people are telling you is your CPU, both ram modules AND the HDD stopped working simultaneously...JigglyWiggly_

Hey guys, just got the "tech report" back from the support. Here is what they say:"The tech reports that 2 RAM modules failed MemTest, the HDD reported a bad sector when diagnostics were run, and the CPU is nonfunctional." Both RAM sticks failed it... bad sector HDD.... and a non functional CPU. I dont' really know what to do here I guess. I don't want to just get it back, there is not much I can do to work on a laptop, plus I paid a solid amount for shipping and stuff. What are the odds that this all happens at once? A million to one? Thanks for all the advice so far, and I appreciate any more advice you have to give. I have no idea what I should do here.

Hey guys, just got the "tech report" back from the support. Here is what they say:"The tech reports that 2 RAM modules failed MemTest, the HDD reported a bad sector when diagnostics were run, and the CPU is nonfunctional." Both RAM sticks failed it... bad sector HDD.... and a non functional CPU. I dont' really know what to do here I guess. I don't want to just get it back, there is not much I can do to work on a laptop, plus I paid a solid amount for shipping and stuff. What are the odds that this all happens at once? A million to one? Thanks for all the advice so far, and I appreciate any more advice you have to give. I have no idea what I should do here.

Basher9

[QUOTE="JigglyWiggly_"]

[QUOTE="blaznwiipspman1"]

laptops are very difficult to repair yourself, which is one of the reasons why i never buy expensive laptops anymore. Anything more than $900 including tax for a laptop is a waste. If it fails then its not as big of a deal as if an expensive $1500 laptop failed on you. That actually happened to me and i learned my lesson...now all I buy is cheaper $300-$500 laptops from craigslist. Hasn't failed me yet.

blaznwiipspman1

my np8130 is still doing fairly well

extended warranty is a sham, a laptop should function well for at least 2 -3 years without any problems. Why does someone have to pay $300 to expect something like that out of their laptop.

Because all manufacturersonly gaurentee one year and half the time the components crap out after 2. It can save you money in the long run, but it is a gamble. My view is its a small price to pay to make sure my 2k laptop doesnt become a paper weight. It actually paid for itself on mine. Used to have a 2.2 i7, 8gb ram and a 6970m, the gpu took a dump, and I kept getting faulty amd gpus, so they replaced it with another machine than had an Nvidia gpu in it. Now i'm rocking a 2.4 i7, 16gb of ram, killer n wireless, 580m gpu and a blu ray drive. Been smooth sailing ever since and glad to be rid of that awful amd card, and I got a pretty decent upgrade in parts for a $300 ADH warranty and I'm not trying to track down a super expensive repair. On Ebay it's around 350-400 bucks for a used 6970m gpu.

And before all they anti laptop fanatics attack me, I needed it for school, where I had to leave my desktop at home because it took up way to much space in a tiny apartment 4 people had to share, and because it was for 3-D design which needed power and a screen with good viewing angles, and certainly gaming.

Now to be back on topic;

I think its the mobo, it's not impossible for all to go bad at once, but its very impropable. If it boots up for a bit then goes bad before it can post then it could very well be the mobo or the cpu. It really depends on the hardware in the Sager. If getting the same spec computer costs 600 or less, maybe look at some other brands for pricings too, I would just bite the bullet and buy a new one. But if it's gonna cost you more than double to get the same specs then I would go ahead and just get it repaired. Does Sager have a gaurentee of some sort on repairs, so they don't replace all those components send it back and it ends up being the mobo, and then try and charge you more?

Unless your PC had a sudden electrical shock and it fried most of the innerds, all three going bad is very unlikely.

I didnt even need to read the post to know you're getting ripped off... Just about anything you take your computer in for repair is going to be astronomically over expensive. Your best bet ever is to learn for yourself how to do your own repairs and at the very least, find a friend who can fix your stuff.

I didnt even need to read the post to know you're getting ripped off... Just about anything you take your computer in for repair is going to be astronomically over expensive. Your best bet ever is to learn for yourself how to do your own repairs and at the very least, find a friend who can fix your stuff.

Xsan3