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New PC and the monitor is dead
Sunday, 22 June, 2008
Can anybody help me?
I am not that smart apparently. I did not know anything about these Icom computers.
I bought it from a computer shop and paid $799 for it. I had it for one month and the monitor is not going.
Am I doing anything wrong? Please help as I bought it for an elderly friend who only uses it for the emails.
HELP
Colleen , , Australia
 Hi Colleen.
If the computer you bought is the same Icom as the ones that Target stores used to sell then you've been diddled. They sold for less than that originally and quite a while ago the company ceased trading. As far as I know the excess stock was sold off cheap and you should probably have paid somewhere around $300.
BUT. And this is a big BUT, you'd expect a warranty of some sort even at that low price. Paying $800 you'd expect a fantastic warranty. What did they say when you bought the PC? Do you still have the receipt? For the company to sell the computer without any warranty they would have to make it quite plain at the time of sale. Even so, I'd suspect that you'd have an excellent case for getting help, considering the price you paid.
BUT ... it might not need that. It might be a simple problem that can be fixed where the computer is. What you need is the assistance of a knowledgeable friend or neighbour. Someone who knows a lot about building and fixing PC's. If you spread the word I'm sure you can find someone. If there's a PC club or user group or something such as a Computer Pals for Seniors in your area, that would be a great place to start. You could ask at the local library or council.
I'm suggesting that because from your description I can't tell where the problem is. If the "monitor isn't working" that could mean that the PC itself isn't working. And that again could be all sorts of things. And even if it is a broken monitor, I'd be surprised if you couldn't find a free replacement via the contacts listed above. Older monitors are thrown out every day.
If you care to let us know where you live I'll post it here (suburb only) in case a HelpStation reader is able to assist.
Good luck.
Now, here's what you could do if you want to pursue the "warranty" path.
- Be "nice". You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.
- Contact the place you bought it and ask what the warranty situation is. Ask them to assist.
- If they won;t assist, ask why not. If they give a reason that you weren't aware of when you bought the PC, explain that.
- If you've still struck a brick wall, explain that you'll be contacting the local Fair Trading office.
- Do just that. Contact Fair Trading and explain the situation. They'll be able to guide you through the steps, hopefully getting you a favourable result. If that result is a full refund, rest assured that for $800 you can buy a proper PC with full warranty. Either desktop or laptop.
Again, good luck. Paul Zucker
 Reader solutions
JCPosted: 02/07/2008 re: New PC and the monitor is dead Colleen, if you already have a computer of your very own and you bought this one....for an elderly friend, may I make a suggestion?
Hook the Icom's monitor up to yours.
If it doesn't work, you have a 'dud' monitor.
If it does work, then, the Graphics-card driver (for the Icom computer) has been somehow Deleted.
R-install 'driver', on the Icom computer, if this is the case.
If monitor is a 'dud', yeah, then, follow Paul's advice.
A computer that's only a month-old, you should have a decent claim.......under the "Warranty Laws".
Ask for a suitable 'replacement'.
If they say "No.", then, you have been ripped off. tingPosted: 23/06/2008 re: New PC and the monitor is dead My advice is always buy from a reputable company and that has a good return policy even if it costs slightly more. Some of these big companies have half year end sales and you can always pay extra for additional warranty. This goes for large expensive items above $500. I bought a dvd player from Harvey Norman and I had a problem with it after the normal expiry of the warranty but covered with the extended warranty, they just replaced it no questions asked. I have taken other goods for warranty repairs/service with smaller chain stores and the run-around you get is annoying. It's also not good to name a store to shame them because you're liable to legal action for defamation if they can prove it's not their fault or a user error or something outside the warranty. Are you going to pay thousands of dollars for damages and offering a public apology, NOT. Always think with a level head before doing something you'll regret later on. After all you're up against a company and their funds for legal representation is going to be a lot more than yours will ever be. Larry JentzPosted: 22/06/2008 re: New PC and the monitor is dead SHAME. SHAME. SHAME. Name the store to shame them. This is obviously a blatent rip off that should be exposed as much as possible. A friend of mine copped the same treatment a few years back and if i had known her then i would have gone to the seller and had a rather large and public exposure in their sales room to upset customers. Have done this before to shame a store that was trying to con me. They lost 6 customers on the day that were in the store. Give em heaps if you cant get warranty. |