I think I'm done working on white-label laptops

[jft135]

Every time we get one of these in, it is an absolute nightmare to track down parts. Even when we match part numbers, there is a 50/50 chance the part we get will be wrong.

I think we're either done working on them, or we'll add on a huge surcharge to make it worthwhile.

 

[Digital Micro]

You mean the Sager laptops?

 

[jft135]

This one's a Razer, but yes. I'd even add MSI to that list since they're no fun either most of the time.

This particular one is like those Samsung's with glued-on aluminum bezels except the actual LCD Panel was also glued to the back cover instead of screwed in. We destroyed the old panel getting it out, but didn't hurt anything else. I've already gotten two wrong LCD's until I finally got a hold of someone at the vendor who helped me figure out which screen we need. What stinks is that the customer paid for overnight shipping since he's in a hurry, but we got the incorrect part too late to make the overnight deadline that day. So by the time I get the (hopefully) correct part, we will have had the computer for a week on what should have been next day service. He's ****** and I don't blame him.

 

[jft135]

I still have to make that phonecall and hope I don't get my head bitten off. I'd just put it back together and give it back, but we've already destroyed the old LCD panel.

 

[Digital Micro]

I have been lucky so far in avoiding these new headache laptops. I don't work with residential clients much anymore. I know one day it's coming and when it does if I can't just buy a complete replacement lid or easily take it apart I won't touch it.

 

[jft135]

They're pretty bad, but I can usually at least order Sager parts from China. I've never seen this brand before.

My father-in-law, brother-in-law, and a few friends have all asked me about buying white-label laptops. I just tell them that if they buy one, I refuse to ever help them with their computer. They all bought them anyway. At least my familial tech support burden got lighter.

 

[Digital Micro]

You can buy all the Sager replacement parts from a site called rjtech. They have a lot listed and the ones they don't you can call an order them.

www.rjtech.com

 

[glennd]

Every time we get one of these in, it is an absolute nightmare to track down parts. Even when we match part numbers, there is a 50/50 chance the part we get will be wrong.

I think we're either done working on them, or we'll add on a huge surcharge to make it worthwhile.

and what's a "white label" laptop?

 

[Digital Micro]

and what's a "white label" laptop?

White label is not the common term used but they are unbranded laptops from Clevo, MSI, Compal and a few other companies. Then custom builders like Maingear, Puget, Origin and other buy them. They then rebrand them to look like they're actually made by them.

 

[glennd]

White label is not the common term used but they are unbranded laptops from Clevo, MSI, Compal and a few other companies. Then custom builders like Maingear, Puget, Origin and other buy them. They then rebrand them to look like they're actually made by them.

Ooohh, I've seen a bunch of them floating around town. Turns out the old local competitor was importing them cheap and flogging them off to cheap customers. I told the customers they're not serviceable and they should replace them with a proper laptop.

 

[jft135]

Ooohh, I've seen a bunch of them floating around town. Turns out the old local competitor was importing them cheap and flogging them off to cheap customers. I told the customers they're not serviceable and they should replace them with a proper laptop.

Some are actually very good laptops. We have a "Premium" retail chain here that specializes in super high end gaming machines. I don't think they have anything under $2000. The problem is if you ever move out of state and you need service, you're SOL. Also, even though they offer lifetime warranties on all their systems, once they run out of spare parts, they won't fix things anymore.

Of course, there are also uber cheap models too.