flintball: Purchased an HP all-in-one desktop: terrible customer service experience

[PeterCal]

http://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Desktop-Hardware/Purchased-an-HP-all-in-one-desktop-terrible-customer-s...

I purchased an HP all-in-one 23-inch desktop at Sam's Club for my uncle for Christmas. I set it up for him and found everything to be in working order. Well, everything but the DVD-rom drive.

The DVD player would not play DVDs or audio CDs. In fact, it would not even show up as having a drive under the My Computer icon.

When I called HP customer service, the individual had to ask me who manufactured my computer. Are you kidding me? He then proceeded to tell me that I had a software issue with Windows 8 and I needed a technician at my house to fix it at a cost of $140. I asked for another representative and he said the same thing.

I asked him if he thought his solution seemed reasonable (i.e. customer purchases a product from producer, product doesn't work, customer pays to fix it) and he said it was all he could offer.

Is this what passes for customer service at HP? Is it really worth $140 to alientate a customer for life? Not only am I returning this computer, but I am buying a competitor's model with the promise that I will never do business with HP ever again.

Jared Field

Flint, Michigan

[JeffHelp1]

12/28/12 - Jeff reached out to customer