Sony Vaio Series Consumer Reviews - Page 3

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA -- There are so many complaints on this website that when I had a great experience with Sony I felt a need to share it. Like any big company, there is always a number of customers who have had bad experiences, and those are usually the reviews you see. But Sony is definitely not all bad.

I purchased my laptop on 2/11/05, meaning that its regular warranty was up 2/06. In the last few months it has been shutting down randomly from time to time - it didn't seem like a major problem, but I did some research anyway. I found on Sony's website that there was a motherboard defect in many S360s, and my serial number fell into the likely range. Since the extended motherboard warranty would be up in a month, I decided to send it in to them. On my first call I was not on hold for longer than 10 minutes, and the customer service person was very helpful, and told me to fax in my proof of purchase to validate the warranty.

I did and called back later, this time only on hold for a few minutes, and they sent me the box and shipping label. I shipped the computer on 1/22 and received it today (1/29) - 2 days less than their predicted turnaround time. I was thrilled to have my laptop back in only a week. Now, after reading the negative reviews I was worried they would claim liquid damage or no damage or something along those lines, so I was thrilled to see that they had replaced my motherboard with no hesitation, which saves me $700 down the line. Only my motherboard was under warranty at this point, since it was almost 2 years since my date of purchase.

So I was even more thrilled to see that in addition to the motherboard they also replaced 4 other parts free of charge, mostly having to do with the cooling system. I was having moderate overheating problems before, and now my laptop is barely even warm! Sony had absolutely no obligation to replace these parts, so the fact that they did has me singing their praises. Needless to say, my faith in Sony has been restored!

Consumers, be careful. I purchased this Sony VAIO VGNFE550G from Circuit City in Birmingham, Alabama. After less than six months, the cd drive wouldn't read a disk. Called tech support and they advised me that I would have to perform a system recovery before they would even consider replacing drive! They want me to completely wipe my system, because they don't want to spend money on a new drive. I refused, and they agreed to overnight a replacement to a repair company in my area. The repair company was to call me on Wednesday.

On Wednesday, I get no call from the repair company. What I DO get are some recovery discs in the mail. I call to see what the problem is and they say that they changed their minds(!) and that I have to perform a system recovery first. I say that I want to just update my drivers, not lose everything on my system. The support tech tells me this won't be a problem and walks me through (SUPPOSEDLY) the driver update. His instructions wipe my whole system!!! This doesn't fix the problem. Now I have to wait until sometime NEXT week for a repair. They never ordered the new drive. By the time this is all said and done, I will be two weeks without a computer.

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA -- At least, that's what it seems like to me. First, it's almost impossible to get hold of a live customer service person at Sony. After being trapped in the never ending loop of automated messages, I finally sent an email. That got me a response to call the same toll free number I failed on the day before. This time, I did get a live person, as the menu was different than if you call in cold (does Sony's customer service really screen its own calls and cherry pick those they will answer???)

After explaining the problem to the very nice lady on the other end, she transferred me to someone who could "help" me. After explaining the problem a second time, this gentlemen transferred me to the head of Sony's customer service, the "NO" man (recently seen on CapitalOne commercials). After explaining the problem a third time, the no man (Dale) told me no. After I asked why two other people transferred me to him because he could "help" me, Dale then said "nada". When I asked for higher assistance, Dale said "nyet". Over the next 15 minutes, I heard 1000 ways to say "no". That seems to be Sony's customer service policy.

I purchased a Sony Vaio GRV550 laptop, supposedly, I thought, a quality machine. Yet, the AC adapter connector broke after only 10 months. They did fix it, but this time it lasted only another 10 months. I paid $1800 for a computer that, because of a faulty AC adapter design, I can't use. The "No" man's only response was... you guessed it, no. When I asked why two people thought he could help me, he accused me of not taking "no" for an answer. I guess that's what he specializes in. I have never had any other problems with the machine but, now, because of the failure of a $2 part, I will have to find service elsewhere.

I will never, never, never purchase another Sony part again. I have never seen a company more indifferent to its customers. P.S. When I asked for the name and address of the CEO of Sony, I was told it was a "secret" and a "security" matter. Yet, you can find it in any business write up on the company. How bush league!!!

I've written to Sony three times to complain about Windows Vista on this particular laptop and they refuse to offer any downgrades from Vista to XP. I want Sony to fess up that this operating system was not fully tested on this computer and they fielded this machine without proper testing. I hold Windows partially to blame for this, they probably sold Sony a bill of goods that Vista was "good" for all new systems, which it is not. I only want Sony to offer a downgrade and the drivers for the machine, if they did, this would be one smoking hot machine and wouldn't have the nonsense shutdowns we are dealing with now.

My computer had a loose mouse button. It was still under warranty so I sent it to Sony to get repaired. They said it would take 10 days. I called them after 20 days and was told that it had not even been received. I was promised a callback. NO CALL. Called them again. Was told that it was received but was at a new repair center. Was promised a callback. NO CALL. Called again twice a day. Finally I got a person who said that it was received 17 days prior but had "liquid damage" so the whole keyboard had to be repaired at my cost. The only thing wrong was a loose mouse button. Last time I looked the keyboard worked. I never received a call, an email, or snail mail about the computer.

I finally told them to send the computer back and I would get it repaired. It looks as if the computer was never even touched. As for "liquid damage" that sounds like a way to charge me for a repair that was under warranty. It also sounds amazingly like other consumer complaints. SHAME ON YOU SONY for not treating your customers fairly. I hope you enjoyed my business because that's the last time you will get it. I am lodging a complaint with the BBB and the Consumer Affairs Division of Nevada. I wish I had a dog so that I could give Sony what they gave me, CRAP.

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA -- Those were the words I typed in my search engine after I had a hunch. A hunch developed after dealing with the Sony customer support center for the VAIO notebook. These guys told me it would cost $605 to get the up and down arrow key working on my notebook and only then would they replace my faulty mouse pad for "free". They said the keyboard had water damage and it needed all kinds of parts replaced.

It takes several hours on the phone being passed from one dolt to the other in service before they will agree to see the laptop under warranty repair. After sending the notebook you get a phone call asking for big bucks ($605) approval with no explanation at all. I even had to be transferred from the money collector to someone else to learn why they wouldn't honor their one year warranty.

Because Sony by accident sent me two prepaid FedEx boxes, I will be sending the second box overnight stuffed full of my dog's nastiest craps from the backyard. I have patronized Sony products for so long that it feels totally insulting to be treated like this. No more Sony for me.

Too angry to go into detail. Perhaps their products are superior, or maybe it's just marketing and reputation, but you should not buy from Sony SOLELY based on their HORRIFIC customer service and obstinate workers and multitude of stupid and lame excuses for why they are incapable and useless. They don't even have an official complaint department to direct issues towards so they can fix their bologna problems! Any advice on how I can really get them to pay attention to my complaint? Or stick it to them? Or get recompense for their ineptitude, I would REALLY appreciate it.

Even if all I can do is complain about how POOR they are on every site that is worth posting on, I'd appreciate a list. That said, for every nasty complaint I write about Sony, I plan on writing a nice review about companies and products I approve of. I'm not a nasty person who ONLY writes nasty reviews. I don't like writing reviews AT ALL, but will balance it out by praising recent products I've bought and love from Best Buy, Vizio, Amazon, etc.

Vaios are more expensive than comparable products and less reliable. God help you if you experience a failure, cost of repair/part replacement will be a rip off since no 3rd party options will be available. A company that truly delivers super high reliability can command a premium for a closed system of support/repair but that is not the case with Sony any longer.

I bought my 1st Vaio laptop in 2004 for around $2,000. It crapped out 3 years later, video chip died. I thought I had a one off problem. I bought a 2nd one in Dec of 2008. The charger died 10 months later and was promptly replaced under warranty. The charger died again in Sept 2010 and battery was only holding 40 mins. of charge. No 3rd party products would work, cost of replacing charger and battery: whopping $325, about 30% of the cost of the laptop.

Now, one of the mouse button has stopped functioning. Took lot of trouble to find the Sony part, cost $67. No 3rd part repairs available and Sony will not provide directions for replacing the product. They want $200 to replace the touch pad. Comparable cost for a Dell laptop from a repair shop: $40. I owned 2 Toshiba laptops and 1 Dell laptop, all for more than 9 years. I had a single failure on Dell, the DVD drive failed where Dell was happy to not only sell me the replacement part but provide the directions as well.. all for a reasonable price.

JEFFERSONVILLE, INDIANA -- Bought a "Z series" Vaio at the Burlington MA Sony Style store on 4/24/2010 including extended service contract with accidental damage handling. Screen developed a black spot - called for service 6/30/2010 and was shipped a mailing box. Mailed Vaio for repair on 7/5/2010. Over 3 weeks the unit has been sitting at a repair depot waiting for parts with no estimated completion/return date. All calls to Sony have resulted in apathy - they disavow their ability to do anything to expedite and don't seem concerned over the length of time to repair.

For a $2000 computer under service contract this is unacceptable service. Contrasting it with Apple Macbook service where you walk in and a human being explains what will happen and then it actually does! Sony has passed service off to a 3rd party who has no motivation to respond to customers, then Sony doesn't inventory the parts needed. All-in-all a really crappy experience. DO NOT BUY SONY VAIO products if you expect reasonable service.

I purchased a Sony Vaio Laptop about 10 months ago. Really liked performance but always noticed unusual amount of heat from bottom of laptop. Not sure if this had anything to do with it, but turned it on one morning to see red lines running down screen. Took laptop into Best Buy where I purchased and they said I had a cracked screen and it would cost $499 to replace screen if I did not buy the extended warranty of which I did not.

This is ridiculous! I have not dropped or abused this laptop. I do not travel with it or move it around my house. All they said was too bad and it would not do me any good to call Sony as they would say they don't cover abuse. Again, this is absurd. I did not abuse this computer, it is in pristine condition other than THEIR cracked screen. Has anyone else had this problem?