Sony Vaio Series Consumer Reviews - Page 4

In November of 2008 I bought a Sony Vaio laptop for $1300 expecting it to last me throughout college. I foolishly believed that because it cost more it would be built with better parts and last longer than the $400 laptop I had bought several years earlier. Then weeks before my one year warranty expired my hard drive failed. If this had occurred a few weeks later I would have been lost hundreds of dollars which few people can afford in this type of economy.

When this happened I figured I just had some bad luck and that this type of thing rarely happened. Then Sony gave me a new hard drive at no charge which I was very happy about. Not long after that the paint began to wear off of the front edge of my laptop. I have to say that I really like the look of worn silver with white plastic coming through. To top that off the audio began to fail whenever I moved my laptop. For online lectures the audio is quite important. I contacted Sony customer support by email three times.

Every time I contacted them they told me to reinstall the audio drivers which of course did not work. They told me that if that did not work I would have to throw even more money into this overpriced piece of junk. I bought a Sony laptop because I believed that this was a excellent company that produced quality equipment. Over the last one and a half years my opinion of Sony has completely changed. Don't buy from Sony!

CALIFORNIA -- I sent my Sony Vaio in for repair under warranty, which they refused to honor. So then they quote me a price to fix it, which I can pay for or refuse. I called them back and got a representative in another land, and said "Don't fix it, just sent it back to me." I then got an email saying "Do you want us to fix it?" I called back, and said, "Maybe the previous person I talked to didn't enter it right. Refuse the repair, and send the laptop back immediately. Give me a tracking number if you can." So that guy, same thing... *said* he entered this stuff in.

So I called back later that day to see if there was a tracking number. Nope. The person had to enter the refusal into the system. She then said she would connect me with a representative in the US, who said my laptop would be at my place in 1-2 days. I have no idea if I'll ever get my laptop back. For people responding to this post, did you get your product returned from Sony, and if so, what is effective to make that happen?

UPDATE: I did receive my laptop back from Sony. Tip to anyone reading this: pressure the Philippines rep to connect you to someone in the US. The Philippines phone center is there for show, and not to actually get anything accomplished.

I bought a Sony computer because of the Sony name and recommendation by the store employee (after I had explained what I needed from the computer – good sound quality for recording music). Not only does this computer fail my expectations for recording music, which are based on my previous older Gateway computer, which unfortunately died.

But in addition – the battery life is only a little over 2 hours and the power cord is short (thereby limiting the portability one desires in a laptop); the keyboard is NOT ergonomically comfortable (my hands and wrist hurt after 15 minutes of typing and I make numerous errors because of the spacing of the keys); and the mouse has a delay and stutter problem, for which I have shipped it off to be repaired and it still has the same problem.

Now, the on-off button has caved in (I am not one for pushing hard on the keys, or the on-off button). I have advised Sony of the mouse problem (again)and the fact I am extremely displeased with this product; the reply received was polite, but not sympathetic and ended with “Thank you for choosing Sony.” Not an exactly an appropriate ending for a response to a harsh complaint letter. This computer cost $900. Do I feel ripped-off? Yes I do. So, if you type a lot, want a laptop that is portable, record music, and don't want a temperamental mouse - this is not the computer for you.

It was all lovely until the screen cracked dramatically (by which I mean the pixels, there's no external damage), after SIX DAYS. It was safe in my bedroom all that time, I had barely laid a finger on it. Of course Sony consider it accidental damage so it's not covered by the warranty. Now I would regard the fact that a screen breaks through normal (very gentle) usage within a week as a sign that it's fairly obviously defective, but not so their customer service team.

One guy I spoke to was even rude and abrasive towards me, with apparently no regard for the fact I was a customer who had just shelled out £545 for a now useless machine. He told me that even the slightest contact with the screen could damage it irretrievable and wouldn't even consider the possibility there was something wrong with it. They then proceeded to quote me a total price of £700 to fix it!! Thanks Sony! (Well actually, that's the upper estimate, it might cost less but I have to pay £150 just to get them to have a look at it to be sure!) I'm genuinely stunned at how appallingly Sony treat their customers.

Since this happened I have noticed a large number of posts about the fragility of Sony Vaio screens all over the internet. I only wish I'd taken heed before throwing my cash into a laptop shaped black hole. I would urge anyone to please please please keep away from this travesty. If you must buy it, please ensure you never ever touch it.

I needed my AC adaptor replaced and it was under warranty. It took Sony 2 weeks to send me that part after I had to call repeatedly to follow up. The order kept falling through the cracks and they would not give me a tracking number. I finally received the part but my wall plug was for a 2 prong so I called them and requested a 3 prong so I could use my computer. Again, same issue.

I finally got connected to a customer relations gal who told me that Arturo would be calling that afternoon to give me a tracking # so I could put this to rest after almost 3 weeks. Well - Arturo never called. I called back the next day and asked to speak with the relations gal who had given me her name. Long story short. It's almost a month and I still do have the parts I need for my computer. I keep getting the same response when I call "The order will go out in 7-10 business days." Well hello - I use my computer for work. Should I file bankruptcy now!!??? This is by far the worst service I have received in a very long time.

On 1 June 2007 I purchased a Sony Vaio laptop for $1588. In July 2008 (2 months after the 1 year warranty), a horizontal yellow line appeared running all the way down the LCD screen. I sent it to Sony to see what was wrong and for an estimate on repairs. Sony wanted $754.24 (almost half the cost of a new one) to replace the LCD screen and then only offered a 90 day warranty for the new LCD screen. I also bought a Toshiba laptop as a graduation present for my son. His Toshiba has had no problems at all. I think I will buy a Toshiba next time and stay away from Sony!

We will never buy another Sony product because of the poor quality and customer service we encountered after buying this Vaio desktop. Since we bought it 2 years ago, these parts have failed: graphics card, processor, motherboard, and sound card. A repair person performed an on-site replacement of the processor and motherboard (under 3-year extended service contract) six weeks after the work order was initiated, and that only after we had called repeatedly to find out the cause(s) of the delay.

We have been dealing with this latest round of repairs since November and still don't have a functioning computer. It has taken 3 weeks for Sony just to order the sound card, never mind install it, and that only after we called them, again to inquire about the delay.

ILLINOIS -- I sent the Sony Vaio in for repair. They replaced the hard drive and the wireless LAN Card. The wireless card will not connect to the access point. I know the access point is working because I can connect to it through other computers. When I called technical support they told me they will not help me unless I pay them. I told them I did pay and I just got the computer back. They still will not give me any help unless I pay. When I asked to speak to a supervisor or manager they told me they could not find one.

MISSISSIPPI -- I am now researching and looking for another laptop. I purchased a Vaio over two years ago and the screen was cracked within the first month of purchase. I always carried my computer in a padded case when I traveled. I noticed a slight hair crack and sent it in for repair. It came back with a crack across the entire screen and you could not see anything on the monitor. It was packed properly. I was told that the computer was abused.

I am a 45 year old mature adult and have had many laptops and computers. This computer was defective when I bought it. I worked for over a year trying to obtain warranty repair. The cost to fix the computer is over $800. I refuse to send Sony any money. I have been using with an external monitor. I will never buy another Sony product.