Laptop hinges I have Gateway model MX6708, the outer plastic body of laptop from the hinges area is cracking, left hinge is completely cracked & right side will crack any time, I have extended warranty & I show this laptop to BestBuy tech. he said this is a physical damage & not coverd under this warranty. Please help me to fix this problem.

As far as the warranty coverage from Best Buy goes, it's a lot better than just what the manufacturer offers when you buy the unit. When you purchase the laptop, the sales associate is taught to offer you warranties of various dollar amounts depending on model. Some of these are standard PSP warranties (called PSP, or Performance Service Plan) and cover additional causes of damage such as heat, electicity, humidity, and dust. There is also a higher level warranty which Best Buy has offered for the past 2-3 years called an ADH warranty (or Accidental Handling) and it included the coverage of the PSP, as well as damage due to liquid spills (see: minor, not immersion) as well as damage caused by impacts.

This is where the job of a Geeksquad Technician can get complicated. We have to use our better judgment, experience of prior repairs, and best observational abilities to be able to help our customers with the correct response. If we just accept a laptop regardless of condition for repairs regardless of what type of warranty coverage exists, the Service Center has the ability to perform no repairs to the unit because warranty coverage does not apply to the nature of the damage. Then they will retroactively charge the customer a deposit fee, roughly between $24.95 and $112.95 depending on the unit...And this is just to be in receipt of their old unit, un-repaired. That is a situation we attempt to avoid at all costs to avoid causing grief and misery for waiting 2 weeks and have zero repair work performed for a customer.

So, now that I have explained their policies a bit better, let me help determine how you can have your laptop fixed.

Check your receipt carefully (Best Buy can reprint you a copy if yours is lost or hard to read). Search for the letters PSP on the bill of sale, and determine if the letters ADH are immediately next to them. This would offer you the maximum level of coverage for warranty repair.

If the Geeksquad technician viewed your lapotp's hinges and felt that it was damage caused by an impact or through normal wear and tear, it would not be covered by anything less than an ADH plan. I would suggest trying one of the following solutions:

1: Returning to the technician and asking him to send it to service as-is, with the intention of receiving an estimate from the vendor and pursing repair from a licensed repair technician.

2: Calling the manufacturer up directly, identifying the product and part, and inquiring as to the cost of a replacement plastic top lcd cover (you would be surprised at how expensive the manufacturer can quote these for). Then once you have ordered it from them you can return to Geeksquad iand have them install it for you (if you have previously determined they have a technician capable of performing that service and has adequate tools). Often times they will give you a discount on installation services due to the fact that you had purchased a warranty from them originally and they were unable to assist with the repairs prior.


3: Return to best Buy and have them pro-rate refund the extension of your PSP and use that amount to pay for shipping and deposit through the manufacturer, having them assist you with continued repairs.

Hope that helped.