Viewsonic Warranty Advice + Possible New Monitor Advice

[joel_spencer]

Hey guys,

My Viewsonic VX922 monitor is on the way out, looks like dodgy capacitors. It's still under warranty just but Viewsonic's support site is rubbish, I eventually sent them an email describing my situation, anyone have any experience with their warranty procedure.

If I have no luck then I'll be in the market for a new monitor most likely, probably an LED backlit one, are those better as reported. And is 21.5" or 22" better for games? Do LCDs still prefer to be run at their native resolution as if so I'd prefer one with 1680x1050 as I don't really want to upgrade the rest of teh system just yet.

Ta,

Joel

[Pob255]

I've used Viewsonic's RAM service before, granted a couple of years back.

I contacted them by phone, took a couple of days to sort it out but then it was a next day swapout
Basically a delivery guy come with a new* one and takes your old one away.
* may be a factory refurbish, so unmarked, fully working and tested.
I've had one refurb unit from them as RMA swapout it had a signed "tested" sticker on the back and I've also had one new "upgraded" unit, mainly due to design faults with that model.

[joel_spencer]

Cheers, for the input.

They've contacted me though the list of info they want is fairly long, not sure where the security markings they mention might be.

[joel_spencer]

They've contacted me again, I forgot a zero in the serial number but they didn't question any of the other info I supplied so all is looking good.

Just in case I've researched some new monitors though now is not a good time to purchase for me. I may also be able to get a dell 22" but i'd have to buy the power adaptor.

Choice for standard 22" LCD - http://www.ebuyer.com/product/159944

Choice for LED backlit 22" LCD - http://www.ebuyer.com/product/194606

P.S. Just read the final stages of project spork, chances are your friend/customer fiddled with the bios in that lovable way people who know nothing about pcs love to do. I had one client who I gave him back a netbook after having restored it (luckily ASUS included a rather good hard drive recovery - took about 8 minutes to reinstall then drivers, software, etc) and within a day he'd chuffed it by installing one of those fake security tools. Now he wants to sell it as he thinks it's too much effort, he may actually be someone for whom an ipad may be a valid choice - if he can navigate itunes that is.

I've put my hand to a bit of case modding, adding a side fan and front firewire port to a Coolermaster Elite 330, went ok but I needed more tools so I had to borrow/improvise so the result was not the most tidy. I'd love to work with a modder/overclocker for a bit to improve my skills, not sure if any are in Glasgow though

[Pob255]

El-cheapo cases, you know the £20 jobs or hunt round in skips or just ask about for old pc's
great things for practiseing on.
main thing is take your time, don't rush it.

[joel_spencer]

Viewsonic are claiming the monitor is out of warranty despite seeing the sales invoice with 3 year warranty clearly written with the end date being next month. Contacted Ebuyer who sent me a PDF from their system of the invoice (the one I sent Viewsonic was a printout scan because there is no download to file option) and they said to get back to them if viewsonic still won't help. Of course shut at the weekend so I'll have to wait till later today (Rang Friday evening to be told this), and I'll ring directly as I guarantee I'll get bounced otherwise, costs me to ring too (0871 number).
I guess their serial number checker thing threw up the error but it doesn't take a genius to check the smegging sales invoice. Maybe they'll argue Ebuyer are at fault as they aren't an approved reseller or something. We'll see, if they aren't going to fix it then I'll report back here as a warning to others.

[joel_spencer]

Bean on the phone for about 40 mins between Ebuyer and Viewsonic. Viewsonic claims that their warranty arrangement changed to a 2 year return to base warranty for all items sold between 2nd oct 06 - end of may 08. So I rang Ebuyer back who still said that it was a valid 3 year warranty, at this point I asked the customer service assistant to ring Viewsonic as I was getting bounced and after about 10 minutes she said that Viewsonic were resolute but that in this case Ebuyer would take care of it for me.

So they're sending me out an email with the details for returning it, they will try to repair inhouse and if unsuccessful will credit my account with a full refund, which would be ideal as I could then buy a shiny new LED LCD monitor.

Will keep you updated as and when further developments happen.

[Pob255]

Ahh I forgot about that, the VX series did only have a two year warranty
http://www.viewsoniceurope.com/uk/su...cd-monitor.htm

Model Series - VA/VE - VG - VX - VP
Purchased before 01.Apr.2008 - 3 year (RTB) - 3 year (RTB) - 2 year (RTB) - 3 year (SWAP)

After the 1st april 2008, it was changed to 3 year swap out

[Shiva]

I had to RMA my old Viewsonic monitor (forget the exact model tbh) and they were pretty helpful. All I had to do was tell them the problems (it wouldnt switch on at all) and give them some details. They sent me a new (it was a refurb I'm sure) monitor first and I put the old one into the box and taped it up. They arranged for a courier to collect the monitor from me within a few days. I had to agree over the phone about some conditions of how I used the monitor and how I'd be charged a fee if some things were done/not done etc etc.

Their website will suck but if you can find their customer service number, give them a call. Their call center was based in Germany (afaik) when I called a few years back but they had a UK direct number..

However, that replacement monitor is now on the way out but it definitely has no warranty with it.

Overall, great experience with their RMA systems (as unfortunate it is to have to use it)

As for my monitor manufacturer of choice? Ilyama has been who I typically use but I'm unsure if they're still good. I haven't had to use their RMA at all.

[joel_spencer]

Well I'm hoping for a credit so I can get that LG I had a look at, LED backlit, etc. I'm probably still get a bit of change too, though it depends on what cables come with it as I'll want DVI ideally. Ebuyer are picking up the old monitor tomorrow though they say to write the problems on the box it's packed in but not on the actual box but the way I received the monitor was just the monitor box with some mail stickers on so will have to pop it inside and let them know.

[joel_spencer]

Ebuyer say they have repaired the monitor and will ship it back to me priority. We shall see what they have done.

[Pob255]

My guess would be that they've replaced the power board.

If you open up an lcd monitor it's basically made up of 4 parts, the lcd display, then back light, power board and interface/controller board.

Not that long ago I took apart 2 CTX monitors, one had a cracked lcd, the power board on the other had died (you turn it on, it would display for less than a second and then turn off again.
I opened them both up, the one with power issue used a different connector, so I swapped the LCD panel over and had one working screen
However due to the panel being slightly different and the backlight slightly thicker, I couldn't fit it back into the frame and the boards where a different shape so I couldn't fit them into the other case ether.
Cannot use an exposed panel and pcb's in a school environment so I donated it to my Father, who's made a new case out of wood, not pretty but functional.
He's doing technical work for charities now so it'll go to a good home.

[joel_spencer]

Well it's back from Ebuyer, can't see any sign of work but it appears to work fine now, so kudos to Ebuyer for a job well done I guess. All contents of the box back too, though at first thought it was a different box as they removed all the original packaging stickers from it.

Only small complaint is that they sent it to the original delivery address not my current address where it was picked up from. I expected common sense to be employed as the pickup address was clearly a flat not a business, however I had to call after the second failed delivery. The returns department said that replacements are sent out to the original address, where upon I pointed out that this was a returned fixed item not a replacement. Still they didn't charge me for redelivery and it came the next day as promised.

So yeah good effort Ebuyer all in all, I'd been a bit wary after one time previously where two separate americans on the phone were very begrudging in helping but not this time. And with Scan's somewhat questionable devalueing of items no longer available when issuing refunds, I was very surprised that Ebuyer were going to give me a full credit note for the monitor if it had been unfixable.