majors@milton.u.washington.edu (Robert Majors) (04/19/91)
I purchased a hard disc with a one year warrantee. Within one year of purchase, it was failing often (stiction, I think, and would stop spinning while operating). I sent photocopies of the warrantee to the re-manufacturer (the company which puts the drive in a box with a power supply, etc.), and they claimed the warrantee began ticking the day they shipped it to the dealer. (Their warrantee policy has since changed--you could imagine the response people had when they found out the unit they bought could have been out of warrantee the day they bought it. The re-manufacturer claims the warrantee policy was due to the original drive manufacturer's warrantee policy.) The warrantee I received is in the name of the re-manufacturer, and *does not* mention anything about a shipping date, therefore I believe the warrantee starts on the purchase date. This arrangement must be contrary to to some kind of trade laws; since the re-manufacturer is in another state, are interstate commerce laws in effect? Should I contact the Attorney General of the state of the re-manufacturer? Have any group law-suits been filed? Any consumer advocacy groups I should contact? Small-claims court would not be easy, since the company is 2,000 miles away. I have written to the company at least twice (all letters have been certified with return signatures) and called them several times. They promised to send a copy of the shipping date, but have not. Any help would be appreciated. thanks - Bob Majors