★ PEOPLES ★ AMSTRAD AXE FOR WARRANTY (POPULAR COMPUTING WEEKLY) ★ |
| Amstrad axe for warranty (Popular Computing Weekly) |
AMSTRAD is taking steps to minimise its liability for any problems users have with its hard disc PCs. A recent circular sent out to PC dealers says that customers are being "strongly advised" to purchase a maintenance contract along with the PC, and states that "in the event that units are sold without professional (and approved) service cover neither Amstrad nor the distributors can be held liable for the warranty of the hard disc mechanism". According to a spokesman this means that the user's only comeback is against the dealer, and that the dealer cannot claim against Amstrad "unless they can demonstrate that the machines have been properly handled". The end user's position is further complicated by Amstrad's decision to place a warning on both the carton and the machine. This describes a maintenance contract as "absolutely essential" and states that "transportation and installation of this system should be carried out by qualified personnel only”. The circular also stresses that it is important "that the retailer or dealer explains the situation to the customer prior to the purchase so that a customer who later encounters difficulties cannot say he was not aware of the position when he bought the machine". David Tench, legal advisor to the Consumers Association, felt that there was nothing intrinsically wrong with Amstrad's warnings, and even welcomed the fact that the company was stressing the importance of maintenance. He did, however, feel it was important that "putting right problems was not cloaked by being classified as maintenance". A maintenance contract would be helpful to a customer trying to prove that a machine was defective when bought, but it's not legally essential, and if the machine was faulty when sold you have recourse against the dealer. That said, anyone buying an Amstrad hard disc machine would be well advised either to take out a maintenance contract with it or to plump for a third party hard disc unit.
'The fitting of this fan is a waste of money," commented Alan Sugar, "but it will keep some people happy. I recommend that operators switch the fan off. It'll save on electricity and won't make any difference to the operation of the machine." Popular Computing Weekly (1986-11)
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