Gateway
Reviews and Complaints

HELLO, FOLKS! IT'S ME! NOW, I, HAVEN'T RECEIVED MY $100.00 REBATE CHECK BACK, IN A LONG, LONG TIME. YOUNG AMERICA CORPORATION, TOOK TOO MUCH LONGER TO PROCESS MY PAYCHECKS. I WISH THAT, THEY SHOULD GIVE ME LESS TIME TO PROCESS MY $100.00 REBATE CHECK. THE YOUNG AMERICA CORPORATION, SHOULDN'T DELAY FOR MY $100.00 PAYCHECK. BUT, GUESS WHAT? I CAN RECEIVE AN E-CHECK FOR: $100.00. IT WORKS LIKE A REGULAR PAYCHECK, ONLY FASTER. THAT WAY, I'LL BE HAPPY TO RECEIVE E-CHECKS BY MAIL. SO, COULD YOU PLEASE SUBMIT MY $100.00 ELECTRONIC CHECK, OKAY? THANK YOU! [NOTE: I CAN ALSO RECEIVE E-CHECKS, JUST LIKE REGULAR PAYCHECKS!] SIGNED, MR. JAMES ANTHONY WILLIAMS.

I purchased a Gateway MX6956 computer on 11/28/2006 from Best Buy #302 Skokie, ILL. The unit worked without any problems until August 2007 when the Sprint Mobile Broadband PCMCIA card failed to power up. However, the same PCMCIA card as well as the Sprint Mobile Broadband service do work in my Toshiba notebook computer. I worked with Sprint Technical Support and Gateway Technical Support and it was determined that the computer would have to be returned to the Best Buy Store for service. I returned the computer to the store three different times for service. After each time I returned the computer it was out of service for 3-4 weeks, I was then informed that the computer was ready to be picked up and no trouble was found. However each time I returned to the store to pick up my computer I brought the Sprint PCMCIA card with me and had the personnel at Best Buy test the computer with the card, it failed each time. The card will not power up which was verified by the support staff at the Best Buy store . Each time they sent the computer out again for service after verifying that in fact there was a problem. Each time the computer was returned to me, the only service performed was that the operating system was reinstalled.

After receiving no satisfaction from Best Buy I contacted Gateway. The computer has been sent to the Gateway Service Center in LaVergne, Tn seven different times for service of the same problem, PCMCIA card slot will not power up. It is then returned to me as No Trouble Found, No Failure Claim Description Provided, even though I had spoke to Gateway Technical Support on the phone and provided a description of the problem prior to sending the computer in. It was determined by the phone support personnel through their troubleshooting procedures that the computer would have to be returned for service. The telephone support personnel had determined that the mother board would need to be replaced.

It was returned to me after the seventh time for service from Gateway and the computer continued to fail. I called Gateway and spoke to David, Employee GWNR107 and was told there was nothing else they could do to resolve the problem.They do not know what is wrong and cannot repair the computer. It was just my tough luck and I should not bother them anymore. Needless to say I was astonished at the poor quality of service provided by a representative of Gateway and asked to speak to a manager. I was then connected to Tiffany who refused to provide me with an employee ID. The conversation began very pleasantly and I was happy that I was finally going to get this problem resolved. After I had explained what had transpired, the tone of the conversation changed. I was informed that in the four months since I have been attempting to get this computer repaired that the warranty no longer covered the notebook. She told me that I did not have an extended warranty and that there was nothing Gateway was going to do, they are unable to determine what the failure is and I should just forget about the problem and not bother them anymore. End of conversation.

I believe that I have been more than patient in dealing with an arguably incompetent organization, Gateway. I now want a complete refund of the price I had paid in order that I may purchase a new computer of any other brand but Gateway. This was my first Gateway computer and most definitely will be the last. I will be able to provide documentation of the three service tickets from Best Buy and the seven different service tickets from Gateway, as well as sales receipts, upon request. I want to add that I am composing this email on my Toshiba Satellite notebook computer using the Sprint Mobile Broadband service PCMCIA card to connect to the network. The same PCMCIA card and service that will not work on the Gateway computer.

I have the Gateway monitor Modal# lp2207. I was gifted it by a friend who tells me it was purchased in December of 2009 from Walmart. When I fired my computer up one morning the little orange or red light on the monitor turned blue and then shut off. It looks as if the monitor is completely off. I have to unplug the monitor from the wall and then plug it back in to get the monitor up and running. You have to unplug it and plug it back in a number of times until it fires up. I told the support guy this in a chat message and he told me it was not a monitor problem. Thing is I hooked it to two other computers and got the same result. He said it was out of warranty, and then said he needed more precise dates of purchase to determine that. So I learned nothing from this chat session with Gateway.

Hello, I have a complaint! sorry to bother you.But, here we go! I bought a laptop last yerar from best buy. Right before my warranty died my hard drive died. I called gateway explained it to them they said my warranty was active. BUT I NEEDED TO SAVE everything on the hardrive or I would loose it.. I said I have no way to do this! well, they replaced the hardrive did saye my drivers... BUT I HAVE NO WINDOWS..AT ALL NONE THIS WILL CAUST ME JUST AS MUCH AS IF I WOULD HAVE HAD SOMEONE TAKE CARE OF IT FOR ME! WITH NO WARRANTY.. I will never buy a gateway again! never! I work at a newspaper and will tell everyone how bad of service I had...I am not computer smart..thought I woyuld loose my pictures maybe..things like that..had no idea I would loose everything! now I have a computer that is not..in any way back to normal! thank you GATEWAY...DELLA STANFIELD FRANKLIN NC 28734

Read more: http://www.justanswer.com/tags/computer/Gateway?r=ppc|ov|1|Computer+%2D+Top+Brands|Gateway&JPRC=1&JPKW=gateway%20computer&JPKD=[protected]&JPDC=S.std&JPAD=[protected]&JPRQ=gateway%20computers&JPAF=txt&JPCD=[protected]#ixzz0p31s0kCL

After having a positive experience with the first laptop I bought from Gateway, I bought their top of the line CX 200X convertible tablet PC for about $2, 500 and I paid for the 3 years extended warranty. For the first couple of years, I did have problems and they had to replace the motherboard twice. That was an inconvenience BUT nothing like the latest transactions. They had sold the extended warranty services contracts to some other company. That company is not in bankruptcy and the 3 phone numbers for that company that Gateway customer services still hands out to customers are disconnected.

I would never buy another Gateway product nor would I ever recommend that anyone else do so ever.

I cannot even believe how low the quality control is at Gateway. Tablet PCs are shipped without a Windows repair disk, and files get corrupted seemingly weekly. The tablet pens stop working after about 4 months because they didn't check if the manufacturer used appropriate materials - the steel spring and aluminum battery get so corroded that the pen stops working. My battery won't hold a charge at all anymore, I have to plug it in to use my computer. I don't know what they think quality assurance means, but to me it means never buying another Gateway.

bought a new gateway laptop in July 2009 because it was cheaper than an HP/Dell. hard drive has now crashed, found out that i need to ship my computer to Dallas to have repaired. this would take 3 - 4 weeks, as a student this will not work for me. i replaced my hard drive myself, as vista was preloaded, i contacted gateway to obtain a copy of the vista disc. i was told by gateway support that i need to pay up $25.00 to have the disc sent to me however they will pay FEDEX to ship my computer to Dallas and back to Canada, replace the hard drive and re-install Vista all under warranty.
this is dumb, no wonder they will be bankrupt soon. it would cost over $200.00 for them to ship, replace my hard drive.
or send me a disc which i rightfully own at a minimal cost ($5.00)
management needs to pay attention, as this company's credibility is greatly tarnished by a total lack of meaningfull support. because of this i will advise everybody i know, not to buy a gateway laptop just to save a few dollars. you get what you pay for.

I Purchased a 1, 000 gateway lap top in Dec, of 2007. The computer worked fine until Feb, then it started freezing up and shutting down on it's own, I called into gateway 3 different times asking for help, they would suggest things to try and they even sent me out a battery, they were thinking it was a battery issue, or maybe it was reheating. Finally they told me they apologized for all the problems I had been having and I would have to send it in for repair, I remind you I had only had this computer for 2 months, It had never left my house, and it had it's own home on a new computer desk. They told me this process would only take 10 15 days turnaround time. So I received the box THEY sent me and I mailed it off happy I would soon receive my computer back in working order what a HUGE mistake. Three weeks later I still had not hear a word on my computer, after 4 hours of me calling trying to find out what was going on, I spoke to a Nancy in laverenge TN she said there was nothing the company could do, and that the mother board had MOLD on it and was ruined. WELL let me tell you, that computer did NOT get wet in my care.

This was not acceptable to me, I am a responsible person who is still paying on this 3 month old computer. I called and called and was giving different numbers to call and over a 2 week period talked to 8 different people, and NOT ONE could help me. Then a man TIM, from corporate finally called me back I explained this nightmare to him, thinking surely this man will help me out, He was RUDE, and told me the same response sorry there is nothing we can do, Your motherboard is moldy.

NUMBER one I did not have the computer long enough to grow mold on it. Second I am still paying on a computer that had to get wet in shipping, or was wet when I received it as a christmas present in December 07, and that would explain why it never worked correctly in the first place.

Please Please dont buy from gateway! I have never been treated so disrespectfully in my life...

I teach college level multimedia and art courses with sophisticated software such as Combustion, Maya, 3D Max (totalling more than $20, 000 of software installed on computer) so I needed a high end system at home. Purchased FX610 X Gateway Computer August 2017 with three year on site service agreement. Computer arrived, right out of the box with broken speakers. I called Gateway who told me they needed MY CREDIT CARD TO GUARANTEE THE RETURN OF THEIR BROKEN PRODUCT, and had to return units at my expense for their repair. If mail carrier lost the returned units, my credit card was charged for the replacement units. I kept speakers, replacing them on my own.

Short time later, 24" monitor broke. Black screen showing nothing. Strings of calls to Gateway Techs said monitor could NOT be broke regardless of my black screen. Phone fights with Gateway ensued under my service agreement, finally after months of chasing Gateway, they replaced the monitor with the above policy where I had to return their monitor with MY CREDIT CARD as collateral for their broken equipment.

October, 07, computer still under warranty, dies unable to work at all. For 14 weeks I chased Gateway who denied anything was wrong with my computer. Gateway blamed internet bugs had infected the system DESPITE THE FACT THE UNIT WAS NOT CONNECTED TO THE INTERNET. After dozens more calls to Gateway Techs during November, December 07 and January 08, who denied anything was wrong with their broken system INSISTED the issue was faulty software (which my service agreement did NOT cover) SO nothing was done. System was unusable and still under warranty. As part of a large college, I brought my software disks into our IT department to check all disks...not one piece of software was faulty, successfully installing and operating on computers other than Gateway. Recalled Gateway support with added fury because NO WORK could be done, the system was completely down and under a service agreement, courses were delayed, new coursework could not be prepared, graduate research was unable to be completed. Gateway Techs do NOT respond, hang up, disconnect, shift calls to offsetting departments, repeating the same issues ad infinitum with no results, read prescripted answers that DO NOT ADDRESS THE ISSUES AT HAND.

Finally, after screaming calls to Gateway, mid-January 08, one Gateway Tech (Rebecca) ordered the replacement of the unit's hard drive. Their tech arrived, took out the old hard, put in a new one and left before the new one could even run through the paces of reinstallation. All work contained on the computer disappeared with the old drive so the new hard drive had to be configured. Called Gateway again testing new hard drive and could not access PING address of computer. Gateway insisted the unit HAD to be connected to internet to get ping address which I would not do. Owning Autodesk high end software that needed to be re-keyed with new hard drive, I asked about accessing the PING address. Autodesk led me through three SIMPLE steps to find PING address that had been logged into Windows XP, so obviously the unit did NOT have to be connected to internet nor Gateway does NOT know it's own hardware. This system shuts down at will, still cannot create any work and demanded refund from Gateway to purchase a reliable system. Filed complaints with Better Business Bureau, Illinois Attorney General who advised me to get an attorney, throwing more money and time down the drain that I DO NOT HAVE, nor should I have to. This is not a BABY system. My system, still under warranty does not operate.

THIS SYSTEM HAS BEEN FAULTY SINCE THE DAY IT WAS DELIVERED, is still under a paid warranty, does not work AND THERE IS NO RECOURSE TO THE CONSUMER BECAUSE GATEWAY, A LARGE CORPORATION DENIES EVERYTHING. THEY HAVE MY MONEY, I HAVE NOTHING and the states within which they do business allow them to continue to string consumers along, take their money offering no solutions to equipment that does not work.

I bought a Gateway M2404U Notebook Lap Top from HSN last year and have recently discovered that it wont print. I've tried connecting several brands of printers to it and nothing happens. I spent at least 15 hours and hundreds of dollars on their tech help site, spent money on recovery software because it was discovered that the computer also would not format or burn discs and thus, I could not download them off their site. I sent the computer to Texas for repair and they (unauthorized) charged me $200 despite the fact that I am still under warranty. And when it came back from Texas, it still would not print. The HP printer and SUB cable work perfectly fine when connected to another computer. I have contacted HP, they made the same suggestions for fixing the problem that Gateway had already tried ad nauseum and said that if that doesnt work, it isnt their problem because it has been proven that the printer is fine. Finally after more phone time with a Gateway senior tech, he told me there was nothing more they could do and suggested I contact Gateway and see about getting a new computer because I was under warranty. After 3 days of being pawned off and shuffled around (calls went to India) I finally managed to get a person who said basically, 'Tough luck, it's not our fault. Our computer works perfectly fine.' But it doesn't. It wont print. It wont connect to a printer that is perfectly functional in every way. Gateway says it is a "third party" software problem and won't honor the warranty. There is somethin seriously wrong with this lap top, but they won't listen. They don't care. I've done everything they have asked of me, performed every task required, spent hundreds of dollars trying to resolve this issue and Gateway pretty much took my money and kicked me in the face. I've also contacted HSN and they tell me that it isn't their problem anymore. No one will take responsibility for this faulty computer.

This company is unbelievable! Gateway is the most unprofessional incompetent company I have ever had to deal with. At the end of April 2009 my internal cd drive broke which was of course after the warranty had just expired. So, I called gateway. I proceed to give the customer service rep my make and serial number off of my computer. I pay for the $400 part with my debit card. After waiting for nearly six weeks I finally received the part. I tore my computer apart and when I went to install the new cd drive there were no instructions and it was the wrong part. After calling Gateway I was told that gateway did not carry the part I needed and I would have to contact their corporation. Amazing that after giving them all of the correct information on my computer, they could still screw up so badly. I ordered the correct part from their corporation, received it and installed it with no problem. However that was not all I still had to deal with returning the incorrect part to gateway. Of course, they do not include return shipping labels with their orders. So once again I had to call gateway and order return shipping labels. Another 7 - 10 business days. The labels never came. So again I called gateway. Another set of labels would be sent, another 7-10 business days. Finally the labels arrived. I packaged the part & sent it back the same day the labels were received. I tracked the package and it arrived at gateway on July. Two weeks later I still had not received my refund. I called gateway and was told my order was being "processed" and if I did not receive my refund in a few more days, I should call consumer refunds. Another week goes by but no refund. This is a company which follows unethical business.

Bought a brand new 900.00 gateway tower 1/22/09 from best buy, worked great for the first month and a half and then randomly started shutting down with no error codes, i would turn it on and 2 minutes later it shut down. Contact Gateway via tech chat the rep told me to try updating drivers in which i couldnt keep computer on long enough to even get to driver device screen, contacted another rep via online chat who told me something differently that sounds like video card overheating and whatever i was doing on computer i couldnt do (which means going online i guess i paid this much to buy a computer to sit there just for decoration?) i then contacted them via telephone spoke to a rep who sounded like he knew what he was doing and told me i needed to send it to repair center, this was beginning of March but i had to pay for shipping and insurance which costed me 80.00 so i did it recieved it back with repair comments saying basically they couldnt find anything they tested it and ran it overnight, ok so i set it up turned it on and 2 minutes later it shut down, contacted another rep who told us to go to computer and look for codes could not find one it gave us no error messages at all, so rep send you have to send it in but they will cover shipping, mind you i just recieved it back same day..so i sent it back out and recieved back 5/27/09 with repair comments replaced hard drive, at this point i thought it was fixed so excitedly i set it up turned it on and it worked...fine for about 7 days and started shutting down again, called gateway back explained everything again for probably about the 20th time since problem started and guess what had to send it back out 7 days after i recieved it back, so i sent it out again apparently to a higher technical level recieved it back 6/15/09 with repair comment could not recreate issue successfully (WHAT) you have to be kidding me this time fuming i called them back spoke to aa tech who really did not want to help resolve my problem and kept saying i have to send it in i asked her to look at her computer and see how many times that month i had sent it in finally i asked for a supervisor and requested either a refund for amount i paid or a brand new computer i will not accept a rebuilt since i paid very good money for brand new one and it is not my fault there computer is faulty sup said they could not do that i have to send it back in, he straight out refused to give me a customer service number and a corporate number he said he did not have one for me and i have to write in a complaint which is ridiculous its like they are telling me to keep wasting time so by the time i get to corporate my warranty is up...i looked online and found Gateway corporate number [protected] my fiance called and spoke to a patsy who was very nice and symethetic to my issues and told us we need to send for final evaluation, so i sent it back out and recieved back 6/25/09 to repair comments cleanedd thermal units and fans, set it up lasted a few days and now the computer totally freezes up 3 minutes after turning it on, and it also came back damaged!...i am so tired of dealing with this company 6 months after buying the computer about 85% of the time the computer was either being shipped to them or back to me or in repair center, i will be contacting corporate back on monday and requesting a full refund for amount i paid for computer or a brand neww computer equal to the one i bought i will not be accepting a rebuilt and i will not be sending it back to repair center only way i am sending it back is if they are refunding or sending me a brand new computer, so today i have the Massachusetts Attorney general on speedial as well as the form to fill out for a consumer complaint since i have all my documentation for shipping it, within ONE MONTH MY COMPUTER WAS SHIPPED BACK AND FORTH 3 TIMES! AS WELL AS ONCE IN BEEGINNING OF MARCH, ALSO OVER 25 CALLS TO GATEWAY. the one thing i wish i had were names and rep ID's for all the reps i spoke to who should take a training class on how to treat a consumer since they are also consumers and would not want to deal with this, i am a consumer and will not accept anything less than what i paid for. I work for a massive telecommunications company the largest in the united states with over a billion customers and i will not be recommending gateway!

I purchased a Gateway laptop at Best Buy. After 11 months it failed and I took it to Best Buy for service. As they were too busy to handle all their service customers, they told me to try re-installing Windows Vista. This worked at first, but the Gateway continued to fail. When I brought it back to Best Buy they refused to honor the warranty because it was 1 year and 2 DAYS old. Gateway refused to extend the warranty or help in any way. Best Buy will ONLY service your computer if you buy a BEST BUY warranty, and Gateway could care less if you buy again because they are on the verge of Bankruptcy I've been told. Deal with a reputable company, not BEST BUY or GATEWAY.

Purchased a new computer from Circuit City in San Luis Obispo on August 18, 2006 for our son on his birthday! The screen went black and he called the City Assure number. They kept his computer for at least 4 or more weeks and kept calling our number, since we purchased, to ask for a return shipping address saying the computer was ready to be returned and was fixed. He was talking with them and they told him it could not be fixed. He was told his only option was to take a refurbished computer which he agreed to, all the while we were getting phone calls, during the day while at work, saying the needed the correct shipping address. They sent him a pacific blue refurbished Gateway computer than is now dead, won't boot, won't do anything and here we are hving spent nearly $1400 with the City Assure protection plan with no computer and no where to turn. I am totally digusted with Circuit City for offering this plan and for City Assure for being incompetent! What can I do?

Three years ago I bought my computer from my school through Gateway with a 4 year unlimited warranty. Believe me, this warranty plan cost me A LOT of money, over $2000! I have had problems with my computer before and had them fixed. This time my computer breaks and I am refused service. Apparently Gateway sold my warranty to MPC. I contact MPC for warranty work to find out that they have gone bankrupt and liquidated their company. So now I am out of luck, or so I am told.
I FINALLY got a hold of someone at gateway only to be refused any help or resolution to my broken computer. The gateway representative told me that they could not help me. Despite my efforts to help the representative understand my problem as a young businessman with a broken computer, he refused to be of any help and just kept repeating that they were not responsible since they sold my account to MPC. So Gateway made two times the amount of money on my account I guess! Once when I paid them $2000 for the computer and unlimited warranty, and a second time when MPC bought my account from them! This is utterly ridiculous and unprofessional of Gateway to not offer loyalty to their customers. There should be some honoring of my warranty! They are a large corporation who has more money than I will ever see and yet they refuse to do anything to honor my warranty and therefore they refuse to keep me as a loyal customer, as I have been for the last 3 years.

Purchased $2700 laptop 5/06. Between 5/06 and 6/2/07 approx 3-4 motherboards & defective screen replaced in my "new" comp with several Full System Recovery involved. During this time GW had the comp longer than I did & my purchased FULL 3 year warranty was dimishing.
6/7/07 I was sent a "new?" REFURBISHED unit, (I received someone elses defective, problem filled computer!)
4/22/08 Motherboard was replaced due to lack of power to unit.
7/30/08 called GW with problems. Tech appt made for NEW MOTHERBOARD
8/5 TECH DIDN'T SHOW. Resched Tech 8/14 - TECH NO SHOW! I called @ 12noon promised me a called back "right away". No call - I CALLED @ 1pm. Rescheduled finally - new MOTHERBOARD & KEYBOARD.
9/30/08 - NO POWER to comp. Called Gateway - Gilbert in 2nd Level support insisted unit come back to GW. GW recvd comp 10/9/08 into @ Repair center.
I Talked to Christine @ GW 10/10 - motherboard is backordered.
10/30 I talked to Roxanne @ GW - "still waiting for motherboard can't give any other information". 10/30 after 1 hr on hold was transfered to "escalating service dispatch" and was told GW expected to receive part 10/31.
11/18 - Shavontee @ GW was EXTREMELY rude to me & stated to send a letter to Cust Serv in Tempo, TX if I don't like her answers.
11/18 - Sarah @ GW - waiting on motherboard but will extend my warranty.
1/7/09 Frank @ GW - to send new M-1622H comp.
1/22/09 Jeremy @ GW - comp TO be a REFURBISHED UNIT! & should have 2 wks
Resolution Sought: I WANT A NEW NEW COMPUTER, NEVER USED OR REGISTERED TO ANOTHER CUSTOMER. I DO NOT WANT A REFURBISHED COMPUTED AS I RECEIVED PREVIOUSLY WITH DIRE RESULTS! IF GATEWAY REFUSED TO FURNISH ME WITH A NEW COMPUTER I WOULD LIKE TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE ENTIRE ORIGINAL COST SINCE IT HAS BEEN IN DISREPAIR FROM THE DATE OF ORIGINAL PURCHASE. I CAN PURCHASE ANOTHER SUPERIOR MAKE/ MODEL LAPTOP! WITH A COMPANY WITH BETTER CUSTOMER SERVICE!
Date Problem Started: 04/09/2007; Date of Transaction: 05/23/2006; Amount in Dispute: $2615.00; Invoice Number: 5612184; Complaint Type: Guarantee/Warranty
Product or Service: UNSATISFACTORY! I HAVE REPEATEDLY TOLD GW THIS IS MY WORK COMP!
Additional Information after Better Business Bureau complaint was submitted:
1/23/08 I received a call from WADE @ GW Corporate Office. Wade stated that he has gone over my issues and he noticed that I was getting a “new” computer. He stated that was how they handle these type of issues and there is nothing else they are willing to do.
After I reiterated to him that this was my WORK computer and my livelihood he just brushed me off and told me that this is the way Gateway handles these situations.
I AM SO DISGUSTED WITH GATEWAY AS A BUSINESS AND COMPUTER!
TO DATE I DO NOT HAVE A COMPUTER. IT'S BEEN 5 MONTHS AND BOTH COMPUTERS (THE ORIGINALLY PURCHASE AND THE 1ST REPLACEMENT) HAS BEEN "REPAIRED" BY GATEWAY TECHICAL SERVICE 8 (EIGHT) TIMES!
THIS IS THE 2ND REPLACEMENT - 2ND REFURBISHED THAT I WILL BE GETTING AND GATEWAY IS IGNORANT TO THE FACT THAT THEY HAVE HAD THE COMPUTER LONGER THAN I HAVE! IT HAS BEEN OUT OF COMMISSION TO ME FOR MONTHS AT A TIME SINCE PURCHASED!

I bought a Gateway M285 Tablet PC in 2006 directly from Gateway for my small business. I also purchased 4 years extended warranty service, second business day, on-site, parts and labor covered.

Gateway sold their Business Unit to MPC in 2007, which took over all accounts and was also supposed to take care of the warranty obligations and support. MPC filed chapter 11 at the end of 2008. About one week after they filed it, by on-board ATI graphics card started failing.

I did some trouble-shouting myself and a software issue can be excluded. I called Gateway who told me to call MPC, who are now handling support for my PC. I called and got somebody on the Phone, after over one hour of waiting. The support person could not help me and told me to send an email to a support account that she gave me. I did that right after my call and nothing happened.

After a few days (so much for 2ND business day) I got a brief response, that they are currently in chapter 11 and cannot do anything until the ch11 proceedings are done, date unknown.

I did not care, I had (have) a business computer, with specific-not interchangeable parts, that does not work properly. Even if I did not get the support that I paid for, is it impossible for me, to do a repair myself. I cannot get the needed hardware part at Best Buy, Newegg etc. So I contacted Gateway, the manufacturer, who is to this date in the business of making computers.

They wanted me to send to MPC again, which I refused, because no help was coming from MPC and I needed somebody who CAN/has the ability to fix the computer, payment/coverage of cost secondary. I told Gateway that I would pay upfront for the repair of the computer that they built and deal with the compensation for it later, with MPC, one they are done with their chapter 11 proceedings.

Gateway was unwilling to help me at all. They gave me some links to sites that I never heard of, where I might be able to purchase the part that I need (and don't know). The part number on my delivery receipt I could not find and everything that looked like it could be the right part was out of stock. I contacted support at the beginning of November 2008.

Today is January 17, 2009 and the computer is still not fixed. The gfx card shuts down less now, because I disabled 3D acceleration, which seems to be the part of the ATI Mobility Radeon X1400 that is damaged. It slows the computer down and a pain in the butt to work with, but its better than a total failure (which I expect to happen anytime soon).

What does Gateway expect me to do? I waved my Credit Card to get their computer fixed by them, business for them, although they made the original promise to me that they will take care of everything. That's why I did go to the Manufacturer directly. Who else is supposed to be able to fix and support it?

I sent a letter to Gateway management already, before I offered to pay for the guaranteed second biz day on-site, parts and labor covered support, which I did not get, even after 2 business MONTHS passed. I probably will send another letter to their corporate office here in California.

One thing is for sure... I WILL NEVER EVER! BUY ANOTHER GATEWAY COMPUTER (Consumer or Business or Whatever) IN MY LIFE AGAIN! ... and I STRONGLY RECOMMEND TO YOU .. TO DO THE SAME!

Additional details to this incident can be found at
http://www.revenews.com/carstencumbrowski/the-value-of-branding-during-times-of-recession/
and
http://www.roysac.com/blog/2008/12/gateway-sucks-and-other-problems-with.html

Regards,
Carsten Cumbrowski

On September 23, 2007, I purchased a laptop computer from Gateway. I did so because, as a first-year law student, I could not afford to spend a lot of money, and Gateway offered reasonable deals and I could locate very few negative reviews. Because law school lasts for three years, I purchased the extended three-year warranty so that I would be able to make it to graduation without being without a laptop for an extended period of time. In fact, my law school requires that each student have a laptop.

If only I knew then what I know now (famous last words, I know). I received the computer in early October of 2007. Less than nine months after receiving my computer, the power adapter began to have problems. I needed to use a rubber band to keep the power cord connected to the computer so that the computer could charge. Every so often, I would have to readjust the position of the rubber band to make sure that contact was made between the power cord and the computer. Unfortunately, my summer internship required me to bring my own computer to work, and I could not send my computer back to Gateway at that time.

In September of 2008, the problem became completely unavoidable. I contacted Gateway on September 15, 2008, and was told that once received, the repair would take seven to ten business days. I shipped my computer, and it was received by Gateway on Thursday, October 2. Today, December 8, 2008, forty-seven (FORTY-SEVEN!) business days after Gateway received my computer, and sixty-seven total days, I am still without a computer. While not having a computer in this day and age, especially while in law school and with exams beginning this week, is unbearable enough, the ringer I have been put through with Gateway and its customer service is completely unacceptable. I do not wish what I have had to endure on any other consumer.

The following is a log of the times I have contacted Gateway:

� October 7th � e-mail

�With regards to your concern, I have checked and found that your system with serial number [protected] is in repair and SYSTEMBOARD W/ INTEL 943GML W/1394 part are backordered. Please allow 3-5 days for the updates of the service status. Thank you for your patience.�

� October 13th � e-mail

�In checking our database, I have found that our facility is still awaiting for the replacement systemboard that is needed to complete the repair. Kindly again allow three to five business days for a relevant movement on the status.�

� October 20th � e-mail

�Shannon, our database shows that we are still awaiting for the replacement systemboard for your computer. With this, kindly contact our service operations department at the following contact details for more information on this matter and to provide resolution at the soonest.�

� October 29th � e-mail

�With regards to your concern, I have checked and found that your system with serial number [protected] is being repaired and currently waiting for backordered system board with part number 4006174R.�

� October 29th � phone call

After sitting on hold for forty-five minutes, I was informed that the part my computer had been waiting for would be in stock on October 31st. In addition, I was told that I would receive two-day shipping once the repair was complete.

� November 12th � e-mail to make sure that the part was received

�In response to your inquiry on the status of your system, the unit is still in repair and it was on hold for the motherboard. The motherboard for your system is currently on backorder. Please contact us again after a week for the status of your system.�

� November 12th � I called Gateway after receiving the above e-mail. When I asked if I could speak to someone higher up, I was told that the people who were higher up did not have phones; however, I could send a letter.

� November 20th � I received a phone call from Gateway informing me that there was still no definitive date as to when the backordered part would be received. Due to this long delay and the uncertainty of receiving the part, (only 35 business and 49 total days since my computer had been received by Gateway) I was informed that Gateway would be sending me a new computer and that I would still receive two-day shipping.

� December 1st � I still had not received the replacement computer. I was about to call Gateway when I received a call from its customer service department. I was informed that the original replacement was no longer in stock, and that a different replacement would be shipped.

� December 4th � I called to check up on the status of the replacement. I was told that the replacement was on backorder and there was no indication of when it would be shipped. When I asked if I could speak to the manager, I was told that the customer service representative did not have a manager. But, she would connect me with the Escalation Department. While on the phone with a member of the Escalation Department, I was told that I would now receive one-day shipping and that she would call me back later that day because she needed to gather further information. I never heard back from the Escalation Department.

� December 5th- Still no update, but thank you for your patience.

� December 8th � See December 5th. This customer representative said she would call me back. We�ll see if that happens, but I�m not holding my breath.

In sum, DO NOT PURCHASE FROM GATEWAY. You will only receive indefinite answers, unsatisfactory resolutions, be told repeated lies, and use up all of your phone minutes. In addition, the number of times that you are thanked for your patience will make you want to scream bloody murder, not to mention all the tears and curses; the emotional toll this process has taken on me is extremely hard to convey in writing.

I am not sure how a company is allowed to operate like this or how Gateway thinks that customer experiences such as mine will help its business in any way. I wonder how Gateway would operate if its computers were commandeered for over two months. Surely not any better than I will perform on my finals. However, I am positive that if the problem was affecting Gateway, they would respond in a much quicker and efficient manner. Do not purchase from Gateway and / or Acer if you value your sanity and your computer.