Yes, it's time for Part 3 in the Ongoing Saga of HP Customer Service.

In response to the question of WHO was responsible for repairs for her almost brand new computer, HP said that even though the computer is clearly marked as US, HP Chile made it and is responsible for repairs.

Now wait a minute.... I've bought several computers, including a Dell and a MacMini that were manufactured in other countries. But if I had support issues, I went to Dell and Apple directly.

Heck, my Playstation 3 was made in some far off elf-factory and Sony fixed me up tout de suite!

I received an excellent and super quick response from WD when my passport decided to go crazy. All I had to do was email these companies and they took care of it.

But HP... Oh, Hewlett-Packard.... How can a computer CLEARLY marked for the US market have to be serviced by having the customer make an INTERNATIONAL call? How long will it take to get her computer up and running again? Will she have to return a hardrive to ANOTHER COUNTRY? 

I just don't think it makes any sense, but she's called Hewlett-Packard AND emailed Hewlett-Packard and this is what they told her.

As I mentioned before, Angeline has always used Apple computers at home, but she can use a PC. She uses one at work! She didn't abuse the computer or try to reprogram it. The (almost new) hard drive died and HP is making her jump through hoops to get it fixed. 

How can a customer even KNOW if an Hewlett-Packard computer can be fixed in the US. I bet those Microsoft commercials that expound on the affordability of PC laptops don't consider the user having to call CHILE to get a defective hard drive fixed! And if I recall, all of those commercials that I've seen featured HP laptops.

As I just tweeted,  the HP Pavilion dv4-1227us laptop my sister just got from Amazon was apparently from Chile so HP USA can't/won't help her with a MAJOR computer issue.

Last night, she called me asking me what to do if her computer suddenly cut off and said "Boot Device not Found."

Today we tried a few things, but it looks like the comptuer totally died. She couldn't even run a hard disc check.

She just got off the phone with HP USA and apparently they did not have the laptop in their system. They told her the computer she bought was from Chile and they couldn't help her.

Keep in mind, this is a computer that she just purchased from Amazon.com. There wasn't any sign that the comptuer was not covered by HP US or that she would have to go and call another country to get her laptop fixed.

Now, my sister has always had Apple computers. She's had an iMac and an iBook. She thought that she would try an HP this time since I puchased one and looooove my laptop.

Unfortunately, it looks like this is going to be a very bad headache for her. This is a comptuer that is less than 90 days old!

I'm really upset on her part since the HP customer service in the US is pushing her off to another country, especially since I know all the documentation seemed to be geared to US customers AND she puchased it from Amazon.com.

Hopefully this will be straightened out and she'll be able to use her computer again. If not, I think Amazon has something to answer for. Especially if she can't get it serviced in the US.