[Chitwood]

I purchased a HP Elite model desktop back in July of 08, I had issues right away. They didn't seem that bad so I was working with customer support for a quick repair, customer support during your first 30 days is located in America, I think in Texas and they seemed helpful at first. Little did I know they were dragging my issue out past the 30 days I had in order to send the computer back to HP as I purchased it over the phone. After the 30 days all customer support was routed through HP India, words cannot describe that torture.

Long story short, five times sending the computer in for repair and four replacements later (all replacements were updates of the Elite series, never the same model) I am still having issues with my computer. They are not as bad as before, freezing up constantly, window's and Internet explorer constantly shutting down. The screen breaking up into lines and either freezing up or losing input. Not to mention the Nvidia graphics card and my sound blaster audio card not working and the dreaded blue screen errors, all the time, the list goes on. My only real issue now is Windows media center, the printer and the TV tuner. HP didn't help with my issues either, I began checking checking companies like Nvidia for driver updates and ended up finding one for my current graphics card that stopped all the freezing up and error's. You think an HP techs would of recommended that or sent me a link for it.

I started out knowing how to use a computer but that was it, as for the inner workings I didn't know much. HP India techs had me open the side panel of the computer, they asked me to stick my hand inside and jiggle the memory board or mother board, not really sure, 4 small boards in the back. The computer was running at the time and I told him that, he said that was OK and told me I needed to perform this trouble shooting test with him before he could move on to the next step. I wasn't sticking my hand in a plugged in running computer, I am not that much of an idiot, even though I did buy HP.

I paused for a couple seconds, let out a scream, dropped the phone and went and got a drink. When I came back the tech was rambling in Indian with someone else. I made it like I passed out from a shock, it was funny, in my eyes at least, didn't do much to help me though but I think I scared the crap out of the tech. I still took me another two months before I got my first replacement. After that every time I would send the replacement back for repair they would always send me a new one in return, I don't get it I asked for my money back but the wouldn't give it to me, they rather rifle out replacement after replacement hoping one would work.

To anyone out there that doesn't know this already, if you have any issues do not go through HP India, use the case management department. Best way is to use the "e-mail the president" link, that e-mail goes directly to hp executive customer support (useless people), all their good for is setting up case numbers and transferring you to the case management department. Note, case management is as high as you can within hp and they can't close your case until the problem is solved. There numbers are, for hp executive support is 1-800-756-0608 X07 and case management is 1-877-917-4380 X09. You need to go through executive support first to generate a case number.

Be Careful if they are replacing anything, check the specs first. They tried to send me replacements that were lessor models, as well as lessor components. I caught this 3 times, all times they apologized and swapped it, normally it was an upgrade as the one I had was no longer available, thus why they were pawning of the cheaper components to me.

Let me know if this helps you. It took me a while to find the e-mail the president link as they don't advertise it as a form of customer support. They force you to get so pissed off that you try to find all means necessary to file a complaint. Their a joke, unfortunately most companies are, they all pump out crap in order to increase their profit margins, that's why they out source customer service, then again I don't just think its to save money but to discourage people to call and complain about issues, they figure people will think its less painful just to shell out a couple of hundred to have a private tech, like geek squad or who ever repair the thing.

Its funny to, this whole thing has jaded me in a big way. I have went around to companies like Best Buy, walmart, Amazon, all companies that offer HP product and left bad reviews based on my model as well as reviews on other products warning consumers about HP and their customer support, product history and policies, like not honoring their in home repair as in there after market warranty I purchased. I pretty much say don't just take my word on it, read all the reviews on this site as well as others and forums, especially negatives ones, it is so easy to see patterns form out of these reviews regarding issues with performance, customer support what ever.

I will say Amazon customers all have a hard on for HP products, out of 50 responses to my review 2 were positive. The other way around at all other sites except Amazon. I love Amazon, I have spent some good money there. I hope this offends no one here but who would ever buy a computer from Amazon, go to a electronic store any place you can walk into and ask for a refund just make sure they have a solid return policy first. I had to use HP's phone service because I wanted to customize mine, I went to Best Buy, they couldn't customize them, plus the charge restocking fee's if you had to return. My only option I found was HP phone sales or HP on-line.

Well it feels good to vent and get this all out, I hope this site is a little more receptive than the Amazon review readers. I hope this doesn't offend any reader. Thanks for listening to me vent.

Chitwood