I ordered a laptop computer from Gateway last May. The first week I had the computer I have had many problems with the computer crashing. I called them and they did some quick tweaks. They kept tweaking my computer until the warranty was expired. I sent it into Texas last year and when it came back I was electrocuted twice so I took it to a local tech. Last week I was shocked again and the motherboard caught on fire. I called Gateway and they told me there was nothing they could do because it was out of warranty. Even though I had problems within the first seven days of receiving my laptop. I also bought 2 new batteries because the computer would not charge my batteries because of a short. I have had numerous problems with a laptop that is only a year and a half old. They wanted to charge me $600 for a new motherboard that only cost them $400.

On August 24, 2003, I ordered a Gateway Plasma TV, no extended warranty, just the standard warranty. Because I thought these were great TVs and that they would last a long time. But I was wrong. On May 31, 2005 was the last day the Plasma TV worked. I didn't use it any differently from any other day, nor did I connect or add any other equipment to it. I would turn on the TV and see the icon show up just briefly then the picture would go away, following a click sound from the back of the TV. The green power light would then remain on, and I could not turn off or turn on the TV using the power button. The green light remained on. So I had to use the main power switch to rest it just to get the same results. So the next business day I called Gateway customer service to tell them what happened. I was then connected with tech. support. I addressed the problems and they reminded me of the warranty being expired and then offered me the in-home service for a technician to come and look at the TV. They said that it would be $200 for the visit, $250 for labor plus the cost of the part that needed to be replaced. I was told there are only three replacement parts for the TV and if those parts were not defective then I was out $450. But when the technicians came they said that there are 3 parts which were defective and needed a change. It was just 2 years and so much, after all I had no alternative and asked them to replace the part they said that they would be coming the following day with the part, but its been a week no one has turned up. On calling them they say that the parts are out of stock and I had to wait. Now its 1 month the TV is just lying as a show piece in my house.

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.

Sounds like this is a problem with these computers. I bought my for nearly $1000 at Best Buy (never again but that's another story). It's been in the shop for 9 months out of the time I've owned it. I keep sending it back to Gateway since Best Buy wouldn't take it back because it's defective and a lemon. This last time they erased my information without backing it up and it now has more problems than when I sent it in. They always turn it off by just pushing the button instead of properly. The sound card went out in May08 and they managed to fix that and erased all my information without giving me an opportunity to save it. They had it for 3 months!! Then when I got it back the keyboard was dented and it was all scratched up. Then the keyboard wouldn't work so I sent it back again. When I got it back, the mouse wouldn't work so I sent it back. They replaced the keyboard again but mouse still didn't work. I got on the phone for 3 hours with a tech who did a live take over of my computer and fixed that but my computer now wouldn't turn off. I've sent it back and they didn't do anything to it and said they turned it on for two hours and watched it...the mouse didn't move and so they turned it off. Now I have it back and all the information is erased again, I'm getting a blue screen and it just keep restarting and going through all the sounds the computer makes complete with all my music in little snippets. They now say that my computer is out of warranty and I'll have to take it locally to someone on my own expense. I can't believe they don't back up their product. Also they have actually created more problems than what I originally had. It's like why didn't I just give to a bunch of monkey's to play with, throw around and try to break? The outcome would have been the same only without the shipping costs of sending to Gateway in Texas. The corporate office contact person is completely useless since she says "Oh, I'm not in technical support, just send it in and our great team will fix it for you." Oh if only, lame ass!

I don't think they train these people... A former co-worker of mine bought a Gateway PC last May. The hard drive developed bad sectors out of warranty this October. I told him to buy a new one and I would install it and restore his PC. Well the restore disc he had was damaged (scratched) sometime in the year he had it. I first attempted Gateways website to see if I could order a replacement online (Had to do that once before with a friends Sony PC-great exp there). Couldn't find it, but I did see a link to chat online with a tech.

After explaining the situation their online tech (Steve), he confirmed the PC was out of warranty and tried to sell me phone based support. I reminded him that I didn't want/need tech support as the problem was fixed, I just needed a replacement restore disc. He tells me they do not carry them and directs me to an outside company website to buy it. Well I looked on that website and most of what they listed were for older PC's running Windows98 and earlier. I only seen a few XP's and no Vista's. I found a phone number for the company and called, they confirmed they do not carry anything Vista. They specialize in older hardware no longer supported. They did recommend to call Gateway and ask for their parts department as tech support were "idiots", the discs should be in stock.

So I found their number and called their customer service line. I will say Gateway's hold times are better than most, only took about 5 minutes. The guys I talked to (Cody) said they do have the disc (really?), it was $10 for the disc + $10 for regular ground shipping. I explained the situation that my friend was going into the hospital for surgery Monday (11/3) and the needed the disc sooner. I asked if I could get it overnight shipped so I'd have it Friday (10/31). He tells me sure, but the next day shipping will be an additional $10. I said fine $30 is ok and asked to verify it was shipping the same day & also asked where was it shipping from. He said it would ship that day, and it would be coming from Texas.

So Friday passed and no disc, Saturday passed and no disc, finally Monday came and the disc arrives. The label shows "Deliver by 03Nov08", checking the tracking number online it shipped from Washington and it wasn't shipped until the next day. This portion of the blame should be shared by both Gateway (overnight orders shouldn't sit around an extra day) & FedEX (three business days to ship an overnight package?)

General incompetence all around... The first tech should have directed me to customer service to order the disc, the second should have been a little more forthcoming in the shipping. Lastly, FedEx...that's another review.