chibuki's Blog

I am really angry as I’m writing this as it’s going to leave a mark forever for my experience with electronic service.

The story begins with a few months back, when I had my suspicions for my Toshiba Satellite A105 notebook computer as it made weird noises. I remember when I played a flash game online, the sounds came out in slow-motion, and then it happened when I was playing music in iTunes as well. I immediately had a horrible feeling about it since I was traumatized with the same incident around 2 years ago, when my laptop refused to play any videos. When it happened again this time, I asked around different online tech forums with hardware experts as well as my friends who know little bit about computers. They said I can rest easy since it could be just minor issue, but the worst case scenario is a hard disk failure.

Since then, my suspicion was under the cloud for a while because I was able to use my notebook computer again properly... until that one day. It was that day when I got the blue screen in the middle of my usual daily multitasking, which booted me off everything I had going and then the computer went on reboot. Windows XP had the 3-step disk check process, but unfortunately it would not go past the second step every single time - I even waited for hours one time. Eventually I had to skip the disk checking in order to use my laptop again. This caused all of my suspicious and fear to come back, until ultimately my laptop just gave up. The notebook computer would not boot up every time I power it on, it’s just stuck in the BIOS screen in the beginning.

This marked the FIRST time when I call the warranty service I had for my laptop, which was under contract by CircuitCity. The technician told me to unplug the battery and hold the power button for about 1 minute before putting it back. This actually powers up my laptop again but it would freeze after 3 to 10 minutes of usage. Whenever I open Windows Live Messenger, it would give me the Windows Live Communications error which disconnects me from internet right away and freeze the whole computer. Subsequently, I had to reboot my laptop again to use it. Knowing that my laptop is literally on its last breaths, I took the opportunity to back up all of my datas. Luckily, I had an external hard drive and was able to pull off most of my important stuff.

Case #1
Before all of that happened, however, I asked them to send my laptop to their service center but they would require me to have the document with proof that I have the warranty. For this, I had to call a different number. When I gave them it, they said it was expired on 2008. Of course, I had the warranty extended last year until 2010 but for some reason, the guy who renewed it put the name wrong in their database so my extension wasn’t registered under their system. I had to fax the certificate to them. When it was sent to them, I STILL had to wait until the OTHER department to update it. After a full week, it was FINALLY updated so then I can talk to the CircuitCity service people again.

Yes, CircuitCity went out of business back in January 2009 but they still do warranty stuff with customers, probably under different management.

Case #2
I told them every problem I had regarding my laptop and I want it shipped to their service center, but there were several procedures before I can do so because they had to make sure what the problem is, whether it’s a software issue or a hardware issue. One guy told me to do a System Restore, but I knew it’s going to be impossible with the current the state my computer that time. I did anyway since he insist. After for about 4-6 hours, my computer just stopped working while that System Restore was running for about 80%. Finally, I called CircuitCity again, had a different guy read all of my incident number report, and they’re finally convinced that it’s totally absolutely broken and needs a repair by a technician. They then told me to drop my laptop at any RadioShack outlet so they can ship it to the service depot. This was because CircuitCity had a contract with them and every customers have to do the same procedures now.

Case #3
It was a fine Saturday, which was the Halloween Day in the US. I dropped my laptop at RadioShack and waited. I waited and waited and waited, checked this Product Repair Status Lookup website about 4 times every day. I wanted to ask what took so long for them to deliver it, but no one pick up the phone, which gave me the fax signal after a couple rings. Apparently, ghosts work at RadioShack where no one picks up the phone there. Finally, on a Friday following my family and I decided to go to the store and ask them what happened. But that morning, when I check the website, it said that my unit has been shipped. Yay! The joy soon turned into rage when we called RadioShack on Monday to check up the status on my laptop. One employee said that my laptop was actually still there in that store... They said it was because they had a problem with FedEx or something, which I know they was just screwing around.

Case #4
Once again, I called 1-800-555-4615 for CircuitCity to tell them it’s really been inconvenient for me because we wasted 2 weeks worth waiting while nobody even look at my laptop yet to see what’s wrong with it. We decided to ship it ourselves and have CircuitCity send me the box to my address. On Tuesday, I went to RadioShack again to pick up my laptop but when we got there, we found out that my laptop was just shipped (for real this time) earlier before we came. WTF? When I think about it, they’re actually really messing with me cause they never deliver it all these times until I came there in person. This time, the employee said they had a problem because CircuitCity didn’t send them the box to ship to the service depot. And to make sure they aren‘t messing around again, we asked for the tracking number.

Case #5
The story goes on. At home, I checked that tracking number and it said the box is shipping to New York. Yesterday (this was Wednesday, Nov 11th 2009), the box CircuitCity gave us arrived at my house but of course RadioShack already sent it out the day before that. But now, I noticed something else. The shipping box’s address is supposed to return to the Digital Depot Service Center at 1801 S. Beach Street in Fort Worth, Texas 76105, however the FedEx tracking number RadioShack gave me said my unit has been delivered to Buffalo, New York, where RadioShack’s service depot is. So essentially, we ship it to the wrong address! Freaking awesome! I was really furious and I had this feeling where I want to destroy a huge building as soon as I found out.

So when I called CircuitCity again, gave them my incident number, this female representative apologized many times seeing that I have a long list of bullcrap happening for weeks. She then called RadioShack to check up with them, and said that we will be expecting a call from the RadioShack manager later. So that’s where I’m at now. 3 weeks of waiting for my laptop to be repaired and no one even take a look at it yet. Not to mention that it’s still at the wrong address too. I have so much going on this month, including school work, a week trip to Florida, and aunt from overseas is here for the month. Looks like all will be without my precious laptop.

Note: I don’t actually hate RadioShack or CircuitCity. They’ve been really great electronic department stores when I shop there. It’s just that some incompetent monkeys really had me this time.

Anime Relations: Kobato., Seitokai no Ichizon, Seiken no Blacksmith, Sora no Otoshimono, Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu: Purezza, Kimi ni Todoke, Kämpfer, Toaru Kagaku no Railgun, Nyan Koi!, Darker than BLACK - Ryuusei no Gemini, Queen's Blade: Gyokuza wo Tsugu Mono, 11eyes, Fairy Tail

Well, it's time for Fall weekly impressions. These are just my initial thoughts on the new anime of Fall 2009.

<update> Looks like I lost track of this because my computer was broken~

Week 4

1. To Aru Kagaku no Railgun (4 eps)
   
2. Darker than BLACK - Ryuusei no Gemini (3 eps)
   
3. Fairy Tail (2 eps)
   
4. Kimi ni Todoke (3 eps)
   
5. 11eyes (3 eps)
   
6. Seitokai no Ichizon (3 ep)
   
7. Queen's Blade: Gyokuza wo Tsugu Mono (4 eps)
   
8. Kobato. (3 eps)
   

Week 3

1. Darker than BLACK - Ryuusei no Gemini (2 eps)
   
2. Fairy Tail (1 ep)
   
3. To Aru Kagaku no Railgun (3 eps)
   
4. Seiken no Blacksmith (3 eps)
   
5. Kämpfer (3 eps)
   
6. Kimi ni Todoke (2 eps)
   
7. Nyan Koi! (3 eps)
   
8. Sora no Otoshimono (2 eps)
   
9. Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu: Purezza (2 eps)
   
10. 11eyes (2 eps)
    
11. Queen's Blade: Gyokuza wo Tsugu Mono (3 eps)
    
12. Seitokai no Ichizon (2 eps)
    
13. Kobato. (2 eps)
    

Week 2

1. To Aru Kagaku no Railgun (2 eps)
   
2. Seiken no Blacksmith (2 eps)
   
3. Darker than BLACK - Ryuusei no Gemini (1 ep)
   
4. 11eyes (1 ep)
   
5. Nyan Koi! (2 eps)
   
6. Queen's Blade: Gyokuza wo Tsugu Mono (2 eps)
   
7. Seitokai no Ichizon (1 ep)
   
8. Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu: Purezza (1 ep)
   
9. Kämpfer (2 eps)
   
10. Sora no Otoshimono (1 ep)
    
11. Kimi ni Todoke (1 ep)
    
12. Kobato. (1 ep)
    

Week 1

1. To Aru Kagaku no Railgun (1 ep)
   
2. Seiken no Blacksmith (1 ep)
   
3. Nyan Koi! (1 ep)
   
4. Queen's Blade: Gyokuza wo Tsugu Mono (1 ep)
   
5. Kämpfer (1 ep)
   

Anime Relations: Umineko no Naku Koro ni, Bakemonogatari, CANAAN, Yokuwakaru Gendaimahou, Kanamemo, Fight Ippatsu! Juuden-Chan!!, Needless, Sora no Manimani, Umi Monogatari ~Anata ga Itekureta Koto~, Aoi Hana, Princess Lover!, Tokyo Magnitude 8.0, Yokuwakaru Gendaimahou 00

These are my impressions for Summer 2009 anime. I thought I'd make a record of my favored shows throughout the summer, so this will be regularly updated.

5th week impressions:

1. Tokyo Magnitude 8.0 (5 eps)
   
2. CANAAN (6 eps)
   
3. Umi Monogatari (6 eps)
   
4. Princess Lover! (5 eps)
   
5. Yokuwakaru Gendaimahou (4 eps)
   
6. Sora ni Manimani (3 eps)
   
7. Kanamemo (5 eps)
   
8. Fight Ippatsu! Juuden-Chan!! (5 eps)
   
9. Spice and Wolf II (5 eps)
   
10. Bakemonogatari (5 eps)
    
11. Needless (4 eps)
    
12. Umineko no Naku Koro ni (3 eps)
    
13. Aoi Hana (2 eps)

Past weeks impression below.

Anime Relations: Tears to Tiara

Found a nice long connected screenshots of this proud Knight, Octavia. These are from episode 10 of Tears to Tiara. Perhaps they might fit as a scroll on your wall?



Despite of her nobility, she's very approachable...

This used to be my profile... then I decided to scrap it because it takes a lot to update (X.x;;)

MyAnimeList.net, a property of CraveOnline Media LLC, a division of AtomicOnline, LLC.
© 2009 CraveOnline Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved.