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The original was posted on /r/linustechtips by /u/Snapdragon_865 on 2024-12-18 15:30:04+00:00.


Hey LTT community, I need to share my experience with HP’s warranty support that has left me without a working laptop for almost 2 months now.

The Setup

I bought an HP Dragonfly Pro (32GB RAM, 5G model) for field work. Premium device, premium price tag, “premium” support. What could go wrong?

The Nightmare Begins

  • Device fails October 24th (just 2 weeks after purchase)
  • HP receives it November 6th
  • Warranty promises 5-day turnaround
  • Reality? 40 days of “parts shortage”

The “Support” Experience

During this 40-day wait, HP sent me a loaner that belonged in a museum - a 6-year-old laptop with a cracked chassis. Had to return it immediately because it was unusable.

It Gets Worse

After 40 days, I finally get my laptop back. But plot twist: it’s now in worse condition than when I sent it:

  • Crashes every 10 minutes
  • Eventually stops booting completely
  • Shows motherboard failure (5 long flashes, 3 short flashes on caps lock)

The Cherry on Top

Here’s where it gets really good. The escalation agent emails me on December 5th:

“I will be calling you Monday as we discussed to go over replacement options”

Then on December 13th, same agent:

“Unfortunately, a replacement request will be denied. I do have to follow the warranty guidelines and it states we have to be given the opportunity to fix the unit”

They want me to send it back for another 3-week repair attempt. The model isn’t even in production anymore, yet they insist on “fixing” it.

Current Situation (December 18)

  • Still no working laptop
  • 55+ days without a functional device
  • Support refuses replacement
  • Demanding another repair attempt
  • Filed BBB complaint
  • Escalated to executive team

The Impact

I need this laptop for field testing and data analysis. Instead, I’ve spent countless hours dealing with support and have nothing to show for it.

Lessons Learned

  1. HP’s warranty promise of 5-day turnaround is meaningless
  2. Their “premium” support is anything but
  3. They’ll make you wait months before considering replacement
  4. Support agents will contradict themselves
  5. Executive escalation seems to be ignored

TL;DR

Bought HP Dragonfly Pro, failed in 2 weeks, waited 40 days for repair, got it back worse than before, support promised replacement then denied it, still no resolution after 55+ days.

Think twice before buying an HP laptop, especially their “premium” lines. Their warranty support is a joke, and they’ll leave you hanging for months with a paperweight.