Antec PSU high-pitched noise...

gumbald

gumbald

gumbald

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Right, did a quick search and came across 4 thread with similar things:

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=17649638

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=17628818

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=17622770

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=17534801

My 400W PSU in my TX640B (Antec site) has started making a whining noise all the time, only way to stop it is to turn the main switch off on the back. I've checked all the voltages and they seem fine. All the previous threads suggest swapping it out, but nobody says whether they manage an RMA out of Antec. Is it worth worrying about, and should I contact Antec about it? :)
 
Yeah RMA before it goes mate...... Antec are a well respected company, they should sort you out.
 
Thought I'd started a thread about it...

This PSU died today after the whistling became more and more prominent. It was a graceful death I think, not had chance to check if everything else survived yet. As it's more than a year old, I'm presuming it will have to go back to Antec, is it true it'd have to go to Holland?
 
gumbald said:
As it's more than a year old, I'm presuming it will have to go back to Antec, is it true it'd have to go to Holland?
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As far as I'm aware, yep, unfortunately it will do. You can try asking the shop where you bought it if they will deal with the RMA and they might as a goodwill gesture but they aren't under any obligation to do so really. Antec should have instructions on their website as to how to deal with the RMA. :)
 
The place where I bought it, X shall we say, replaced a friend's Antec PSU without and arguments after 18 months, so I've referred them to his case, see if they'll do it for me too. Otherwise, might just buy the new PSU, guessing it will be quite a lot to send to Holland?
 
Sale of goods act ;)
They're legally obliged to handle warranty repairs if you so wish, whatever they might like to think- Your contract is with the retailer, not the manufacturer.
If they then have the PSU more than 28 days (Again sale of goods act), they're obliged to replace it from stock, not make you wait, again whatever they might like to think.

Send it to them & threaten with the sale of goods act & trading standards if they get shirty.

-Leezer-
 
In first 6 months it is the retailers/manufacturers agents who has to prove that a fault with a product they sold was not caused by them/manufacturing process.. if infact is un-deniable that its a manufactural fault then they should offer a repair or replacement.

After the 6 months and upto 6 years (5 years scotland) the onus is on the consumer to prove it was not themselves or their use that caused the fault. If it is proved to by be unfit for purpose due to manufacturing process then the retailer/manufacturers agent has to arrange a repair/replacement.

The retailer/manufacturers agent can get issues sorted within reasonable time. This is not stated in the SOGA but retailers have their own policies. Some can take upto 3 months, some like PCworld have a 28day in the first year and 42 day after first year.

Also this does not mean that everything you buy, a tin of beans, PC or beer is suppose to last 6 years. You mayhave purchased a tin of beans but it is only acceptable to claim withing the 'Use By date' on the tin if unsatisfied. With PC's this does NOT mean you have a claim because it doesn't play the top graphics game in 6 years time because at purchase you asked it to play top games. If it cannot handle the software designed and sold at the time of purchase then you MIGHT have a claim.

Most retailers have special agreements with manufacturers where the retailers become "manufacturer agents" HP and Lexmark have this agreement with PCWorld where the manufactuer prefers to deal with consumers for repairs and exchanges directly. By being manufactuer agents the onus on repair or replacement falls back to the manufacturer not the retailer.

Retailers also have the right to use external repairers to get items fixed or repaired if it is in benefit of the consumer. So where PCWorld have asked consumers to phone the manufacturer it is because in-store it could take upto 28days to sort out the issue, but by using the manufacturer direct the consumer can get the issue sorted faster.
Ofcourse the consumer is within their right to refuse this option and leave it with the retailer to deal with. but that could take longer




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Pretty much what we all say about it then

One thing to note is that it is generally preferable to go via the retailer and not choose to go to the manufacturer yourself, as you could actually lose your SoGA rights if you pursue the matter under a manufacturer's warranty. If you were to do so on the advice of the retailer, you could obviously argue that you were acting in accordance with their advice - but always get this confirmed in writing in case of any future disputes.

Basically rights under the SoGA depreciate over time, and it does not cover faults which are attributable to normal wear and tear or something that the consumer has done to the product. I would also add that consumers cannot generally have betterment, i.e. a brand new replacement after a couple of years use of the old one.

Goods purchased under Hire Purchase agreements are not covered by the Sale of Goods Act, there is different legislation for this and you do not have a contract with the retailer, but the finance company.
 
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Yep, as above :)
The reasonable time limit is generally considered to be 28 days, although it isn't specifically stated in law. Anything after that, I'd be threatening with trading standards, as over a month is quite clearly too long.

Further on the 6 months bit mentioned above, this obviously only applies where the product isn't covered by a manufacturers warranty, so if it is still under manufacturers warranty, and the fault is not USER caused then its thier problem.

Again, you'll find that some companies will try to shrink out of things by claiming the fault is due to user error etc. & the product needs to go back to the manufacturer, and if this happens, you need to be able to prove that it isn't (IE. by having tested with several sets of RAM/ vid card etc.) before RMAing.

Finding a phone number/ e-mail for someone higher than the usual CS monkey tends to help, otherwise send all letters by recorded delivery. If they try to fob you off, then don't hesitate to drop trading standards on them- Have a look at the trading standards site under some of the big online retailers to see what happens ;)

-Leezer-
 
http://www.antec.com/uk/warranty.php?value=en

Antec are quite vague about the rest of the warranty, but specific in saying that the first year is definitely with the retailer.

Still not sure how I can argue this with the retailer, is it just a matter of quoting the SoGA and giving a list of procedures I've taken to prove that it's the PSU that's died?

If I'm missing it, can somebody add me on MSN to push me in the right direction :)

jamiebarron ;AT; hotmail ;DOT; com
 
Quote the Sale of Goods Act 1979, as amended to them ( http://www.johnantell.co.uk/SOGA1979.htm ) referring to specific section numbers, primarily here 14.1.2, 14.1.2E, all of 48A & 48B.

These very specifically say that your contract is with the seller, not the manufacturer. By choosing to offer a warranty, the manufacturer has overridden the provision of fault- I.E. If it fails within the warranty period, the onus is on the manfacturer to prove that the fault is due to your negligence, not the other way around.
Sections 48A & 48B deal with the contract between you and the retailer. The specific part you want is this:
48A
(2) If the buyer requires the seller to repair or replace the goods, the seller must—

(a) repair or, as the case may be, replace the goods within a reasonable time but without causing significant inconvenience to the buyer;

(b) bear any necessary costs incurred in doing so (including in particular the cost of any labour, materials or postage).
Click to expand...

Tell them you've tested the PSU in two different machines, tried a different (Known working) lead & changed the fuse. This is to show that the fault is inherant, and covered by the warranty provisions (I.E. Not caused by a blown fuse or duff lead), and can generally make things easier when dealing under the Sale of Goods Act. Not necessary, but can help speed things along.

If they refuse, inform them that they are in breach of the procedures laid down in the Sale of Goods Act, and give your local trading standards a phone- They can and will force the company in question to rectify the situation.



From a quick look at Antec's page, this is the relavant paragraph (Basically the get-out clause- They know thier warranty is junk):
VI. Local Law And Your Warranty
This warranty gives you specific legal rights. You may also have other rights granted under local law. These rights may vary.
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FWIW though, like most stuff, the restrictions that they place on the warranty are completely unenforcable. The Sale of Goods Act very specifically states that they must pay the return postage under this warranty (Section 48.2B)


MSN is bust here ATM (Don't ask!), but thats the basics. If you've got any more questions, then I'm more than happy to answer.

-Leezer-
 
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