When I received the item, everything looked ok.It ran well and I was satisfied.The next day I decided to watch some YouTube videos with a friend, and that's when I noticed that the computer got REALLY hot underneath.Then we started watching some Netflix, and after about 40 minutes of Orange is the New Black, the computer randomly shutdown, the screen going black instantly.
I was really annoyed with this issue, but I did nothing because I was stupid.
I also started to notice that it had internet connectivity problems.I'd turn the computer on, start working on my homework, but the computer would randomly stop connecting to the internet.It would stay connected to the WiFi network, but internet access was gone.It was very frustrating because several times I lost internet connectivity at crucial moments, be it working on an assignment or playing a game.The only way to restore connectivity would be to restart the computer.
These were really bad signs, and I should have done something then, maybe this would have turned out better if I had, however I didn't want to have to return the computer.
I had just bought it and waited several days for it to get there, so I tried to ignore the problem and tried to think of clever ways of keeping the thing from overheating. Nothing seemed to help.It would still randomly go black no matter how I positioned it to get more air underneath.I even bought a laptop cooling fan from Amazon, an Aventek, but the fan was unable to prevent the overheating and subsequent shutdown. I decided to return the fan because it didn't help, and in the process of returning it at the newly built Amazon Store at my university (which is awesome BTW), I thought to myself, "What the hell am I doing? Why am I trying so hard to redeem this POS laptop?"
So from there, I knew that I had to return the laptop.Amazon customer service told me to contact Antonline.com to find out how to return the product.I was directed to an "RMA" form ( http://www.antonline.com/request_rma.php ) and I put in my return request.I was optimistic about getting my money back because I had stated the problem clearly and assumed that AntOnline was ran by decent human beings.The form said that I'd get a response in one business day, so I spent that night researching better computers to buy
Well, that one business day came and went.I put in the request on Wednesday, but didn't end up geting a response until Saturday, Valentine's day.My request had been mysteriously denied.
"Unfortunately,products with customer caused item, packaging or accessory damage; OR that are missing items, accessories or packaging;that cannot be returned in as new condition - exactly as you received the product are not eligible for return or refund."
This was the only explanation that I received.Naturally, I was very upset; it felt like they were denying the request for the VERY reason that I wanted to return the product in the first place.
I wanted to return the product because it was poor quality and didn't perform as expected, but they didn't want to accept the return because it was poor quality.
Basically, they knew about the problems and were just happy to have it out of their inventory.The Toshiba wasn't Antonline's problem anymore.
I replied to the denial asking "why?" and requesting more information, but I got no response, so I called the number provided at Antonline.com (1-877-293-9797) yesterday (2/18/2015).After waiting 15 minutes to speak with someone, Chris finally answered.
I told Chris my problem, however he told me that there was basically nothing he could do because I needed to email [email protected] with my amazon order number to get more information.He couldn't see anything about my original request within his system.He did create a support ticket and escalate the problem.
Today in my inbox, I found this gem:
"Unfortunately,products with customer caused item, packaging or accessory damage; OR that are missing items, accessories or packaging;that cannot be returned in as new condition - exactly as you received the product are not eligible for return or refund."
The inquiry for more information was literally the same thing they already sent, probably just copied and pasted.At this point, I'm very upset.I just wanted to talk to someone and ask "WHY?!!"
I called the help line again today (2/19/2015) and Chris answered the phone again.I asked why my request was denied again, but of course he didn't know because he can't access that information.It was very frustrating to hear Chris explain how the customer service is divided in such away that it's impossible for me to actually talk to the person copying and pasting the denial messages before sending them my way.I asked to speak to his supervisor, but Chris told me that there was no one higher up that I could talk to.He was the only person there.Sure he is.
This whole experience has lead me to believe that AntOnline.com doesn't care about the people buying their wares.They shroud their company several layers of bureaucracy and emails to prevent actuallytalking with their angry and hurt customers.
If you are thinking about buying this computer, think really hard about what kind of company you want to do business with.That company sure as hell ain't AntOnline.com
TL;DR
1. this computer overheats very easily.Watching Netflix for an hour will cause the computer to overheat enough for an random shutdown, the screen immediately going black.
2. The computer randomly loses internet connectivity, and usually at the most inopportune moment.The WiFi network connection is there, but it has "limited connectivity." Restarting is the only way to restore the internet.
3. Returning the product is impossible because the company is happy to hand over the problem to the consumer.
4. The customer service department is divided in a way such that it's impossible to speak with the person who is actually denying the request to return the product.
5. Chris, the customer service representative who answers the phone, doesn't know why the request is being denied and offers no recourse other than to send the [email protected] more emails.
6. It's impossible to talk to Chris's supervisor because he is the only one there.
7. If you are thinking about buying this computer, think really hard about what kind of company you want to do business with.That company isn't AntOnline.com