Lesson learned: You get what you pay for (Nexus 7)

Posted by thisone on August 7, 2012 03:40 pm 91

I was recently looking into purchasing a more portable tablet for e-reading and content consumption when I decided to go with the Nexus 7. After all of the positive coverage the device had received (along with the price of $200/$209 CAD), it appeared to be the best "bang for your buck" device that would fit what I was looking for.

So, while on vacation in the United States (visiting from Vancouver), I took the time to hunt (even that is an understatement, the thing was sold out everywhere) one down and finally wound up purchasing an 8GB Nexus 7 at a Staples. Fast-forward to a few days after I return to Canada and I discover a flaw with the display of the device.

To the left of the front-facing camera, the screen was lifting from the casing. At first I thought the back cover was loose so I applied pressure on the device to no avail. The display was not mounted properly. Taking a quick peek on Google, I was not alone.

Post after post on numerous Android fan sites went into great detail over the screen lifting (along with a variety of other issues). At first, I thought that this design defect would be something that I could live with given that the cost of the device was $200. Nope (image courtesy of sadoway, taken from rootzwiki board).

So, logically, I figured that Google should be able to help guide me through having my device serviced. The time it took me to find the proper phone number to reach a customer sales representative turned out to be greater than the duration of my call.

Given that I bought the device from a retailer, the sales representative essentially told me, "you should have bought it from Google Play." After giving me the option of heading back down to the states to exchange the device (which would also be no guarantee seeing as how it is currently in limited supply), I was told that ASUS' RMA policy would be my only option.

At this point, I have already initiated the return process and am now looking at eating the cost of shipping the device to Ontario. I am absolutely in the dark as to how long I will be without my Nexus 7 but at this point, I lament not being a bit more patient and seeing what Apple's latest tablet offering would be.

What I am left with now are lingering questions as to how Google can heavily promote a device without taking more responsibility for the quality of the hardware they specifically select from their partners.