My 8210 Nokia mobile phone began acting funny a few days back. The screen would suddenly disappear for no reason, leaving me to stare blankly at where numbers should be.
Or, on occasions, the numbers when they showed up would come out all scrambled and superimposed on each other. As this phone was only four months old, I decided to take it and have it checked.
First, I had to dig for the warranty and receipt.
Sure enough, the warranty card, an impressive bit of paper resembling more like a college degree than a warranty card, claimed to cover me for four years from the date of purchase.
All it lacked was a gold seal and some ribbons. I then called the workshop number on the card, only to be told to take it to the electronic store I bought it from by Gate 1 in Jeddah International Market.
And being a law-abiding citizen that’s just what I did.
No sooner had I approached the salesman on the counter and barely told him of the problem with the phone, he demanded to see the warranty card.
Fair and good, I thought to myself, as I handed him the warranty card and passed him the receipt for good measure. “Sorry”’ he responded with a quick brush off, as his eyes scanned the present crowd for some poor sucker.
“The screen is not covered in the warranty. You will have to pay for the repairs.”
“Now wait a minute,” I retorted angrily.
“I have a warranty card against product defects for four years, and you are telling me to pay for repairs! Not one Halala I will.”
By then my blood pressure started creeping up slowly, and I demanded to see the biggest boss they had in the store. The big boss soon came over; no doubt attracted by the commotion I was causing and reiterated what the salesman had just told me.
He also asked me to read the fine print at the back of the warranty card, which under close inspection is not worth the paper it was printed on.
One condition stated that the store had limited liability for technical and manufacturing defects.
Another condition flatly stated that defective screens were not covered.
And there were some other protective clauses, all of which were worded in the protection of the seller. “You will fix this, and at no charge!” I replied with open hostility as I stormed off out of the store, brushing aside all other would be victims that were standing around considering a phone purchase.
The next morning I called the Chamber of Commerce to launch a formal protest.
They advised me that such complaints are filed at the Ministry of Commerce.
After tracking down the correct number and the correct department which took me the better part of the day, I finally reached Muhammad Al-Shammary at 688-0240, a department within the ministry that dealt with such issues. He was very cooperative and listened to all what I had to say, including my observation that such warranty cards are worthless, a consumer trap, and should be monitored by the ministry in the interest of protecting the public.
Some vendors went so far as proudly claiming 10-year warranties on these products.
All bull and no substance, I grunted!
He asked me to fax him all the details attention Manager, Ministry of Commerce, Western Region, which I have done last Wednesday.
I then also e-mailed Nokia headquarters with my gripe. As I write this, I am waiting for their responses.
I will update the readers on my campaign.
In the meantime, if you are contemplating purchasing a mobile phone, save yourself a lot of grief and have someone get you one from Dubai with the original manufacturer’s warranty card.
Otherwise, chances are big you will end up holding an empty bag of goods!
