Spoke too soon

Lie #1: By Omission
I call FedEx to find out how to initiate a claims process. I tell the representative over the phone exactly what happened and what was broken, she told me to keep all the packaging materials and not throw anything out until the claims process is completed. She also told me to got the website online and initiate the claims process...

As soon as I get off the phone with the rep the computer crashes which is very strange considering it does not even have an OS installed. I find my Linux install CD and try to boot the computer but it wont do a thing. I flip the PSU switch off and pull the plug. I move the computer to look around on the inside and in the process of moving the computer I hear a rattle. I think, "Oh crap, I just arc'ed the board." Nope, that plastic tab I said was floating around inside the computer... No loose metal.

I am a bit concerned at this point with the mystery but I haven't given up. I power the comp back up after plugging it in again and it starts up fine. I even begin the install process when it crashes again. Once again the power button isn't working... So I flip the PSU off then on again and I can start it up. It becomes apparent that the computer shuts itself off faster and faster the warmer it is. Based on the power button not working until the PSU is cycled I figure it must be the PSU overheating. The eBay seller had a 100% feedback rating and I emailed him asking (as well as explaining the situation with fedex) and he replies telling me it was working fine when he shipped it.

Well it seems their system wont let you initiate a claims process once one has already been started. Since the representative started the claims process for me their website wouldn't let me start the process nor would it let me view anything about it because in order for you to do that you have to initiate the claims process on the website. After a bit of effort at trying to find a way to start the process I give up and call back. One thing to be said about their phone maze is that it is fairly short and I always get a representative within 30-60 seconds.

Lie #2:By Omission
The next representative tells me to wait until the claims department contacts me, I tell this rep about the problem with the computer and they add it to my file. So I go along with my life waiting for a contact from the claims rep. This all happened on 2/14/07, the next contact I had was a letter received on 2/21/07.