Some weeks ago I made the mistake of buying an Acer Predator Helios 3D 15 SpatialLabs Edition from the Acer Store (UK). Normally, I buy laptops from better brands, but I was wooed by the SpatialLabs display after seeing it in a YouTube video.
My awful experience so far:
1) Laptop arrives with the DHL grey plastic bag opened and the carton box also opened ("void" sticker broken). Since I didn't know if it was Acer or DHL that opened the carton box, I decided to return and replace it. Result: Acer goes into foot-dragging mode, taking forever to answer messages (sometimes taking days), so the replacement laptop arrives just after the 14-day return period expires. So far, Acer has managed to successfully deprive me of my 14-day period as a result of their own foot-dragging. In other words, if the replacement laptop is also a dud, I won't be able to return it. Great.
2) I take delivery of the replacement laptop, and the first signs aren't encouraging: While the DHL grey plastic bag isn't opened this time, the carton box is opened ("void" sticker broken), just like before. So, it turns out Acer is sending open-box products as new... frickin' scam of a company. But since my 14-day return period is over, I decided to keep it (what other option did I have?)
3) I plug the laptop in and I notice a cluster of dead pixels at the bottom of the screen (definitely more than 5). Since my 14-day period is over, my only recourse is the DOA warranty. So, I open a case and attach a photo showing the cluster of dead pixels. I even circled it with red in the photo so they can see it for sure. A DPD man comes and picks it up (at whatever time was convenient to DPD, not to me), and the laptop goes for repair to a company called "Equinox Maintenance Ltd".
4) Some days later the laptop is returned to me, and they hadn't fixed anything! The report said "no dead pixels found"? How? Just... how? It's very visible at the bottom and I even provided a photo of it with the problem area circled in red. But I think I know how: By pretending there is no issue, they could turnaround the laptop in less than 3-days and technically be within the time limits of the DOA warranty, so they won't have to provide a replacement. So, Acer managed to screw me out of my DOA warranty too.
So, now I am sending the laptop back a second time. I doubt it will be fixed, there is no recourse on my part this time. In the rare case it does get fixed, I will essentially get a refurbished laptop (refurbished by whatever clueless tech at "Equinox Maintenance Ltd" gets their hands on it), not the brand-new factory-assembled laptop I paid for (and Acer pulled all the tricks to make sure they won't provide).
Also, the whole process is causing me anxiety, stress, and tons of wasted time.
So, here is a PSA: Just... avoid this company. Unless you want to experience how it feels to be bullied by a faceless company, just... don't. Not even the SpatialLabs display (which admittedly is neat in-person) is worth it.
