Replace My Son's Broken PSP with No Fee, Sony!

While I think that Sony should stand behind their products, I don't
think that they are in the wrong here.
Your son damaged it. Whether intentionally or accidentally, it was
damaged by something other then a manufacturers defect.

When I was a kid, I really really wanted a barbie convertible. I
finally got one from my parents and had it 6 months before I stepped
on it and it cracked. My mom wrote to Matel who were hapy to replace
it, at a cost of $49.99 plus shipping which my mom would have to
cover. She told me that if I wanted it replaced I had to pay for it. I
did (saving my allowance and birthday money for months) and I guarded
that car with my life. I still have it in nearly perfect condition.

I think you need to teach little Timmy how to take better care of his
toys. This also might be a great time to teach him that things like a
PSP are a LUXURY not a right.

I'm sure Sony is behind their product if there's a manufacturing
defect but dropping the system doesn't fall under that heading. He
didn't learn the first time he dropped one that maybe he should keep
it somewhere where that can't happen again?

Why not use the opportunity to help Timmy find a way to earn his own
money to cover the cost of replacing his toy since he was the one
whose carelessness broke it?

When I was a kid my parents bought us the necessities (clothes, food,
school supplies) along with a few luxuries (some toys, no video
games). we got an allowance ($3 a week) for doing chores. If we
didnt do the work, we didnt get our allowances. If we wanted video
games, or to go to the movies with our friends, or whatever extra, we
had to pay for it ourselves and let me tell you, when I was a kid I
had the Meanest Parents Ever. As an adult, I'm eternally grateful
that they didn't turn me into a spoiled brat and I know the value of
money.

Wow....just...wow.

The audacity of some people.

Your son DROPS the system, and you think Sony should pay for it???

I find it hard to believe you didn't know the warranty did not cover
such a thing.

hmmmm well your son broke it why should sony have to pay for it if he
broke duh unbelievable!

that you should teach your son how to better take care of his toys.
Two? In less than a year? He wants another? Pony up the money or teach
him that if he learned how to take care of things...he'd still have
it.

.

I don't even know where to start. your son broke it...you pay for it.
or since you claim it was an accident, blame it on gravity. & just
because you've purchased games and consoles over the years doesn't
exempt you from the warranty. I know if I break something, it's my
fault. Besides, it states in the website: THIS WARRANTY SHALL NOT
APPLY IF THIS PRODUCT IS DAMAGED BY ACTS OF GOD, MISUSE, ABUSE,
NEGLIGENCE, ACCIDENT, WEAR AND TEAR, UNREASONABLE USE, OR BY OTHER
CAUSES UNRELATED TO DEFECTIVE MATERIALS OR WORKMANSHIP.
How clearer does it have to be?

yes they should stand behind their product 100% and most likely will
do so and fix it for you if there is a manufactorig defect. But seeing
as though your son dropped it & that caused it to break caused the
defect they are probably not gonna cover it. If you wanted something
like this covered you shoulda purchased a protection plan at the store
you bought it from since most retailers offer something of the nature
and it is usually only a few dollars and will save you major
headaches. Just because it was in a black briefcase thing that sony
also sells does not make them responsible for the damages your son
caused to the product "accidently" or not.

Like someone else mentioned, if you're stressed about electronics
breaking on you it's well worth it to purchase a store warranty or
extended warranty from the company. Most of them will pretty much just
take it back no matter what! I got one on my Dell laptop and I'm SO
happy because the thing turned out to be a piece of junk and needed to
basically be rebuilt four separate times.

This is in no way an issue of Sony standing behind their product. You
paid the $89 the first time without question and now that the system
is broken in about the same manner a 2nd time you balk.

Just a hint...do not store the system on a shelf where it can
"accidently" fall any distance. Its just a storage case, and the case
is NOT made to be resistent to impact.
They do make these but they cost a bit more.

It makes more sense to spend the $89 for the PSP replacement again and
then store it under the bed or on the closet floor when not in use.
Instead you are spending more than this to get a Nintendo system that
you will probably store up on a shelf again and the same scenario
recurring.

Sony is only obligated to cover manufacturer's defects and only within
the first thirty days. Period. They are NOT obligated to cover "user
error", which in this case means storing it in a spot where it is
likely to fall and break.

Well I am missing how that you even have a complaint for this one. I
have a PSP myself and love the product. I have dropped mine many
times and have yet to crack the screen so that must have been a good 4
foot drop atleast. NO electronic including nintendo (which in this
market) is really only the other competition here. And from forums I
have read and they are even worse with their DS model. No
manufacturers warranties cover a drop unless you purchase and extended
warranty thru like best buy which a previous poster had mention.
Actually I consider 89$ a good deal considering the only other option
would be to buy a whole brand new one. Be happy that they are even
doing that. Now if it just stoped sony would take care of that under
warranty. I don't see how you have a complaint. The damage was
because of the drop. Having a 4 year old child i am not experianced in
it yet but I am assuming timmy is older then that and you might want
to teach him to be more careful with his belongings.

This is why I never replaced my sons second PSP. He got one as a
birthday present and less than a month later it had a cracked screen.
At first, I thought it was rather odd that this happened as my son has
owned various hand held game systems, never had a problem with any of
them and is very careful with them but I figured he must've been
careless with it so his father managed to get him a replacement.

This time we had the rubber "safety case" that went on it and we made
a point to drill it in his head to be extra careful with it. When he
placed his back pack onto his bed and it fell out onto a pillow, you
can believe we were both mortified when he turned it on to discover
that the screen was cracked. It was not a hard fall at all and I could
not believe how fragile it was. Considering how much they cost, you'd
think they'd be a little sturdier.

Needless to say, we did NOT replace it. There was no way I could
justify spending money on something that can't withstand minor bumps
and jostles. It's pretty sad too as my son did enjoy it.

Manufacturer warranties never apply to damage caused by the user, such
as dropping, getting wet, etc.

However, the next time you buy something like this, look into extended
coverage available at some retailers (like Toys R Us or Best Buy). I
remember my mom bought me a Sony Walkman (dating myself here) when I
was a teenager, and the sales clerk at Sears sold us a policy that
covered damage "even if you run it over with the car!".
Which came in handy when I dropped it getting off the school bus.

I'm all for companies standing behind their products.

On the other hand I don't really think Sony should have to make its
products immune to the effects of gravity.

Tell Timmy to keep his expensive electronics on a lower shelf. You
bought it, you broke it works the same as you broke it, you bought it.

Timmy is at fault here. It's not Sony's problem that he dropped
valuable electronics. If it were a defect, then I think they should
stand by their product, but not something that is outside of their
control.

You may want to look and see whether or not there is a place that does
electronics or video game repairs in your area. I know in my area
there is a place called Game Warehouse (independent shop) that does
cheap repairs and sells video game equipment. It may also be cheaper
to get a used replacement for less than $89 off eBay, Craigslist, or a
local games shop.

Seriously, your kid is irresponsible and drops something and you want
a company to replace it for free? Wow. My kid desperatly wants a
Nintendo DS which I know he will promptly lose. Should I buy him one
and when he loses it demand Nintendo replace it? I don't think so and
I think if your kid drops his Nintendo you are going to get the same
sort of answer from them.

Warranties are always void when you drop something. I know this was
an accident, but you this could be a time for you to teach your son
responsibility - he needs to take tale better care of his things.

Yeah, I am with everyone else on this one. My partner has one that he
has had for a couple of years now, and my 8 yr old son has one thats
about a year old. They are both in great condition. As a matter of
fact, my husband accidentally dropped his and we watched it(with our
mouths open) drop down a flight of cement stairs. He freaked, but that
was over two years ago, and his psp is still going strong.

ive got a psp thats been through quite a bit and still works like a
charm. hot to cold, drops, gotten wet. ive found the psp to be a VERY
durable device, what is your son doing to this thing?

If it fell off your son's closet shelf and broke twice, then the shelf
is obviously not an ideal place to store it. I'm actually very
surprised they replaced it the first time for ONLY an $89 fee!

"my son and I will be shopping for a Nintendo instead. All the money
my family and I have spent on Playstation 1 and 2 consoles and all the
games over the years"

Seems like you're hurting yourself and your son more than Sony. All
those games you bought and won't be able to play.

Why not take the opportunity to give your son a lesson in caring for
his things properly, and have him earn the $89 fee to replace the
game?

"it accidentally fell off the shelf in his closet"

That means it wasn't put away properly, or someone bumped it, or
something. Things just don't "fall off the shelf" without *something*
causing it to happen.

If the unit was dropped and that's how it was broken, I don't see how
Sony should do anything.

"especially when there's so much competition out there."

You are absolutely right. You shouldn't have to stand for this. I'd
suggest that you buy a product from a company that will repair, free,
their device when it's dropped.

Find that company (you suggest that Nintendo may be it) and spread the
word.

and the only thing that happened is the battery fell out

but nothing else. When my shih tzu was in her teething stages at 2
months old, she would gnaw the psp, yeah its got some scratches, but
the screen is still readable.

How rough was he on these? I've got one. And while I am an adult, I
have dropped the thing, kicked it, knocked it under the couch, my 2
year old has gotten a hold of it and I and NEVER had it break. I've
had it since they came out. NEVER had a problem.

How is this Sony's fault? I'm suprised they are willing to replace it
at all considering it fell.