Samsung Thailand Won't Touch Samsung Malaysia Tablets

[hermespan]

I am not talking about warranty issues, just repair and maintenance issues.

I bought my tablet in Malaysia. It has been acting up and I figured it is about time to back it up and take it in for service just in case a factory reinstall is required. I don't know if its the cost of labour in Thailand or its more expedient, or computers are so bloody complicated compared to a toaster than repairmen want so quickly to destroy everything instead of repair. Where are the tinkerers?

Not sure I backed up all the data, despite trying several ways and apps. I recall backing up apps and backing up contacts but I would be more confident in my actions using app 'super backup' if the options had been 'back up every single file, document, photo, app etc' or 'backup EVERY FRIGGING THING'. What I don't want to happen is I go to get all my stuff and there is a problem. I have everything synched with google drive and google account (cross my fingers) but I haven't actually tested. Seems to me there should be a one button app using one's laptop, or even one built in the device. There probably is. Never the less, I trust computer geeks more than myself.

To be sure I thought it would be best if Samsung did it. After all, its a device they are a lot more familiar with than I am. And of course, I would pay for the service.

Nope. Thailand has gone legalistic like USA. It's not loosey goosey like Vietnam, China or Cambodia: 'you pay, you takes your chances'. Or maybe it is an international Samsung policy. Maybe they got sued. Fine, I'll sign off. Nope.

What's more "we cannot push this button 'back up and restore"

'Fine, who at Panthip Plaza can you recommend that I can pay to do it for me.'

"Don'T know, ask around."

What's more... "Software Malaysia is not same software Thailand"

Looks like I'll be looking for an independent techie who doesn't give a rat's arse about all these corporate rules and is more concerned about customer service. Still looking for specialists. Who has time fir do it yourself computer stuff? Takes me days to just misunderstand the help file. Forget every family having a doctor and a lawyer. Every family needs an auto mechanic and a computer geek.

Hmm, I don't know if restore will restore the updating of the OS. It came with some food name 'jelly bean' or whatever. ANd I went online and upgraded it for free to 'steak dinner' (ice cream sandwich?) or whatever the heck they call the newer one.

I find it weird. I expected to get the best, albeit expensive, customer service at the manufacturer. Instead, nothing close. Are all international electronic device companies like this or is it something unique to Thailand?

I know that finding repairmen is exceptionally difficult and they tend to either be very expensive in Canada or super cheap in India. Everything is made in China. Throw it away and buy a new one.

Edited March 20, 2013 by hermespan

[TommoPhysicist]

Unique to Thailand.

[hermespan]

I had the reverse happen to me in Malaysia. I took in my SONY camcorder to be repaired. They had a sign posted that specified the price for devices bought in Malaysia, and a second, three times the price, price for devices bought elsewhere. the only rational explanation I could think of was that SONY subsidizes its Malaysian customer service. Or it is part of their strange racial-religious ethnic rules. But, ThailandvI thiught would be more business like.

BTW, I solved that video problem, the fastest abd cgeaoest way... Flew to Singapore.

Sorry, for typos. Usual incompatability of thaivisa with android. Display ad in proximity seems to make it worse.

[Chicog]

It's a tablet, why does it need a service?

You can do a factory reset yourself.

[hermespan]

It's a tablet, why does it need a service?

You can do a factory reset yourself.

I don't mind doing factory reset myself, as long as someone expert does the backup. Already somehow along the way backing up files some are missing.

Secondly, factory reset is a last resort. What I would rather pay for isa technician experienced with a Samsung tablet find the cause of the various problems with my tablet (freezing, paste not working, every time I leave an app, it requiring recover, monitor turning black, symbols disappraring on menu, pressing item A and getting item B, etc) and correct it. Perhaps one of the 60 apps is corrupt. Perhaps sone other cause. In other words, trouble shooting.

It's like a doctor has a patient, you can try to heal the patient, or you can do radical surgery. I prefer minimalist intervention because I don't like the side effects of 'strong drugs'. I read of multi step solutions to for example the lack of paste function (due apparently to upgrading OS -- great, the newest one has bugs!)

[muratremix]

Since when Samsung care about customer satisfaction like Apple?

[lomatopo]

I suspect Samsung Thailand thought that you wanted warranty service/repair, and if you examine your warranty information I think you'll find that Samsung Malaysia are the warranty/service/repair agents. Since Samsung Thailand did not generate any revenue from the sale of your unit they are not required to offer warranty repair/service - this is not unique to Thailand. Further, your offer to pay may have been confusing as they think there is nothing wrong with your unit, and they may even be prohibited, by their agreement with Samsung, from offering service on units purchased outside of Thailand.

Can you share any details on your unit: model, age, android version, exact problems? Please be very specific and succinct, and avoid commiserating on the state of affairs in India, Canada, the U.S. ad nauseum.

I think you would be well advised to copy all important user generated data (pictures, videos, etc.) from the tablet to a PC just as a normal back-up precaution. There are many, many tools and apps. for accomplishing this task.

Once we have more detail maybe some can offer up alternatives? I can't even begin to offer advice until I know as much about your device and its problems as you can share. All you've shared is that it is a Samsung tablet and that it is "acting up." I hope you can understand that that is not a whole lot of useful information?

[Ticketmaster]

Samsung won't even service Samsung products bought in Thailand the minute that particular model is discontinued. Once your Thai-bought Samsung product is replaced by a new model, they'll tell you, "Sorry, no parts."

I could share my experiences with Samsung models and what happened, but the list is too long and I just want to forget about it.

That's what you get when you buy Samsung. I'll never buy another Samsung product as long as I live -- in any country!

[hermespan]

Samsung won't even service Samsung products bought in Thailand the minute that particular model is discontinued. Once your Thai-bought Samsung product is replaced by a new model, they'll tell you, "Sorry, no parts."

I could share my experiences with Samsung models and what happened, but the list is too long and I just want to forget about it.

That's what you get when you buy Samsung. I'll never buy another Samsung product as long as I live -- in any country!

Indeed, this is what the Samsung clerknsaid, 'This model [7.7" 6800] is not sold in Thailand. We cannot service it."

It has been my observation that all such multi-national electronic corporations are completely separate companies. There seems to be company hands-off rules about parts, service, etc - not limited to warranties (which as you know is not relevant in my case). Makes it difficult for frequent travellers like myself who buy stuff all over the world.

[hermespan]

I suspect Samsung Thailand thought that you wanted warranty service/repair, and if you examine your warranty information I think you'll find that Samsung Malaysia are the warranty/service/repair agents. Since Samsung Thailand did not generate any revenue from the sale of your unit they are not required to offer warranty repair/service - this is not unique to Thailand. Further, your offer to pay may have been confusing as they think there is nothing wrong with your unit, and they may even be prohibited, by their agreement with Samsung, from offering service on units purchased outside of Thailand.Can you share any details on your unit: model, age, android version, exact problems? Please be very specific and succinct, and avoid commiserating on the state of affairs in India, Canada, the U.S. ad nauseum.I think you would be well advised to copy all important user generated data (pictures, videos, etc.) from the tablet to a PC just as a normal back-up precaution. There are many, many tools and apps. for accomplishing this task.Once we have more detail maybe some can offer up alternatives? I can't even begin to offer advice until I know as much about your device and its problems as you can share. All you've shared is that it is a Samsung tablet and that it is "acting up." I hope you can understand that that is not a whole lot of useful information?

Thank you for your interest.

My tablet is a Samsung 7.7" model # GT-P6800, purchased in a small town in Johor, Malaysia in spring 2012 or 2011 I used to carry the warranty and receipt with me but it is eleswhere. I believe its warranty has expired and in any case was not valid utside Malaysia anyway.

Softeare basic is Android 4.0.4

Baseband version: P6800DXLP7

Kernel version: 3.0.15-1160935, dpi@DELL212 #3, SMP PREEMPT Wed Oct 31 (time also) KST 2012, Build: 76D.DXLP8

More to come. As paste is not working I am manually entering all this info!

OK, I'm back..

Problems are as follows...

1. Paste does not work. According to posts on various Android forums this is not unique to me. There is a solution that involves multiple steps. My intrntion was to show those posts to a tecnician and say, 'here figure it out' It wasn't a simpke three step procedure. Appatently this problem is unique to the new operating system. Curiously cut does work. This is in many apps that paste does not work, gmail, word processing etc, so it is not an app problem.

2. Tablet crashes, freezes, does not respond. It is even difficult to get it to turn off when this happens

3. Phone app that came with tablet makes the sounds when I press numbers, but the cimpany I am calling does not have their cimputer respond accordingly. Let's say the recorded voice says 'press 3 for Swahili',, I press 3, I hear a tone, but the voice keeps going. I am responding but their system is not. This happens about half the time.

4. Monitor goes black. The buttons on bottom (e.g. Symbol of a house) disappear when I press them.

5. On most word processing apps when I am working on a document, even when saved, and I leave that to go to any other app, say skype for example, and I come back I always get 'Do you want to recover?' <deleted>? I never closed the program!

Other problems, but these are off the top of my head.

I got a warning that I was running out of space so moved a whole bunch of data to a flashdrive and SD card. Most of these problems started after I upgraded the operating system.

Edited March 21, 2013 by hermespan

[momosan]

The P6800 is sold here, brought one for mum two months ago.

To do a proper full backup, you're going to have to be rooted. There is no way to backup system and application data without root and they're the important things that most everyone wants to maintain.

The 6800 takes about five minutes to root for someone even mildly competent (if it isn't already) .

The best app to backup apps and their data is Titanium Backup. I would also recommend purchasing the pro version, it really is worth the money.

Once everything is backed up using TiBu copy the entire contents of the internal memory to somewhere for safe keeping. Usually not needed but you never know what could happen.

Then do a factory reset and restore your stuff from TiBu.

Edited March 21, 2013 by momosan

[hermespan]

The P6800 is sold here, brought one for mum two months ago.

To do a proper full backup, you're going to have to be rooted. There is no way to backup system and application data without root and they're the important things that most everyone wants to maintain.

The 6800 takes about five minutes to root for someone even mildly competent (if it isn't already) .

The best app to backup apps and their data is Titanium Backup. I would also recommend purchasing the pro version, it really is worth the money.

Once everything is backed up using TiBu copy the entire contents of the internal memory to somewhere for safe keeping. Usually not needed but you never know what could happen.

What a coincidence... Two days ago I bought TITANIUM BACKUP PRO. Price was modest. Then after buying and installing I learned that it works only on 'rooted' devices , and there was a whole song and dance about how to do this -- it's not just 'press button A'. Do technicians at Panthip offer a rooting service? My computer buddies all warned me against doing rooting as it is like handing a psychopath a knife in a crowded elevator - I am certain to screw things up doing so.

Then do a factory reset and restore your stuff from TiBu.

[lomatopo]

1. Not all applications support copy and/or paste. For those which do, long press on the item, it should bring up a menu up top (Select all, copy, share, find, web search), select the test with the two editing indicators, slect Copy, move to the target app, long press select paste or clipboard).

2. Not sure what to say as you’ve provided zero background. In general I’d recommend pulling up the Task Manager (up arrow head, middle bottom of the screen) and close any currently running apps. Which are no longer required to be resident or active.

3. Since this is intermittent I’m not sure what to suggest. Is there any pattern as to when it works and when it doesn’t? I assume you can generate tones to originate the call? Once originated I might select speakerphone, then the dial-pad to be ready to enter the appropriate DTMF tones.

4. Again, not a lot of detail here but could be related to the power scheme you have implemented. You can modify that of course.

5. Again, I would use the Task Manager to move between apps. Which WP app are you using?

I’d really have to see the extent of these issues first-hand before I’d go for a full wipe/re-set.

I know most people dislike KiES, the Samsung PC app. You would use to back-up your device, but it is meant for users like you. DO you use that program to back-up your data?

Android 4.0.4 does seem to be the latest rev. of the software available for that unit. I am using 4.0.4 (Stock, but rooted) on my Tab 10.1 (Wifi only) and it works fine for me.

I can’t say that there is anything wrong with your tablet which would warrant service or repair.

I've been a long time user of the paid version of Titanium Back-up but I'm not certain it would help the OP much. The Play Store keeps track of installed apps., restoring TiBu back-ups with data can sometimes lead to problems, the device does have to be rooted and a lot of the "data" associated with apps. is not all that valuable in the first place.

Edited March 21, 2013 by lomatopo

[hermespan]

> Not all applications support copy and/or paste.

It was working fine before with most apps.

> 2. Not sure what to say as you’ve provided zero background.

Not sure what you mean here.

> In general I’d recommend pulling up the Task Manager (up arrow head, middle bottom of the screen) and close any currently running apps. Which are no longer required to be resident or active.

Indeed I do this.

> 3. Since this is intermittent I’m not sure what to suggest. Is there any pattern as to when it works and when it doesn’t? I assume you can generate tones to originate the call? Once originated I might select speakerphone, then the dial-pad to be ready to enter the appropriate DTMF tones.

Thanks.

>4. Again, not a lot of detail here but could be related to the power scheme you have implemented. You can modify that of course.

5. Again, I would use the Task Manager to move between apps. Which WP app are you using?

I’d really have to see the extent of these issues first-hand before I’d go for a full wipe/re-set.

I know most people dislike KiES, the Samsung PC app. You would use to back-up your device, but it is meant for users like you. DO you use that program to back-up your data?

No, I used superbackup.

>Android 4.0.4 does seem to be the latest rev. of the software available for that unit. I am using 4.0.4 (Stock, but rooted) on my Tab 10.1 (Wifi only) and it works fine for me.

Perhaps the 100+- apps I have downloaded from play store are part of the problem.

>I can’t say that there is anything wrong with your tablet which would warrant service or repair.

I've been a long time user of the paid version of Titanium Back-up but I'm not certain it would help the OP much. The Play Store keeps track of installed apps., restoring TiBu back-ups with data can sometimes lead to problems, the device does have to be rooted and a lot of the "data" associated with apps. is not all that valuable in the first place.

Thanks to all for helpful suggestions. But I am withdrawing from this thread. My purpose was not to engage in back and forth conversation online, but rather to solve the problem in the real world offline by being recommended a professional.

You have all been kind and generous with your time.

[taninthai]

Samsung won't even service Samsung products bought in Thailand the minute that particular model is discontinued. Once your Thai-bought Samsung product is replaced by a new model, they'll tell you, "Sorry, no parts."

I could share my experiences with Samsung models and what happened, but the list is too long and I just want to forget about it.

That's what you get when you buy Samsung. I'll never buy another Samsung product as long as I live -- in any country!

Got to agree with this 100%,I bought a 46 inch sanding tv in the uk 1800 Gbp it packed up 3 1/2 years later rang samsung said I know it's not under warranty I don't mind paying to have it repaired ,samsung wiped there hands of it said nothing we can do they told me to ring a local repair guy,the tv is still sitting in my mums spare room not working of coarse ,I too will never buy samsung again.

[Zolt]

I'm not sure how much stuff you've got installed, but doing a full device backup is both unnecessary and probably not a good idea. You want a fresh start here, not to reinstall your device as it was and get the same problems again.

- Plug in a USB and copy your pictures, videos and such stuff to your computer.

- Make sure your contacts are synced with your google account.

Perform a factory reset, then when you sync with Google you'll get your contacts back. Reinstall your apps from the store on a need to use basis.

Edited March 21, 2013 by Zolt

[beekaykay]

Since when Samsung care about customer satisfaction like Apple?

hahahahahahhahahahahahahah App ple Jok e hahaha

[Chicog]

I'm not sure how much stuff you've got installed, but doing a full device backup is both unnecessary and probably not a good idea. You want a fresh start here, not to reinstall your device as it was and get the same problems again.

- Plug in a USB and copy your pictures, videos and such stuff to your computer.

- Make sure your contacts are synced with your google account.

Perform a factory reset, then when you sync with Google you'll get your contacts back. Reinstall your apps from the store on a need to use basis.

I have to agree with Zolt here, if its the crap you've downloaded that's caused problems (that and using up all the internal memory), then you should start anew.

Having said that, if you are a novice Go Backup is an easier option than Titanium if you are looking for a Rooted solution.

Edited March 21, 2013 by Chicog

[jayceenik]

Samsung won't even service Samsung products bought in Thailand the minute that particular model is discontinued. Once your Thai-bought Samsung product is replaced by a new model, they'll tell you, "Sorry, no parts."

I could share my experiences with Samsung models and what happened, but the list is too long and I just want to forget about it.

That's what you get when you buy Samsung. I'll never buy another Samsung product as long as I live -- in any country!

At the TukCom ground floor shop where we got excellent service when we bought an iPad 4 some time ago they told us that Samsung products are not easy to get fixed in Thailand. Many times parts have to be ordered from Korea or even the thing must be sent there for repairs.

Nevertheless we'll take the chance because she'll get the new Samsung S IV when it becomes available here. Too long to wait for the 5S.

[Locationthailand]

All this geek talk... why not pop Samsung a mail at their head office and try get a response... just thinking.

[momosan]

What a coincidence... Two days ago I bought TITANIUM BACKUP PRO. Price was modest. Then after buying and installing I learned that it works only on 'rooted' devices , and there was a whole song and dance about how to do this -- it's not just 'press button A'. Do technicians at Panthip offer a rooting service? My computer buddies all warned me against doing rooting as it is like handing a psychopath a knife in a crowded elevator - I am certain to screw things up doing so.

This device is pretty much fool proof. Follow the steps here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1849235

Basically you just need to download one file (Root_SuperSU.0.96.Only-signed.zip) onto the device. Then reboot it, but into recovery mode (only requires hold down some buttons during boot). Then choosing the install option from the menu and choose the file that you downloaded onto the Tab (Root_SuperSU.0.96.Only-signed.zip).

Reboot again and it'll be rooted. Finished.

[COXYATCITY]

3000 baht at a cambodian market at the border,near Surin for an android tablet.1 month warranty, to buy or not to buy,only for my kids to play games on,it seemed to work well...if it breaks i will take it to Korea for my money back