Random Nexus 7 motherboard death, $205 estimate

[YAYTech]

I work with and repair computers and mobile devices as a business. I took very good care of my 2013 Nexus 7, bought the first day they were available. A couple weeks ago, I started getting a random error seemingly related to the Google search bar. Rather than go through a lot of diagnosis steps, I opted to simply do a factory reset. Midway through the reset, it hung on "erasing". With some tips from people on here, I tried multiple approaches to recover the device, reflash the OS, etc, but it always hung up on erasing. I finally gave in & sent it to ASUS, hoping they would be able to access or repair something I couldn't. I'd found a handful of stories of folks who'd sent theirs in, and simply received their device back repaired without charge. I'd basically decided I'd be willing to put a little over a hundred bucks into the repair (plus the cost of shipping to them, which I believe was around $12), but not much more.

I got the email today with the invoice (doesn't seem to be an estimate, I don't see a way to decline, but only to dispute) for $205 for a motherboard replacement. I'm very disappointed and frustrated. While I know, and have seen, that every manufacturer has issues that slip through, it still leaves me disappointed, and I'll be more hesitant to buy ASUS again in the future. I've had good experience with their motherboards and video cards in desktop computers, and generally have liked their laptops. My 2012 Nexus 7 that I passed along to my wife still works fine. I'm just so disappointed.

Now to find a Nexus 7 with a cracked screen on ebay and fix it myself, assuming I get it back without ASUS trying to force me into the repair.

 

[ejchis]

I have the same issue and have tried everything to get this fixed. Really frustrating. PM sent. Please get back to me when you can.

 

[Philip600rr]

Welcome to the club

Posted via the Android Central App and Note 4

 

[sparksd]

Besides the 2012 & 2013 N7's, I have an Asus Transformer Pad Infinity (TF700T) - the feedback on forums for the TF700T regarding Asus support are much the same as here - it's really terrible, with most who have dealt with Asus support saying they will never purchase another Asus product again. Really sad.

 

[YAYTech]

I don't know that I'd say my experience was bad, I'm just disappointed in the quality of the product and cost of repair. They weren't unprofessional or anything. It's not uncommon for a main part failure in a consumer electronics product to not be worth the repair cost, especially by the OEM. The big question in my mind is whether this is an issue of poor quality parts causing a lot of failures, or a software issue that's bricking devices.