Scams EXPOSED! 💻 How Laptop & PC Shops Cheat Customers | Don’t Get Fooled! | 5 Dirty Secrets

Tech Vani

21 Sept 202408:06

Summary

TLDRIn this video, Sandeep from 'TechWani' discusses common scams in India's laptop and PC market. He highlights issues like purchasing imported laptops that lack warranty, avoiding proper GST billing to save costs, and receiving low-quality or second-hand parts like chargers or demo units. Sandeep advises checking serial numbers and ensuring proper bills to avoid these scams, emphasizing how a faulty laptop can negatively impact one's education or career. He concludes with tips on buying genuine components and avoiding counterfeit items when building or purchasing a PC.

Takeaways

🔍 Buying a faulty laptop or PC can damage your education or career due to its importance as a tool.
🚫 Imported laptops may not be serviceable in India, even if they appear to be from the same brand.
💡 Always check the laptop's serial number on the brand’s official website to verify if it’s imported or local.
⚠️ Shopkeepers may offer deals to avoid GST, but without a bill, you risk receiving faulty or used products.
💸 Not having a bill means you won’t be eligible for warranty or service at authorized service centers.
🛠️ Shopkeepers might swap genuine accessories like chargers with fake ones, leading to potential damage.
🔌 Non-genuine chargers can damage the laptop's motherboard, which isn’t covered by warranties.
🎛️ Demo laptops are often sold as new despite being used in showrooms, so check their activation dates.
🖥️ Avoid buying open-box PC components; always prefer sealed, branded items to avoid counterfeit products.
🔧 Custom-built PCs often contain fake or low-quality parts, especially RAM and processors, so choose reputable brands.

Q & A

What is the main issue highlighted by the speaker regarding laptops or PCs purchased for educational or career purposes?
-The speaker emphasizes that laptops and PCs purchased for educational or career purposes are important tools, and if a seller provides a faulty device, it can have a significant negative impact on the buyer's education or career.
What scam related to imported laptops is mentioned in the video?
-The speaker describes a scam where people buy imported laptops at cheaper prices from abroad or through smuggling, but these laptops often lack warranty and service in India. Buyers may face difficulties getting them serviced if something goes wrong.
How can a buyer check whether a laptop is imported and lacks warranty in India?
-To check if a laptop is imported, the buyer should look at the serial number on the laptop or the box and enter it on the brand's official website. This will confirm if the laptop is from India or imported.
What risk does a buyer face if they agree to purchase a laptop without a bill to avoid GST charges?
-If a buyer purchases a laptop without a bill, they lose the ability to claim warranty or service from authorized service centers. The shopkeeper could also sell them a faulty or used laptop without any accountability.
How can buyers verify the authenticity of a laptop's charger?
-Buyers can check the serial number of the charger, which should be mentioned on the charger itself, and verify it on the official website to ensure it is original and not a duplicate.
Why is it important to use an original charger for laptops?
-Using an original charger is crucial because faulty or duplicate chargers may not provide the correct power supply, potentially damaging the laptop’s motherboard. Such damage is typically not covered under warranty.
How can a buyer identify if they are being sold a demo or used laptop as new?
-To identify a demo or used laptop, the buyer can check when Windows was activated, verify the serial number on the website, and check the installation date of any pre-installed software, like antivirus. Additionally, the CPU usage time in the Task Manager’s performance tab can reveal how long the laptop has been running.
What precautions should buyers take when purchasing custom-built PCs?
-Buyers should ensure that all parts, such as processors and RAM, are box-packed and not opened. They should avoid brands they’ve never heard of and invest in well-known, high-quality brands to avoid performance issues.
What common issue does the speaker mention regarding RAM in custom-built PCs?
-The speaker mentions that duplicate RAM is prevalent in the market, so it’s important to choose well-known brands like Kingston to avoid getting low-quality RAM.
What does the speaker advise if someone already owns a laptop and its charger is damaged?
-The speaker advises always buying a genuine replacement charger if the original charger is damaged, as non-genuine chargers can harm the laptop’s performance and lead to potential damage.

Outlines

00:00

💻 How Bad Laptops Can Ruin Your Career or Education

The speaker discusses the severe impact of buying faulty or imported laptops, highlighting how these could negatively affect students or professionals. He explains the importance of purchasing a laptop with genuine parts and official service options, warning against the rising trend of dealers selling laptops that lack proper warranties in India. By checking the serial number online, buyers can verify the laptop’s authenticity and avoid being scammed.

05:02

📄 GST Scam: The Cost of Avoiding a Bill

The second scam involves shopkeepers offering discounts if the buyer skips the GST bill. While this might seem like a good deal, the speaker warns that without a bill, customers cannot claim warranty or service from official centers. The shopkeepers are free to swap out internal parts or sell faulty products because the customer has no proof of purchase. To avoid this, the speaker advises always demanding a bill.

🔌 The Hidden Charger Swap Scam

This section exposes the practice of selling laptops with counterfeit chargers. While the laptop might appear legitimate, shopkeepers often replace the original charger with a cheaper duplicate to save money. The speaker emphasizes the importance of checking the charger’s serial number online, as a faulty charger can lead to motherboard damage, which is not covered under warranty. Genuine chargers are crucial for the safe operation of the laptop.

🖥️ Demo Laptops Sold as New

In some stores, display or demo laptops, which are used to show customers the product, are often repackaged and sold as new. These laptops may have seen significant usage, and their lifespan could be shortened. The speaker provides several ways to check if a laptop has been previously used, including reviewing the Windows activation date, antivirus installation date, and CPU uptime through the task manager.

🔧 PC Market Scams: Building a Reliable Custom PC

The final part addresses issues in the custom PC market. Many dealers sell duplicate RAM and low-quality parts that can severely hinder performance. The speaker suggests avoiding unknown brands and opting for reliable components, even if they cost more initially, to avoid long-term problems. He recommends always purchasing sealed and boxed components to ensure quality, emphasizing that saving a little money upfront can lead to daily frustration if the PC is substandard.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Laptop Import Scam

The 'Laptop Import Scam' refers to a fraudulent practice where people buy laptops imported from outside India, often at lower prices, only to find that these devices do not have valid warranties or support in India. This scam can significantly affect students and professionals who rely on their laptops for education or work, as the lack of support can lead to major setbacks. The script discusses how to identify such scams by checking the laptop's serial number on the manufacturer's official website.

💡Warranty

A warranty is a guarantee provided by manufacturers or sellers to repair or replace defective products within a certain period. In the video, the importance of having a valid warranty is emphasized, especially in cases where laptops are imported. Without an Indian warranty, consumers cannot get their devices serviced at authorized centers, leaving them vulnerable to expensive repairs.

💡GST (Goods and Services Tax)

GST is a tax levied on the sale of goods and services in India. In the script, shopkeepers often entice buyers to skip paying the GST by offering a discount if the buyer pays in cash without asking for a bill. This practice is risky for consumers, as it allows sellers to provide substandard or second-hand goods without any legal accountability or warranty. The video warns viewers to always ask for a bill to avoid such scams.

💡Serial Number Check

Checking the serial number of a laptop is a critical step in verifying whether the device is legitimate and eligible for services like warranty and support. The video explains how customers can use the laptop's serial number to check on the manufacturer's website whether the device is imported or local, helping them avoid scams associated with imported laptops that lack Indian warranties.

💡Duplicate Charger

A 'Duplicate Charger' refers to a counterfeit or non-original charger provided with the laptop instead of the authentic one. The video mentions that some sellers provide duplicate chargers to save costs, which can result in long-term damage to the laptop, such as motherboard failure. Viewers are advised to check the charger's serial number to ensure it is genuine, as using a faulty charger can cause serious hardware issues.

💡Bill

A bill is an official receipt provided after a purchase, ensuring the customer’s legal right to claim warranty and support services. The video emphasizes that purchasing a laptop without a bill is a common scam, where shopkeepers are free to change internal parts or sell second-hand products. Without a bill, the consumer cannot prove their purchase, making it difficult to claim repairs or exchanges.

💡Demo Laptop

A 'Demo Laptop' is a device used in showrooms for display purposes. The video explains how some sellers repackage demo laptops and sell them as new, even though they have been used for display. Buyers can detect this scam by checking the Windows activation date or other system records like antivirus installation dates. Demo laptops are supposed to be sold at a lower price as second-hand goods, but scammers sell them at full price.

💡Customization in PC Market

Customization in the PC market allows buyers to choose specific parts when building a computer, such as processors, RAM, and motherboards. The video highlights that many sellers in the PC market cheat buyers by using substandard or fake parts, especially in components like RAM, which can significantly affect the performance of a computer. Buyers are advised to purchase only from reputable brands and ensure that all parts are sealed and genuine.

💡Smuggling

Smuggling refers to the illegal importation of goods into a country without paying taxes or duties. The video touches on how laptops are often smuggled into India and sold at lower prices. These smuggled laptops often lack Indian warranties and are sold under false pretenses, making it difficult for buyers to get support or repairs if something goes wrong.

💡Second-Hand Products

Second-hand products are items that have been previously used and are resold, often at a lower price. The video warns against the practice of some sellers repackaging second-hand or used laptops and selling them as new. Buyers can avoid this scam by checking the device's history, including the date of its first activation or installation of software like antivirus programs.

Highlights

Purchasing a faulty laptop or PC can negatively impact education and career.

Imported laptops may be cheaper but lack warranty and support in India.

Avoid laptops without official bills as it allows sellers to change parts or provide faulty products.

Original laptop chargers are crucial to avoid motherboard damage.

Many shops try to sell second-hand demo laptops as new ones.

Buyers can verify if a laptop is second-hand by checking the activation date in the settings.

Check the CPU performance tab to see how long the laptop has been used.

Smuggled or imported laptops often come without proper service support.

Duplicate RAMs and other parts are often used in custom-built PCs.

Always purchase sealed and branded parts, especially RAM and processors.

Counterfeit products can lead to frequent breakdowns and increased repair costs.

Sellers may replace original chargers with cheap duplicates to save costs.

Check the laptop’s serial number online to ensure its authenticity.

Service centers in India won't accept laptops without a proper bill.

Custom-built PCs should always use high-quality, known components for durability.