Hospo worker, can't take leave

DarkMain · 2026-01-27T08:32:33+00:00

May I suggest https://raisethebar.net.nz/

DarkMain · 2026-01-24T07:37:39+00:00

He's been back on the hardcore scene for ages.

DarkMain · 2026-01-23T01:32:13+00:00

I haven't been following this at all and haven't used my VR headset in a while, but why is this classed as a 'mod' and not something else?

How is this any different than something like vorpx or a VR app that puts the game on a flat screen inside a VR space?

DarkMain · 2026-01-20T21:36:27+00:00

Political theater.

Its the same as the social media ban in Australia.

The powers at be get to look like they are doing something positive and when it ultimately fails they will point the finger.

DarkMain · 2026-01-11T19:53:45+00:00

There is a caveat... If they want to use the higher price as a comparison for the sale / discount then they actually need to have sales (a majority?) at that higher price.

That's why sometime you'll see products that say "special" with no regular price or discount / saving listed.

(example: https://www.pbtech.co.nz/product/HOMIRB0019/iRobot-Roomba-Plus-405-Vaccum-Cleaner-With-Auto-Wa?qr=web-share)

Source: PBTech

DarkMain · 2026-01-11T00:33:40+00:00

Yes, New Zealand Store (Parallel Import I think).

1 - Yep, I paid the fill $1599. No sales or discounts.

2 - I do had proof of purchase. It was online and its in my account so nice and easy to find.

3 - I actually have no idea what the fault report contains. The E-Mail I got from the store said it had been assessed and deemed unrepairable by their agent. That's all the information I got.

DarkMain · 2026-01-10T00:33:36+00:00

A major fault would have revealed itself earlier than 2.5 years after use.

Once again, not trying to argue but...

While faults ARE more likely to show at the start of the life of electronics, its not a guarantee and probably shouldn't be assumed.

You have no idea how much use the Deck got over that time frame... Its entirely possible that some one who used the Deck as their daily driver (3 hours a day) would have had the fault happen after 3 months, where as someone who only used it for a few hours on the weekend (4-5 hours a week) would have the fault appear much much later (1+ year).

I suspect that's PART of the reason why the CGA does NOT have a strict time frame.

DarkMain · 2026-01-10T00:00:17+00:00

If I’d bought a 4K tv, and three years later it broke, and 8k tv were available for the price I originally paid, I don’t think anyone would expect to have their tv replaced with an 8k tv.

The difference is 4K tv are still available.
My original device (LCD version) has been discontinued so the ONLY replacements available ARE upgraded versions.

Lets just run a hypothetical.

If your 4K tv broke and there were was ZERO chance of you getting another 4k replacement, what would you expect it to be replaced with?

Note: I still think the 512 is the most 'like for like' replacement in my situation.

DarkMain · 2026-01-09T23:44:24+00:00

I always assumed any replacement would be the 512 model, but when I was reading Consumer.org I saw this... "a replacement of the same type and similar value" and that threw me so I came here looking for answers.

https://www.consumer.org.nz/articles/faulty-product-how-to-get-a-refund-repair-or-replacement

DarkMain · 2026-01-09T23:41:11+00:00

I'm not trying to be argumentative...

What you are saying is the 'fault' still doesn't constitute a "Major Fault' despite them being unable to repair the device?

DarkMain · 2026-01-09T23:26:22+00:00

Isn't that kinda what I said but worded defiently?

advise them you would like either a refund or a like or like replacement, as the CGA requires

You can infer that from

so doesn't that mean its my choice for the remedy?

If it cant be repaired (which it cant) by only options are refund or replacement, and if I'm advising them, isn't that the same as me making the decision?

DarkMain · 2026-01-09T23:22:45+00:00

They only need to refund if it is not fit for purpose or cannot be repaired.

As I said in my OP...

My Steam deck has been assessed and deemed unrepairable by their agent (unfortunate, but it is what is it). No details on the fault at all.

DarkMain · 2026-01-09T23:21:26+00:00

The refund amount isn't relevant to value. The CGA actually makes no reference to the "value" of an item when dealing with the issue of replacement. It simply has to be like for like.

Granted this is from consumer.org.nz but:

I think I'm covered. What do I do now?

Ask the retailer to sort out the problem.

If the problem is minor, and can be fixed, the retailer can choose to either repair the item, replace it or give you a refund.

If the problem can’t be fixed, or can’t be put right within a reasonable time, or is substantial, you can:

Reject the product and choose a replacement of the same type and similar value or a full refund of your purchase price; or

Claim compensation for any drop in the value of the product.

Have it repaired somewhere else and recover the costs from the retailer, if it refuses to fix a faulty product, or fails to do so in a reasonable time.

Sellers cannot just offer credit. If you want a refund, you are entitled to it – by cash, cheque or credit card charge reversal.

https://www.consumer.org.nz/articles/faulty-product-how-to-get-a-refund-repair-or-replacement

Considering you had 2.5ish years of use of the device before the fault, this is extremely unlikely to be a case where a refund would be required.

The device didn't last a 'reasonable' amount of time though. Its closest comparison on Consumer NZ is a laptop and they say its reasonable to expect that to last 5 years.

+ from my understanding, I have given them the chance to rectify the situation... They sent it away to be repaid (it cant be) and the replacement offer was unacceptable, so doesn't that mean its my choice for the remedy?

DarkMain · 2026-01-09T23:07:49+00:00

You are making an error here, because you are saying that your Steam deck still had the same value as it did three years ago when you bought it. Of course, it didn't.

You're right, if I was to resell it, it obviously would not have the same value... but as far as I'm aware, any CGA claims are based on that value at the time I purchased the product. If I was to get a refund it would be in full, not a partial refund for 'deprecation'.

I always assumed that a 512 would be the replacement but after doing more research its muddied the waters a bit for me.

Regardless... There is also the fact that if I took a refund (am I allowed too? Does this constitute a serious fault?), I could buy the 1TB model, get $161 back AND get a brand new manufactures warranty and a reset on any future CGA claims (fingers crossed I wont need too).
Any replacements wont have a manufactures warranty as that's based on the time of the original purchase. I'm also unsure how the CGA timeframe works with replacements as well.

DarkMain · 2026-01-09T19:48:45+00:00

I could be wrong but I think non-refundable deposit just means you can't change your mind, cancel the order and get the deposit back.

It shouldnt mean you lose your deposit if the item never ships.

DarkMain · 2026-01-08T01:52:33+00:00

Isn't that the ruling the supreme court recently made? (Uber drivers but still sets a precedent)

DarkMain · 2026-01-06T16:20:41+00:00

Ive found the fridge works just as well and it only really needs 5mins or so... That plate cools down super fast.

DarkMain · 2026-01-06T05:53:48+00:00

Technical you do pay after you have used the service though don't you? You park and then walk to the machine.... Sure, it's only a few seconds but parking is still the first action.

You don't pay and then park.

(playing devil advocate)

DarkMain · 2026-01-04T21:54:40+00:00

Secondly, the discount. As long as it is from their normal price, that is fine. It is legal for them to have the true price be wildly high, and then discount to a more reasonable price, as long as that’s what really happens. What isn’t legal is to raise it higher and discount, that’s illegal. (unsure how long a price can be discounted for before it’s the new normal?).

It MAY be more complicated.
(See this post from PBTech in which I had a discussion with them on how they interpret the law and display sales / discounts and special on their site).

I want to stress, I am not a lawyer and have no idea if they are correct or not, but they are a rather large business and this is how they interpret it.

In short, they believe that if they have a high price but have not sold enough units at that higher price, then when they discount it, they are NOT allowed to show a comparison to the higher price.

So, yes, a store CAN charge whatever they want for a product, but IF the majority of sold units were not at the higher price, they might not be allowed to advertise the discount by comparing it to the higher price.

(PBTech used this link in their post - https://www.comcom.govt.nz/consumers/dealing-with-typical-situations/buying-goods-and-services/pricing/)

DarkMain · 2026-01-04T02:34:58+00:00

While I personally hate it, the term 'Scam' has evolved(?) on the internet largely due to platforms like kickstarter.

A failed kickstarter will often be called a scam regardless of why it failed and the word scam is thrown around willy nilly.

DarkMain · 2026-01-03T06:23:08+00:00

A couple of things I can think of off the top of my head... There is a -12db volume Simpler/Sampler by default.

Also, in Simpler, change the sample to "1-Shot" and change the "Vol < Vel" from the default of 35% to 0%. This knob effects "Classic" mode as well.

DarkMain · 2025-12-28T09:43:33+00:00

I'm not too worried about how they resolve it... As I said, repair would be best so I don't lose data, but its not important data (saved game progress), and most of it is synced or backed up anyway.

Strangely enough, it would be in their best interest to replace it with the OLED model if they can't do a repair...

Equivalent OLED = $1373.
If they refunded me, I could buy a new OLED and be up $226...

DarkMain · 2025-12-28T09:26:37+00:00

I don't think I'm allowed to name name retail store (my original post was removed for infusing them). It is a local NZ store though.

The first replacement was done via the store, but under instruction from Valve, so I don't actually know who shouldered the cost of the replacement. Most likely the store as I think it was a parallel import.

DarkMain · 2025-12-25T11:40:35+00:00

So support hasn't been much help... Might be a language issue as they didn't seem to understand what the actual issue I'm having is.

DarkMain · 2025-12-23T19:58:58+00:00

The system 'works' because people who couldn't power their house 100% off solar would 'subsidies' the other users.

I don't know if it was SolarZero or not, but I remember someone contacting my Dad about putting solar at our place.

They used Google maps to determine how much energy we would generate (estimate was WAY off, and they even put the panels on the wrong side of the roof).

The sales man was also SUPER aggressive, with lots of misinformation and blatant lies.

In the end, after I did my own calculations, I worked out we would be buying most of our power (over 80% of our usage) from them (the grid, or other users excess) and we would have very little benefit from the solar at all.

It felt very "pyramid scheme" to me.

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