ASUS, a renowned computer hardware manufacturer, finds itself in the midst of a firestorm as customers express outrage over the company’s exorbitant repair fees for its flagship RTX 4090 graphics card. The controversy erupted when a Canadian gamer, after purchasing an ASUS ROG Strix White OC RTX 4090 for $2,799 CAD, was quoted a staggering $3,758.23 CAD to repair a minor issue with the power cable connection.
The ordeal unfolded when Reddit user Mulgoki discovered a small plastic piece on the power connector of their newly purchased RTX 4090 was missing or damaged. Concerned about potential future complications, they sought a repair from ASUS, only to be met with a repair quote that exceeded the card’s original retail price by a whopping 34%.
ASUS’s justification for the exorbitant fee was that “the damage ultimately affects the functionality of the unit and is not covered under our standard warranty.” However, this reasoning did little to assuage the outrage of customers and tech enthusiasts who found the quoted amount to be excessive and unreasonable for a seemingly minor repair.
As the story gained traction on social media and online forums, ASUS faced intense backlash from the tech community. Customers expressed their disbelief and criticized the company’s repair policies and customer service practices, with some questioning the integrity of ASUS’s warranty services.
In response to the mounting criticism, ASUS offered Mulgoki a 30% discount on the repair fee, a gesture that failed to quell the dissatisfaction among its user base. The community has urged ASUS to revisit its policies and ensure more transparent and reasonable repair and warranty services.
This incident has also brought to light other instances of ASUS’s questionable customer service practices. In a separate case reported by Gamers Nexus, ASUS faced accusations of mismanaging and providing misleading information during the repair process for its ROG Ally gaming device’s thumbstick drift issue, further tarnishing the company’s reputation.
As the backlash intensifies, ASUS has yet to issue a formal response addressing the escalating customer grievances. The tech community remains vigilant, demanding accountability and fairness from the manufacturer regarding its repair and warranty practices.
The controversy surrounding ASUS’s exorbitant RTX 4090 repair fees has drawn attention to the broader issue of transparency and consumer protection in the tech industry. Consumers expect manufacturers to uphold reasonable and ethical standards when it comes to product support and repairs, especially for high-end products like the RTX 4090 graphics card.
