Electronics that are popular and have been on the market long enough to be out of warranty have vibrant industries of third-party repair shops, replacement parts, and online repair manuals. Yes, we’re thinking of iDevices when we say that. The problem with owning a newer device like the Microsoft Surface is that this kind of cottage industry hasn’t had the opportunity to grow yet. Warranty replacements are the norm and the only way to get things replaced.

That’s what has happened to reader MB, who is tech-savvy enough to want a tablet, but not savvy enough to sit around taking them apart for fun. Microsoft says that the device is liquid-damaged, and there’s nowhere else to turn and no one else to take it to for repair.

Purchased a Surface RT in December. [It] worked fine until March of this year. The problem is it won’t charge. If plugged in to [the] charger, the unit works fine for 15 minutes and then restarts. Called [the] tech line, he said [that the] battery was the problem and it can’t be replaced, so they would send me a new unit. Wow, was I happy!

Two weeks later my old Surface comes back with a generic letter that this unit is void of warranty because one of the following (abuse, fluid damage, physical damage or something else). I called [the] help line and she said they don’t get more specific.

Finally, after I complained enough and 5 minutes on hold she came back and said liquid damage was the cause. I asked if that was true, why does the unit work if plugged in to charger but won’t charge the battery. She said that happens all the time.

I can’t prove this because no one works on these and if I take it apart I am sure it will not work again.

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