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Supplier's Bankruptcy Hits Quantex and CyberMax
Chapter 11 for direct-PC supplier.
Two direct-PC vendors familiar to PC World readers--CyberMax and Quantex Microsystems--ran into severe problems in late August after Fountain Technologies, a key supplier, filed for bankruptcy protection. In the wake of the filing, customers' calls to these vendors' sales and tech support lines often went unanswered.
PC World also learned that the Somerset County (New Jersey) Division of Consumer Affairs is looking into CyberMax and Quantex operations after receiving complaints about the companies' lack of technical support. The three companies are located in Somerset County.
Fountain Technologies filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in early August. It has been a primary supplier of parts and technical services to Quantex, CyberMax, and Pionex--a PC company active in the retail and VAR channel--as well as other companies.
Fountain's president and CEO Min-Tsong Chang told PC World, "We are doing our best not to have the bankruptcy affect the Quantex, CyberMax, and Pionex brands." He declined further comment.
Filing for Chapter 11 gives a company a bit of breathing room. Temporarily freed from the threat of creditors, the company can try to restructure its obligations and keep the business running, explains bankruptcy attorney Daniel D. Doyle.
What Users Can Do
If you need tech help, first try calling the companies' normal tech support lines. If you can't get through, check your vendor's Web site for frequently asked questions and drivers, which can often help solve common problems. Also try sites such as AskMe.com and Service911.com that let you e-mail or post a detailed problem description and may be able to provide free or low-cost instructions for a fix.
If you need to repair your system, try a local repair shop or one of the major chains such as CompUSA or Best Buy that service PCs bought elsewhere (see "PC Repair Undercover"). Choose your repair store carefully--call around for prices, and ask friends for recommendations.
Call the vendor if you've paid for a product but haven't received it and want to change or cancel your order. If that fails, call your credit card company; most will let you cancel the charges in such cases.
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