Unresolved warranty issue!

We have a Dell laptop that is about eight months old.  The mechanism holding the left hinge in place within the laptop base failed.  The hinge is not broken but has separated from the laptop base.  After nine days, countless emails, and various requests to technical support and customer care, the issue has not been resolved.  Technical support has simply rejected the warranty claim - according to them, the hinge failure is either due to 'wear and tear' or was the result of damage caused by us.  Very polite about the whole issue but simply unwilling to consider that this is a legitimate warranty claim.  Customer care will not step in either to address an unsatisfied customer's concerns.

I am disappointed with the product failure but, more importantly, completely aghast at Dell's refusal to honour the warranty.  After this experience, I will not buy another Dell product and certainly would not recommend them either.