There are certainly unhappy people out there. By and large though, most people like their dells (myself included).
All I can say is that in the future, buy at least a year long warranty on any notebook -- preferably a 3 year. As you've noticed, the repairs are very expensive -- and things can and will break.
I'll agree that tech support hold times need to be reduced, although I'm usually happy with the results once I talk to someone. Dell techs aren't going to provide lots of software/MCE support. You have to pay extra for that. They'll help you with some basics as far as software goes, but that's about it.
Thanks for the advice, I realize I am dealing with different business entities, but it is a bit of a shock to discover how far down Dell has sunk both with their financing outsourcing and the quality of their laptops.
And... Dell Financial Services (CIT Bank) should not be confused with Dell Computer Corporation. They are not the same company and in fact, CIT Bank is a subcontractor that handles financing for Dell. They are a finance company.
That being said. DFS is a terrible company to deal with and will continue to hound you until you pay the "missed" payments - Even if you paid them $700 at one time. They still want their next months payment.
My advice: Find some other means to pay off the account.
Dell should find a more reputable firm to do their financing business with.
I find myself agreeing with Ted. I purchased my son a 5150. A month after the warranty runs out, the LCD fails. I call Dell; they want $199 to run diagnostics, and $299 to replace the LCD! I told the tech for $500 I could get another laptop. Slightly expensive.
they're expensive for out of warranty work ... you might try finding an lcd specialty shop. i mean, if it's something like an inverter or backlight, you won't be out a lot of money
My Dell Inspiron 1100 has been pretty rock solid. However, this is probably due to limited access to the installation of new and possibly questionable software and programs by my company's Systems Adminstrator. I primarily use it for business purposes anyway.
However, my wife and I recently ordered a Dimension 5100 Windows XP Media Center Desktop and Dell's Ordering Support stunk, bad !! We weren't give enough advice and consultation to realize that there wasn't another standard PCI slot available for Wireless Networking in our home or any other system expansion. Customer Care was good to give us the freedom to return the PC and accessories but it is very, very, very difficult getting through to speak to someone you can understand over the phone. It sounds like they're in a tunnel or something and their English is broken. Customer Care went so far as to provide incentives for us to keep the 5100 when we really wanted the 9100 Media Center PC. But these incentives are not all they're raped up to be. The $50 Coupon is only useable if you are spending exactly $50. We're so fed up that we are about ready to return everything and flush it !! I believe Dell would make great leaps forward if they made it easier for consumers to do business with them. Sort'a like Kevin Costner's Field of Dreams theme. If you make it easy for customer's to do business with you, THEY WILL !!
I would not use Dell and quality in the same sentence. I am on Dell #3, with chronic failures on all. The most recent is a XPS that had a power supply failure with in hours of unpacking. Six months later it seems as though the mother board has self destructed. Pressing the power button lights up the LEDs but the BIOS splash screen dies in mid boot. The technician has diagnosed it as a battery failure? I know a BIOS will function with a dead battery. I guess I have a $3000.00 door stop.
The Dell before this would have to be taken apart weekly and the connectors would have to be reseated in order to avoid blue screens.
The Dell before that just disintegrated as parts of the fragile plastic case fell off. First the latch.... Then the hinge.....
My wife bought a Dell notebook six months ago as well. The HD failed in two weeks........
This is my last Dell. My ability to make a living is very dependant on my PC.
I have the onsite repair contract. One week after I requested a repair, a technician came and repaired my XPS. With in 5 minutes the PC died again. Dell is not just poor quality, it's just plain garbage.
Do not buy Dell's next business day service contract. If you have a hardware failure, especially if your system is a couple of years old, there is a line in the contract that says that the "next day" actually means the next day after the local technician gets the replacement parts. Guess what, if your system is a couple of years old, Dell does not stock on these parts and it takes weeks to get the parts. So basically you paid for next day service for a couple of years only to realize that Dell does not have the parts that you need and it will be several days/weeks before the computer is actually fixed. Beware!
NemesisDB
2 Intern
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7.9K Posts
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August 16th, 2005 22:00
There are certainly unhappy people out there. By and large though, most people like their dells (myself included).
All I can say is that in the future, buy at least a year long warranty on any notebook -- preferably a 3 year. As you've noticed, the repairs are very expensive -- and things can and will break.
I'll agree that tech support hold times need to be reduced, although I'm usually happy with the results once I talk to someone. Dell techs aren't going to provide lots of software/MCE support. You have to pay extra for that. They'll help you with some basics as far as software goes, but that's about it.
ted cahill
1 Rookie
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8 Posts
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August 17th, 2005 19:00
markkelm
191 Posts
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August 17th, 2005 19:00
And... Dell Financial Services (CIT Bank) should not be confused with Dell Computer Corporation. They are not the same company and in fact, CIT Bank is a subcontractor that handles financing for Dell. They are a finance company.
That being said. DFS is a terrible company to deal with and will continue to hound you until you pay the "missed" payments - Even if you paid them $700 at one time. They still want their next months payment.
My advice: Find some other means to pay off the account.
Dell should find a more reputable firm to do their financing business with.
Take care,
Mark
Old Shadow
6 Posts
0
August 17th, 2005 23:00
NemesisDB
2 Intern
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7.9K Posts
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August 18th, 2005 00:00
garu11005100
1 Message
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August 28th, 2005 03:00
four4one
2 Posts
0
September 4th, 2005 01:00
I would not use Dell and quality in the same sentence. I am on Dell #3, with chronic failures on all. The most recent is a XPS that had a power supply failure with in hours of unpacking. Six months later it seems as though the mother board has self destructed. Pressing the power button lights up the LEDs but the BIOS splash screen dies in mid boot. The technician has diagnosed it as a battery failure? I know a BIOS will function with a dead battery. I guess I have a $3000.00 door stop.
The Dell before this would have to be taken apart weekly and the connectors would have to be reseated in order to avoid blue screens.
The Dell before that just disintegrated as parts of the fragile plastic case fell off. First the latch.... Then the hinge.....
My wife bought a Dell notebook six months ago as well. The HD failed in two weeks........
This is my last Dell. My ability to make a living is very dependant on my PC.
four4one
2 Posts
0
September 10th, 2005 01:00
del_victim
3 Posts
0
September 27th, 2005 20:00
NemesisDB
2 Intern
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7.9K Posts
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September 27th, 2005 22:00