Inspiron 5150 motherboard bad again and Dell customer service want help

Question

Here is the story.   INSPIRON 5150 Here is the story bought 04/2004 motherboard replaced 05/2004 warrent ended 04/2005 motherboard went bad 04/18/2005 dell repaired and received back 04/22/2005 mother board went bad again 07/18/2005 while on vacation and so I called when I got back this monday 07/25/2005. dell says that since I waited to call 3 days past the 90 days and since they gave me one concession already they will not fix it. I owned a lattitude now a inspiron and also 2 axim handhelds as well as 9 desktop's at my church.   I asked them if it was worth losing a lifetime customer over this and they just gave me the same old song and dance.   CAN ANY BODY HELP ME GET THIS RESOLVED??   I just called a repair center in memphis tennessee and he said there is a design flaw with the 5150 and a pannel on the back that pushes against a chip on the motherboard damaging the motherboard.   If dell knows this why have they not fixed it or recalled the computer to fix the problems? Message Edited by trmpt4him on 07-28-2005 12:17 PM

ejn63 · Answer

You're pretty much out of luck - Dell did honor the warranty once after it had expired, so they did accomodate you that time.

Your big mistake was to let the warranty expire. You should have extended it while it was still in force.

At this point, I'd cut your losses, sell the system for parts and replace it.

Trmpt4him2 · Answer

I will never buy another dell product again. There is a lot of people out there that has the same problems.   It just is not right.

ejn63 · Answer

That's certainly your right - but be careful in what you do buy. The manufacturer of this system is the #2 notebook maker in the world - they build one out of every three or four notebooks sold, regardless of name - Apple, Gateway, Sony, Toshiba, Dell, and others.

The key to buying ANY notebook computer is to get it covered by a warranty for the period you intend to use it. They can fail, they do fail (about 30% of all notebook computers need major repairs during their useful lifetime) and they're expensive to repair.

NemesisDB · Answer

dang, that's a lot of failures --  i'm starting to wonder about their refurb motherboard stocks.

DesChris · Answer

First, I am surprised that we all (some more than others) have time to do this (Guess a lot of dissatis customers), Next EJ has a lot of good advice and seen on lot of forum resp.-surprised your not in bus for yourself or a Dell PR person here...maybe just a great soul....

If #2 maker then who is #1 :) may I ask. Does it also depend on what other parts they use (brands) in the system?

Guess I misunderstd thought the repair was in wtty for trumpet, but saying they did it once out of wtty already-are we understdg the dates correctly.

ejn63 · Answer

Quanta is the largest notebook maker in the world. Compal is #2. Dell uses both, though the 1100, 1150, 5100, 5150 and 5160 all come from Compal.

Although it may seem like a lot of complaints - and this model line has indeed generated a lot of them - this model line sold in the millions, and I know plenty of people who are using them without issue.

Message Edited by ejn63 on 07-28-2005 06:27 PM

NemesisDB · Answer

>Guess I misunderstd thought the repair was in wtty for trumpet, but saying they did it once out of wtty already-are we understdg the dates correctly.   Des, reread the original post -- dell clearly performed a repair well after the initial warranty ended

BradB145 · Answer

I have had my computer for a year and about 7months. With in the first 5 months of having my 5150 the memory went bad and I have had to get that replaced already. Now here it is...warranty is out and my mother board is fried. I will NEVER EVER buy another Dell product again. Whenever I pick up or move the computer it shuts off. Their tech helps suggestion to me was "just dont move the computer" Hmm yeah thats what I paid $1800 for a lap top computer for!?!?!? Dell's service is terrible. They have known about this problem with this particular system thus it was pulled and they WILL NOT do anything with a recall. Dell has lost my business and along with everyone in the company I work with.

Brad

NemesisDB · Answer

just for the fun of repeating it, 3rd party repair shops can fix the problem for around 200 or less.  i don't know if that will help you or not though...

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