Problems with Dell (in general and with my Inspiron 4000 motherboard)

Question

I have or rather had an Dell Inspiron 4000 Notebook Computer.  I expected the computer to last longer than it did.   I bought it in September 2001 and here it is February 2005 and some portion of the motherboard has apparently failed.....at least the part having to do with 'recognizing' the AC Adapter.  Thus the only way the computer works is by battery power....and the battery only lasts so long.  I can't recharge the battery, because the AC Adapter isn't properly powering the system.    The AC Adapter and Battery are new.  I've talked with tech support many times (ahhhh the fun of attempting to converse with someone and make them understand when their first language is NOT English)....i can't even understand these 'technicians' (or rather 'drones' that work are pretty much just 'putting pegs into holes' and not really 'hearing' what you are saying.   I mean what do you say to a person who, AFTER telling them my computer doesn't start up using the AC Adapter and I have no more battery power, tells you to power up the computer?   Um....aren't you listening to me?   Um....what!?  That shows a very large lack of customer service skills.    Anyway....they tell me I need a new motherboard.  It is out of warranty, of course, by now.  So I call their 'Out of Warranty' support  and they give me a price quote.  $269.00 (non-refundable) JUST to look at it.  WOW!  and then $480-590 for the motherboard on top of it.   So they expect me to pay some $700-800 dollars to repair a computer that is about 3 and 1/2 years old?     The Spare Parts Department says the motherboard cost is $590....(the Out of Warranty Department the $480 figure).    I tell the woman on the phone at the Spare Parts Department that I could buy a new computer for the price she is quoting me (not a very good one, but it could be done.)  And I literally laughed when I told her that.  Then she asks me 'so would you like to order it?'   I chuckled again and said, 'Ha ha....no thank you.'   I don't know how the prices are justified.  And reading through the forums I see a lot of people mentioning that the Inspiron 4000 motherboards are in high demand...with the suggestion that they are defective.     GAH!!!   anyway.    i'm pretty much at a lost at what do to.   just feel like cutting my losses....such is my life always losing people and things....and walking away from Dell.    I feel like i've been 'molested' in some way by this company and need to take a lot of showers just to get myself clean.  (Might sound dramatic...but i've come from 'a place' to compare actual molestation commited upon me to know what I'm talking about)   From the nightmare-like customer support to the outrageous prices....to the people who just DON'T LISTEN!!!     I have already started telling people about this and NOT to buy Dell.   Problem is I don't know which computer company to trust.  I just feel like every computer company I go to will just abuse me in this same way.    I really want to know....what computer company would you all recommend buying from, instead of Dell?   I think it would be better if computers never existed.  Or at least if the companies or the people who worked at them really cared.

ejn63 · Answer

Notebook computer parts are expensive, no matter whose system you buy. Further, it makes no difference whose name is on the system - they are all made by a few companies.

A 4000 system is not worth putting that much money into - you can probably still get a few hundred dollars even for a non-working system - sell it for parts and replace it.

And, if you plan to keep the new one for 4 years, get a 4-year warranty on it.

No matter who you buy it from, notebook repairs are costly.

jankerson · Answer

@ejn63 wrote:
Notebook computer parts are expensive, no matter whose system you buy. Further, it makes no difference whose name is on the system - they are all made by a few companies.

A 4000 system is not worth putting that much money into - you can probably still get a few hundred dollars even for a non-working system - sell it for parts and replace it.

And, if you plan to keep the new one for 4 years, get a 4-year warranty on it.

No matter who you buy it from, notebook repairs are costly.

Oh yeah they are alot more expensive than their desktop conterparts.

Thank god I do all of my own computer work. (I am a PC Tech)

And people usually charge more to work on laptops too. (Me Included)

jankerson · Answer

Yeah $700 is very expensive. :smileysurprised:   Yes I agree that it is more than worth the extra money for the warranty, mine is covered. :smileyhappy:

ejn63 · Answer

When a mainboard costs $700 from Dell, which it does, it makes very little difference whether you do your own work - it's a maximum of an hour's labor for most technicians to replace it, so it's a small fraction of the parts cost.

Even used mainboards sell for $300-400 and up - the production volume beyond what's needed for building the systems is low, so demand outstrips supply, and it's single-source supply, so prices are high.

I suspect there are a few lines of just-discontinued Dell notebooks where mainboard prices may actually rise now that production is ending - i.e., the 11xx and 51xx series, which is widely known for unreliability, and by nature, most were purchased with short warranties by budget buyers.

Statistics say 30-40% of notebook computers will need major repairs during their lifetimes - it is well worth paying an additional $100-200 up front to cover them for their useful lifetimes (3-4 years), no matter who buys them.

littlethree · Answer

i had the 3 years warranty.  the warranty ended last September 2004.   i understand things cost money.   my main issue is that Dell doesn't seem to care and i don't like the way they treat me when i attempt to talk to them.   i'll just take my Dell and burn it in or toss it down the toilet with the rest of the feces.

jankerson · Answer

edit..double post. Message Edited by jankerson on 02-06-2005 11:41 PM

jankerson · Answer

Really it wouldn't matter what brand of Laptop it was, the cost would be the same. It really is a shame that it went south on you like that.

Have you tried any local repair PC shops in your area to get an idea or at least they can tell you for sure if it is dead or not.

jankerson · Answer

@littlethree wrote:

i had the 3 years warranty. the warranty ended last September 2004.

i understand things cost money.

my main issue is that Dell doesn't seem to care and i don't like the way they treat me when i attempt to talk to them.

i'll just take my Dell and burn it in or toss it down the toilet with the rest of the feces.

Ouch. :smileysad:

You are saying that Dell won't help you at all?

I think that you are better off getting a new machine though as was recommended, the repair costs are just too high to justify it in my opinion.

johnallg · Answer

If you decide to throw it, throw it my way - I love my 4000.  Otherwise, if you feel it could be this problem, you could look into fixing it yourself.

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