Dell Hell - 90 service calls in 1 year

Merv describes his issues with Dell by recording, with permission, his 91st call to Dell over an Inspiron 9300 laptop.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• dell
• inspiron
• blows
• chunks

[Sypran]

oohh.. god I'm gonna be plagued with problems aren't I? I'm getting this computer from a friend for free tomorrow, and hes claimed he hasn't had really any problems with it other then one of 2 keys falling off. - what kind of problems should I expect if I'm going to use this like a desk top (monitor, speakers, usb mouse and keyboard, and cd/dvd drive)

[MadM3rv]

if you are going to do all that, be prepared for its display to get dead pixels. it may fail (the display) or the keyboard will stop working. if you don't drop it (even in the slightest) the HDD will last a long time. watch for surges. otherwise, it may run for a long time.

be careful not to be spilling things onto it.

[Hrimmer69]

If you were so unhappy with the original purchase, and you hadn't paid for it why didn't you just return it? The service tag number and Windows Auth code is stored in your system. So that's no problem. You don't need a sticker. I cant see blaming Dell for spyware you were infected with. I've always built my own PC's, but recently got a Dell. I don't think it's a great PC, but it was a deal and well worth the price. Not saying you didn't have real complaints though! (BTW, I'm a ASUS fan as well)

[MadM3rv]

because after 14 days they won't take it back.

[chuibock]

u know, bitchin around wont help you.

[MadM3rv]

chuibock, there are entire fields devoted to consumer complaints. without them, everything would suck.

[CrdBrdProjects]

true, i have heard good about their customer service, but this call... it makes me think again.

[gregryf]

@chuibock depends on who hears you bitch.

[gregryf]

I bought a service contract for my Dell computer. I have doccumentation. They have no record of my purchase. They often hang up on me and once one of their techs went into my computer and uninstalled a bunch of stuff. My computer was so messed up that I couldn't use it. I finally did a factory image restore myself to fix it. I will never own another Dell computer. Gotta say though, I have never had a problem with anyone in the Philipines or Canada.

[bbonta]

Theres a Lemon Law against this. if you've had to repair your computer more than 4 times and they dont resolve the issue you should be entitled for a refund or full replacement.

[Cheatshaman]

I owned an Alienware M17X (aka a Dell computer as Alienware was bought by them). I called support 17, ironic yes, times for a bad graphics card in a BRAND NEW computer and at last they offered me an exchange for a refurbished model. Excuse me...I bought new and you want to send me a repaired model? Will they send me money too? What a joke. I had my credit card company cancel my payment and sent the computer back as the card company suggested. I now own a Sony Vaio F Series with great support.

[BrodyNation]

i had to call like 40 something times in less than a year for my crappy dell inspiron 1545!!! i already called and bitched at them! but my computer wasn't within the 28 day warranty to replace it! i will never buy a dell laptop again...

[ColdHT]

Dell is absolutely the worst company in the WORLD!!! I was a sucker! Now I'm in Dell HELL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!­!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Dell you should be ashamed.. Worst computer I have ever owned. ABSOLUTELY the worst customer service EVER!!!!!!!!!!!

[Superginger12356]

My computer died a few months back, I ended up calling Dell and they told me my mother board was dead, and I'd have to pay 250 dollars to purchase a new mother board.. I then got my computer to turn on based on pure chance. Then I found out my hard drive wa simply full and that was the only problem...

[MattySP34Ks]

oh god another inspiron 9300...lol :)

[akolozvary]

I'm selling my Dell Inspiron 9300. Bought it back in July of 2005 thanks to slickdeals posting a $850 or so coupon for this laptop. Good laptop and it even runs Windows 7. BUT, I just recently started receiving perm vertical lines on my monitor. Then I found out that people received recall notices about this a while back, but I never did! I'm sure if I called them about this that I wouldn't get anywhere with getting it warranty replaced. Sucks bad.