Dude, DON'T Buy A Dell

[Oorang]

Anyone in the market for a new PC/laptop be forewarned. DON'T buy a Dell.

I purchased a new Dell laptop two months ago. Already it needs to go in for repair (under warranty). Without going into pages of gory details their products stink, their tech support and customer support is non-existent (even if you are lucky enough to get someone that speaks English) and they don't honor their warranties.

Don't be sucked in by their low prices. It's not worth it. One of the most frustrating experiences ever.

[Oorang]

Anyone else have any experience with Dell?

[Ditter]

Bummer dude! Oh.... I mean sorry you have had such trouble, thanks for sharing. I won't buy a Dell.

[HawkeyeLonewolf]

On my Dell right now -- second one and LOVE THEM.

Bought this one about a year ago.

The previous one my wife still uses and is about 3 years old.

Dell is the only company I will buy from. They rock.

[ohCompGk]

Dell without question has the best warranty and service in the market. The trick is to call the home/small business (commercial) support line. If you call the home support line they send you off to India. With the commercial number they put you in contact with the Texas boys. A world of difference.

[Oorang]

Thanks for the input. I'll try that tomorrow.

[JulieRNR21]

I LOVE my DELL......BUMP

[jaime1959]

I did a lot of research before buying a laptop in late July. The Dell's looked attractive, but the reviews were not good. Ended up with a good deal on an HP from Best Buy.

[Oorang]

Dell without question has the best warranty and service in the market

At this point, the experience I've had with them for the last 5 business days is the worst service and warranty in the market. This is my first Dell, always purchased Gateway in the past.

The trick is to call the home/small business (commercial) support line

How do you make sure they don't give you the brush off and tell you, you shouldn't be calling the commercial line?

[ken5050]

I'm on my 7th Dell..Home and office..Never had a problem..course, I throw em out after three years..but seriously, what's the alternative..Gateway?..themay NOT be here tomorrow..

[ohCompGk]

No problem. BTW I won't recommend anything but a Dell to my customers. Yes they have lemons but once you get past the sour taste (they really will live up to their warranty and make it right) you'll love them.

[Ciexyz]

btt

[Ron in Acreage]

My brother put 2 in the trash in less than 3 years. The techs they send to his house couldn't fix them. About 6 trips for the first one. They finally said enough and gave him a new one. It lasted less than a year and ended up in the dump. He went to a local PC shop and had one built from scratch to his needs. Awesome PC. Not one problem in a year. He bought his son a Gateway laptop and it was in the shop the first month. Power supply was bad. Took them 10 weeks to get it back to him. I have an Emachine that was free after all the rebates. 3 and a half years and still going strong. Not a peep out of it. Cable ISP, video and audio streaming is great.

[Congressman Billybob]

In all fairness, my experience is the exact opposite. I've bought two straight Dell laptops. Products have been excellent. Even more important, the service from Texas has also been excellent.

After good experience with Dell on the first one, four years ago, I set out to buy another one via the Internet. (We're in a town of 1,000, and live a half mile into the woods. So. long-range sales and service are a must.)

Sorry your experience is so miserable. Ours has been quite different.

Congressman Billybob

Latest column, "Carville, Davis, and Other Pests -- 'Those We Don't Speak of' "

If you haven't already joined the anti-CFR effort, please click here.

[Oorang]

>really will live up to their warranty and make it right

I spent three hours on the phone and live tech chat today (5th day in a row) and they are not living up to their warranty. Basically telling me "tough luck". I've had the laptop 60 days.

[ohCompGk]

"How do you make sure they don't give you the brush off and tell you, you shouldn't be calling the commercial line?"

They'll know as soon as you punch in your express service number. They have always ignored it with me. Most laptops are sold on both sides anyway.

[Libertina]

LOL I "bought" an E-machine 4 years ago and have NEVER had a problem. It really was free from Good Guys if I signed up for 3 years of Internet service. Got a great monitor and printer as well. Best deal I ever had! LOL (Now the 3 years modem is up and DSL rocks ;)

[Oorang]

I'll give it a try, thanks much.

[Salamander]

I have 3 Dell laptops right now and 1 Dell desktop.
I've owned at least 4 other Dell laptops in the last 2 1/2 years.
I've built my own PCs for a while but as far as "namebrand PCs", Dell can not be beat.
You may have just gotten a "lemon".
It happens.

[Oorang]

I can understand getting a lemon, it does happen. It's getting Dell to honor their warranty that is frustrating.

[1066AD]

A friend was having problems (desktop PC) recently, didn't know if hardware or XP, I helped as much as I could but decided it was something due to XP and/or driver(s) & I'm no XPert. He called Dell even tho' his warranty had expired, they were cooperative, patient and between them & him the problems were fixed. He's now a very happy customer.