Dell complaints

pointofview · Posted: Mon May 19, 2008 7:03 pm Post subject:

I should have googled Dell before buying --that was my big mistake. Won't make that one again. Dell is obviously not a reputable company--we all assume good faith and are disappointed every once in awhile. Our ultimate weapon--DON'T BUY DELL--SPREAD THE WORD.

Dell encourages you to order off their website and via phone --to someone with an Indian accent--yeah, me too. The warranty is not explained. You are just told that it covers any problem you might have with the machine. Just pay your extra $300 bucks or thereabouts.

Battery problems were not even on my mind---I repeat--I have never had a problem with a laptop battery before--and they get light use from me--even when I travel, I typically use the power cord. This same technology is used for camcorders, digital cameras, and whatever. I have NEVER had one go out on any of this equipment. FUNNY THING, that, with a company that does myriad other unethical things, THE BATTERY GOES OUT just after a year, --the period that is buried in their fine print somewhere, and which you have to replace with a proprietary one FROM DELL that costs several times what it should.

I think there is enough "smoke" here for an investigation by an attorney general somewhere.

Any ideas, anyone?

Rocke_T_Sinetist · Posted: Mon May 19, 2008 7:22 pm Post subject:

In order to skirt these customer expectations as articulately as they do, Dell has researched trade law to the point they are virtually unassailable.

In fact, if Dell spent as much time, money, and effort on products and support as they do conniving dodges, they wouldn't have a problem and neither would you.
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diashto · Posted: Mon May 19, 2008 9:02 pm Post subject:

Camarorock · Posted: Mon May 19, 2008 10:12 pm Post subject: Battery

If you google battery warranty (I just googled that topic), even the places that sale laptop batteries seperately only give a 1 year warranty. So, I believe this is a business standard for laptop batteries. If you purchase a battery thru Dell Spare parts, it comes with the 1 year warranty, that is not associated with your system warranty. If you find yourself in the situation that the replacement battery went bad before the year, then give the tech the order number as the new battery does not show up in the original purchase order. That way you can get that battery replaced no fuss about it

FallenAngel · Super Hater Joined: 21 Feb 2006 Posts: 1490

In any regard, pointofview will have to buy a replacement battery out of pocket if he/she expects to have one that works. Mark the date of purchase on the calendar so that you can keep track of how long you have left to replace the replacement if needs be.

And I'm going to repeat it, there's not enough "smoke" here to even get a yawn from any AG anywhere. You could raise a stink and make a scene about it, but at most all you'll do is come off like a firecracker - lots of noise but no damage done. Seriously, you are so barking up the wrong tree with that idea.

Camarorock · Posted: Mon May 19, 2008 11:38 pm Post subject: Batteries

Hey,
I'm just throwing it out there. I agree that nearly all laptop purchasers do not know the one year warranty. But most laptop sellers and battery vendors have the same restriction. So, this whole thread is educational for potential buyers. If anything, I think we hould be raising hell to the manufacturer of the batteries, which dictate this policy. Even if it is known by the manufacturer, that the batteries basically start to degrade once manufactured. As someone said, it is inherent to the technology

pointofview · Posted: Tue May 20, 2008 12:03 am Post subject:

The real issue isn't the warranty period. Its how long the damn things last. Toyota gives a 100,000 km warranty but if they have been taken care of, they will go double that without problem. And yes, some people abuse their stuff. and some don't. Perhaps Consumer Reports might have a look at both: customer service at Dell, and their battery life, as opposed to other brands.

Maybe the recall of Sony sourced batteries tells us something about their attention to this area--or did they have sony bid on the absolute cheapest thing they could get their hands on? Did any other laptop brand recall their batteries??

FallenAngel · Super Hater Joined: 21 Feb 2006 Posts: 1490

Several other companies also jumped on the battery recall. Though most insisted that they were unaffected, and the recall was just a precautionary measure.

Rocke_T_Sinetist · Posted: Tue May 20, 2008 11:14 am Post subject:

Lithium has two advantages, power density (size) and no memory phenomenon. The tradeoff is short service life and propensity to short/burn/explode. Size is the only reason OEMs went with them.

They may also have a lighter environmental footprint when casually disposed of. In very small amounts, lithium is a nutrient, I don't think the same can be said of cadmium.
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DellMgmt · Regular Hater Joined: 22 May 2008 Posts: 25

Listen,
We dont like for people to say bad things about us. You got a bad battery, we admit it. About 34% of our lithium batteries will fail between the first and second year. This generates about 23.2 million dollars in profit for us. In order to quiet you, we offer a 15% discount on a new battery. Please use this code HTR56%$JKU when ordering to get 15% off a battery. If you use the coupon and then complain further in this forum, the coupon will become invalid. Please accept our gracious offer. Further issues will be resolved if needed. Please use ext 7260995

pointofview · Posted: Thu May 22, 2008 11:28 am Post subject:

You might want to read my post under "an open letter to Dell regarding gross mistreatment" where I chronicle my experience with "customer advocate" which dell management supposedly offer their customers. Why anyone would follow your geese down your garden path after the first three times assuming basic integrity and marginal competence is quite beyond me. First of all, your offer of 15% off a $300 battery is an insult. Secondly, your codes probably don't work. Thirdly, if they do, I will undoubtedly be routed to India, then Pakistan, then Australia, then the good old US of A, where your "contractors" will have no idea what I am talking about.

Why doesn't this company spend its money: a) building quality equipment that doesn't break in the first place; and b) SOLVING customer problems , rather than spending its money screwing its customers around and wasting their time?

Some of us will spend far more time on this than we will ever get back. What we WILL get back is some self-satisfaction that we did what we could to bring down an unethical company that exploits and screws its customers around. You go not deserve any more business from any of us. Nor any of our friends. You'll figure this out when its too late, and the company is 50 feet under water.

DellMgmt · Regular Hater Joined: 22 May 2008 Posts: 25

I CAN OFFER 30% OFF AS MY FINAL OFFER PLEASE USE COUPON CODE H873GJC2846CV5 TO PURCHASE ANYTHING OVER $1299 AND I WILL GIVE YOU 30% OFF. YOU MUST MAKE THIS PURCHASE TODAY OR THE COUPON WILL EXPIRE. IF YOU BUY $5000 YOU WILL GET $1500 OFF THIS IS THE EQUIVELENT OF 5 (FIVE) BATTERIES. THIS IS YOUR FINAL OFFER. IF YOU CONTINUE TO POST NEGATIVE DELL COMMENTS HERE, WE WILL BE FORCED TO PURSUE OTHER OPTIONS.

pointofview · Posted: Thu May 22, 2008 12:33 pm Post subject:

question: why would anyone buy anything more from Dell? and $5000 worth???har har har!!!

I guess you will have to "pursue other options". too bad those options don't seem to include honoring the warranty we paid for, building quality equipment, and treating your customers fairly.

DellMgmt · Regular Hater Joined: 22 May 2008 Posts: 25

The warranty DOES NOT cover the battery. It is written in English. We supply a ggod product at a very good price. Sometimes you have to bite the bullet. I have went out of my way to provide you reasonable alternatives. It is clear you are NOT a reasonable person. This is NOT the forum to continue this conversation, please call me or more simply just use the coupon we have provided. I will disable the coupon shortly. Dont believe me? Go ahead plaace an order and you will see, I will even provide free shipping.

Rocke_T_Sinetist · Posted: Thu May 22, 2008 12:48 pm Post subject:

And those other options would be...... detonating their battery by remote control? We already know you can do that. That's why we all wear aluminum foil hats.

Three hundred dollars for a bloody battery?? YGBK! At that price, and with a yearly failure rate, you make more than $23M selling them.

Why do coupon codes change numbers of digits? 14 digits is more people than there are on the planet.
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