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Dell computers New computer, NO WARRANTY, tried to charge for basic service, slow, junk Vostro 260 Internet, Texas
After "special handling" by sales rep. Cody Bailey (due to on line sales reps failing to answer questions) I purchased a new Dell Vostro 260 with 3.30GHZ processor, Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit OS, 4.00GB memory. The computer supposedly had a 3 year warranty. However, what arrived was slower than my old computer (which has a much slower processor)and even worse virtually all on line downloads are rejected as "invalid"(common sites such as Adobe reader). And I soon learned there was no warranty at all.
Support services first tried to have me pay some foreign speaking "third party" money to "scan for viruses". Dell installed Trend Micro "free for fifteen mos." thus should not have been viruses and I certainly should not need to pay for such a scan. Next complaint for support brought an obnoxious male insisting I should try reinstalling the entire operating system. Meanwhile Cody Bailey began to insist I needed to return this computer within 21 days permitted and accept restock fees and unlimited deductions for having used the computer at all. Dell refused to do anything to try to determine why the computer had problems although they had claimed the warranty even covered for in home service. I even asked for locations of certified Dell tech places so I could take it for service under warranty and they claimed to not have any such places anywhere. Requests for American handling and real service versus harassment and repeated attempts to make me pay Dell and/or their third party contractors. Cody Bailey referred the issues to the Dell unresolved issues department five times only to find out a case number had not even been assigned therefore I could not access that department.
I am looking for others with similar Dell problems and I have informed Dell I will contact FTC, DOJ, and other entities as I feel they are ripping others off as well with bad products, claiming to have warranties and then no support under warranty whatsoever unless more money is given to someone by the purchaser. I also know they have certified technicians so why was I told they do not? Apparently they make money by having the purchaser ship computers back at the purchaser's expense and charging the purchaser for restock and having tried to use the "new" computer.
Thus far I cannot submit a review of the computer on the Dell site. I assume they have me blocked and I will have to go in under a different name.
7 Updates & Rebuttals
mpankeyusa
Missouri,United States of America
Has nothing to do with slow bootup
#8Author of original report
Thu, May 10, 2012
The problems are not about bootup. The problems are most likely in the processor sold as supposed to be faster than my previous computer, which accessed the same internet service as well. And then there's something causing downloads from major sites such as Adobe and Canon to all be rejected as "invalid".This is supposedly a brand new Dell and had these problems from the first time I turned it on. Dell's warranty is fraudulent because they have refused to do anything unless I pay money either to their third party "partners" or take financial losses and return everything to them for a return eventually of an unspecified portion of what I paid.
mpankeyusa
Missouri,United States of America
Dell IS who insisted on 3rd Party Pay for Scan for Virus
#8Author of original report
Thu, May 10, 2012
Dell is indeed behind the third party pay for scanning for viruses garbage. That IS what they insisted I must do versus their techs doing anything under the warranty to resolve the problems.
Ramjet
Somewhere,Michigan,
U.S.A.
Hardware v. Software
#8Consumer Comment
Thu, May 10, 2012
No, it's not obvious that hardware is not covered. I'm sure there was more to the conversation you related here and it became obvious that the problems are not related to the computer hardware.
Dell does not write or support the software programs on the machine and does not support it under their warranty.
Personal computers have been around since the early 80's and people still do not know how they work. A personal computer is NOT like a toaster that you just plug in and either it toasts your bread or it doesn't. They are actually incredibly complex devices that can have a multitude of problems that don't have obvious solutions. Then throw in all the crap on the internet and there are another zillion things that can and do go wrong.
Anyone would do themselves a favor by taking some kind of computer class to at least understand the basics of how they work and how to determine where problems originate.
I understand your degree of frustration but it's part of owning and using any personal computer.
Steven
Jacksonville,Florida,
U.S.A.
Something else to try
#8Consumer Comment
Thu, May 10, 2012
A couple of other things to look at would be to do a disk cleanup as well as checking to see if your disk is fragmented (both under the Accessories - System Tools). Sometimes when your PC is imaged the files end up getting fragmented over the disk causing your computer to be slow booting up.
Steven
Jacksonville,Florida,
U.S.A.
Slowness encountered when booting up or all the time
#8Consumer Comment
Thu, May 10, 2012
Could be the anti-virus software that came with the computer needs to have the configuration changed. Try taking a look at it when you have the chance.
A 3rd party trying to trick you into downloading anti-virus software is an issue with the settings you have on your browser or maybe even your internet service. Check your computer firewall or browser settings. If all else fails just close the browser window that pops up offering to test your computer or that says you have a virus. This is not Dell's problem.
Some companies use the TCP/UDP ports of other software manufacturers to trick your computer into thinking you are downloading an update from the software company (I.E. Microsoft or even McAfee) that is not the fault of Dell. Maybe talk with them (Dell) to see if they can help you out if you can't figure out what settings need to be changed or if you want take call someone else who does (maybe a friend or coworker).
mpankeyusa
Missouri,United States of America
There was zero determination any software were the problems
#8Author of original report
Wed, May 09, 2012
Obviously the hardware was not covered under the so called warranty either. There was nothing done to determine why any of the issues (slowness and inability to download basic programs) were a problem.
No need to discuss software and try to extort more money from me for "scan for viruses" by a third party when nothing was done to determine if anything was wrong with the hardware.
If not scamming why didn't they even issue an official case number?
coast
USAHardware not software is covered
#8Consumer Comment
Wed, May 09, 2012
"I soon learned there was no warranty at all"
I'm sure you were told that the warranty covers hardware but not software related issues. Why did you leave that out of your complaint?
"claiming to have warranties and then no support under warranty"
Does the supplied documentation indicate support is included with the warranty? Support and hardware repair are two different services.