Dell Computers ripoff: poorly constructed computers, bad customer service Austin Texas
Don't Do Dell, Dude...
I purchased a Dell 2350 on line in January 2003 and by late February it had broken down. I would only get a blue screen when turning on the system and was unable to read the error message as the screen was off center. I contacted Dell "support" and was rushed through the process of instaling the operating system software. Something was wrong though, it was supposed to take two to three hours but after seven hours the system had done nothing.
I called the following day and explained what happened to another tech support who insisted on doing the same thing, after another seven hours I called back and was instructed to wipe out the memory and start fresh. I let the system load over night but nothing. I requested to have someone provide home service and was refused, I requested to return the computer for replacement and was also refused.
I was then told to wait a week for the tech support to call me to investigate further. I was not going to wait though. I took it to a local service center and was told the unit was poorly assembled. The system could not read the RAM, the memory card was set on a new slot as several of the slots were not functioning properly. When the Dell Tech called at the end of the week all he wanted to do was the same procedure we started with and would not listed to my explanation on what was wrong with it.
Although I got the computer working on my own, I have not been able to replace all the faulty parts I was given and therefore have problems from time to time. The system can not read the settings at times and is unable to change any configurations. I get the off center screen from time to time as well. Dell computers are a joke and their tech support is even a bigger joke. Oh yeah, that on line factory rebate was bogus as well.
Javier
Van Nuys, California
U.S.A.
2 Updates & Rebuttals
Audra
Langeloth,Pennsylvania,
U.S.A.
calling Dell does not help
#3Consumer Suggestion
Wed, May 05, 2004
I feel that we have a right to our opion, for the longest time I felt the I was the only one having this problem with Dell.
I feel that calling Dell does not help take care of our problems esp. when you try for month to get NOWHERE with them. I feel the Ads on TV are false because they say A+ gaurantee service in plain simple ENGLISH. And I haven't gotten either.When I would ask Dell Empolyess that is the A+ guarantee service they either say they don't know, transfer me to another person who doesn't know, or worst of all hang up.
I think that pretty bad when A+ guarantee service is advertised, but Dell employees not even know what that is.
Allicent
New Berlin,Illinois,
U.S.A.
Dell has issues
#3Consumer Comment
Mon, June 09, 2003
I was in the same situation as many of these Dell customers. It is a very frusterating thing to have something so expensive be so worthless at the same time. I purchased a Dell 8250 with most all the bells and whistles. Four months to the day that it rolled out of the factory my hard drive clearly went out and I required a tech. I got the in home warrenty and the tech was sent within 3 days. He replaced the hard drive but advised me that a controller in th emother board was bad as well. The next day he installed a new mother board and away he went. That evening I did not get the "tech" call to re boot my machine. I called in and waitied and waited. After 58 minutes the call was deisconnected by the rep (Read I was Hung up on) and no programs had been installed. I tried to get things going myself and the next day I tried to get online. Suddenly after appearing all systems were a go I was seeing there was a problem with the modeum. Two more days and sever han ups from the reps who were totally clueless only aggrevated the situation. At one point a guy from Dell told me he had no record of me getting a tech set up for the newest issue. I think Dell ought to hang it up after two attempts and just send a NEW machine to the consumer. I was just advised from my professor (who runs a successful computer business)that the memory is bound to fail now given the components that were bad and replaced to date. I can tell you the only way to complain is to Snail-Mail and who knows if they even read it. Here is the address I was finally provided with after 9 calls a man named "Henry" gave this to me that works at DELL. I might add he was only 1 of a total 2 reps that did not Disconnect my call. I exercised extremem retraint, never raised my voice, cursed ,yelled or said anything out of line (although I wish I did) and the reps just got tired of talking it seemed and magically the calls were cut off. Here's that address.
Dell Corporation
1 Dell Way
Round Rock Texas
78864