Complaint Review: Dell - Dell Computers

I had for 6 years a desk top HP computer that finally gave up the ghost, so had to buy a new computer.  As I am on disability, so not only reliability but price is a huge option for me.

I decided to get a Dell 'scratch and dent' refurbished laptop from their website.  I found one, a Dell Inspiron, that seemed to fit my needs and was below $450 in price.  The sales gal I contacted said it was just scratched--brand new machine, could be up to a 3" scratch on the laptop, what do I care about cosmetics, so I paid for it and they sent it to me.  Arrived bright and gleaming, could find no real scratch on it of any size.

From the very first, I had trouble with the laptop, I have to use dialup internet as I can't afford high speed, so, got myself a small external moden and hooked the laptop up, it would not hold the internet connection UNLESS I also had the laptop connected to the AC wall plug in...in other words, would not connect or stay connected to the internet via battery power.  If I was connected by cord to the AC plug in, I can surf the internet for hours at a time!

I contacted Dell as this is not acceptable, what is the point of a laptop if I am wired in everywhere?  There customer service is in India, and altho they are nice, they really do not understand what you are telling them, I talked to a dozen people, via phone and internet, each one telling me that I was to deal only with them, only to find out the next day or so, I was dumped off on some other 'customer service' rep!

One of them went into my computer via the phone lines and wandered around testing things, said he could not figure out why the laptop had to use AC connections to keep the internet connection going.  Nothing we tried in a weeks time worked. 

Then they got the bright idea that my AC cord sent to me with the laptop was the wrong one and they would send the correct one, never has arrived, and I can tell you that the one I got gets SUPER hot, ie burns my fingers hot when I am using it for a few hours while on the internet.

The customer service reps then decided it was a 'software' problem and said they could no longer talk to me as I needed to pay another $80 if it was software involved which I refused to do.  If it was a software problem, something was installed wrong, the it is a DELL problem as they installed the software!  I wrote the AG of Texas with my complaint and they decided to look at the software, or change it out or something.  At that time, due to some health issues, I had to drop the issue for the time being.

Now, a couple months later, one of the click buttons by the mouse pad doesn't work well anymore, seems to have sunk into the machine, the left click button, and, the screen goes dark on me, it will flicker and flicker and then sometimes go completely black.  Have no idea why as I have treated this machine like gold as I can't afford to replace it or upgrade it!  I think that is part of the 'scratch and dent'  problem showing up! 

Remember, I got this computer in May 2009!  Was supposedly completely looked over and anything wrong fixed/replaced.  It is a piece of junk, has good 'stats' ie 4 megs ram, dual core processor, 9 cell battery etc, but is a lousey LEMON machine.  Will have to write the Texas AG again.  I can't believe a lower end model like my former HP could last 6 years (and it was a cheapie) and I could get an upgraded Inspiron and it is probably not going to last one full year!

I have told a couple friends of my problems who were looking to replace their computers, they did not buy Dell!  I won't buy Dell anymore either, who wants to deal with their customer service people and bad products?

Buyer beware!