- Average user rating:
- My rating: 0 stars
Full user review
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30 out of 50 people found this review helpful
1.0 stars
"Our worst IT purchase in 17 years - Stave yourself, stay away"
Pros: Nice looking
Cons: Defective, Onsite Dell Technician botched the repair. Unit is now unusable.
Summary: We purchased six of these units. One was defective out of the box. Dell sent an onsite tech to replace the motherboard, processor, fan and heat sink. He botched the re-assembly, press the power button and nothing... the unit wouldn't turn on. To make thing worse, in the process of re-assembly he stripped out screw(s), now the machine can't be opened to be fixed. The battery no longer fits properly. As I looked on, he seemed to be jamming components back in the unit (it look as though he couldn't get them to fit right).
Dell refuses to replace the unit, insisting they will only repair it since we had it 28 days (they replace only in first 21 days). Sadly I wasted 20 of the days trying to get it to work, no luck.
Summary: Nice looking unit. If yours is defective, be prepared for incompetent techs and to spend numerous hours with tech support trying to get something done.
What are the odds you'll get a defective unit? While one in six isn't a staticstically valid sample, I've seen indications pointing to widespread problems with the Dell and this machine:
1. Many reported problems on the net. Check around before you do a header in the XPS pool.
2. Dell's been in financial straights lately. Although they reported improved financial results Q3 2007, it seems they'll be short lived.
3. Dell's willing to sacrifice our company's busines (5 to 10 units per year) over the cost to replace this unit. Maybe they have buckets of bad M1330s. So many they can't replace them all.
HP should be smiling. Guess that's where I'll head next. No wonder HP is soaring and Dell is tanking.
- 5 replies to this review
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I couldn't agree more. Buy this for someone you hate.
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Quite frankly, I can understand why you'd be annoyed if the repair tech they provided screwed things up so badly, but in all honesty, why did you wait a month before seeking repair/replacement. A 20-something day return policy is NORMAL for electronics so why get upset with Dell when you're the one who missed the deadline. (A deadline you can find on their website or via the telephone if you order that way.)
Also, 1/6 is not a statistical sample. You admitted that. But really, assuming you base this product purely off of online comments is just as incorrect. Those who have the biggest complaints will be the most vocal so should we be at all surprised that negative reviews are so harsh? Compare the number of negative reviews to the total number sold... this laptop is doing quite well and the price for it keeps dropping.
I'm enjoying mine right now. -
I have been with Dell for a long time now, and have bought about 10 units in the last two years. Prior to this, I had bought from other companies including Apple. I have had my best experience with Dell support. I have always taken their extended support and have yet to be turned down for anything.
Please call again and get another agent. I am sure it will work out. -
I'm not sure about this review...
first of all--dell's financials has very little to do with what we're interested in reading about here. this is cnet, not earnings.com. besides, i think your prediction that dell as a company will be "short-lived" more or less invalidates your entire review...
now, as for your problem--why in the world would you wait 20 days before sending a defective item back? if i got a defective computer i would be on the phone right away. and i'd send it back.
sounds like you made an error in judgement thinking you could fix it and now you're left hoping the onsite tech can fix it... -
I do see where you're coming from. However, be patient and have the guy come and repair it. Just ask for a different guy. You can stop doing business with Dell if you want, just get your money's worth as best you can.
I purchased a refurbished unit and there is a problem with the display (it is the LED display, so wonderful when it works right). There is a vertical strip about one inch thick near the middle of the screen that looks distorted at times. If I literally tap the back of the screen it goes away and stays away.
Long story short, I am on day 3 and have always known of the problem. Dell has offered to send me another refurbished unit of equal or greater specs within 15 days, but that would leave me no other recourse other than repairs as you have said.
I am new to Dell, and coming from Apple I really appreciate a lot of what they do. What I have noticed is that they are very predefined in terms of what they will and won't do. If I return it, I pay shipping, they will never budge on that. If it goes past 21 days, they will not exchange. It's an odd way of doing things.
Now, I'm a refurbished customer, I only paid $820.00 for mine, and while it was very poorly presented I still admit myself as a second-class customer ("outlet"). It is unfortunate that they won't go the extra mile for you since I assume you purchased these 6 brand new... and you purchased 6!
Very rigid rules, they aren't terrible rules, just extremely rigid.
I had a huge problem with Apple, and I feel about as you feel right now with Dell. So don't think that just because they are snobs it means that they won't have issues. They WILL however, bend rules to satisfy customers at times... but the rules they bend are far more ridiculous to begin with!
