Dell Computers. Crap service.

[Joe_Cole]

Three weeks ago I asked the forum for advice on getting a new computer. Several people recommended Dell, so I contacted them.

I have been promised a quote (by E mail) and literature (by snail mail). I have phoned and spoken to people on 4 occasions now (on 2 more occasions I wasn't able to get through their system and speak to a human being). Four times they have promissed to send bumph to me. Sadly, after 2 weeks I have received nothing.

I'm sure that others have received better service, but if this is indicative of what I may expect from them then I won't be buying.

Crap service.

 

[tcm]

I didn't suggest dell. Dell want corporate buyers please, and their salepeople are bit dorkish, like any big hardware outfit on small margins. The after sales service contract is hawked around, so chances are that the cheapest will win it and who ever eventually turns up won't have a spare, and might not even have seen a computer like yours.

Buy local: it wil definitely go wrong, so when it does you/they will be nearby. Eventaully they work ok. Buying from dell is like buying boat from the us unseen. Might work, might not - then what?

good luck

 

[TrueBlue]

Everything nowadays - if you're "webenabled" is electronic. Period. Paper, what the hell's that.

Nearer the point they're all on commission, and will have to get off their butt to go to the photocopier - to much trouble may lose comm: on next sale, so you get dumped.

Irritating thing is the boxes are quite good value...

 

[davidbains]

Joe, many yachties use Toshiba laptops. You can run them from the ships battery on a DC/DC converter or even direct if you take the battery out. You can get a "nearly new" one from Morgan Computers. Or be really adventurous and buy an IBook (needs a 12/24 DC converter or direct if you have 24volts)
David..

 

[sailorman]

get one made-up locally if not by shop find a mate or mate of a mate who can.
much cheaper & if it goes wrong its very easy to get fixed.
higher spec for same money as dell

 

[BrendanS]

Why are you messing around asking for quotes. They are geared up for online business, not sending quotes out. Go online, build the pc you want, and the price will appear as you add or delete options

 

[webcraft]

Totaqlly agree with Brendan

(now there's a novelty)

Dell's prices are all geared to selling online. You go onto their website, choose your system, customise it to suit your particular requirements, order it and pay for it.

If you want to talk to people than go to your local box shifter or system builder and speak as much as you want. They will tell you whatever you want to hear and the end result may or may not be reliable / what you want / value for money.

Order online from Dell and you will get outstanding value . . . but you have to take a little responsibility yourself.

- Nick

 

[nct1]

Ah well that is the price for picking the cheapest.

I made that mistake with TIME, whose product was stunningly well specd and cheap, however they never delivered the computer, and I found that their customer support lines were geared up to selling, not sorting out problems at all. It took months to get my money back and a lot of effort.

After that, when making major purchase decisions, I check the support ethos and factor the cost of a major problem.

In the end I went to Evesham Micros (twice now) and have never regretted it, they have shops you can visit and will answer questions, and yes you pay a little more than TIME, but overall, cost of ownership has been much smaller.

Yer pays yer money ....

 

[jerryat]

Hi Joe,

Had a totally different experience with Dell on each of the five occasions we've bought computers (2 PC's, 3 laptops) PROVIDED we ordered on-line! As mentioned earlier, they are IMHO, very good value for money and at least one of my laptops has been on board throughout our seven years cruising, with no problems whatsoever.

None of them has had a problem (other than one where I mucked up some software) and the customer/tech service USED to be excellent. I say used to be, because now I think it's utterly appalling. Dell have now farmed out this element of their business to the 'Indians', and getting an answer to a query, or even talking to someone who understands computers (and God knows I'm no expert!) is virtually impossible.

It is this fact alone, that would make me think more than twice about Dell in future. It's sad, because the product IS good - reliable and value for money - but I expect to get answers, not fobbing off, when I need help. So far, this very high resolution widescreen, Centrino laptop I'm using has performed faultlessly, but I'm literally dreading anything going wrong and being forced to waste hours and hours talking to Bombay and getting nowhere.

A final, perhaps sobering thought. The specification I enjoy would have cost almost DOUBLE from IBM. I checked and rechecked because it seemed ludicrous, but there it was, the 'same' thing for half the money for use primarily aboard? No contest!!

Cheers Jerry

 

[Sammo]

Want a nice buying experience

Try http://www.alienware.co.uk/

I have had the desktop for 4 months now and it’s proved to be a good buy.

Should steer clear of all laptops, upgrading is restricted

Sales and support is 5 star and all on an 0800 number

 

[tome]

Our parent company buys about 10,000 Dells a year. I can change mine anytime I need, but am restricted to about 5 models. Each is delivered with a standard comapny software image. Our own IT company provides support.

Dearheart is not so lucky. She is her own boss and needs support. Mainly, this is me. But when I don't have time to fix it, she has to have a backup.

IMHO, you have to decide with a PC whether low price equals value. If value to you is good support, then the answer is probably no.

Knocking Dell is not the answer. It's your purchasing decision.

 

[halcyon]

We bought a Dell system on line, delivered early, in fact you can track your computor throught it's build, to date a happy bunny.

Brian

 

[Joe_Cole]

[ QUOTE ]
Why are you messing around asking for quotes. They are geared up for online business, not sending quotes out. Go online, build the pc you want, and the price will appear as you add or delete options

[/ QUOTE ]

I hadn't anticipated so many replies, so quickly!

I didn't want a quote. They insisted on sending me one! (or rather, not sending me one!)
I had some queries and decided to speak to them. The first guy I spoke to was very good....only he didn't do what he promised to do. Everyone else has been second rate, and also failed to do what was promised.

I hesitate to say this but someone else has raised it. The calls are being handled in India. I don't care what country the calls are handled in, I don't care about the race, colour, religion, gender, sexual orientation, inside leg measurement or even if he is wearing a kilt. I do care that the tossers can't do what they say they will do! /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[Mirelle]

Dell Computers. Brilliant service

Bought one five years ago over the telephone chatting to a bloke in Ireland.

Three years later, within a week of the end of the guarantee, the hard drive died.

New hard drive arrived, delivered to the door by courier, in 48 hours, and a charming young lady in Bangalore spent ages on the phone taking a complete idiot through the process of fitting it and reinstalling all the software.

I've just typed this on it. One new mouse, original keyboard, speakers, etc.

No complaints at all. Will certainly buy another one.

 

[stevebirch2002]

I have to agree with Webcraft. I used to own a PC Company selling thousands PCs a year. Glad I sold up and I now buy me PCs for myself and customers from Dell. Best to order online, prices are good, quality is good and no problems so far ( I have about fifty or so out at customers premises). Very impressed with teh quality.

 

[trouville]

I bought an IBM the reason being Dell Acer cost more. Though i wanted a compact model.
I have a Dell palm and would today order a dell laptop if i had to buy another with a DVD rom no less. Last year compact models had external CD roms.
IBM is a WONDERFUL laptop great key board and service. You have to try if it feels ok it will be a pleasure to live with if not well.
Today i hope most hard wears going to last, In fact if i buy a new laptop and the choise is as it is now i would buy a toshiba portage with the vLv centrio 1.2, the reason i dident befor was the price 50% more and only 2.5 hr btry life with the standard btry,
With my IBM i have 7 hours but 90% im pluged in! Still 50% is a lot.

Perhaps if i realy had to buy tomorrow i would buy now a dell there quality price just now is fantastic! The toshibas nice though if only they would put the price down its been the same for more than two years, it WAS advanced but not now.

 

[Sybarite]

You use a computer to date a happy bunny...???

John

 

[ShipsWoofy]

[ QUOTE ]
Why are you messing around asking for quotes. They are geared up for online business, not sending quotes out. Go online, build the pc you want, and the price will appear as you add or delete options

[/ QUOTE ]

Doesn't this raise a chicken and egg type conundrum?

 

[ShipsWoofy]

Most people I work with build their own. Those that do not are generally advised by those who do to contact http://www.ramcomputers.co.uk/ .

All the people I know who have used RAM have been very satisfied. Have a look, nothing to lose.

 

[BrendanS]

Why? He's online here, so must have internet access /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif