A good reason to Beware of DELL

[Dave420]

I have a customer that has a Dell Optiplex GX400 P4 machine.they use it for their Buisness,it has their billing software and Database on it.a couple of days ago the power supply went out in it.I went to thier buisness with a new Antec TruePower 430watt Power supply(a very good choice)and to my suprise,I could not use it.As it turns out Dell modifies their motherboards and molex connectors ,so you can only use their power supply-and the worst part is they only have 250watt power supplies available for this model(Intel recomends a 350watt minimum).so I called to order it-it was $49.99 (a normal 250watt is ~$25)but the worst part is the shipping-it is $8 for standerd -but that takes up to 3 weeks! the next option is overnight shipping for $18 -so I thought that is not bad and went with it.when they sent my reciept I was floored to see that even though I paid for overnight shipping it was not schedualed to ship untill the 23rd(it is now the 15th)so I called them back and was informed they could ship it the next day for a additional $50!
Well seeing as they have me by the short hairs(the Business can't even write my check without a computer)I had to give in to their Demands-the worst part is they charged me Tax-even on the shipping and handling!
I paid a visit to their forums and it turns out this under powered supply tends to go out every 8-15 months -go figure.If you are smart you will stay as far away from Dell as you can -I used to think they were a good machine -but now I would put them in the same class as Gateway -CRAP.

[Zero Tolerance]

wow....im amazed!

[HomeBrew]

Thanks for that post Dave... Thought most of the proprietary crap was a thing of the past... As you know, I'm kinda in the market when the cash is right... think I might want to scratch Dell off the list...

HB

[Dave420]

here is more info on it.I can assure you this is all true.
http://www.upgradingandrepairingpcs.com/articles/upgrade3_01_01.asp

[Dave420]

and here ....
http://www.hardwareguys.com/dellwarn.html

[UniBonger]

I know it may take longer , and make you crazy at times but I urge people all the time to build thier own from good componets
they can but off the shelf at any time.There are plenty of good guides around to help you build your own.And of course there are people here that are knowledgeable enough to assist in making informed decisions as to what to buy.

For instance most of the components you can purchase in a retail box(and you don't always have to pay the big money for them)
have 3 year warrenty's or better, this vs a one year warrenty from companies like gateway or dell.

I guess we will never see Dave's experince in a dell commercial?
To bad you had to charge your customer that kind of money for what should be a simple repair Dave. I have a few guides on power supply repair here , I can convert one to a PDF for you should you ever run into problems again.Repairing even the cheap PS is pretty easy and you can find parts easily if you live near a fair sized metro area.

Well now we all know that "Dude you're gettin a Dell!" has a deeper meaning

[Bond]

I've experienced the same problems in the past with Dell's proprietary power supplies -- the additional blue cable that connects to the motherboard. What a farce! Took me a few days, but I eventually found one on eBay. No way in hell I was going to buy one directly from Dell.

(Somewhat off-topic)
I buy a new computer, on average, about every other year. Though I work for a company who deals strictly in Dell (mostly because of MY persuasion), I've bought PC's from many others: Gateway, Micron, Compaq, etc. However, I recently ordered a new notebook from Dell and it's the last computer I'll ever buy from them. BARELY customized (I added extra RAM), it took over a month before the notebook even SHIPPED! Add another 5-7 days for shipping and what have you got? A ****ed off customer.

I've read countless posts on their discussion forum from people who've gotten fed up and just canceled their orders. It doesn't do any good to sell PC's if you can't deliver on time. You just end up with a lot of angry customers.

[Greg]

This is, IMHO, Why Packard Bell is gone. They had a $175.00 P/S. Damn thing was only 150 watts too.

Go figure.

[PATHOS]

I was just informed of this from a friend of mine last weekend. I could not beleive it. I used to support Dell untill last weekend. Just another way to keep customers and make money....
O'well just when you thought you could depend on 'em they come out with this crap...

I guess I should of posted it last weekend Dave420. It may have saved you a few headachs.

Have a great day...:)

[kittygator]

The secret is to call back until you get someone that knows what the hell they are doing.

So this P4 was not under warranty?, I have my 3 year old 850 notebook, the usb went out, a contracted tech came to the house 2 days latter and changed out the complete mutha board.

Of course, I had paid the the extended warranty.

Did your customer, who relies on this machine, cover his butt?

I must agree though, I purchased one of the Axiom 5 PDA, it's clever, but when i call in for support, I have to call in 3 times to find someone competent. It's ashame because I see a wonderful company, screwin up royally

[RacinRN]

Dang, this really bursts my bubble. Seriously, I own a Dell and I've been looking at their systems, along with others, but I had every intention of getting a Dell. Gotta rethink my thinking since it sounds like Dell is naughty. And dishonest.

Thanks Dave, you probably saved me a lot of grief. :)

[wks]

Originally posted by kittygator


I must agree though, I purchased one of the Axiom 5 PDA, it's clever, but when i call in for support, I have to call in 3 times to find someone competent. It's ashame because I see a wonderful company, screwin up royally

You DO realize that the "tech" people you call are not Dell representatives but merely $6 dollar an hour phone solicitors paid to read off a list or look it up on software created by Dell (or Gateway or such). By calling back you may find someone that has come across your problem before-but you are not talking to computer "gurus" just someone who knows less than you and is paid to respond with pre-determined answers. Seriously--they contract phone solicitation companies, give them a list and software and send them out to help you with your computer troubles lol. Don't believe me? We have at least two members here that used to do it (their conscience got the best of them).

[PATHOS]

LOL................SO true,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,so true......sad huh.:(

[Dave420]

well it turns out the computer should be under warranty -but they wont cover it because -get this-the company I am doing the work for got it from a local computer company called Data Source of lakeland.it turns out that this "computer dealer"had purchased this computer from dell for the office-then when my customer was looking for a machine ,they sold it to him (after they pulled the dvd/cd burner combo drive and charged him $300 for a phillips 12x cd burner)for $1500.(keep in mind it is a referbished optiplex 400 P4 1.4gig)well it turns out they (Data Source) never finished paying Dell for the machine-so no warranty!
in any case they decided to have me build a new computer for them -a P4 2.4gig with 512DDR -and they gave me the dell minus the hard drive for helping them out and getting them back up and running.
Any one need a Dell ? ;)

[HomeBrew]

No offense man, but I've heard some bad stuff about Delllllllll. :) Now that really is a long strange trip...

HB

[Toyotathon]

Dell has really disappointed me latley!!!

[Dave420]

well I called their customer service yesterday and confronted them on the $50 expedited fee.the person I talked to said that Dell does not charge anything for it and normally as soon as it is in stock they send it(lie,lie lie)-so I asked why then does the website say you didn't even send it to the wharehouse and it has been a week-I was told"sometimes the website is not as up-to-date as we would like it to be.well somehow magicly -2 hours after talking to them the power supply was shipped-imagine that.I guess this concludes "as the Dell Turns" :)

[Fred Raud]

well,,regarding that phone call,,im sure the person on the other end is just trying to cover Dells A$$,,and personally i see nothing wrong with that,,when i was a telemarketer,,if i was talking to someone who was complaining,,i made up $hit all the time to just try and get them happy,,most of the time it works(lots of morons out there),,some times it wouldnt,,but that was just me being loyal to my company,,and trying to keep the customers happy,,

Fred Raud

[Greg]

Originally posted by Fred Raud
well,,regarding that phone call,,im sure the person on the other end is just trying to cover Dells A$$,,and personally i see nothing wrong with that,,when i was a telemarketer,,if i was talking to someone who was complaining,,i made up $hit all the time to just try and get them happy,,most of the time it works(lots of morons out there),,some times it wouldnt,,but that was just me being loyal to my company,,and trying to keep the customers happy,,

Fred Raud

Nothing worse then a loyal employee! ;)

[BloodyHell37]

Damn it Fred.... Just what the Hell is this??? No Sir, I dont like it! Besides the dell issue, both being dogs if you will. Time to get things back on track. Pardon the language. To rape and pillage was not without it's merits!