Careful With Dell !!!

[stratman]

14 months ago I bought a W3000 LCD tv from Dell (It's a 30" LCD) so now it's out of warranty, about a week ago the panel started acting up, it seems that when you turn it on (especially in the morning) for the first time, you get sound but no picture (it might be the lamp) I have to turn it off again and then on to get picture. I called Dell spoke to a supervisor, to make long story short: after warranty your screwed, they'll give you a discount on a new lcd, but won't fix it or tell you who might be able to. Be carefull with Dell you might get burned, and if you have to buy an extended warranty to cover your loss, it's better to buy from Best Buy or Circuit City at least the brands they sell are repairable even if out of warranty. No wonder Dell is going down the drain.

 

[Haoleb]

Its certainly still repairable. There is nothing that seperates Dell from any other manufacturer as far as repairablilty goes. Its still a machine and its still made from material parts. Just take it to a good repair shop in your area, Although I do doubt that you will have an easy time finding one to repair a Plasma or LCD panel it is still worth a try.

 

[jaxvon]

Well, I think that with any expensive technology (such as a huge LCD) or with ANY portable computer, you should buy the extended warranty. Any more, it isn't making the manufacturer money. The cost of parts to you is much higher than the cost of the warranty. Heck, a new LCD, cable, and inverter for a Dell Laptop will run you around $300.

 

[stratman]

I've checked the yellow pages I haven't found someone YET that can or would fix it...the point isn't about "repairability" it's about the company that sold you the product standing behind it even after warranty expires. Can you imagine if you bought a Chevy and after your warranty runs out you couldn't fix it?!! This is about being forced into buying another tv from them or an extended warranty because DELL won't service or tell you where to have it serviced. I believe, and I might be wrong that DELL lcds are manufactured by Olevia, none the less I've cancelled my account with them, and when this stupid lcd finally burns up I'll by a Sharp Aquos. Be carefull with DELL!

 

[stratman]

BTW Jaxvon,

The seller of the extended warranty makes a comission on every policy sold that's why BB and CC push extended warranty plans when you buy any electronics.

 

[Sheep]

BTW Jaxvon,

The seller of the extended warranty makes a commission on every policy sold that's why BB and CC push extended warranty plans when you buy any electronics.

BB is non commission. They push those warranties because its basically 100% profit. They fire Employee's that don't push them.

SheepStar

 

[jaxvon]

Stratman,

I'm referring to an extended warranty purchased directly through the manufacturer. The 'Extended Service Plans' sold at BB and CC are definitely about making the store money. But any more, the price of laptop parts far exceeds the cost of an extended warranty. I say this from personal experience as a Dell and Apple tech. If you buy a computer today, pony up the extra money for the extended warranty. If you're buying a Dell, consider Complete Care if you think you might have accidental damage to your laptop. Last time I checked, complete care is $95 on top of the normal warranty. The cost of a new motherboard (which could be necessary if you happened to dump liquid on your laptop) is $500+.

As for getting your display fixed, Dell is unlike Apple. When you get your display "repaired" under warranty, they send an entire refurbished display, not just the LCD panel. You might try contacting Pre Owned electronics. I have dealt with them in the past and they seem to offer a fair price and good service.

http://www.preowned.com/

 

[stratman]

Thanks Jaxvon,

I'll try the site you posted, but still the issue is will a company stand behind what it sells even if it's only "branded". And who is the manufacturer? Dell? Olevia? they're acting as brokers or middlemen, CAVEAT EMPTOR!! All I know is I'm never buying anything from DELL again.....Just an example: my Krell KST needed repairs about a year ago (dumb thing: power rocker switch), this amp is about 14 years old!! Krell didn't say no! They simple said ship it in and we'll take care of it!! Sometimes it's not about warranties and saving your money, it's about customer service and corporate reputation. I didn't want a discount from DELL or refund, all I simply asked is: 1. Can you repair it? 2. If not, can you tell me who in my area might. That's simple customer service. That's what makes a company good: repeat clientele.

 

[jaxvon]

Thanks Jaxvon,

I'll try the site you posted, but still the issue is will a company stand behind what it sells even if it's only "branded". And who is the manufacturer? Dell? Olevia? they're acting as brokers or middlemen, CAVEAT EMPTOR!! All I know is I'm never buying anything from DELL again.....Just an example: my Krell KST needed repairs about a year ago (dumb thing: power rocker switch), this amp is about 14 years old!! Krell didn't say no! They simple said ship it in and we'll take care of it!! Sometimes it's not about warranties and saving your money, it's about customer service and corporate reputation. I didn't want a discount from DELL or refund, all I simply asked is: 1. Can you repair it? 2. If not, can you tell me who in my area might. That's simple customer service. That's what makes a company good: repeat clientele.

I understand where you're coming from, and I agree. Unfortunately, with the amount of volume that Dell deals with, they can't offer the same kind of service that you get from high-end companies like Krell. Could they have better service? Absolutely.

 

[hemiram]

I have a Dell laptop, it's great, but I'm so happy that I passed up buying a Dell TV. The horror stories about not being able to get it fixed out of warranty, makes me have doubts about other Dell products. I don't understand the thinking behind this at all. If I buy a Dell TV for 1500 bucks, and it dies and I have to replace it a year later, why would I ever buy anything from Dell again?

 

[jaxvon]

Hemiram,

Do you have the extended warranty on your laptop? If not, upgrade it. I STRONGLY advise you to do so.

RE: Dell quality....

In August of 2004 I purchaed a Dell Inspiron 1150. It's a low end model, but I still paid around $1300 for it. Since I got the computer, I have replaced the motherboard, the LCD panel, the hard drive, and just recently, the optical drive. It's like a whole new computer! Taken separately these parts would've cost $1000 to replace without the warranty. I paid around $300 for the warranty.

 

[stratman]

Why would anyone keep buying from DELL??? It sounds like if you buy DELL you must buy an extended warranty because within 2 years your hardware will fall apart. I didn't want to get into computers since my thread was about their lcd tv, but I got rid of my DELL pc and bought a Sony VAIO, I've had it 2 years and it works absolutely fine, my old pc would freeze up, wouldn't back up, basically did what it wanted to, till I got mad. Don't ge me wrong I'm not anti DELL (or anti any corp) It just bothers when a company portrays itself as having the best customer support so you'll buy their products and then you find out it's bull....Maybe at one time DELL was reliable, but from my experience with their products they're not anymore. Stay away from their TVs I caution all of you, you'll regret it when it stops working.

 

[stratman]

I just read in an IT site that On-Lite will be manufacturing DELL's new lcds, I really hope they're better than what they're selling now! Anyone out there have any experience with On-Lite? I know they make dvd players, but that's about it.

My Olevia/Dell is about to crap out any minute now!!! The only good thing about this is, now I have an excellent excuse for my wife, for purchasing a Sharp Aquos (or maybe a Panny)!!

If the Panasonic (42" plasma EDs) keep dropping in price I just might spring for one, CC has it for 1300.00 and Brandsmart for 1288.00. I paid for my DEll 1900.00 inc. wall bracket (and financing) what a rip! I feel like biggest looooser, word to the wise: resist impulse buys....you get burned!

 

[BMXTRIX]

...resist impulse buys....you get burned!

Dang! You're tellin' me! I bought my Sampo 50" plasma over two years ago now and that thing only has one year left on the Best Buy service plan but it simply REFUSES to die!!! I might actually have to pay to upgrade my family room plasma to something that's a bit better.

 

[Jacksmyname]

Something to check.....
If you bought it with a credit card, you may have an extended warranty.
Most cards extend the warranty up to a year.
Amex is one example.

Jack

 

[stratman]

Nope, I bought it on a DELL account, which I cancelled when this fiasco started.

 

[stratman]

Dang! You're tellin' me! I bought my Sampo 50" plasma over two years ago now and that thing only has one year left on the Best Buy service plan but it simply REFUSES to die!!! I might actually have to pay to upgrade my family room plasma to something that's a bit better.

Actually it's my master bedroom tv, I have a Panasonic in my HT for the last 2 years that's never given me a problem.