Suckage!!! Dell is ignoring Support issue with i5150

[randyored]

Dell has a real problem with the i5150 laptop.

1000's of these systems motherboards are dead. A design flaw (weak part of the motherboard) has been found and Dell is trying to ignore it, even though new reports are showing up everyday in there own forum. BTW, the issues mostly happens right after the 12 month warranty expires. Who would buy a product that is most probably fry soon after the warranty is over? Remember, We are talking 1000's.

Dell is at a critical "moment of truth" and they are failing. They are not interested in their customer or even word of mouth.

Check these threads out:

http://forums.us.dell.com/supportforums/board/message?board.id=insp_general&message.id=166703
http://forums.us.dell.com/supportforums/board?board.id=insp_general
http://forums.us.dell.com/supportforums/board/message?board.id=insp_general&message.id=175973
http://forums.us.dell.com/supportforums/board/message?board.id=insp_general&message.id=148354
http://forums.us.dell.com/supportforums/board/message?board.id=insp_general&message.id=149171

There are more, lots more. The words "Class Action" has surfaced several times. I am one of the "i5150 dead motherboard" club. I used to love Dell, But now... Well... They need to step up. I know Got Apex is closely tied to DELL, But they are really starting to SMELL!!

RandyO

[Jeffbx]

Are you still within your warranty period, or less than 30 days outside of it? If so, buy one or two more years!!

Dell has an unwritten policy that if they attempt to fix a machine 3 times and it still fails, they will replace the machine. Keep calling in those motherboards & after the 3rd one, you can ask them to replace the machine (you have to request it, they won't offer). They'll probably swap it with a 5160 since the 5150 is no longer sold.

If you're more than 30 days outside of the warranty, then you might just be SOL unless they decide to do a recall.

I know that hindsight is 20/20, but whenever you buy ANY laptop, you should get a warranty that's as long as you plan on using the machine.

[WhiskeyPapa]

Thanks for the heads up. I'll tell any friends with the 5150 to extend their warranty.

I always buy my laptops with 3 year warranties. I use them about two years, and the final year of warranty seems to increase their resale value.

[chadlnc]

We have the biggest problem with the hardrives they put in the D600's. I had another one crash last night. That will be the 6th one on our office to die. Not a lot of fun to replace all the time.

[ufcrusher]

Are you still within your warranty period, or less than 30 days outside of it? If so, buy one or two more years!!

Dell has an unwritten policy that if they attempt to fix a machine 3 times and it still fails, they will replace the machine. Keep calling in those motherboards & after the 3rd one, you can ask them to replace the machine (you have to request it, they won't offer). They'll probably swap it with a 5160 since the 5150 is no longer sold.

If you're more than 30 days outside of the warranty, then you might just be SOL unless they decide to do a recall.

I know that hindsight is 20/20, but whenever you buy ANY laptop, you should get a warranty that's as long as you plan on using the machine.

DELL SUCKS! If you choose to buy a Dell computer, you are being blinded by the price and their past quality.

IF they choose to replace it, you will get a damn refurb. On top of that, when you explain that you paid for a new computer that works and never received one that did so, only receiving a defective one, their response is that yours is not new since you have been using it. Dell seems to think that they can get away with shipping defective new merchandise and then replacing it with (defective) refurbished merchandise. Customer support says its a tech support call....Tech support says its a customer support call. Neither group is willing to help. It doesnt matter if you paid $2800 for your damn laptop or not, they still treat you the same.

On top of that, when I originally bought my system I was told that I could buy the extended warranty any time within the first year at X price and it didnt matter if I bought it that day or the last day. I asked the CS person to verify it and was told that, so figuring that I could earn interest on the money for an extra 10 or 11 months if I waited, I elected to do so. When I called back to get the deal, I was told that the sales person and CSR were wrong and it would now cost me 3x that price. Knowing how many problems I was having/had already I still added it but it really rubbed me the wrong way.

On top of that, after the defective refurb fiasco and Dells refusal to do the right thing, they ended up buying the system back deducting for use. They were supposed to refund the full amount of the extra warranty which had just been added a week before and never used, but refused to do so.

[dsuds]

randyored,
I've heard about the Dell Inspiron 5150 problems as well. From what I can gather, it doesn't cool well enough and ends up fried. Not a bad part issue, but a bad design issue. This would also be consistent with it taking time for the laptop to die. Bad parts usually are found within the first 30 days.

EDIT: After reading the posts on the Dell forum, I may have to change my hypothesis. I know some of the Dell laptops are not very rigid. An issue like this could also be caused by flexing.

ufcrusher,
Ouch, sounds like you got burned big time. Sorry mang. I learned a long time ago that some sales people will tell you ANYTHING to make the sale. A wise man once told me that a verbal contract is worth the paper it's written on. After getting burned a few times myself, I started heeding that advice. Now if I ask for anything not specifically stated on the sales agreement, I get it in writing.

[Jeffbx]

DELL SUCKS!

Wow, sounds like you got the shaft... that does suck.

However, I buy Dell machines for my office & we have very good luck with them. Sure, there's the occasional failure, but they are on site the next day to repair or replace, just like our support agreements says.

Yes, of course they replace with refurb parts - practically every manufacturer does this - HP, IBM, Sun, etc. Trust me on this - it's not a big deal for computer parts. Computer parts will be obsolete long before they wear out, so it's not like what they're giving will have a shorter life or anything.

Bottom line is there will always be problems with any manufacturer you buy from. From my experiences, Dell has fewer of these problems then any of the others I've dealt with, which is why I still buy from them.

[ufcrusher]

I am very very bitter at Dell and have been for years now since all of that went down. The really sad part is this wasnt my first dell either. We had 3 desktops that worked well before this...then I bought my laptop which went all to hell. I even bought another Dell desktop while I was having the issue with my laptop.

Frankly, my laptop issues were enough on its own to keep me away from Dell. Add on to that how I was treated and the fact that one of my colleagues bought the same system (not quite as tweaked as mine, but same processor/ram/screen/ bare bones) and his was acting up as well and never fixed either. Definitely shows that Dell doesnt care about its customers...even those who can wave the business flag.

[le_stick]

Thanks for the informations guys, I just extended my I5150's warranty....

[randyored]

Well,

I just got my Dell canned "Go away, we don't care" email response to my complaint. Basically, saying they will not repair it unless I pay $6xx (motherboard) + $2xx (labor) + shipping.

Dell has lost this customer, my clients, and my vote for a fortune 17 company that does major purchasing for our clients. And yes, I'm the one who approves the models we use, and I prepare the images. Matter of fact, I have an image I must create coming up very soon.

Too bad, so sad Dell!

[Jeffbx]

Well,

I just got my Dell canned "Go away, we don't care" email response to my complaint. Basically, saying they will not repair it unless I pay $6xx (motherboard) + $2xx (labor) + shipping.


Man, that blows. How far out of warranty are you?

[randyored]

Man, that blows. How far out of warranty are you?

At the time? 2 months.

[randyored]

randyored,
I've heard about the Dell Inspiron 5150 problems as well. From what I can gather, it doesn't cool well enough and ends up fried. Not a bad part issue, but a bad design issue. This would also be consistent with it taking time for the laptop to die. Bad parts usually are found within the first 30 days.

EDIT: After reading the posts on the Dell forum, I may have to change my hypothesis. I know some of the Dell laptops are not very rigid. An issue like this could also be caused by flexing.


Well, I just got my 5150 fixed by AQS http://www.aqstech.com/5150.html

They fixed it up great. Joe (AQS) said that the problem with these motherboard is that they have weak contacts on some components. He said he fixes tham better than they were and gaurantees them not to break in the places he fixes. He also looked at every inch of the motherboard for weak spots and found no more. So, Dell loses MAJOR points and will never get my laptop sales again. EVER!!!!