Dell are cheeky sods!

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My graphics card developed a fault so I contacted Dell to talk about it (0844 number, never realised how much they cost ). Many hours later they admit there is an inherent fault and that they would collect the laptop and replace the cards.

So it's been two weeks later and they have returned the laptop. The swines have put just one graphics card as replacment instead of the SLi in it before. Rang them up, got transferred from department to department, eventually to a guy who played really sneaky and was insinuating there was only ever one card in it, etc etc.

Really frustrated. Why could they just not have replaced the cards and just be done?

(Laptop is a M1730 with 8800m GTX SLi (well it did ).


/rant.

 

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If only there was a site you could buy PC gear from where you're already a member!

Being sarky doesn't really become you, even though it does appear to be a dominant part of your personality.

 

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Dell are now claiming that they "can't recognise the service tag" on the laptop. Basically they're stalling like hell.

Why? They're a global corporation, what do they need a 8800M GTX Sli card from me for?

Just really really frustrating to be honest.

 

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Dell are never going to get a look in from me again.

The only thought I've had is, that looking over the internet, they have a HUGE problem with these laptops, hell in America they lost a law suit over nvidia chips.

Maybe they simply don't have any more replacements to give out and don't want to cough up with an alternative?

Or maybe they're just . ¬_¬

 

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Hardware wise their builds are always of poor quality the D600 & D800 series Laptops we got for the company I work for have shocking overheating problems and an inherent Graphics issue that effects all of them.

Did the company resolve the issue at all?

Aren't Dell widely known as a slimey company?

Know it for true now!

There is just no flexibility or humanity in these people. They can't deviate of one track, and the language barrier (English vs Indian with a hint of English) just fuels the fire.

 

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Mate of mine has this laptop with 8800's in SLI, same as you.

One of his died due to a 'known overheating issue' but the laptop had just been out of warrenty for a month (sods law) Queue some expert ranting from him, and he had a next day engineer visit his house and install two brand new graphics cards in his living room

This happened about 12 months ago.

Any idea on the expert ranting? Feel like that myself!

 

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No after bypassing their scripted response on the tech support line as I know their procedure off by heart now and perform all the stuff they ask before calling them they just send the engineer round to replace the faulty motherboard with the same model which has the same problem only it won't surface for a few months then happen again.

Sounds problematic!

I wasn't being sarky, I was suggesting that you could have bought from somewhere you are (I imagine) reasonably happy with rather than spending your money with a company who - with a quick Google search - you should have avoided like the plague.

But you go with that 'sarky' line of argument! That'll help you out with your issue! Wait, that was sarky ...

Stalemate?

Googling for reviews on anything is like googling a minor ailment. You're going to get tonne of horror stories!

My experience with Dell thus far has been positive. Family members have bought laptops, screens etc and touch wood they've all lasted very nicely.

Never really had to descend before into the bowels of calcuttan tech support....

 

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For future reference: www.saynoto0870.com

It has saved me many £ when I've had to call various companies who have advertised 08xx numbers instead of the local rate ones on the above site.

Great thanks! Going to ring them up again in a minute. Hopefully my 30 minute call won't call me £3 or £4 like it did last time.

Understatement of the century! The bigger issue is the muppet in the Umbrella corporation our company works for who decided it would be a good idea to sign a 12 year contract with the fools meaning all our computers & servers have to come from Dell or we'll be in breach of the damn contract it's damn infuriating to say the least!

Surely you would be protected by that fair contract law? 12yrs is ridiculous!

 

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You aren't allowed to mention that site here

Haha. Overclockers don't want to lose their 10p a minute call line charges?

They lost a few hundred pound order the other day from me purely because I refused to ring their number up. It's completely extortionate.

 

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I had one of these laptops, the 8800GTX SLi card (its just one physical card with two GPU's on it) died out of warranty so I sold the laptop for spares, the was a time when dell were just replacing faulty 1730m's with Alienwares but I guess that's passed now.

You may be best asking them to put a 9800GT SLI (what replaced the 8800GTX SLI in the m1730) as afaik they proved more reliable. Or if your feeling cheeky demand to be upgraded to the 9800GTX SLI ^^

I can't demand anything, the people are like stone walls. Can't get anywhere at all.

 

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I think that's the key - XPS and Alienware have separate support teams dedicated to those platforms. You are not bundled with the great unwashed for Inspirons and Dimensions, etc.

My laptop is a XPS.

 

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Currently remote connected to them on my laptop whilst they have a poke about looking for the issue.

So frustrating. ¬_¬

 

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People who buy these so-called "gaming laptops" get no sympathy from me.

"I know, lets shove a high-powered and very hot graphics card into this tiny case with inadequate cooling! Nothing will ever go wrong there!"

There's a reason these laptops generally don't tend to last much longer than a year.

Tiny case? Have you seen the size of these laptops?

 

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I don't have a clue what they're doing. My guess is stalling. :/

he is just wandering around device manager etc repeatedly. Lets hope he dosen't stray into different folders.

 

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he's now said he's talked his manager and that they'll need to track down the people who repaired it. They said they'd get back to me within 1-2 working days.



****ing *****

 

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When my gfx cards failed in my 1730, dell sent a guy to replace it the next day at my work, I dont understand why you had to send the laptop in???

Don't accept it hold them to their word and demand they send an engineer out with the correct components it will not take them 2 days!

Couldn't. Pushed as hard as I got, but was hitting walls left right and centre. They refuse to do anything til they've heard back from the department. (basically insinuating that I'm lying and that I only ever had one graphics card!)

Not a happy chappy.

 

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Kenmare - if you go here:

http://support.euro.dell.com/suppor.../details?c=uk&cs=ukdhs1&l=en&s=dhs&~ck=anavml

and stick in your Tag, you will be able to see what config Dell have a record of.

Maybe able to use that to your advantage.

This is freaky. the service tag number under my laptop isn't recognised on the site, nor my express service code on the phone. And there is also a different service tag number in the bios now. :/

The hell is going on?

Citizens Advice Bureau. Follow their advice, if you have a legal right to repair and aren't getting it, you need to go about it the right way, send the right letters etc. CAB will see you right.

Might even have to do this. :/

 

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Puppetmaster could you send me a link?


Been run around by Dell again today. They've pushed me back til monday!!! ****ing *****!

 

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They ran me finally, and took a REALLY hard line. Said that the issue isn't their problem, accused me of basically stealing the laptop and lying about the specification unless I provide them with an order number (which I don't have).

Not a happy chappy.

 

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Once you have confirmed ownership of the system, for example the name the system is registered to and the model. Tell them you want to see all the logs for the service tag including all cases. Tell them you want to speak to the team leader or tech lead, tell them specifically that you have received a survey from them and you are ready to fill it out. Let them know that you will score this very negatively unless your issue is resolved. This will usually get the direct attention of the manager on the team. Hope this helps!

I've been speaking to the manager! Or at least he said he was. :/

£10 (paid by paypal gift, in return bank transferred back and paypal chequed back out or something) that there's FAR more to this story than we're being told.

Like what?