Special offer

Save Yourself! DON'T BUY A DELL COMPUTER...........

By
Home Stager with Feng Shui Manhattan Long Island #888

SAVE YOURSELF!  DON'T BUY A DELL COMPUTER...

I remember when Dell Computers were wonderful....I remember way back when their service was as well.  As some of you know, my computer recently became ill.  It was time, I thought, to get a brand new computer and put an end (at least temporarily) to computer issues.

I called Dell Computers-A HUGE mistake.  The sales people were quite friendly but it seemed that their offers were only good for ONE DAY.  "If you don't purchase by 9pm EST, this price is subject to change."

I don't LIKE being rushed.  When I mentioned it to my son, he told me to go elsewhere.  Of course I should have listened.  Instead I bought a new high end Dell Computer that cost almost Two THOUSAND dollars.

It arrived, Adam came home to set it up and things seemed fine.  It certainly LOOKED nice. It also had a DVD re-write which I had wanted.  After putting it together, installing Norton and AOL, I had an old High School friend coming to visit from Florida.  He was bringing a special DVD with him and I assured him I'd make copies.

Wrong.  Although it seemed easy enough to do, it wouldn't work.  I kept thinking it was me...but it wasn't.  It was a brand new DEFECTIVE computer from Dell Computers.

I called Tech Support while Adam was here.  Between my son and I and Mohammad at Dell, we spent an hour and 45 minutes working on it. 

Dell.com - Official Site

Mohammad finally said he have to call back.  He did...45 minutes later and needed at LEAST another 40 minutes to work on it.  I didn't have the time and he said he'd call back the following day (today) at 10am. 

He also told me it was a software issue....he would not send someone to the house and he would not put me through to returns.  I called DELL COMPUTERS this morning and I have never, EVER received such terrible treatment in my life (really...not EVER!).  I was passed from one person to another, put on hold for endless amounts of time, I got disconnected more then once and had to start all over again.

If you type in Dell Computer Complaints in GOOGLE, they literally fill the page.

Consumer complaints about Dell Computers

In that time just a few of the people I spoke with:  Ranjan, Mahp, Kris, Kyra...not a one of these Dell Customer Service Reps could help me-or WOULD assist me.   I got on the  phone with Dell at 9AM......I got off at 11:45.  Since they would not send someone here to repair my BRAND NEW DELL COMPUTER (did I mention it cost almost Two THOUSAND dollars?), they are getting it back.

Dell Computer Complaints

If this helps ONE person NOT to purchase a DELL computer, it will have been worth the time. Dell needs to learn what CUSTOMER SERVICE IS and not just pass us along.  I did ask for a name or address to make a formal complaint; they would not respond to that request either.  If you want to write about Dell Computers to file a Complaint, you must register and you get to leave a note---Which I wished I had seen before the purchase.  Here's my Formal Complaint.

This was My Experience with DELL COMPUTERS AND WHAT THEY CALL 'CUSTOMER SERVICE.'

*And I rarely rant....I hope this saves ONE person from an experience with a company that just doesn't CARE.


**Carole Provenzale has been a New York Feng Shui Consultant since 1997 and is the Founder of Feng Shui Long Island & New York. 

Posted by

 

Laura Cerrano is a second-generation Certified New York City Feng Shui Consultant Expert. As a full-time Feng Shui consultant, Laura provides bicoastal consultations and workshops for residential, commercial, real estate developments, Fortune 500 companies and healing faculties. In addition, Laura is a resident teacher at the Metropolitan Institute of Design in Syosset, NY. She has been featured in highly respected publications and TV networks such as Bravo's "Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen," PBS, CBC Television, BBC Radio and The New York Times. 

 

Comments(33)

Laura Cerrano
Feng Shui Manhattan Long Island - Locust Valley, NY
Certified Feng Shui Expert, Speaker & Researcher

Konnie It was a nightmare....I've still got to pack this all up and haul it off to UPS.  What a joy!

Jul 30, 2009 03:49 PM
Al & Peggy Cunningham, Brokers
RE/MAX West Realty Inc., Brokerage - Brampton, ON
Our Family Wants To Help Your Family!

Oh Carole, such bad news, computer problems are not fun at all.  Al works on a HP, I'm on a Toshiba, but at the office we have Dell which so far is doing fine, shhhh, don't tell it!

Jul 30, 2009 04:04 PM
Richard Dolbeare
Inactive - Wailuku, HI
Living the Hawaii Lifestyle

All of my computers were Dell after Micron went out of business (until the last one).  Unfortunately all Dell's had DOA components that required replacement.  Now that computers are a commodity distinguished primarily by the level of QC, I just go to COSTCO and buy whatever HP looks good.

Jul 30, 2009 04:05 PM
Joan Whitebook
BHG The Masiello Group - Nashua, NH
Consumer Focused Real Estate Services

I am so sorry to hear that!  I'm glad you shared this very unfortunate experience.

Jul 30, 2009 04:14 PM
Liz Moras Migic
Chilliwack, BC
Chilliwack, British Columbia - Realtor

Perfect heading -and I'm sure that'll be a great Google Ranking- I've heard that about Dell time and time again..........and i wouldn't buy one - that being said mine is in the shop now twice with the hard drive crashing - the computer is 14 months old and a Sony Viao............and I'm not such a happy camper myself.......So pray tell - what do we buy you all out there? :-)

Jul 30, 2009 04:27 PM
Maureen Bray Portland OR Home Stager ~ Room Solutions Staging
Room Solutions Staging, Portland OR - Portland, OR
"Staging Consultations that Sell Portland Homes"

Carole -- so sorry to hear that this happened to you....but THANK YOU for warning us about Dell Computers and their terrible "customer service" which should be changed to their "customer prevention" department.  What a crock that you had to go through SO much time with unhelpful people.  I hope your post is read by thousands of people who will now go buy from one of Dell's competitors.  The nerve of them to treat you like that!

Jul 30, 2009 04:50 PM
Carol Smith
Casmi Photography - Mebane, NC

Carole - Systemax comes with the restore discs, and drivers, etc.  Made in America, tech/customer service is American.  I am loving mine.  I'd buy another one in a minute!  Call me if you need the info on them again.  I really do feel for you, my friend. 

Jul 30, 2009 04:51 PM
Pat Whitehouse
RE/MAX 1st Olympic Lynchburg Va - Lynchburg, VA
Broker/Owner

Hi Carole-I have a friend who has a DELL and she would tell you that their customer service STINKS and all they ever want to do if they can't find a solution is set it back to factory settings there by erasing everything they put on there. Totally ignorant and you can't understand them anyways, I am sorry this happened to you. Best of luck getting a better one.

Jul 30, 2009 06:12 PM
Missy Caulk
Missy Caulk TEAM - Ann Arbor, MI
Savvy Realtor - Ann Arbor Real Estate

Carole, we had been loyal Dell users for years. Until I had a similiar experience.

I posted on it here. One of the executives from Dell contacted me.

They told me to take it to Walmart.

Ok I love Walmarts, but  I WAS NOT GOING TO TAKE MY COMPUTER THERE.

Dell is just not the same company it use to be.

Go get a Mac with all your talent you will enjoy it. I got mine in December and no virus's, no spam, nothing but quality.

Jul 30, 2009 08:45 PM
Paddy (Patricia) Pizappi
Better Homes and Gardens Rand Realty - Pine Bush, NY
Real Estate Associate Broker Hudson Valley NY

That Stinks Carole.  I hope you get a refund and put your money where it will be appreciated and service will be given with a smile.

Jul 30, 2009 11:36 PM
Bill Gassett
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Hopkinton, MA
Metrowest Massachusetts Real Estate

What a bummer Carole. Sorry to hear your Dell purchase did not work out well. I always like to go local myself with computers as too much can go wrong.

Jul 31, 2009 12:08 AM
Betina Foreman
WJK Realty - Austin, TX
Realtor, C.N.E., with WJK REALTY

Dear Carole,

Since I live in Austin I have purchased many Dell's over the years and I agree their customer service has fallen by the wayside in the last few years. The almighty dollar rules and the customer is lost.

Betina

Jul 31, 2009 01:12 AM
c m
Colorado Springs, CO

I've never had a Dell, but I have had your experience with another company. I spent 4, count 'em 4 hours on the phone and on hold, while they told me it was my server...I asked for a supervisor, and believed I was speaking to one for the last 2 hours.  Then he said, well, I guess I will have to let you speak to a supervisor, I nearly went through the phone! They agreed to send me another tower, but in the meantime, the hubs said, let's box it up, and take it back.  We did, and Best Buy,( LOVE THEM!) took it back, replaced it, no problem!

Jul 31, 2009 06:52 AM
Jo-Anne Smith
Oakville, ON

hi Carole,

I'm sorry you've had this bad experience. I think I told you awhile back in your computer blog not to buy a DELL......i had nothing but trouble from DAY 1 with my BRAND NEW one too. Fortunately I had the 3 yr onsite warranty and they came, many times, to replace practically EVERY singe part in it over the 3 yr period. The final part to go was the hard-drive, just 2 days before the warranty was up.

Jo

Jul 31, 2009 08:23 AM
Laura Cerrano
Feng Shui Manhattan Long Island - Locust Valley, NY
Certified Feng Shui Expert, Speaker & Researcher

Al & Peggy, i'll be very quiet. But honestly be prepared for hell if it ever breaks down :(

Richard, It's not bad advice, I have both a costco and bj's near me.  It it needs a repair, it can't be any worse then what Dell put me through.

Joan, Just a big warning for people.  It's hard to imagine how impolite and unhelpful Dell Computers are; they could care less after they sell a computer.

Liz, I heard they were good, the Sony Viaos.  Carol (above) had a good suggestion and I should have followed it.

Maureen, I'm usually calm :)  I tried (and so did my son) to work with these people for almost two hours and then more time waiting for the tech to call back.  They (all of them, every one I spoke with) were horrible to me and I sure hope people that used to love Dell don't buy it!  I asked them to just replace it but they wouldn't and they wouldn't send anyone to the house to repair it.  It's been here ONE week!

Carol, I know, I will and I thank you.  I've got to pack this one back up and get it out of here.  And I want to document here that I never did received anything by Email to confirm that I spoke with them and put in for a return........

Pat, That's what they wanted me to do basically.  Uninstall what I had already installed and then he said it MIGHT work.  Excuse me?  And he never called back as promised.  Dell is Hell.

Missy, You're a much better learner then I am or I wouldn't hesitate....I have always heard good things about them.  It's a possibility, I will look up more about them.

Paddy, I suspect they will give me further problems....as a matter of fact I'd bet on it.  It's in dispute with my cc company.

Bill, I did go to Best Buy but honestly, when they added all the software it cost me so much more!  I thought a package with most of the software I needed would be less expensive.

Betina, Dells Customer Service hasn't fallen by the wayside, it's totally disappeared!  I couldn't believe it and couldn't believe they treat their customers like that.  Downright RUDE and NASTY.

Cheryl, That's funny because I had an issue with Best Buy.  They DIDN'T take back a new, defective laptop I had bought there without a great deal of problems.  I was charged for all the software as well as a restocking fee.  At least they were polite about it!

Jo, I thought you said you'd had initial problems but they resolved them...They don't do that here.  I could not believe that company is even in business with the way they treat their customers.

Jul 31, 2009 12:22 PM
Georgie Hunter R(S) 58089
Hawai'i Life Real Estate Brokers - Haiku, HI
Maui Real Estate sales and lifestyle info

I'm sorry to hear you had a bad experience with Dell.  We have 2, a desk top and a lap top and have not had those issues.  On the other hand - if I was you I would steer a wide berth around AOL.... that can cause any number of problems.  To me, if a person uses AOL it just shows that they know nothing about computers.

Aug 01, 2009 10:51 AM
Judi Morgan
RETIRED - San Antonio, TX
San Antonio, TX Real Estate

Carole, sorry about your problems with DELL.  I bought my 3rd DELL Laptop about a year and a half ago.  Nothing but problems with it.  And the customer service has been horrible.  My husband decided he wanted a new laptop -- we called DELL first to order one.  There was an issue - I can't remember what exactly now -- we cancelled the order and went to BEST BUY and bought an HP Laptop.  He hasn't had any problems with it.  We've had so many problems with this laptop -- I've decided when it's time to replace it -- I'll buy an HP from BEST BUY!!!  We did buy the extended warranty from DELL but they wouldn't send anyone out to check my computer!!!  They said it was a software problem -- took it to a local tech company -- it was the hard drive -- replaced it and haven't had any more problems.  knock on wood....

Aug 04, 2009 01:50 PM
Laura Cerrano
Feng Shui Manhattan Long Island - Locust Valley, NY
Certified Feng Shui Expert, Speaker & Researcher

Georgina, I use AOL for mail.  It's listed on I don't know how many sites since 1997 so I have no way to change it.  I am mostly on Firefox for everything else.  When I signed onto AOL back in those days it was because Prodigy was changing...And AOL wa "in" back then.  But my email is on way too many site to change it.

Judi, They are even giving me a difficult time with the return--after I finally got through.  They wouldn't pay for UPS (although I can not carry a computer) and they put through only TWO return adress labels.  I bought a huge box and shipped several boxes in it and one separately.  Today I got a notice (that you cannot reply to) that they have received ONE return.  It's in dispute with my credit card and it looks like I'm going to have to fight it out.  They are the WORST and I believe mine was a hardware issue as well.  I had asked them after working on it for an hour and 45 minutes just to send someone and replace it but they refused.  I give DELL maybe a year or two at most before they're out of business.....their complaint list is a mile long. 

So sorry to hear you had issues with them as well!

Aug 06, 2009 11:35 AM
Judi Morgan
RETIRED - San Antonio, TX
San Antonio, TX Real Estate

Carole, it's a shame any of us have to go thru the many phone calls, being put on hold and transferred around the company only to find out they won't help us with our computer problems.  My computer has had several problems -- I've had to uninstall all of my programs and reinstall twice now -- I won't be buying another DELL.  

Aug 06, 2009 01:32 PM
Judi Morgan
RETIRED - San Antonio, TX
San Antonio, TX Real Estate

Carole, it's a shame any of us have to go thru the many phone calls, being put on hold and transferred around the company only to find out they won't help us with our computer problems.  My computer has had several problems -- I've had to uninstall all of my programs and reinstall twice now -- I won't be buying another DELL.  

Aug 06, 2009 01:32 PM