Bloody Dell @$#$%!!!!
In the last year I've spent at least 7000CAD with Dell. This covered an XPS M1530 laptop (in the UK), 3 2408FPW monitors, 2 Studio Desktops and 2 MS Desktop 7000s (in Canada). You'd think that, that would mean something... you'd be wrong. Means absolutely f*** all!!
One of the desktop sets was DoA. It would not sync at all. The other was fine, no issues. Trying to arrange a warranty replacement almost impossible. 3 phone calls, over 3 hours on hold, one call routed to Business Printers department in the US when I called the Canadian number (WTF???) and then some t**t trying to tell me I had to hang up and call *YET ANOTHER F***ING NUMBER* because I mentioned that I had tried the keyboard on *gasp shock horror* an XPS system and the keyboard not working had to be addressed by that department (another WTF??). I only tried the damn keyboard on the XPS to make sure it was not the USB ports on the PC!! Arrrrgh! Finally got it sorted and replaced, but that wasn't the end of it.
I mis-ordered the monitors on the Studio PCs. So I arranged (quite easily to be fair) to return the monitors and re-ordered the 2408s. So far so good. They paid for the shipping and pick-up etc etc. How long to get the refund? Go on, how long do you think? 10 days? 20 days? 30 days? No... 2.5 F**KING MONTHS! That's how long!! F**King t**ts even LOST the damn returned monitors!!! I had to refer the matter to the Better Business Bureau because Dell were not dealing with it and ignoring the dam UPS shipping labels saying that the items HAD been signed for!! If it was only a few $$s fine, but this was nearly a grand!
I have absolutely no sympathy for Dells position at all. With completely f***ing useless service like that, I for one will NOT be using them again. It's a shame as the PCs themselves and the monitors are great (though I question the wisdom of any company using a piss poor 350W PSU with an 18A 12V rail with an 8GB quad core system, but I digress...). Just the level of after-sales service is appalling; never EVER buy any kind of extended warranty from them - its not worth it!
Contrast that to my dealings with TigerDirect where I ordered a ReadyNAS just after lunch and 2 days later had the thing in my hot, sweaty hands. I emailed them to say "Holy s**t well done!" and got not only an email back from their customer service saying "thanks!" but ALSO a call from their customer relations / business people to again reiterate their thanks. Now I dont expect that everyday, but from a company like Dell I expect substantially more than I have had.
Ok, now I feel better - sorry people had to rant :)
Biting the hand that feeds IT
