Trade with Dell

Tell me if you guys have ever heard of this happening. I have an M1530 that I spent around 1550 on. I have to get my motherboard replaced because the Ethernet port is broken. I have a 3 year complete care warranty so they will replace it for free with on site service. My problem is that I am a college student that works when I am not in class, and am not able to be home to have them replace it at all. I was wondering if they would replace the laptop in whole, by sending me a new one, and then me sending mine back, because I cant go long without my laptop. One problem is that I dont think they offer my screen anymore, the 1920x1200 lcd. They dont show it on the config site. Also, I dont know if they would do it for something that small, yet being a major repair. And I know this is a dream but it would be cool if I could trade it for a different laptop like the Studio 15, yet I dont like the ATI in there, or the e6500, but thats a business laptop so thats probably less likely. Thanks for any help.

 

Er.....they're not going to trade it in for even the same thing, much less a newer model. You'll have to fight to even get them to replace the ethernet port sometimes.......

 

I am having no trouble getting the motherboard replaced, I had already started setting it up, but dod not have any time id be home to let them replace it.

 

I don't think they're going to send you another one. Or who knows, you might get a nice person who will send you another one. It'll probably be refurbished though.

 

What warranty do you have, it seems to be that with my complete care warranty they are more then happy to replace parts, since I have gotten the speakers and keyboard replaced already. But with lower versions they dont seem to want to do it, since you did not pay much for the warranty. I guess it cant hurt to ask them.

 

it is not necessary to let it get repaired at home, after i saw some dell-service reviews, i believe you could easily make it during a lunchbreak at school or whatever. how long can replacing a motherboard take... 20 minutes? they are quite helpful, if you'll explain them the situation, i guess that it will be possible to find some timeslot.

 

I dont really have a free timeslot that would be during their work hours, and I am guessing the switch takes longer then 20 mins, since it took that long to just replace my speakers, they have to pretty much take the laptop apart. I work from I am not at home from 8 in the morning till atleast 6 at night. I was thinking I might have my mom stay with it when I have vacation from school, because I will work full time then, but wont need my laptop, but I really would want to be there when they replace it.

 

errr... what about calling them and asking how long it actually takes? you could be nicely surprised mentioned 20 minutes were enough for dismantling an xps (M1330), display replacing, putting it all together and switching back on. *ask* them, if they say "no way" you'll at least know that for sure...

 

The rep actually says it would take 1-2 hours to repair it.

 

Warranties don't work like that. If something breaks, Dell will REPAIR it. That's the way it goes.

Otherwise, I would just brick my laptop every year and go "oh hey, I don't have time for your tech. Just gimme a new one. Or better yet, gimme a completely different laptop. K? THX".

 

I realize that now.

 

do you think you can repair it yourself? if you ask and tell them you have experience with this type of thing they will send you a parts only dispatch i know for sure they will as they have done it numerous times for me. only thing is if you break in in the process you will be sol but its really not that hard to do

 

umm.. they will send a tech to fix it for ya. and when the tech calls, you ask him to go to your work and he will do it. got my motherboard, dvd drive, palm rest, and speakers changed one time and the tech came to my office. finished everything in 30 mins.

(had a speaker messed up, got them to replaced the mobo also, told them the palm rest was getting scratched - changed it, told them i did not like the dvd drive - changed it )

 

Yea, they seem to be more willing to replace parts if you have complete care. I cant really have them come to my office either, I am not there for very long during the day, and wouldnt want to take it up with that. I asked the guy the first time if I could do it myself and he said I couldnt. What parts did they send you? was it the keyboard and simple stuff, or the mb. The easy parts they will send you but more extensive stuff they wont.

 

i don't want to be mean, but what you're suggesting will bankrupt dell, sending out new laptops for every problem you may have.

I suggest giving it to your roommate, you are in college right?

 

yea if dell was ever going to consider sending a whole new laptop they would need a good reason to do so and it would definitely a refurbished one never another brand new one unless you were still within the first 21 day period

 

But i mean within the 21 day period you can pretty much do whatever u want from getting a new one to sending the laptop back for a full refund but since thats not your case i would never expect a deal, especially for another new laptop or a laptop of a different kind like a studio

 

I totally understand your situation. I'm a student too, but luckily my mom can stay home some days for the repair tech to come. I'm actually on my 3rd time that he has come to fix my laptop, because of getting the wrong parts or installing the screen wrong. I have even elevated the case twice and they still won't just send me a new laptop. I hope you have a better support experience than me!

At least in my area, the techs can come basically between 8 AM to 8 PM. Maybe you can find the time somehow?

 

The 1-2 hour estimate is garbage...I can usually pull my E1705 apart and put it back together within 15 minutes including cleaning out both heatsinks and basically pulling every part out.

Unfortunately having a busy life does make getting repairs done difficult. Not to mention that a lot of times they don't come perfectly on time...at least here.

But just try your best to make some room or leave the laptop with somebody.