4 Days in, dead battery.

Well I've had the laptop for about 4-5 days and the battery just died. Permanent failure it tells me. Wont work with the AC adapter. Battery reads 100% though and 3 lights blink on it when I press the diagnosis button.

I talked to dell support who tell me they will send a new one out. I asked for a free upgrade but they told me they couldn't authorize it since they are only tech support. Though I feel since they delayed my shipping and then sent me a faulty battery they should be going out of their way to make it up to me.

 

If they won't upgrade your battery returnt he computer. They should already compensate us for the absurd delivery times we have experienced.

 

*Wont work without the AC adpater, is what I meant.

I'd hate to return it. It amazes me how Dell seems to take care of some customers and crap on others. I don't get it.

 

I have heard from quite a few people that you threaten return, and they usally try to hook you up. But no, I don't believe tech support can help or would really even care. Just get ahold of customer service.

 

does the battery have indicator lights on it?

 

Yeah it does, there are 5 lights on it, 3 of them (every other one) blink 3 times when I press the button.

 

Just checked the order status page, now they are saying the ESD is the 29th! F$%King BS!

Wow... I had to wait how long to get this damn thing then their defective battery dies and I have to wait this much longer for a replacement?! Unreal. I hate this company...

Customer service has yet to get back with me, no response at all.

 

Just because the estimated ship date shows 29 May, it doesn't mean anything. Whenever I buy something from Dell, the items show up before the tracking information or ship date even updates.

However, if you really despise Dell so much, just use the online customer service chat function and request an RMA, or call customer service when phone support opens in the morning. Don't call and leave a message; if you don't talk to a person, call back and try again. I'm certain Dell will be more than happy to return your money.

 

Blah blah blah, same BS story I heard when I ordered the laptop to begin with. Just because you get an ESD does not mean it wont ship sooner, you're right, and it does not mean it wont ship later either.

I'll do more than return the laptop to get even with Dell.

 

While it's obvious you are unhappy with how you feel you've been treated by Dell, it's probably not a good idea to post your threats here. Just return the laptop and choose a different manufacturer next time.

You have piqued my curiosity, though. I wonder how you'll get even?

1. Flaming pile of dog poo at the front door of Dell headquarters?
2. Standing outside of Dell headquarters, taunting the building?
3. Starting an online petition against Dell?

 

I'll cost them a lot of business. Simple enough.

 

sigh... some dork who thinks by them simply spreading word about dell's delays will "cost them alot of buisness" ok sure buddy, you will single handedly put dell out of buisness and convince every major corporate and private buisness that gets there systems from dell to stop because they shipped you a defective battery, get real.

 

Watch the language and the attitude. Using either in a bad way is a great way to get a thread closed.

Dell's only responsibility is to get you a working laptop with the specs you ordered. No upgrades, no extras. Just what you paid for. And, honestly, with an attitude like that it is no surprise that Dell does nothing extra for you.

If you are so unhappy with it, just return the laptop. That's the only way you can hurt Dell, because this story is just one of a million already posted online. I've got three of my own, each more horrific than yours.

One resulted in a settlement the week before I filed in court, another was settled after filing a complaint with the BBB, and yet another was dealt with rather quickly.

The person you affect the most by trying to be a pain to Dell is you. Because you spend the time, you have the stress, you make all the phone calls and do all the work. Dell just listens and does only what they are required to do...which is give you what you paid for. So you get to choose how much stress this is going to be for you. And you choose how long this goes on.

Bad parts ship all the time. Sad, but true...and Dell isn't the only one. Ask them to replace it, and if you still are not happy with the replacement you return it. Simple as that.

 

You act as if they sent you a bad battery on purpose. Your sense of entitlement amazes me.

 

Yes my sense of entitlement for a working laptop in a reasonable amount of time and customer care that is not rude or flat out lies.

No it wont cost me anything to cost Dell business. I work in a field that spends tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars on equipment and none of that money will go to Dell now. I don't have to lift a finger and it's a guarantee.

My complaint does not start and end with the battery but a series of documented events since the initial purchase of the device.

This is what people do when they have a bad experience with a company. At least this is what they used to do. People today are eager to let big business shove anything down their throats while thanking them for it.

 

I'm impressed - you must be the person responsible for procurement, and very high up the food chain, in order to influence an entire field and not just one small company. With that kind of clout, you would most certainly have a business representative in Dell and not have to deal with the standard customer service us "lackies" are forced to use.

However, I'm a little confused as why a non-business purchase would have anything to do with support given to a business. Unless, of course, you bought this laptop through the "field's" business account, or your "field" has many, many problems with Dell's business support. And I certainly hope you've documented the lies, and have supporting evidence that proves such statements were actually lies.

I work in a field that spends millions of dollars a year on Dell computers, and I've found the business reps and technical support at Dell to be top notch. We have a direct number to specialized technical support and customer service, and one of many business account representatives, and we get replacement parts sent overnight to our location. Of course, this is the kind of support you get when you spend a small fortune on computers, and I've never confused that with the support I get when I buy a computer for myself from Dell, because I know end-users don't get that special treatment.

Sorry, but this just sounds like sour grapes to me. I fully agree with Greg - there are many avenues you can take to get satisfaction, and none of them include attempting to influence an entire "field".

 

If your series of documented events have anything with your other posts, then I think you made your decision long ago and this post is nothing more than a rank and nothing to be productive. I am glad that you are basing business practices on a personal purchase. That shows a lot a maturity and foresight on your part.

 

It never ceases to amaze me how far people will go to try and squeeze that little bit extra for basic faults.
You've received the components you've paid for. Dell warenty does not cover the battery, so its good of Dell to send you a replacement without any quibble.
Just get your replacement and get over it.

 

It's a non business purchase used for business. Not directly purchased via the business. And you're right, you do get great support when Dell or any other large company for that matter knows your pull. I find that repulsive. I can sign my name and business contact in a support email and get great support or go on anonymously and get treated like dirt.

As far as your comment on influencing an entire field, it is not only my right but my duty to protect it and I will not let it support companies that do not deserve the support.

There's no reason why big business should get treated any better than individuals, if they are it's because the big business selling it's service has built itself on a piss poor business model, there's no other way around it. It's all about making the people at the top richer. I know from being at the top of the support chain how things work and why certain businesses use that model. I can't believe some people actually think a business should get better treatment than individuals. You really ruin the effort that the few good large corporations make with that sort of attitude.

In a time when the US dollar is extremely weak and our economy is in recession Dell continues to use India based support. That's just another reason to not support them.

To the comment on my decision being made up long ago, bull. I am extremely forgiving in letting a company make up for its mistakes but Dell has not shown it is capable of doing so.

I made this post to alert others of an issue with the Battery, any potential buyer has the right to know that as well as how a company like Dell handles the issue at hand. I did not post to argue philosophy or politics.

To sum it up, Dell has been extremely rude, outsourced support to extremely rude India support representatives who often lie. They have been very slow with responses for support. They delayed my order twice and have made no effort to make up for the issue in any way whatsoever.

If the fanboys in here do not like that I am posting this in the Dell section where other potential buyers can see it, too bad.

 

What is wrong with providing a multi-million dollar client with support that the average person doesn't get? I expect that kind of white glove treatment if I spend more in one month than the average person earns in an entire year. If I have trouble with my equipment, I want a direct line to the support that I've purchased. That's the key - purchased. All of this equipment comes with a very expensive support agreement, so it is Dell's responsibility to respond immediately to my requests. If you make a personal purchase, you aren't entitled to that kind of support, and I find it puzzling that you expect support on that level.

Because Dell outsources customer service, you won't buy, and you feel it is your duty to make sure your company also does not buy? Forgive me, but it seems to me that, once again, your personal experiences with customer service have absolutely nothing to do with how a company does business. I'm certain if your company wants your opinion on how to do business, they will ask you for it. If it makes you feel better, please complain to your bosses, but don't be angry if they choose not to base their entire technical purchases on your lone experience in a non-business related area.

Unless Dell signed a written contract, which stated exactly when the laptop/battery/whatever would ship, and that contract also promised certain "rewards" for a late delivery, you are not owed any kind of payment for your "troubles". They shipped your laptop, as they promised. They will ship your battery, as promised. What else do you think Dell owes you?

If you don't want to buy from Dell, then don't buy from Dell. But, please don't go around making accusations ("India support representatives who often lie") unless you have proof that supports your claims. Without proof, your statements come across as baseless, and they paint a picture of one person who is angry at a slow delivery system, and angry that Dell doesn't bend over backwards to reward you for your troubles.

Please let us know when you return your laptop, so we know you are no longer supporting Dell.

 

GL with your battery shipment. My replacement battery took an extra week on top of the ESD date to get to me.

 

Still not here, was supposed to arrive today. I called and they tell me to call back in 2-3 days to find out when it will actually ship.

They emailed me back yesterday in response to a question I submitted 7 days prior telling me not to worry that it would probably ship before the ESD (the same day they emailed me), haven't heard THAT one before. Maybe they should start telling the truth that the ESD is a bit of a joke and it will most likely ship AFTER it comes and goes.

 

I recently received a Vostro with numerous problems. I called them on M-Day and I asked if they could build me another one and take mine back and they said no problem. Fifteen minutes later my new system was in production. They also promised next day delivery. It shipped yesterday and I received it today.

As Greg said rather than creating undue stress on yourself I would have called them and asked for a new laptop or just returned it and get your money back. It sux to have a battery die in 4 days but you are entitled to either ask for a new replacement or for a refund.

 

What would asking for a new laptop do? I wouldn't get it for a month. There's no reason they can't ship a damn battery overnight. Hell they are on ebay for cripes sake, we aren't talking about an order for Kryptonite.

You got your Vostro quick because it was probably not a custom build or there's far less demand than the 1530.. I don't know what but I waited about 1.5 months just to get my laptop the first time.

Besides THAT everything with this laptop has actually been great, I would hate to risk getting one that's not which seems to be quite common around here.

 

I have waited a little more than a month and Dell has finally shipped out my laptop. As for my sound card, I won't get it until 6/16. I too am surprised that it takes a month to build a Dell laptop and more than a month to ship out an add-on component. I can understand your agony of receiving a defective battery after waiting more than a month for a laptop. Apology for sounding like a nub because this is my first Dell laptop.

 

Another update. I got on the chat today because my order ship date had yet to be updated so I ask the tech when it will REALLY ship...

15 minutes later he finally gets into my account to tell me it will ship in 1-2 business days...

I check my order status and the order is canceled. I tell him and he says the order was NEVER PROCESSED and that he had to put a new one in and assured me I would receive it in one to two business days.

ABSURD.

 

Please continue here.