Home Based Business Mom

I have a NEW Dell computer. Less than a year old.
This is my 4th Dell. I bought a Dell laptop that I’ve used for 4 years, I have a Dell desktop that I used for 5 years and my family has a Dell that they’ve used for 3 years.

Last March….I decided it was time to get myself a really deluxe computer. My IT Guy/friend told me I really needed something more powerful than the typical “home user” computer because of all the multi-tasking I do in order to build and maintain 9 websites, do my bookkeeping, keep my personal stuff like pictures….etc. The software programs I use are pretty big - and I had noticed that my trusty old Dell was moving like molasses.

So…my IT Guy/friend spec’d one for me. I had him build it through Dell - because it was the only way I could purchase a new computer. I had a Dell account.

So….
With duo core2 processors, and two 160GB hard drives….and gold warranty….and all this other stuff that sounded cool….on March 23, 2007 I ordered it.

$3342

Yep….by far THE most expensive computer I’ve ever bought. Thank goodness for my Dell credit account, right?

I received the computer early April. I was so excited.

Had my IT Guy/friend come over and set it all up - install my programs, move all my info/files over from the old computer to the new one…and presto.

I was….elated. It was fast…very fast. For the next few days I was screaming it’s praises at the top of my lungs. I would tell strangers in the grocery store line, at the gas pump, the electric meter reader……people walking their dogs by my house.

Then you know what happened?

BLUE SCREEN

Then another…..blue screen and another.
Each with different errors.

But…..I cried….It’s less than 30 days old?? It’s just a baby? Why? Why? WHY??

I called DELL Tech support. I spoke with Sushma_01103306

No help….none….and not to be mean…really…..but I couldn’t hardly understand him/her because of the thick foreign accent.

Sushma_01103306 - gets the supervisor on. Thomas is the supervisor - and Thomas has an accent too….
But…I do what he says. Download windows debugger…blah blah blah…
Jesus…the computer is worse now.

Error after Error:
BCCode: f4
BCPI: 00000003
BCP2: 89C60488
BCP3: 89C605FC
BCP4: 805D13B6
OSVER: 5_1_2600
Sp: 2_0
Product 256_1

And more…
0×000000F4
0×89C26020
0×0000003
0×89C26194
0×005D13b6

And let me stop right here…
I have pages and pages of these error codes….all different…all weird…all blue screens.

I ask my IT Guy/friend….
He tells me….typically an error in the first few weeks means a hardware problem.

So…to make a long story short…or long story shorter…
I went through 5 more Dell techs.
They had me pick the computer up (which weighs 72.7 pounds!!) and take the cover off and swap cords and mess around inside the computer!) What was the damn Gold Warranty for??
Now I have to be the tech?? I have to open up the computer? I am clueless as to what I am doing - and I think they are too. Basically I see them sitting at a computer or looking in a manual and just reading some step by step instructions to you. They are just as clueless.

I’m not a baby….but come on….I paid for someone else to deal with this. Remember my GOLD WARRANTY??

Finally….my IT Guy/friend tells me to call and demand a new motherboard.

I do. I have a complete hissy - that’s what it took to get someone to listen to me. I was brought down to the level of hysterical woman JUST to be heard. This is a $3342 computer people?? Hello…Dell?? Money is not falling out of my butt! Your interest rate is higher than the local mafia loan shark.

I spoke with a terrible snot of a man with an east coast accent and demanded a new motherboard. They sent it….had THEIR sub contracted tech install it….and the computer was even worse afterward. The tech couldn’t even get the computer to boot up?!
He handed me a piece of paper with……Dell Tech Supports number on it?!
No..no….please no….don’t send me there again.

I then took matters into my own hands since my Gold Warranty with Dell was basically a piece of crap.

I took my computer to the very best computer techs in my area. They had it for 5 weeks!!! No help.

I bought two new hard drives (my own money!!) and had them installed….
Reloaded the operating system…

I did everything.

The whole time I’m paying on the damn Dell charge account at 19.24%!

I continue to get bluescreens….more errors.
I’ve written Dell….I’ve gone to forums…
It’s not helping…hasn’t helped.

The computer still sucks. Every day when I boot up….I get a black screen with an error.
I just shut it off and boot it up again. Eventually….after enough tries….it cranks up and works.

I know I’m working on a ticking time bomb. An expensive ticking time bomb.
But I can’t afford a new computer. Obviously….

So I back up every day. I pray to the gods of computers every day to let ole Bessie work this time.

I’ve truly condensed this story -
I didn’t go into each tech support call…
But Sushma, Thomas, Mohammed, Shakeel, Jose, Shoeb and the cranky supervisor with the east coast accent were no help. AT all. And neither was the dude that came to install the motherboard. He basically installed it, couldn’t get the computer to boot and handed me the Dell tech support number which is like saying….”Do not pass go…do not collect a working computer for $3342??!!”

I will NEVER buy another Dell. They’ve gotten two big for their britches and act like the little person means nothing. I know companies in the area that have all Dell computers and one phone call from them reaps them a NEW Dell to replace the one that isn’t working. A whole new computer with just a phone call. Well la te da!

Ya know what?? I am a business owner! Why don’t I get the same respect?? I spent over $3000 on one of their pieces of crap-ton junk? With a warranty?? The GOLD warranty.
Woooooooooooooo……so special.

Useless.

So…the moral and point to my story…and trust me…
I could have written a book on this experience if I had detailed it (and it’s not even the one year anniversary of this regrettable purchase!)…

Buy your computer locally!
Have it built by a reputable LOCAL company. It might be a little more expensive…BUT…
That way….when the thing doesn’t work…you can drive it over to them and plop it down on their service desk and say…..”Your piece-of-doodoo computer isn’t working….fix it.”

When I can afford it….that’s what I am going to do.
At least that way I will get the respect and service I deserve as a human being, customer and small business owner.

I know I’m only one person. But Dell….you’ve lost me as a customer.
In my eyes…..you suck in so many ways. I am out $3342+interest, plus the cost of having techs look at it….buy two new hard drives….and the priceless cost of my mental health. The stress this has caused me, my family….there are no words!

Dell..I am disenchanted…..at least hating you is free.

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