Dell/Alienware 21 day return policy... Who's used it?

So I ordered my m14x 8/17/2011. Was super stoked.

Came on here after I noticed my temps were 100C in battlefield on Medium settings and some other games. Yeah, I used ALL up-to-date drivers via Dell.com

I had switched to the BIOS a05 after because I thought it would get better. The heat really didn't get worse actually, it made the fan noise great though.

Also, I couldn't get online at my school and noticed some other defects ANYWAY,

my real question is I already have called Dell and received the return authorization code with shipping label and it's within 21 days.....

......I want the same laptop again, maybe after owning this one I might want the red chassis...so I will prob. place another order....


How is there 21 day return policy? How fast did they get the funds into your account? Did they give any of you issues after you sent in the computer?

I know they have to inspect the computer etc...

Well, did you guys tape up the CDs and full charge the battery or are these details irrevelant since it's within 21 days and they must accept the return?

Please let me know. I will def. get the m14x again, just because besides some of the defects, it was an AWESOME and POWERFUL computer. Hopefully I get something that atleast has thermal paste applied properly. (And no, I am not going to re-paste a new 2k computer, it should damn well be done properly at the factory for that $)

 

I was sent an alienware area51 that had a bad motherboard and after several calls to tech support I sent it back for a refund. They emailed the label and I packaged everything up like it came and dropped it in the mail.

Once they had the system they rushed the refund, and when it hit my account a few days later i placed a new order which they rushed the build and overnighted it to me. I ordered my m18x and one week later it was sitting at my door.

The down side is that the m18x has some issues as well so they are building a new one as a replacement and shipping it to me as an exchange. The upside is that I at least have an operational computer to use until the new one gets here and I can just swap the hdd's and not have any downtime. Dealing with tech support can be a real pain in the a$$, but some of the customer care managers work really hard to try and make things right!

 

Returned cause too many defects. Picked up thursday got my money back monday.

 

Wow, thank's for the responses guys.

scooby, so, you they know that you returned it so they expedite the build?? I really hate the fact I am going to have to wait, but I don't want something that overheats especially waiting after the 21 day return policy is up, I would be screwed.

Brabo, didn't you just post a thread here about getting a new alienware?? What was wrong with it man? Heat issues like man?

The m14x would have been perfect had it not been for certain things. Really was impressed iwth the overall built quality.

I hate the fact that the Dell/alienware rep was hesistant on not making a sale with me?? Weird right??

I was like " I have enough funds, and need a laptop right away, so while the laptop is returned and money is being put back in my account, ill just order the other one right now....."

He was like "uhhhh the best price I can do is $X,XXX.XX" which was like 400$ more than what I paid for the SAME config via my dell rep for the m14x.... I was on the alienware website and configured the same thing for 2k even!

I was like "Uhhh...I configured the same thing online for about 2k$............"

He was like "Well, honestly I don't recommend you ordering a new one, just exchange it, here let me transfer you to techinical support"

GOD. I didn't want technical support. I had already talked to them and know enough about thermal paste on a CPU and that the max temp of the i7 2820 is 100C. Then he configures an m14x with 2500$ price tag (dunno how the hell it came up so expensive).....

I mean, I wanted to order another one, why a SALES rep wouldn't just want to let me order one is surreal, this guy sounded like he had an atittude though, wouldn't have wanted to order trough him anyway, prolly would rather just order online.

Besides the defects with the computer, I actually was not a fan of the black color so I wanted red so that's why I didn't want an exchange becuase you can only get the same exact specs so I rather just return it. SO I will see how my customer service is to me hopefully its good, the Customer Care women was AMAZINGLY nice and very helpful so I am grateful for that.

 

Unfortunately I used this policy twice, for my M17x r3.

Well the lucky part is Dell do treat me with respect, they are all 100% refund and I get my refund within 5 days after I ship the item back to Dell.

 

Well.. I did have to go through a few reps to get the awsome deal that I got. But.. If you want the same exact build and you are within your 21 days you could demand a replacement system, thats what I did this go around. Then you will be getting the same system at the same price and you can keep your current system until the new one arrives.

 

Yeah lol, it's a great policy but I never wanted to use it hahah lol.

Hopefully I get the funds as fast as you say into my account, I figured the "dell team" had to inspect the machine even though it's in perfect condition.

Thx

 

Yeah, well they say it can take between 7 to 30 days but if its a return for a faulty system they can rush it. All I can say is good luck lol... They can be a real pain, but if you happen to get the right person it makes all the difference.

 

Let's see, I returned my M17x R3 on the 27th, they got it the 29th and they didn't put the money back on my credit card until about the 16th. The DPA was actually back in about the week before, though.

It kind of pisses me off how badly they seemed to drag when it came to getting my money back to me so I could order a new system. They kept saying they were trying to expedite the refund but compared with people here who apparently got it mere days after the return, it kind of cheeses me off. Though due to their slowness, I was able to get the system o wanted for a LOT less than I would have gotten had I gotten the funds returned in time(15% off vs over 30% off).

 

The bulk of my refund was posted on my account a day or so after they received it but one of the monitors took a little over a week. Granted, I was calling every day bugging the hell out of them. heh heh

 

Had a buch iof missing screws. Misaligned parts. Parts with gaps between them..so returned it.

Waiting for the right config/price now.

 

I had ordered an M14X, and received it on the 13th. Upon inspection I found it had some cosmetic issues, a few dead pixels(like I had put a dot on it with a sharpy or something) and for some reason it loved to black screen on boot up, requiring me to do a force shutdown and reboot. So needless to say I returned it. I got it on the 13th, and Dell confirmed they had received and processed it on the 16th(there was a Sunday in there somewhere so no way to send it back; it shipped on a Monday, they confirmed they received it on Tuesday). I just got my refund today(August 31st, but technically they approved the refund last week, but it took 5 days to show on my preferred account).

So today I called them up and got a U..S Rep, explained the situation and got no sympathy at all. I asked if they could rush the build, and give me free overnight/next day shipping, and he said no. So I thanked him for his time, and called the guys in the Costa Rica tech department. Not only did they offer to rush my order, but offered me free overnight shipping without me even asking. They even took 50 bucks off my order for the inconvenience on top of a hefty EPP 17% discount I had for it.

Now it is just a matter of waiting. I checked the order page and it says "In production", so we will see how long that takes. It is important to note however, I was not exchanging the M14X; I got a full refund, no questions asked, so they did good on that part. I also ordered an M18X today, which was nearly twice the cost of the M14X; so maybe that was why they didn't mind expediting things and offering some freebees. I just find it weird that the guys over in tech support were more helpful, and managed to get me a better deal that the sales rep did; he even said "There is no way to give you free next day shipping, but I will take 20 dollars off" Well, apparently there is a way if you call Alienware tech support .

All in all, for a refund, and a new laptop I am most likely looking at 30 days; but in the end, it will be worth it. Just hope I don't have to return that M18X; for that much money, I am pretty picky about it being in perfect running condition.

 

Me too man. I'm really anal and I worked really hard for that money and I'm a student.

I was examining my m14x looking for any gaps or cosmetic flaws or dead pixels. I basically was also trying to run every possible game to see if it could handle it.

 

possible a stupid question,

but as long as you return the Cd's and manual the computer came with, you are OK via the return right?

I returned everything and had the computer in perfect condition with stock Alienware windows but I did open the cd's for restore and manual.....

 

Oh the return policy varies per country. In the Netherlands its only 7 days.

So make sure you know the correct numbers of days.!!!