Possible to return M17X without $500 restocking fee?

I know for a fact that if I return this unit I will get hit with a god-awful 15% RESTOCKING FEE ($4100 machine is a hefty $500 fee)

The thing is the screen looks like crap (many threads on this issue)
I feel like this unit is NOT what I paid for, and this is a defect.

I'm seriously considering trying to get a full refund here.

Do I have a case?

Or am I still going to get stuck with restocking fee?

 

You can try.

It all depends on who your talking to when trying to return. Some reps don't care and will just return it, others will try and charge the 15%, and some will offer you money back to keep it.

I would try a screen replacement first. That way you gave them a chance to fix it and if you want to return after that, then they won't be able to enforce the restock fee as much.

 

What are the consumer laws over there? I know that in my country, I can return something if it is 'not of merchantable quality, as described, or fit for the purpose intended'. If they described the screen as an awesome, class-leading 2CCFL screen, and it sucks monkey balls, then that is reasonable case to demand a refund. I assume the US has something similar.

Also, the restocking fee here is maximum €20, so I guess we are pretty lucky. 15%, ouch!

 

There aren't those types of consumer laws here in the states, unfortunately. They can charge 15% up until whatever (there is no cap).

 

This is why it is worth paying with a CC that will manage your dispute and refuse to pay them for defective merchandise. Some card issuers are better than others at this.

 

as taken from the dell site

see here for the complete policy online.

 

To answer your question yes it is possible. After having worked in three different retail companies with restocking mandatory fees usually two types of people got past it. Those who treated us (from CEO down) with respect, kindness and a forcefullness explaining the problem and the other winner was the persistent, presented with indisputable facts, won't go away until you back down guy. I suggest the former first of course =). It'd really be a bonehead cost saving move by DELL to only use one lamp if it is true, even old AW knowing it's advanced user base would've known you can't put out one of the worlds fastest laptops and lie about something as important as having dual bulbs considering how intelligent and demanding the consumer base is going to be.

 

normally all you have to do is say you are not satified with it due to a hardware issue. if there is nothing make somehting up i hate to say that but it almost always will work. i have never been charged the restock fee for any system ive returned

 

Is the screen that bad? Wait until Z does more research before doing anything.

 

I understand having a restocking fee but this does seem a bit much. I bet they can work something out with you either taking care of the LCD (may need to do this for lots of ppl) or cut the fee down or something. Best of luck!

 

No I'm not returning anything just yet... But I'm not thrilled with the screen atm.

 

This point actually makes me happy that I never waited for an M17x.

 

Yeah the subject is too subjective. People cannot decide whether or not to buy based on what people think of the LCD.

 

I'll let you know on monday!

 

maybe the 1440x900 is dual lamp.. if it is then hallelujah

 

You deserve to be thrilled with the screen on such an expensive notebook, especially one that used its screen as a selling point.

 

alot of people have sucessfully returned a laptop to dell free and if it turns out not to have dual bulb dell will easily take it back because they do not want to admit it does not have 2 bulbs

 

I know this is off topic but here is my recent experience on a return with Alienware/Dell on my Area-51 m15x. First off, let me say that I have previously purchased from both Dell and Alienware and have to say that I for the longest time practically worshipped both companies. However, after my recent attempt to return my m15x I will not be buying from either company anymore and here is why. My system configured at approx. $3,015 and after removing the laptop from the box there were a few complaints I had right away. My complaints are as followed: screen wobbles back and forth when you open the laptop, hinges make a weird noise when opening the lid of the laptop, touch controls are either unresponsive or lag like hell, the casing was very cheap, and the touch pad either was unresponsive or lagged like hell as well. Aesthetically it was beautiful, sadly for $3,000 it didn't live up to my expectations as a consumer. I called AW and asked for a refund to only be slapped with a 15% restocking fee (nearly $450) on my credit card due to myself not accepting poor build quality. I was finally redirected to a manager at AW after enough b*tching and he put the return order in and refused to drop the restocking fee regardless of my reasonings and recommended that I send the laptop in to have the 'bugs' worked out --- to top things off he made me pay for return shipping! The good news is that I sent the computer back with a tracking number via FedEx, and I paid with a personal credit card and have been a loyal customer of the company for years so I plan to call and explain the situation and demand that they get the full refund back since I didn't receive what I purchased. Hopefully it works out in my way because $450 for something that is so poorly built is unfair to consumers...

 

I've returned my M17 as well and am turning to the new 17" Macbook Pro! Although thats because I'm getting Logic Studio

 

Clearly you've never dealt with MacMall....

 

no i dont buy macs... i was strictly speaking about dell

 

@dla_kemper Damn man, sorry about that... that's exactly what I want to avoid... however, I'm still waiting on a verdict on this screen before I cry foul and send it back.

 

@Conchshell: Thank you so much for making that statement (+1 to your reputation)! Oddly enough I forgot that my credit card deals with payment disputes and fraud charges so I simply called them to see what they recommended. I wasn't even able to explain all of the problems I've had with the laptop and Alienware/Dell before my card issuer asked me to stop and take a deep breathe and said that I as a consumer have no right to pay for defective merchandise and I definitely will not be stuck with extremely ridiculous restocking fees. She canceled my credit card and placed the total balance/remaining funds/all information into another account. She said they will send me out the new card ASAP and I should receive it within 1-5 business days. She then said when my new card comes a document will come that states that I would like to hand over the charge from Alienware/Dell so that they can dispute it and get my money back ASAP. She also recommended that I attach my return tracking number and numerous emails that I sent to the company (that were never responded to) that clearly outline the problems that the laptop had and or previous known issues that the company was aware of and yet they continued to release less than acceptable equipment and overcharged for it at that! At the end of the phone call she sounded so confident that they would get my money back that it was almost as if they would credit the funds back into my available credit line and they would dispute it once the documentation was signed-- but then again I'm not really sure! I'll let you guys know how everything goes once I receive the papers. Best of luck friends!

 

My m15x is on the way home back to Alienware and they will be keeping it lol. In the next week or so I'll buy the high end Macbook Pro 15". I really wanted a gaming laptop but when I got to thinking about it I really need a more reliable laptop for school and something that could run WoW decently when I was away from my desktop. Good choice on the Macbook Pro 17". I just think it sucks that Alienware/Dell has to treat their customers so poorly which in the end just results in people switching to different companies (loss of overall business and perhaps potential business as well since people tend to share their horrid experiences with others).