Dell Warranty Timing Issue on Staples Purchases

I recently bought a laptop for my wife on sale at Staples, after comparing Dell Outlet pricing. So far so good - but here's an interesting glitch.

According to the Dell support website, and according to a CS rep I talked to by phone, the warranty periods started on the date on which Dell shipped the machine to Staples, which was several months earlier than the retail purchase date @ Staples.

I've looked at both Staples and Dell ads and it seems quite clear that the warranty should run for the standard periods for a retail purchaser of a new machine, rather starting on the date Dell shipped to Staples. I'm confident that I'm going to get this worked out, but I'm curious whether anyone else has had experience with this and what the fastest path to a resolution might be. Thanks in advance.

 

Best to keep the receipt from Staples and present a copy to Dell.

 

return laptop to staples.... get a better deal in outlet?

 

Just keep your receipt, you warranty is with Staples first then Dell afaik.

Its like when you buy other brands of laptops, when you check the serial number online the warranty always starts when they are made / shipped. But if you keep your receipt with the retailer you will be entitled full period from the date it was purchased. This is completely normal!

 

Yup, its as if you bought anything else from staples. Retailer return policy comes first. No need to ship back to Dell. Quite convenient no?

 

OK. This is the first time since the very early 1990s that I have not bought directly from Dell, so I haven't run into this before. I was a little puzzled that when I clicked on the "register" link on the Dell Support website and recorded the purchase date, nothing changed. The pushy CSR added to the (bad) picture. I may pursue with Dell for the sport of it, but I appreciate your confirmation that the website information isn't right.

 

Your contract of sale is with Staples and not dell so you will have to go to them for any problems or returns etc etc. I'd take it back and buy direct from Dell themselves

 

Nope, it's a manufacturer's warranty. If Dell isn't clear on this (and their ads and press releases were), I'm sure they will get straightened out.

 

Yes Manufacturers warranty but your contract for the sale of it is with Staples so Dell will hold them responsible for not informing you of the warranty...Even though I think Dell are talking utter rubbish. The warranty is from the date you buy the product like all other electrical equipment!

 

Yeah you need to talk to a different CSR. One time this exact same thing happened to me, but with HP from Costco. It was partly my fault because I did not realize I had to register (I thought all that was taken care of @ time of purchase through Costco). In the end, it was not that big of deal, just had to fax HP the receipt and we were good to go.