TB15 Dock Discontinued?

It's no longer on Dell's website and there's a steep discount ($188) on Amazon. Wonder if they will be replacing it with a new model soon.

 

I was just looking for one too. It seems there are different part numbers for it all over the place. CDW shows 3 different ones. I know they make a 180W and 140W one but tried to find it on Dell's website and nothing shows up. Maybe they are coming out with an updated version and trying to dump all the old ones. I have seen a lot of people having issues with the current ones. Maybe I can find out something from our Dell account manager.

https://www.cdw.com/shop/products/D...nderbolt-docking-station/4047535.aspx?pfm=srh

https://www.cdw.com/shop/products/D...nderbolt-docking-station/3991682.aspx?pfm=srh

https://www.cdw.com/shop/products/Dell-Thunderbolt-docking-station/3991683.aspx?pfm=srh

 

good riddance? Everywhere I read it was a piece of sh***

 

I talked to dell regarding the tb15 dock and they said that it's on "Temporary Engineering Hold". I am assuming that means that they finally caved into all the complaints and are re-tweaking the dock. Hopefully the next reiteration is better! I am keeping an eye out since I am shopping for one. If you hear anything, please update here. Thanks!

 

Does that mean there will be a recall or replacement for existing TB15 owners?

 

I received mine about two months ago. It had all the usual problems. After two days of Dell's premium service guys remoting in on my xps15 they gave up and said they'd send me a replacement. After a month no word from Dell. After several more calls they said they'd send me one. That was a month ago. I'm hoping they are stalling while they wait for an engineering fix or redesign. While an order is in the system nothing has shipped. They are usually super prompt with replacement parts, this is suspiciously slow on their part.

 

I just purchased an XPS 13 9350 from Dell on May 9th and the Thunderbolt 3 was still available and listed as compatible. By the time I received my laptop they have taken down the TB15 and don't even list the WD15 under accessories for my model (although it is still listed as compatible in the WD15 tech specs) I start reading about all the issues and I'm considering sending it back. I bought it as a personal / byod for work. I need a good dock that can handle two monitors.

I called Dell Support today to and they would not answer any of my questions, but tried to sell me the Belkin Thunderbolt 2 dock. I was told they could give me a 'great deal' which turned out to be $299 and free next day shipping. I explained nicely several times I just want to know if the issues are with the Dell dock and if my laptop with available bios and drivers will support dual monitors on a USB type C dock.

No information at all.

I love the laptop but at the price I want more than one USB 3.0 port.

I have 10 days to decide if I'm returning it. Anyone having luck with dual monitors on a 3.0 dock?

 

I'd check for updates on this thread...a good chance you can do better for much less than $300

http://forum.notebookreview.com/index.php?threads/791945/

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I see there hasn't been any updates to BIOS and drivers to address any more issues for TB15 for several weeks. What is the official word on this from Dell? Are they going to replace this with new and improved version and will they be recalling ones that customers already have? It's also strange that my TB15 service tag and express service code aren't recongnized by Dell when I try to create an online request using them and my TB15 also doesn't show up in my Dell product list with any warranty information like my laptop and monitor.

 

Said this in another thread but will paste it here so more people see:

At one point Dell had a whole organized "team" in their REC center to handle the TB15 dock. They sent out a mass email to all those who had contacted them about it saying they would give weekly status updates (never happened). Some time later they sent another mass e-mail saying engineering had solved the problems with the TB15 and it would require software and hardware updates (read: send your old TB15 back and get a new one) and the new hardware was planned to be available by the end of August.

Well after a few weeks of not hearing from them past the end of August, I sent an email to get an update on the status - after all there are plenty of variables that could delay hardware production, I just wanted to know what was going on. Took 2-3 e-mails to different people in the REC dept to finally get a response. The response was "We have no ETA on hardware update but the refund option is still available". Reading between the lines of the full e-mail, it seemed to be indicating on/suggesting that I should get a refund and move on.
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Glad to see the HP TB3 dock will work with Dell laptops. Gonna refund my TB15 and order an HP TB3 dock if it comes in a flavor that can power my Preision 7510 and output via DP through TB or TB+extra power wire built into dock. The Preision 7510 requires 180W (the TB15 240W could charge it and output video via the TB3 cable, no matter the load the laptop was under) so it's just a matter of finding a dock that can provide that wattage for me.

 

Wonder if Dell will offer me a refund on my TB15? I've just purchased a D3100 to replace it.

 

Yes, it doesn't work so they have no choice.

 

Reddit user woodburyman said Dell contacted him today for TB15 recall:

- Exchange TB15 for TB16
- For 9550 & 9350 owners who used the TB15, replacement laptop motherboard

Edit - Two others posted that Dell had send them correspondence regarding recall, including photo of the Dell letter

https://www.reddit.com/r/Dell/comments/5u0vnc/tb15_recall/

 

Interesting... there is a new BIOS update 1.4.13 that supposedly improves stability of the WD15 dock

 

Haven't even opened my WD15 dock yet but will contact Dell with regards to exchanging my TB15 with the new TB16. Can then keep whichever one works with the least issues and sell the other.

 

Check out the reddit thread. It seems Dell is replacing the 9550-9530 motherboards for some people that used the TB15.

If I were you, I would not even test the TB15...

 

Ok so I've been thinking about the motherboard damage from the tb15 and I think that would have to be related to the power delivery... I think depending on what I find out about my warranty I might try it with a smaller adapter powering the dock and the 130 watt powering my 9560...


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Well.. mine is getting replaced under warranty ... so I won't do my tb15 dual adapter experiment

 

Did you arrange this over the phone or via email and would you mind posting the contact details used please?

Need to arrange exchanging mine.

Thanks.

 

I called pro support (part of the reason I added it) to see if using the tb15 was safe because of the reports dell was replacing motherboards that were used with it.. So that started the talk with the support guy.. I bought mine from amazon last May after they weren't available from Dell and the support person said they have 1 year warranty no matter where they came from (probably as long as you were the original purchaser) so they sent me a tb16 and a return label for the tb15... If you don't have pro support I guess try the chat and maybe ask them to check on the warrantee for yours..


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I get the feeling pro supports merely jumping the phone call queue

 

I think so too but if that option is available go with it


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Phoned Pro Support department (0844 4443844 in UK) as I have 3 years Pro Support and the support rep I got through to claimed he had no information regarding there being any issues whatsoever with TB15 docks! And that Dell would not be replacing non-faulty TB15's. I mentioned that it was well documented all over the internet about all of the various issues that had been experienced with these docks, the latest and most serious being fried motherboards but he was having none of it.

I was asked to connect the dock to my XPS 9550 whilst on the phone but it was not recognized. Probably cos I did a clean install and have not installed any drivers for the TB15 nor previously connected it?

He emailed instructions of the steps to follow in order to try to get the dock working and also sent me links of the latest BIOS update and firmware/drivers that he said I should also try. If none of these work then to phone back.

 

Troubleshooting page on Dell website, a link to which was emailed to me after earlier phone call:

http://www.dell.com/support/article...ock-bios---drivers-installation-guide?lang=EN

 

I think the TB15 may work ok for some folks, but it likely can't work with 2 external 4K displays at 60 Hz as advertised, because of overheating. AFAIK this was a "silent" recall.

 

Pm a member for the case reference number to throw in supports face m8

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That a good idea GoNz0, will try that.

I've just emailed the Dell rep back with a link to a reddit thread (posted earlier here) where a number of people mentioned Dell happily exchanging their TB15 docks with a TB16.

On the phone he basically tried seeeping what I said under the carpet saying "well that's just the internet".