What should I do? Please!

Hi. I just bought a refurb m1330 for only $596 at staples.

It has 2GB RAM, intel core 2 duo t5550, NVIDIA 8400M GS. I found it to be great, until I heard the graphics card problem.

I updated the BIOS and graphics card driver to the newest version, and I still worry because of all the blog, forum post out there.

When the machine is shutting down it flashes for some random reason.

I have 90 days of warrenty and I'm writing to Dell about this issue. They told me to ask Staples (retail I bought i from) for further assistant.

My laptop is shipped out of dell in Febuary, so it is likely that it's affected by the defective GPU.

There are 2 burning question I have:

1. Should I return the laptop?
2. Will the GPU still be affected when it's a refurb machine?

 

Can you get a full refund if you return it?

The 90 day warranty isn't great for a machine thats known to be flawed and that overheats.

If I was in your position and I could get a decent refund, I'd return it.

 

Full refund should be no problem. I don't exactly know about Staples policy.

I remember this exact machine was for sale for 649 at staples in October. Dissapeared for 2 month before it was back. Don't exactly know why.

It's just too good of a value, but then, if the video card fail, that's just waste of money

 

Dell should cover this laptop for GPU replacement regardless of where you bought it. But if you are really worried about it return it, you'll probably have to pay a restocking fee.

 

If you are already having issues with it...I would definitely return it.

Have you thought of checking the Dell Outlet for a 1330?

Cin

 

I don't have a dell outlet here. Nor do I have issues. I'm just worried that I'm buying a possible dead laptop

 

The Dell Outlet is online, Delloutlet.com

 

Have you asked dell whether its possible to extend the warranty on it?

They usually come from dell with a years warranty (mandatory) and there's an extra year too on account of the faulty gpu.

Given that its thus still under dell's warranty you should be able to purchase another year or two's warranty on it.

Which would make it sound, failure wise.

BTY nice job on getting one at that price - over here I think the cheapest outlet one starts at about 1000 dollars (canadian) wiht the ordered from dell ones starting at about 1600 dollars (canadian)

So you got a pretty good deal.

 

Update: Staple's Return policy

 

The outlet is online
(just saw atbnet put the site addy) Thanks

So, will you contact Staples tomorrow, then??


Cin

 

I don't know. I absolutely love the value that I'm getting. I rather exchange than return (that's with no extra cost). That's why I'm asking. If the thing is $1000, i wouldn't even buy it. even if I did I would return without second thought

 

I think you need to figure out if you can extend the warranty through Dell. That way you can have a guarantee if it does break down.

 

I'd get on to dell and see what the warranty situation with it is - i.e what you currently have if any, and whether it can be upgraded.

If I could upgrade the warranty and given the fact its a killer deal, I'd then keep it.

 

So you want to either return for refund, or exchange for another???

Hopefully, you can work it out with Staples for a return ~ at no extra cost.


Cin.

 

The problem is that I'm REALLY REALLY busy until Dec 19th. I don't want to waste 2 hours(exaturation but still) on the phone for this

 

Well if your really really busy...maybe you can have someone else call for you then. Either way..if you want to get it taken care of..your going to have to do something.



Cin.

 

You can check your warranty online right now.

 

Yes. I checked online. Warrenty still has 88 days to go.

BTW. This laptop probably will not be used in about 2 and half year or so.
I also recently purchased a Dell Inspiron 1525.

 

I would say you should be fine for that period of time. Dell is covering the laptops with the faulty chip for two years.

 

Question is will the addition of a 1-2year warranty up the price sufficiently so that its no longer a good deal?

A two year warranty should cost about ~300+ dollars, no longer quite so good a deal.

 

But do refurb get to be treated the same way? extending a 2 year warrenty?

 

It should cover all their notebooks. I am not sure how they do Staple's bought ones though. That's why I suggested that you call them.

 

Staples always offered dell laptop and desktop here.

I'm not willing to buy another 2 year of warrenty, There are better choice out there (not quite as portable )

 

I didn't suggest that you do. I simply said Dell has made a statement to cover the faulty GPU notebooks for two years. I do not know if this applies to ones also purchased at Staples. You will need to call them to verify.

 

Okay. I will call them to find out. In the mean time, can I get hold of my laptop history?

 

The history? You just purchased it, right? Shouldn't have history.

 

No dell haven't, they have only 'unofficially' offered one years extra warrany.

I assumed he had two years on the basis of having a years warranty included as standard

- As it was shipped in february, that year is pretty much up any way.

So basically you would only have one year of 'gpu only' warranty left.

(assuming dell will actually honour the extra year of gpu warranty, they haven't actually stated officially anything whatsoever about the issue)

 

It's a refurb though.

Maybe I will just return it and get something else instead. An inspiron 13 inch is nice, but i probably wouldn't get bag, earbuds, remote control etc. *sigh*

 

Decided that return is neccesary.

This issue is now resolved

 

Good. Glad you got it resolved, that's always better.


Cin.