Dell's "unlike replacement" of my Inspiron 1520 with an XPS M1530

My story: (cliff notes at the bottom)

I recently purchased an Inspiron 1520. I got a great deal, and ended up paying around $1300, getting close to $800 off the normal price. Only "bad" thing was I had to get the full blown 4 year all out warranty. Here are some of its specs:

Intel® Core 2 Duo T7500 (2.2GHz/800Mhz FSB/4MB cache)
4 GB RAM (2 x 2 GB Kingston)
256MB NVIDIA® GeForce® 8600M GT
160GB SATA Hard Drive (7200RPM)
Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium Edition
CD / DVD writer (DVD+/-RW Drive)
Integrated 2.0M Pixel Webcam
85Whr Lithium Ion Battery (9 cell)
4Yr In-Home Service, Parts + Labor, 24x7 Phone Support
Accidental Damage and LoJack Theft Protection to 4Yr Warr.
Built-in Bluetooth capability (2.0 EDR)

So I got the laptop and I have been for the most part satisfied. I really wanted the HDMI port that is supposed to be with the 1525, but I didn't want to wait too long and let this deal pass. I of course had the problem with the headphone jack, so that was a bummer. I've also had some issues with the touchpad, and it never being able to save the settings that I change. I've been on the phone numerous times with Dell, mainly about the touchpad since I already knew nothing could be done about the headphone jack. We sorta fixed the problem, but it still comes back from time to time.

I was in the car today with a five hour drive ahead of me, and I decided to give Dell a call. I knew my 21 day period was coming to an end very soon, so I wanted to see what options I still had. I had recently been looking into the XPS M1530 and it seemed like it'd be the perfect system for what I wanted, giving me the HDMI and also fixing the headphone jack problem. After being on hold for about thirty minutes, I finally got through to a Dell representative. I explained my problem and they suggested a direct replacement of the entire laptop. I knew that some of the problems I had could not be fixed since they were specific to the Insprion 1520 line and not just my laptop, so I told her that wasn't really a reasonable solution. She then offered $100 to try and compensate for the problem. I thought about it, but decided to see if anything else could be done. I decided to throw out the idea of replacing my Inspiron 1520 for an XPS M1530 with the same specs. She told me that they were only able to do "like replacements" and she could not do that. She then offered a replacement laptop and $100 compensation. I told that I knew it was not going to solve the problem and that it seemed like if I wanted a completely functional laptop I may have to look elsewhere.

It looked like I was just going to have to accept the $100 or look elsewhere until she began to entertain my idea of an "unlike replacement". She repeatedly said she could not make any guarantees, but she would talk to her manager and see what she could do. At this point I was very excited and mentioned I'd be willing to make some sort of compromise, like cut my warranty in half in order to somehow work this out. After being put on hold for about ten minutes, she told me that she would be able to do the unlike replacement. We were going over the specs on my old Inspiron 1520 and then I lost service on my phone. I got home a few hours ago and got an email from her. She said that she had created the new laptop and just wanted me to take a look at it before sending the request in. She said that they would be making an exception since my 21 day period had passed. I'm not exactly sure when they started the 21 days, but it wasn't from the day I received it since that was only 18 days ago.

Anyway, looks like my persistence will finally get me somewhere. I should be getting an XPS M1530, same specs as my Inspiron 1520 at no additional cost. Not sure if I just got the right person at the right time, but for anyone else experiencing problems, give a call and see what they'll do for you. They were very helpful, and it seems like they'll bend backwards to keep their customers happy. This incident will surely keep me a Dell customer for the foreseeable. future.

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Cliff Notes

I bought an Inspiron 1520 earlier this month. I've had some problems so I called Dell today to see if they would take back my Inspiron 1520 and give me an XPS 1530 with the same specs. They said no at first, but when I told them my only other option was a refund, they looked into it some more and decided to replace my Inspiron 1520 with a XPS M1530 of the same specs. I'll be on the phone with them tomorrow to finish things up.

 

Nice for you, I hope you enjoy the new one.

 

Go buy a lottery ticket before the luck rubs off.

Good Job.

 

Yeah, seems like I got pretty lucky.

 

Glad it all worked out for you, having read your previous threads on the subject. Sounds like you got an absolutely blinding deal as well.

Just goes to show that with a little polite haggling you can get some great deals.

 

LOL wonder if it will work on a 4-6 month long owned laptop..

Awesome stuff bro, you got the gears clicking around in my head right now. I might be able to pull it off because management always shakes there head yes with me.. so it seems.

 

Yeah, might as well give it a try. I always just make sure to be extremely nice and show my gratitude again and again for any extra effort that the rep. is putting towards resolving the problem. If the person I'm talking to isn't doing much to help, I kindly tell them thanks for their time, and then I call back later looking for someone else.

 

thats a one in a million shot. u are extremely lucky!!!!

 

Yeah... Dell's exg policy is like or better. That is what Dell does that other pc manufacturers don't. They will try and do anything to keep you as a customer

Dell FTW!

 

Good tip,

I'm considering it.. I ordered a M1530 few weeks ago but canceled after the fiasco I had with Dell. Well not a fiasco, just turned off after the stupidity and retardation they demonstrated recently with a dead pixel replacement screen.. Can't blame Dell entirely, just the stupid procedures that fail again and again and the fact that the people working there sometimes show very little interest or care for anything regardless if it's their gain or loss...

Under normal circumstances, I wouldn't considering a 'trade-in' idea like this but witnessing some of the things happening to my machine the last while, the idea is growing on me, to be honest.

To name a few issues; why I am considering this,

- The paint, on the edges of the screen housing, where it meets the silver bezel. The paint isn't 100% applied and looks like it chipping away - It was like that since day one.

- The shiny Dell text logo, on the bottom of the LCD bezel, it's pealing away, great stuff!

I got another 9 things I can name, but to keep things short, those are the main ones that have pushed me to consider this.

Regardless to the fact that I know machines ware and that's just a thing you have to deal with. Some of these things shouldn't be happening within 4 months of use, or have came with the machine upon purchase. Flame me, call me immature, say I'm a cheap-o or an ass; what ever suites you and makes you feel better. I don't think a 4 month old machine should have came with or started having these minor and some of the 'big' problems it has had and has.

CGHitman14, thanks for showing me there is a slight possibility that this could be a 'alternative solution'. Dell owe it to me for all the BS I've put up with. Not like their gonna loose money considering the money I spent for my 1520.

I'm gonna give it a think..

EDIT: I just configured a M1530 to alike to my 1520, the M1530 is slightly better by a margin and $100 cheaper.. I think If I let them keep the hundred plus w.e compensation they offer me, they mite go for it.. lmao...

 

demand it . u deserve the new notebook!

 

WOO SUPPORT!


lmao.. I'm all excited like a kid in a candy shop right now.. (New computers do this to me)

 

I just got the order number and all. Seems like a done deal. Seems like they plan on it being very quick too! I can't imagine it being here in a week, but that's what it says...

Est. Ship Date: 1/9/2008
Est. Delivery Date: 1/10/2008

Looks like they gave me free next day too without me even asking for it.

All of the specs on the order page matchup perfectly. At first this was a problem and they kept giving me a 5400 RPM HD instead of a 7200 RPM HD, and a 1440x900 monitor instead of the 1680x1050 monitor, but they ended up getting it all straight. I think the HD actually has a bonus feature too called "free fall sensor". Not sure what that is, but more features can't hurt.

So at no fee, I'm getting the nice sleek XPS M1530 chasis to hold the same components and a slightly upgraded HD. Gotta love Dell Support.

 

All of the HDD's have a free fall sensor.

 

Everyone single one dell offers? I'm not sure if the HD I got with my laptop in august has this feature?

 

Hmmm I'm starting to wonder if 1440x900 screens can put a really long hold on production time. I ordered mine on like... the 29th, the laptop is still in production, and my estimated shipping date is January 16th.

 

Thanks for the advice CGHitman14. Read my thread just to see what I have to do just to be considered for something like that.. lol

Thread here..

I'm gonna smash the machine and put it in a box and send it back and tell them to shove it. lol.. No more Dell for me.

 

Wow, quite the post. You shoulda copied me and added in a cliff notes section for people who don't want to spend 10 minutes reading it, haha.

Sorry that things didn't work out so well for you. I've always felt I've had a knack for working with customer service and getting the best possible deals, but maybe I'm just lucky.

In any case, I'd suggest to call again and try to speak with someone else. Maybe they will be understanding. I may have gotten in as easily as I did because of the 4 year full blown warranty I have though, so you may never find the success I did.

Anyway, good luck and keep us updated.

 

lmfao, I thought about that but figured there way no feasible way to put that dramatic trauma into 9 sentences.

Thanks though, hopefully it does sort out, I usually do have a knack with these people! I've gotten them to replace consumer damaged material multiple times without charge.

It is possible due to you're warranty, if so I'll mention "what if I upgrade...". And see where it goes. I plan to call again if that door knob manager decides to put on the same act as before.

I wish that first gal I got in Customer Service could have handled everything - at least she gave me like 4 options; technical support gave me nothing.

We'll see how it goes today..

 

Be a pain in their A$$. Call as often as you can, asking for a manager each time. Sooner or later they'll give in just to get you out of their hair. You're not asking for anything unreasonable. I guess I got lucky with my 1520. Not one problem, not even the dreaded "headphone jack Problem".

I think it was/is a great lappy. I Only sold it because I got a great deal on it, and had the opportunity to sell it, without lossing any money. Now for 100 or so more dollars then I paid for the 1520, I'll get the m1530. Its my 5th laptop in 5 years. Thats the great thing about finding a good deal. You can sell 'em and loose little or no money. I even made money on one.

 

Good advice MAC5217, I originally thought to myself I should do that but I ain't got the guts too.. LMAO

We'll see how things go, if they don't meet my demands, chit is gonna hit the fan.

 

Random question here, but all the XPS M1530s come with the fingerprint scanner, right?

The rep I spoke to said something about needing Windows Vista Ultimate, but I don't really see any reasoning behind that...

 

I've read a few other threads and it appears that the fingerprint reader is standard now, so disregard my last post.