Help me deal with Dell

Hi, I have a Vostro 1500. Everything about it is perfect except for the high pitched beeping that comes from the headphone jack.

I requested a replacement laptop. This noise is still not eliminated even though it has slightly improved. However, I still sent back the new laptop because it also came with a different screen, the AUO one that everyone here complains about.

Comparing the two screens with my LPLC500 one, I can see what the deal is about. The AUO one has a yellowish tint to it, the backlight bleeds like a giant semicircle from the bottom of the screen, and you can see the dithering is horrible just by looking at antialiased text. Sorry I have no digital camera for proof.

Anyway, I am pretty sure by now that all the vostro motherboards have this annoying static sound. Is there any way I can get them to give me the ExpressCard Sound Blaster X-Fi? I've sunk in so much money into this laptop I really can't justify buying it myself. It's Dell's fault!

Somehow these two people were able to do it:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showpost.php?p=2218253&postcount=100
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showpost.php?p=2311852&postcount=269


I've just talked to the reps so long that I just want to know if there is a sure way to convince them.

 

Nope, no sure fire way to get them to do anything, especially since you are asking for a non-Dell part to make you happy. And remember that the first thing they do when you call is look through your previous call records. Maybe if you just complain you will end up with a $50 coupon and you can buy the card then.

 

yep same exact description of the auo from me.. i cant stand it.. they are now sending me another one after being on the phone just now for almost an hour..

i told them i will not accept the auo again i have them on record (audio) telling me if i get the auo one more time they will still allow me a full refund.. let them try to not give it to me...

anyway the auo is so dull and bland to look at and hurts my eyes, like it strains them after a while. all the blues and whites look old and faded in a way... just nasty when sitting next to me other one they sent me out first..

 

How can you tell what LCD monitor you have? I used Everest and I think it might be wrong?

 

Go to Device Manager, then click on Monitors, then find the plugin play monitor that you have (Dual Display will show two monitors). Then you go to advanced options I think, and then find "Hardware ID" from a dropdown box.

 

Say that the noise from the integrated audio is unacceptable and that you want a better alternative?

 

If you can't get Dell to send you the card, this may be an inexpensive solution:

http://www.jr.com/JRProductPage.process?Product_Id=3989571&JRSource=googlebase.datafeed.TBS+1120-01

 

Ok so I spent 2 hours talking to a Dell technical support manager. He said he would refer me to the REC department.

Today I get a call from a human giving me the wrong name and the wrong laptop ???? He then said I would get a call later.

So I did get a call later, this time it was completely automated, and it said that I was going to get ANOTHER replacement laptop.

What is wrong with Dell? They mess up my support number, and then they refer me back to a recording, then they send me another replacement laptop when I didn't even agree to it!!

 

Yes, Dell has a known problem with the headphone sound/noise problem. I'm getting ready to completely blast Dell where it hurts (sales). I have a complete transcript for every technical support call I have placed with these idiots. I will plaster this document everywhere and I hope this will crumble Dell’s sales. I’ve been dealing with this support issues that has never been rectified with the 1520.

First of all, Dell replaced the superior LG/Philips screen used with the E1505/6500 with the inferior Samsung LCD screen used with the 1520/1521. And also, the added a horrible noise to the headphone jack. What a buy if you saved money. Don’t think about listening to music or a DVD without that horrible noise.

DO NOT BUY DELL if you want a system that is not annoying. What a waste of money that I had spent. Cheap is cheap.

Shame on you Dell! I hope you guys crumble in the crap you sell!

-AM

 

Dell is actually going to declare a “bankrupt state” due to so many lawsuits against them. I would stay completely away from them. Check out the SEC complaint regarding their completely bogus profits from 2001-2006. Scary that they are still in business.

-AM

 

Well heres an update:

I talked to tech support again. This time I asked to speak with the manager. He wasted 3 hours, saying that he would try to refer me to another department that could issue these X-Fi cards. He told me that I would get to speak to the department the next day.

Then the next day I receive a call saying asking if I had a Latitude and if my name was Stewart.

This was totally bizzare. My name was not Stewart, and I only had a Vostro. He told me he would call me back. 10 minutes later, I receive an automated callback saying that I would be receiving a replacement of some kind??? I didn't even ask for another replacement laptop.

I then sent an email telling me my problem again with my case number.
Here is the totally asinine response he sent and what I responded with:

Dell is hands down the worst computer company I have done business with.

 

dude that sucks, but I have to say that email you sent back was pretty kick-ass, and your completely right instead of just using a 60$ card they're dumb and waste so much money sending you a replacement. Dell sucks but they do have the best bang for the buck

 

Just because someone else got a non-Dell part that resolved an issue (via complete workaround) does not mean you get to use that to cry like a baby and go "Look the other person got it, why not me!!!". I have worked in support fields for years in the past, and I can assure you the #2 way to not get something, is to use someone else as an example for what you should be entitled to (the #1 way to not get help is to tell off the phone rep). Fact is, you could have just gotten $50 credit from the start and bought the X-Fi card instead of jumping through all these hoops and making everyone's life complicated.

And seriously, let me point something out for you princess. You bought a laptop with a $499 base price, pretty good chance its not going to be perfect.

 

I think you can try the online technical chat with Dell. I have Inspiron 1420 with headphone jack noise, and the first time I chat with tech support, he immediately refer me to the manager and got approved for a New replacement. I got my machine on 8/13 and called on 8/16, and received a brand new replacement on 8/23. Just continue trying... I bet Dell will replace you a new unit! Not to mention my 7 months old E1405 was replaced with brand new one after it was repaired 4 times and still have problem. My suggestion is "keep trying" and be nice to them. Tell them what you want nicely.

 

Ocellaris:

Why am I not suprised with your scathing remark? Could it be because you worked in support before? Or are one of the people trying to justify their premium pricetag on their Lenovo's? If I ever make a computer company that churns out lemons, I would love to have you as a customer.

Also, I think you are out of the loop of most consumers when you think that some customers deserve more than you. I guess you wouldn't be angry if lenovo decided to fix my laptop while giving you the runaround for weeks. Am I more of a customer than you? Are the people who received an X-Fi card for free, more of a customer than I am? Apparently they are, so I am not purchasing from Dell anymore.

And how do I get the $50 credit to begin with? You only said "maybe if you complain" which I did, to no avail. No one else here has gotten your "$50" credit which makes your point useless.

And seriously Mr. Troll, when someone buys a new computer they expect it to work, otherwise it's called false advertising which last time I checked was suable. When you buy a new desktop, isn't it reasonable to expect the sound card soldered into the motherboard to work?

I mean I am willing to let Dell have a mistake once in a while, but when they start sending replacement laptops that still don't work even after half a year of knowing about the problem, and people with this problem at 2:1 ratio, it is laziness and negligence on their part.

It is also far from perfect, I am still living with the wobbly battery that could fall out, and the screen hinge that makes a cracking noise when I open it.

Anyway, thanks for the flame, I finally solved it by hand, no thanks to Dell
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showpost.php?p=2777627&postcount=51

 

I've had a similar problem to yours. I had the grainy screen problem, the headphone jack, the processor noise problem and Vista was bad on top of it all. Only, I had a 1520. I had them issue me a credit on the laptop and give me a free X-Fi card. However, the grainy issue was not fixed after 2 times after replacing the screen, once with a AUO and a SEC I believe. Even though I had had the laptop for over 3 months, Dell decided to take it back. I'm not going to buy another laptop from Dell. I decided to order a desktop (XPS 420) as the desktops from Dell have been great in the past.

 

Lmfao, way to tell that guy off temp321...

I can completely agree why you're upset. But I believe the reason why Dell hasn't bothered to fix the issue is because they have been busy with all the new systems there gonna be bringing into production. There was the 1730, now the 1530, and then the 1525/1526 in the near few weeks or months.

Honestly when I think about it, Dell likely didn't even bother trying to fix the issue. They did research but didn't bother to resolve because of the number of systems sold. So they plan to phase out. Kind of unfair but that's how businesses work.

My battery jiggles a bit, but it won't fall out. It's not the laptop it's the batteries fault. I think Panisonic makes these ones - blame those wobbly battery making d-bags. lol

But anyways, just to toot my own horn, damn I'm good. Dell said the WiFi was causing the issue on your system? My guide shows how to isolate it and the audio jacks card to resolve the issue. And I figured it out sitting in a dark room thinking..

Heres a tip, if you plan to repair your machine yourself. Which I agree because 80% of those tech companies will send or you bring your machine to, are asses and treat your stuff like crap. When you call, explain your issue, then before they can even speak say "I'd like to request the parts to do myself". And if they give you the crap that "it's not something users can do", just ask for management/supervisor approval. And within minutes you should have the parts sent. Quick and painless.

But heres a story about jerk off techs. When I was younger (6-8 odd years ago). I brought my first custom made desktop into a shop to get fixed. The system was my baby, so I kept going to the store every few hours to check out if it was done. And when I went to see, I seen my computer sitting on a chair with a **** load of other computer just piled on top of it's massive plexie glass side window. I literally snapped... Since then, I NEVER let anyone besides me service/handle my stuff.

 

You remind me of Hank Hill from King of the Hill. He's the same way with his house.

 

Well i would like to repair everything myself, but I use my laptop for work, and if I brick it, it'll be a bigger hassle on my hands.

Also dell said the motherboard needed to be replaced. From your fix, it looked like only the sound card was the problem, so it wouldn't have helped to accept the motherboard.

 

LMFAO.. Rock on...

Motherboard is the standard 'fixed it all' line from computer companies. The whole noise issues it poor interference shielding. I believe it would have helped if they grounded some things to separate metal parts instead of everything on one thing.

Completely understandable bro, I fear the same. As a matter of fact, I'm hearing a grind sound right now..Why am I thinking a head crash is in progress on my hard drive..Sigh... That or my cooling pad's fans are being lame.

 

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=197870