Refurbished Inspiron 1520 not as advertised

The system I ordered from the Outlet was as follows:

Code:

Operating System
Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium
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Memory
2 GB DDR2 SDRAM 677MHz (2 DIMMs)
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Hard Disk Drive
160 GB SATA Hard Drive (5400RPM)
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Video
128MB NVIDIA GeForce 8400M GS
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Certified Refurbished
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Base
Inspiron 1520 Notebook: Intel Core 2 Duo T7300 (2.0GHz/800Mhz FSB/4MB cache)
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Media Bay
8X DVD +/- RW w/dbl layer write capability
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Software Upgrade
Microsoft Works 8.5
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NoteBook Screen
15.4 inch WSXGA+ Glossy Notebook Screen with TrueLife
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Hardware Upgrade
Integrated 2.0 Mega Pixel Web Camera
9 Cell Primary Battery
Single TV Tuner with Remote Control
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System Color
Alpine White
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Bluetooth Wireless
Bluetooth Wireless Card 355
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Network Interface Card
Intel 4965 802.11a/g/n Dual-Band Mini Card

However, the system did not include the remote that was supposed to come with the Tv Tuner. I used the Dell Chat and they're sending me the remote.

However, today I tried to change the resolution to a higher setting and noticed it will only goto 1440x900. It was advertised to have a WSXGA+ lcd screen (should have a max resolution of 1680×1050). The invoice lists "UW648 Module,Liquid Crystal Display 15.4WXGA+,True Life,AUO,C/S".

Am I missing something or did I indeed receive the wrong screen? I tried the Dell Chat, but customer service insisted I talk to Tech Support first to verify I had the WXGA+ screen.

I was transferred and had a wait time of over 20 minutes and they were closing chat in less than 10. I guess I'll try back on Monday...

 

Yeah, it looks like you got a completely different computer!

 

its not just like completely, just chat with DELL and they will send you new screen , also you have choice to pick up whichever you want.

 

I also received the wrong display in the E1705 I ordered from the outlet. It was advertised as having WUXGA but mine came with the WXGA screen. I talked to dell and ended up sending it back and ordered the 1720 I'm using now.

 

A new screen? They would just send a new screen out? How would I install that myself?

Since there's likely not a compareable system in the outlet, what do you think Dell will have me do? Send it back for a refund, or give me money back?

 

They will, probably, also send a technician to install it. Just ask them to.

 

Call them, be stern, don't be a push over about it, demand they solve the issue immediately and promptly and demand compensation. Don't be a ass hat about it but act like you mean business.

When Dell screws up some way - some how - you the customer can really push them around in a lot of ways I find.

They'll likely at first make a new system for you, try and get you to spend $200 more - - or - - give you a new screen.

 

Online chat turned up to be useless resolving this issue, suprisingly.

I ended up calling Dell, and talked to CS for almost 2 hours. They at first had a hard time understanding the problem (the same as the chat). Once I furnished copies of my acknowledgement, confirmation email, and the link I saved of the system specs from the outlet, they were able to verify my story. Apparently, one screen showed the system having a WXGA+ and another showed the WSXGA+. Hence the confusion.

The CS rep immediately offered a $170 refund. I didn't want this though, as I wanted the better screen. After him putting me on hold a half dozen times to talk to his Superior, they offered to send a tech to my house with the WSXGA+ screen and install it. But between my work schedule and school, it would have been extremely difficult to get a time that jived for both of us.

I ended up buying a similar system on the Outlet after he transferred me to Outlet sales. For $50 more, I got the WSXGA+ screen I should have gotten (had Rep verify this), a processor upgrade to 2.2ghz, the 7200rpm HD, SB Audigy HD software, and the 256mb 8600m GT. I had to give up the webcam though, as this system didn't include it.

Final result: I'm sending the original system back and will keep the new one.