Dell Tech Support...
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... was actually good! :rose: I was burning some CDs to back up my iTunes library on my laptop when, after two disks completed successfully, the third disk just would not burn properly. It would not even recognize there was a CD in the drive. It couldn't even read professionally-mastered CDs. So in short, my drive was shot. I also wanted to change my wireless card. When I purchased my laptop I got the cheaper of the two choices available. Unfortunately, the cheaper card is a Broadcom chipset which does not have native linux drivers available. That wasn't an issue until recently (for the curious, I used ndiswrapper to get access to unencrypted networks, but WPA doesn't work with ndiswrapper for some reason). Knowing Dell's reputation for having terrible tech support I wasn't looking forward to calling them. I was pleasantly surprised. I called the 800 number, was sent through an automated menu system, but was quickly put on hold to talk to a real person. Within five minutes I was talking to somebody who was very helpful and understandable. In other words the polar opposite of their reputation. For the wireless card I had to be transfered to the spare parts department, which meant being placed on hold again. But this time it was even shorter than before! I doubted they would ship just the card, as that would mean opening up the laptop, but they did. So all in all I'm impressed. Mike
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... was actually good! :rose: I was burning some CDs to back up my iTunes library on my laptop when, after two disks completed successfully, the third disk just would not burn properly. It would not even recognize there was a CD in the drive. It couldn't even read professionally-mastered CDs. So in short, my drive was shot. I also wanted to change my wireless card. When I purchased my laptop I got the cheaper of the two choices available. Unfortunately, the cheaper card is a Broadcom chipset which does not have native linux drivers available. That wasn't an issue until recently (for the curious, I used ndiswrapper to get access to unencrypted networks, but WPA doesn't work with ndiswrapper for some reason). Knowing Dell's reputation for having terrible tech support I wasn't looking forward to calling them. I was pleasantly surprised. I called the 800 number, was sent through an automated menu system, but was quickly put on hold to talk to a real person. Within five minutes I was talking to somebody who was very helpful and understandable. In other words the polar opposite of their reputation. For the wireless card I had to be transfered to the spare parts department, which meant being placed on hold again. But this time it was even shorter than before! I doubted they would ship just the card, as that would mean opening up the laptop, but they did. So all in all I'm impressed. Mike
Mike_V wrote:
So all in all I'm impressed.
I've been fairly happy with Dell tech support as well, but as my only dealings with them have been regarding employer-provided equipment (which is leased from Dell, and for which there's a number and code that presumably doesn't go through quite the same hoops as a normal support call), i've avoided piping up in any of the "Dell sucks!" threads. 'Fact is, it's probably the same as most places these days - a very good chance of getting someone who can't communicate, and couldn't help you if they could, and a much smaller chance of getting someone who actually can, can, and will. Phone roulette...
---- I just want you to be happy; That's my only little wish...
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... was actually good! :rose: I was burning some CDs to back up my iTunes library on my laptop when, after two disks completed successfully, the third disk just would not burn properly. It would not even recognize there was a CD in the drive. It couldn't even read professionally-mastered CDs. So in short, my drive was shot. I also wanted to change my wireless card. When I purchased my laptop I got the cheaper of the two choices available. Unfortunately, the cheaper card is a Broadcom chipset which does not have native linux drivers available. That wasn't an issue until recently (for the curious, I used ndiswrapper to get access to unencrypted networks, but WPA doesn't work with ndiswrapper for some reason). Knowing Dell's reputation for having terrible tech support I wasn't looking forward to calling them. I was pleasantly surprised. I called the 800 number, was sent through an automated menu system, but was quickly put on hold to talk to a real person. Within five minutes I was talking to somebody who was very helpful and understandable. In other words the polar opposite of their reputation. For the wireless card I had to be transfered to the spare parts department, which meant being placed on hold again. But this time it was even shorter than before! I doubted they would ship just the card, as that would mean opening up the laptop, but they did. So all in all I'm impressed. Mike
Mike_V wrote:
the third disk just would not burn properly. It would not even recognize there was a CD in the drive. It couldn't even read professionally-mastered CDs.
I'm having the same problem with my CD Drive, I'll have to call about that tomorrow.
Mike_V wrote:
Knowing Dell's reputation for having terrible tech support I wasn't looking forward to calling them. I was pleasantly surprised.
I haven't had any problems with them, except the fact that the automated calling system that asks you for your Customer # and etc. I must have spent 5 minutes tying to talk to the machine, only for it to give up and send me to a human anyway.
Mike_V wrote:
I doubted they would ship just the card, as that would mean opening up the laptop, but they did.
I ordered a CD Drive from Dell for a friend's computer a week or two ago and it came the next day! DHL is an awesome shipping company!
Trinity: Neo... nobody has ever done this before. Neo: That's why it's going to work.
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Mike_V wrote:
the third disk just would not burn properly. It would not even recognize there was a CD in the drive. It couldn't even read professionally-mastered CDs.
I'm having the same problem with my CD Drive, I'll have to call about that tomorrow.
Mike_V wrote:
Knowing Dell's reputation for having terrible tech support I wasn't looking forward to calling them. I was pleasantly surprised.
I haven't had any problems with them, except the fact that the automated calling system that asks you for your Customer # and etc. I must have spent 5 minutes tying to talk to the machine, only for it to give up and send me to a human anyway.
Mike_V wrote:
I doubted they would ship just the card, as that would mean opening up the laptop, but they did.
I ordered a CD Drive from Dell for a friend's computer a week or two ago and it came the next day! DHL is an awesome shipping company!
Trinity: Neo... nobody has ever done this before. Neo: That's why it's going to work.
I've had good luck with Dell technical support too. Just recently with my m65 and a few years back with an Optiplex. My previous employer liked the stinkpads, because of the "service" and that the parts were standard (although only with the same model). However, IBM support (never dealt with Lenova -- and never will) sucks big time.
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... was actually good! :rose: I was burning some CDs to back up my iTunes library on my laptop when, after two disks completed successfully, the third disk just would not burn properly. It would not even recognize there was a CD in the drive. It couldn't even read professionally-mastered CDs. So in short, my drive was shot. I also wanted to change my wireless card. When I purchased my laptop I got the cheaper of the two choices available. Unfortunately, the cheaper card is a Broadcom chipset which does not have native linux drivers available. That wasn't an issue until recently (for the curious, I used ndiswrapper to get access to unencrypted networks, but WPA doesn't work with ndiswrapper for some reason). Knowing Dell's reputation for having terrible tech support I wasn't looking forward to calling them. I was pleasantly surprised. I called the 800 number, was sent through an automated menu system, but was quickly put on hold to talk to a real person. Within five minutes I was talking to somebody who was very helpful and understandable. In other words the polar opposite of their reputation. For the wireless card I had to be transfered to the spare parts department, which meant being placed on hold again. But this time it was even shorter than before! I doubted they would ship just the card, as that would mean opening up the laptop, but they did. So all in all I'm impressed. Mike
I've had no problems with Dell support either, although my contacts are for the work computers. Have about a dozen Dells. Called support twice and both times was pleasantly pleased by the caliber of the person who assisted. They didn't treat me like an idiot. Asked if I was okay installing the replacement part myself (once a power supply, the other a DVD drive), and sent the items with a return label for the defectives. Both came the next day. I often suggest them to others because their prices are quite competitive and the financing programs they offer are great for us 'po folks'. Just my 2 cents. Roy
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... was actually good! :rose: I was burning some CDs to back up my iTunes library on my laptop when, after two disks completed successfully, the third disk just would not burn properly. It would not even recognize there was a CD in the drive. It couldn't even read professionally-mastered CDs. So in short, my drive was shot. I also wanted to change my wireless card. When I purchased my laptop I got the cheaper of the two choices available. Unfortunately, the cheaper card is a Broadcom chipset which does not have native linux drivers available. That wasn't an issue until recently (for the curious, I used ndiswrapper to get access to unencrypted networks, but WPA doesn't work with ndiswrapper for some reason). Knowing Dell's reputation for having terrible tech support I wasn't looking forward to calling them. I was pleasantly surprised. I called the 800 number, was sent through an automated menu system, but was quickly put on hold to talk to a real person. Within five minutes I was talking to somebody who was very helpful and understandable. In other words the polar opposite of their reputation. For the wireless card I had to be transfered to the spare parts department, which meant being placed on hold again. But this time it was even shorter than before! I doubted they would ship just the card, as that would mean opening up the laptop, but they did. So all in all I'm impressed. Mike
It's usually Hewlett Packard pc owners who make the claim.