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Dell - It takes a Licking and Keeps on Ticking!

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Dell - It takes a Licking and Keeps on Ticking!

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from JoeUser Forums

I have always loved Dells (well since about the mid 90s).  And yesterday, I found I had an even better reason to love them!

My sister-in-law suffered a fire at her house a couple of years ago.  The house was a total loss (which is a shame - have you ever heard of the Hobbit House?  That was hers.)  By the time my wife and I got out there several months later, they had cleared the rubble and were fighting the insurance company over money.  In that rubble apparently was her laptop.

Too bad I told her.  The data may have been salvageable.  Well, lo and behold this year she found that she had not thrown out the laptop, and gave it to me to see if I could do anything with it.

Now this Dell is old.  The fire was 2 years ago.  The stupid thing only had 256mb of memory, so I suspect it was at least 3 years old when it was burned.  And it is not one of those sleek new notebooks that weigh about 1.5 pounds (this one clocks in at about 6-7), so it is rugged.  I was not really hopeful, but figured I would give it a shot.

I pulled the drive out, mounted it into an external USB case and plugged it into my laptop.  Brnnnnnggg!  Up came the drive with all the data!  ALL THE DATA!

I am very pleasantly surprised! I was able to recover all her data and saved it on to a memory stick (the drive was only a 60gb, only a quarter full - so a memory stick that holds all the data is cheap these days).

Over the years, I have had many good experiences with Dell.  I can add another one.  The computer itself is DOA, but the drive was protected by the "arm-breaker) case it was in and works fine!  I intend to give her the drive back to so she can have some temporary storage (I would not trust it for important stuff, just for a temporary back up).

Thanks again Dell!  You did it again!

171,603 views 63 replies
Reply #51 from WinCustomize Forums Top

My HP laptop just bit the dust due to a graphics chip that wasn't compatible with the mobo. HP knew of the defect, has an article about it on their website, but wants $275.00 to fix it. And then it would, no doubt, be replaced with the same defective mobo.
End of quote

The US of A pioneered a thingie called the "Lemon Laws"....which ultimately ended up as consumer protection with regards to non-merchantable goods...or goods which fail to live up to the reasonable expectation/s of the purchaser.

It is 'reasonable' to expect a HP-chosen graphics chip/card WILL be compatible with a HP-chosen MoBo....and NOT fry either.

HP is thus in NO position to request payment to make good their fault.

You are entitled to a full refund under Consumer Protection Law [that's definite in Oz....and 'should' be likewise in the US].

In Australia it's the 'A-triple-C' [ACCC]....Lord knows what it's called in the US....;)

Reply #52 from JoeUser Forums Top

Come on, Jafo - it's US and A.

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Reply #53 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Come on, Jafo - it's US and A.
End of quote

United States AND America?

I don't think so...;)

Reply #54 from JoeUser Forums Top

And here I thought you aussie's were hip.

Reply #55 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting Jafo, reply 51

My HP laptop just bit the dust due to a graphics chip that wasn't compatible with the mobo. HP knew of the defect, has an article about it on their website, but wants $275.00 to fix it. And then it would, no doubt, be replaced with the same defective mobo.


The US of A pioneered a thingie called the "Lemon Laws"....which ultimately ended up as consumer protection with regards to non-merchantable goods...or goods which fail to live up to the reasonable expectation/s of the purchaser.

It is 'reasonable' to expect a HP-chosen graphics chip/card WILL be compatible with a HP-chosen MoBo....and NOT fry either.

HP is thus in NO position to request payment to make good their fault.

You are entitled to a full refund under Consumer Protection Law [that's definite in Oz....and 'should' be likewise in the US].

In Australia it's the 'A-triple-C' [ACCC]....Lord knows what it's called in the US....
End of Jafo's quote

 

That would be nice. But as per a phone call to them, HP, I missed my window of opportunity. They said that had I registered the laptop I would have gotten an email notifying me of the need to repair, and I would have gotten it fixed for free. But due to the fact that I bought it at a rental store, it had been registered to someone before me and he got the notification. Now the window of opportunity has passed, and I'm SOL.

I told them I would never buy or recommend an HP/Compaq again and that out of a laptop, and 2 desktops, all were Compaq machines, made by HP. No more. My newest purchase is a Toshiba Satellite L505-ES5011.

 

You think I can force them to repair?

Reply #56 from WinCustomize Forums Top

You think I can force them to repair?
End of quote

Being an on-sell ex-rental/second hand it's likely more difficult....even warranty periods will likely be an issue....but either way if the hardware was sold [initially] defective then the 'fact' is reality.

It is THEIR responsibility to demonstrate how the mis-representation of a product is justified under Consumer Law.

"Buy this Laptop it is good" cannot translate to "Buy this laptop...it will self-destruct due to poor/incompetent design well within its expected life time".

Failure or inability to 'register' a purchase [warranty] does NOT excuse the Manufacturer from its responsibility to provide a merchantable product.

However...

You will get the 'art of spin' aimed at you to "resist" their requirement to restitute/make good from every level of intercourse/barrier between you, the Customer, and the HP CEO [where the buck stops]...but take the issue far enough and you will quite possibly be paid to 'stfu'.....

...or, of course...someone else may be paid to shut you up [which -ever is cheaper]...;)

Reply #57 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Jafo, you crack me up...lol!!  :rofl:

Reply #58 from Sins Forums Top

If they had any brains, they'd pay up, but then the number of successful class action lawsuits against them says otherwise...

 

Odds are they'll do what they've done before.  Tell you to fuck off so you can go get a lawyer and soak them for ten times as much in the end, plus lawyer fees.  HP not very bright.

Reply #59 from JoeUser Forums Top

Heck, if I could afford it I would buy nothing but custom built Alienware machines
End of quote

:grin:   - Yea, I would love to grab a computer without looking at the price!  but then compared to the early ones I bought (early 90s and 80s), even the high end ones now are cheap!

 

Reply #60 from JoeUser Forums Top

HP knew of the defect, has an article about it on their website, but wants $275.00 to fix it. And then it would, no doubt, be replaced with the same defective mobo.

Needless to say that was my last HP product.
End of quote

Well....... Since my HP has never had a problem (except losing its BIOS drive settings - fixed after finding it), I cannot attest to their service side.  Which is a good thing as the less service a computer needs means the better it is (yours unfortunately being not the case). :)

Reply #61 from JoeUser Forums Top

Quoting Jafo, reply 51
The US of A pioneered a thingie called the "Lemon Laws"....which ultimately ended up as consumer protection with regards to non-merchantable goods...or goods which fail to live up to the reasonable expectation/s of the purchaser.
End of Jafo's quote

Those "laws" apply to cars only off the shelf.  However, you can "sue", but that entails a lot of money, lawyers and time.  Most people will not for $275.

Quoting Daiwa, reply 52
Come on, Jafo - it's US and A.
End of Daiwa's quote

Quoting Jafo, reply 53
United States AND America?

I don't think so...
End of Jafo's quote

I think he was being comradely. ;)

 

Reply #62 from JoeUser Forums Top

You will get the 'art of spin' aimed at you to "resist" their requirement to restitute/make good from every level of intercourse/barrier between you, the Customer, and the HP CEO [where the buck stops]...but take the issue far enough and you will quite possibly be paid to 'stfu'.....
End of quote

The squeaky wheel.  It works if the situation is not going to cost a ton (read: Class Action).  But it is a good place to start.  The alternative is to hire a lawyer and start sending out letters.  But only if you intend to collect legal fees as the first letter is going to cost you the price of the repair.

Going the C-NET or ZDNET route is good if they take up the cause.  That is free and very bad for vendors, so they like to shut up that static fast.

Reply #63 from JoeUser Forums Top

Quoting psychoak, reply 58
If they had any brains, they'd pay up, but then the number of successful class action lawsuits against them says otherwise...

 

Odds are they'll do what they've done before.  Tell you to fuck off so you can go get a lawyer and soak them for ten times as much in the end, plus lawyer fees.  HP not very bright.
End of psychoak's quote

You are correct - but how many go that route?  They look at it as the least cost.  if only 1 in 20 go that route, they are still ahead.