Dell Laptop power cord issue

Dell Laptop power cord issue

My letter to

Mr Micheal Dell

Dell Computers

Dear Mr. Dell,

I realize that there is an extremely small chance of this letter ever reaching your desk, and I guess that is the reason I have never written a letter of 'issue' or 'complaint' to a company. I have little faith that it will ever make a difference.

However, I am so extremely disappointed.... at the moment, and I feel I must do 'something' for my own peace of mind.....

I am a single mom ... raising 2 kids, alone. I have 4 desktop computers ("hand me downs" from friends). I have been able to fix almost every single problem that has ever occured.......with all my desktops. I have replaced fans..... installed hardware....set up a complete wireless networking system etc.. (I understand this may not be impressive to you, but I have had no computer classes or nor have I ever been taught anything....)

Six months ago I made the decision to purchase a laptop. I was looking for small... convenient and inexpensive. This would just be a luxury for me to check email and have a few files on hand for when I go somewhere.

I did a lot of research... and talked to several friends... My brother has 2 HP's and loves them... but he started having problems with one of them (it was TWO years old)....I wanted a more 'reliable' laptop....... LONG story short... I decided on DELL...

I purchased the Dell 1000 (service tag # 8MFXZ51) on Feb. 19.

It has been less than six months and a few days ago I started having problems with the powercord. The connection became 'loose'....I would jiggle the adapter/prong and it would be ok...

Last night, it completely turned off and the 'jiggle'would not work anymore. I purchased a new powercord...and it did not work.

I spent all morning on the phone with technical support and on the computer (MY HP) trying to figure out what to do. I find out that my warranty ran out after 3 months.... I was told that the 'mother board' needs to be replaced and that it would cost $349.00. I am in total and complete shock. There is NO WAY (even IF I HAD the money) that I would invest that much more money in a computer that I do not believe in.

I have not even had the laptop for 6 months I was using the laptop to create scrapbooks for my sons baseball team. I had scanned over 300 pictures that the parents had got together for me..... and I was supposed to have everything ready by Thursday. Needless to say, I never expected this situation to happen, and I am not ONLY out of a computer but I have lost 3 weeks of work and will not be able to have the scrapbooks in time for our party.

The saddest part of this whole situation.... is.... I DO NOT THINK IT IS THE MOTHER BOARD>. the back connection is loose.... it is the CONNECTION that will not let the power get to the computer and CHARGE the battery!!!!!

. I tried to explain this to the DELL technicians.... and they proceeded to tell me that... they were 'not authorized' to tell me it is the 'connection'... and that they can give me a deal of $299.00 to repair the MOTHER BOARD>

I just do NOT understand this. I have been reading all the comments on the dell website community boards... and it appears that this is a HUGE problem... and I am not the only person to ever complain.

I know that my situation is no less/more important than anyone else, but I can't remember ....EVER ...being this disappointed in a product that I have purchased. And for the service / help I have received.

I will never ...EVER purchase another Dell... and although, I have never been a 'trouble maker' or CRUSADER.... I will be sure that anyone ever needing a computer, and asking my advice... will NOT be advised to buy a DELL.

thank you for your time,

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What a bad company to purchase a laptop from. I work on computers for a living and have had more Dell's in my possession than any other type of computer. Currently I have a guy's Inspiron 1501 and he tells me he gets no power what-so-ever after a year with the computer. Of course his warranty ran out so he came to me. Removed the motherboard and found out it is the power DC jack. Checked the voltage and got a reading of "1". Bought a replacement dc adapter online for $15.00 and resolder it onto the motherboard. I have looked online and found ALOT of people are having problems with these. Especially POWER related issues. Dell also told me that I had to send them the computer and they would replace the board for o....let's say about $435! Who in the hell would pay for that when the DC adapter cost $15.00 and just requires some soldering. All of you with the power issue should probably consider doing the same and reinforcing the adapter with hot glue and SHIZAM!!! Too many bad designs......Sad....I go with Sony all the way. Personal preference. always had good luck with 'em.

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I have a dell insipiron 2200 same story

bought in sept 2005. Now on 3 rd power cord, replaced 1st one spring of 08 for 77 dollars ,lasted 6 months,now on walmart universal cord was only 49...now connector to mother bord is loose inside, screen flickers,geek squad wanted 200 for mother board guess ill skip that.. next laptop gonna be an e machine 399 dollars. ps my desk top computer e machine from 2001 still works fine.. just thought people might want to know

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Do not Buy dell,

unless you have an extra extra extra long warrenty, in fact when your warrenty runs out time to throw out your dell..

I have had an insiron 6000 for 2 years with a 2 year warrenty. I had extended the warrenty twice.

I have sent it in for repairs over 30 times.

First the LCD monitor gave out. Multiple times the motherboard failed in some way, either the sound card, the power addapter, the keys, its all integrated so if anything goes wrong they have to replace the motherboard. Then my touch pad didnt work, then my power cord, then my harddrive, finally.

It was all fixed after sending it in time after time. Now i phone in my warrenty expired last month, and my power connection has failed on the mother board. I was traveling and had plugged in the cord and unplugged at least 5 times in a day.

Anyway it doesnt work and wont even turn on.

Garbage!, dell is crap, they dont last, i should have just rented from them for 2 years. Its worthless, unless i had a warrenty, still with all the motherboard replacements dell payed for my computer 5 times over.

best of luck with a computer purchase, id say go with a MAC.

cheers

Comment On This

I to am a dell owner with a power chord problem. My Inspiron 1501 is less than a year old 11 months to be exact and now it wont charge my battery, actually when I plug it in it pops up (The AC power adapter type cannot be determined. Your system will operate slower and the battery WILL NOT CHARGE.)When I contacted Dell support they told me it was my motherboard. So I used the powerchord off my brothers dell and everything works fine. Now dell told me I would need to replace my motherboard, but that was not true. I guess I should be happy that I only need to spend $100 on a knew chord, cause I know there is no way there going to replace my chord when the think it's the board. And I really don't think a month is enough time to convice them they don't know what there talking about. Now I probably would'nt tell anyone not to purchase a dell but I would suggest they have a Gateway for a backup like I do, even this 2005 model is still working great. You make your own choice. Marc Simon

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I have the same problem with both of my sons laptops. We were able to buy them both one for xmas ( that was all that they got) and we had nothing but problems with the power cords and power jack. And Dell wants me to buy another power cord. (I have bought 3 already) I feel since they make such an inferior product that they should replace whether you have a warrenty or not. I will never buy another Dell, and I will tell everyone I know not to buy a Dell. All these jokers want is more money.

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100% agree with you all here... I have a 11month old DELL Inspiron 6400. End on Month-2 I had to get the harddrive changed, because it CRASHED one day. The system wont boot. It was within warrenty , so I got a 'refusbished' harddrive.... 9months later, [fortunately 2more weeks to go for my warrenty to expire] the 'jiggling' started...and I have to send my laptop [minus hardrive] to DELL for repair. I will NEVER reccomend a DELL again.

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I completely agree. I have had my dell laptop for three years and have had nothing but problems with it since the beginning. I have now bought four different charge cords (which cost me 89 dollars each to buy and ship), that last for maybe six months, if I'm lucky, and then short out, and now even that doesn't work anymore. The area the cord plugs into requires more and more jiggling everyday to keep power, and I keep waiting for it to stop working completely. I keep praying it survives through finals week. When I called to complain they told me it was probably the motherboard, and refused to even talk about what else could be wrong...they were also extremely rude. I will never buy a dell again...for all the money I put into this laptop I could have bought another, more expensive one, with more accessories, memory, ect. I also make a point to tell everyone I know about dell's bad products and service, and will never recommend that anyone buy anything from them.

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I AGREE 100%%%%%%%% I have had EXACTLY the same problem!!! It is the Powercord and they insist that it is the motherboard - EVEN WHEN I SENT THE COMPUTER BACK IN TO DELL, AND THEY SENT IT BACK TELLING ME THAT THE MOTHERBOARD WAS FINE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This is a scam of EPIC proportions! I am contacting the attorney in Texas (foro what good it'll do me) and report them for unfair business practices......