Dell Dimension 3000 Media Center Desktop Computer

Poor service, broken promises.

By yosemitebill@...  May 23, 2005 | 6 out of 6 found this Dell Dimension 3000 Media Center Desktop Computer review helpful

Pros: Easy access to internal componants.

Cons: Phone service is farmed out to external vendors who can only provide scripted answers from pre-writen FAQs. Techs are not able to speak clear English.

Purchased new Dell system but when it arrived it would not boot. A call to Dell resulted in a series of transfers through the automated answering service with numerous questions that the recorded voice assured me would make the process smoother, then... a long wait on hold. When a human finally answered I was required to provide a list of information I had already provided to "make the process smother." After asking me a list of scripted questions the tech informed me that the system would have to be reformatted and all software reinstalled. The process of formatting and reinstalling took several hours. When all was done the system still suffered from the same problems. A new series of calls ended with the tech informing me that the format and reinstall would have to be repeated. I refused and asked about the warranty I had purchased which guaranteed in home service within 24 hours. I was told that only applied to hardware and my problem was with software (even though a full format and reinstall failed to fix the problem.) When I stated that I wanted to return the computer for a refund I was told that I was dealing with tech service and I had to call customer service. But customer service was only open during business hours Mon. through Fri. and since it was now Fri. evening I would have to wait till Mon day morning. On Mon. morning I called customer service and was told that I must call tech support because they must authorize the return of a product for refund. When I called tech support back I was told I must call customer service for authorization to return a product. This run around went back and forth until I insisted on speaking to both tech support and customer service on the line at the same time. Ultimately I agreed to let Dell ship a new replacement system while I waited over a month for delivery. Upon receipt of the new computer I eagerly set it up and turned it on. The same problem with booting occurred. The same refusal of in home service I had paid for. The Dell computer is easy to access internally but if it wont run reliably, and Dell is unwilling to provide the service they promise and even charges extra for, then it is the worst computer system I have ever experienced. Read more Less