Dell Computers NO REFUNDS North York Ontario

First off I would like to say that I did not mean for my consumer comments to be entertaining. With limited information as to why the reporter had first used his "monitor" as a !TV! I was under the impression that he may have purchased it for the purpose of TV viewing. Seeing as to why I couldn't understand why anyone would want to have a 42" television in there home being used a computer monitor! However, when he stated that he had a home office that added some perspective to the situation that I did not have before. Thus initially I did believe that he may have been trying to "ripoff Dell" as you so kindly put it. Because unfortunately, coporations are not the only ones that ripoff, consumers do too. After hearing more detail about the situation I don't believe that those were his intentions at all. With that being said I do believe that ripoffreport.com is a good place for the consumer as specially when consumers like me express their opinions. Because if I had not said what I did Mark from Canada would not have wrote back and gave us more detail. Therefor my comments seemed to have probed for more detail and I don't believe that they discredited me at all. And that Darren from Wisconsin I call sticking to the facts. And for Mark from Canada I believe that you have explained yourself very well and proven you case. However, in this situation I still do not believe that Dell has ripped you off. The company that manufactured your computer is suppose to give you a 1 year warranty and I believe they should be held accountable for that. It's just like a blender I purchased from a store it cost me $100.00. I have a warranty on that blender I sent off the warranty information and I expect them to honor the warranty agreement. So my consumer suggestion is to go after the makers of your particular tv. And thank you Mark for informing the misinformed.

I don't think there is anything wrong with the monitor myself either, except for the fact that the DVI settings cut 1/2 the screen off. If I am told that this item will work perfectly for what I want to use it for and I get it hooked up and it doesn't work shouldn't I be able to return it? Or at least exchange it for something else that will work? If it was Wallmart, or Sears or any other large company I would be able to exchange it with out any hassle. I know your going to say "Well they are not Wallmart. You should have read the fine print." etc.

To stick to the facts.

Fact: Dell sold me a 42" plasma tv/monitor and TOLD me that it will work for my computer.

Fact: The Viewsonic 42" plasma does NOT work with the computer.

Fact: Dell will not accept refunds or exchanges after 30 days.

Now I know Dell does not build the Viewsonic they just sell it, but they should be able to stand behind the products they sell and behind the information their sales people give out as well as having a decent exchange period.

I now have a 42" dust collector sitting in my basement.

CC,
You started out pretty good with nice objective information, then you wasted it with a suggestion that the reporter was simply looking for a way to rip-off Dell.

For the life of me, I can't understand why people will do that to themselves. Why come out with something off the wall to attack the reporter that discredits your whole report? Unless the intent was to call into question the honesty of the reporter from the beginning.

Yes, it is entertaing... but it doesn't help make this site a valuable tool that can be used by consumers.

If we want this website to be considered a credible resource then it would help to stick to the facts.

To me, unless given reasons otherwise, I try to make my comments objective and that contribute to understanding... otherwise I am wasting my time.

Mark,
Marketing will promise the world. I hate it with a passion, but that is what we have to live with. Instead of a completely honest mutually benefical transaction, they try to hype a product to give people unrealistic expectations.

As currently manufactured, plasma screens in a large size just aren't appropriate for close viewing. Yes, sitting back and using them for a presentation in a large venue they can be okay.

With a monitor there are specs such as dot-pitch which give a person a rule of thumb of the clarity of the picture.

A 42" plasma screen is not going to be able to give the level of detail that will make reading small text enjoyable... or maybe even ledgable depending on video settings and text size.

Saying that. I don't believe that there is anything that is wrong mechanically or electronically with the screen.

If it turns out that I was wrong and there was something wrong then I would love it if you do a follow up posting to let me know.

Thanks,

I purchased this item to use as a monitor and on the Dell site it is listed as being capable of doing this. I do alot of online gaming (30+ hours a week) mostly first person shooters, as well as strategy games. My 22" CRT monitor has alot better quality and shows alot more detail than my $4500 42" Plasma. Do you not find that strange? I paid less than $2000 for my 22" over a year ago. I bought this item in mid May while we were remodeling the office, as the office was not doen yet I put it our bedroom and hooked the dvd player up to it. We watched a few movies on it.

In early July the office was finished and paint dried, however on July 9 we left for Mexico for 2 weeks. When we got back I put the monitor/tv in the office. I tried all different setting to get the monitor to display text, but if was impossible to read the text.

I then went out and bought a $200 DVI cable and tried the DVI output from my ATI X800 Pro video card to the DVI input of the monitor. The DVI cut off 1/2 the screen (I could not see and of the left side of the screen or anything on the bottom of the screen, including the taskbar) I am not tired of the TV as you so nicely put it, and if I didn't already have a 36" tv in the bedroom I would put it back up there. I have contacted Dell on numerous occasions to try and exchange this item for another item that will work for my application (even if it is more money!). If you care to read the E-mails I'll attach them. Sorry I do not have copies of all the voice conversations that took place. I copied and pasted these out of my e-mail so they are read from bottom to top.

Dear Mr. McKellar,

Unfortunately, this suggestion still involves a return and we are unable to accommodate this request. An exchange switches one defective or damaged product for the same make and model.

I will communicate this to Dell Financial Services.

Regards,

Kimberley Todd
Executive Support Office | Privacy Compliance Office
Dell Canada Inc
Direct. 800.387.5759 Ext. 2202
Fax. 800.387.5753
Email: kimberley_todd@dell.com


-----------------------
From: Mark [mailto:novalogic]
Sent: Friday, September 03, 2004 5:23 PM
To: Todd, Kimberley
Subject: Re: Customer#1356839 Case#077975758


Dear Ms. Todd

I just spoke with Dell Financial and they suggested I contact you and see if you are willing to exchange this item for another item that will work for my application, reguardless of cost?

Mark

----- Original Message -----
From: Kimberley_Todd@Dell.com
To: novalogic
Sent: Thursday, September 02, 2004 3:41 PM
Subject: RE: Customer#13568xxx Case#077975xxx


Dear Mr. M,

Thank you for your continued patience.

I did in fact hear back from the vendor, Viewsonic, today. They will not accept the return of the monitor, as it is outside of the returns window.

I apologize for any inconvenience that you may have experienced, however we are unable to return this order. Should you have any questions regarding this decision, please do not hesitate to ask.

Sincerely,

Kimberley Todd
Executive Support Office | Privacy Compliance Office
Dell Canada Inc
Direct. 800.387.5759 Ext. 2202
Fax. 800.387.5753
Email: kimberley_todd@dell.com

------------------
From: Mark r [mailto:novalogic]
Sent: Thursday, September 02, 2004 1:13 PM
To: Todd, Kimberley
Subject: Re: Customer#1356839 Case#077975758


Have you heard back from the vendor yet?
----- Original Message -----
From: Kimberley_Todd@Dell.com
To: novalogic
Sent: Monday, August 30, 2004 3:01 PM
Subject: Customer#1356839 Case#077975758

Dear Mr. McKellar,

I am writing you from the Executive Support Office in response to your email sent to the Better Business Bureau. Your file has been forwarded to our office for resolution. Our office handles all consumer concerns forwarded to Michael Dell, Lawrence Pentland and all Senior Executives at Dell Inc.

Your Dell order#060985939 is for the purchase of a 42" Viewsonic Plasma TV. Dell provides a 30 Day Total Satisfaction Guarantee during which time customers are expected to review the product and determine if it meets their expectations. Outside of these 30 days, Viewsonic provides a 1 year limited warranty on this product. As this is a 3rd party product, the warranty lies with the manufacturer, and not with Dell. We are unable to return this item 90 days after purchase.

I have submitted an email to our vendor to see if they are willing to make any exceptions, and I will follow up once I have received their response.

Should you have any further questions regarding this particular matter, please feel free to contact me at your convenience.

Sincerely,


Kimberley Todd
Executive Support Office | Privacy Compliance Office
Dell Canada Inc
Direct. 800.387.5759 Ext. 2202
Fax. 800.387.5753
Email: kimberley_todd@dell.com


So C.C. It is not a matter of not wanting it anymore, I just want something that WORKS. It's like buying a car, and bringing it home. You park it in hte garage for 2 1/2 months as you don't have time to drive it. Then you bring it out and go for a spin only to find out the car has some serious limitation that you didn't know about when you bought it. You contact the manufacturer and the tell you "Sorry, but you bought it and didn't tell us about it in the first 30 days so there is nothing we can do to help you" the thing is you didn't buy a chevette, you bought the corvette.

CLICK here to see why Rip-off Report, as a matter of policy, deleted either a phone number, link or e-mail address from this Report.

C'mon now you said that when you purchased this "monitor" you and your wife watched movies on it first and then you tried hooking it up to your computer. You stated that it showed a good picture when it came to movies. But you couldn't see your wordprocessing and stuff. Well I think that you should use the Viewsonic !TV! for what it is for. Dell does not make 42" Tvs or monitors.

They make them in the sizes of 17,23&30". Unless you're in an office builiding doing a seminar I don't know why you would want to use your 42" tv as a computer monitor. I think that the thrill of have such a large size tv! and not "monitor" has worn off and you've got your eyes on something else you want. But the deal is you wanted it now you have to live with it. Perhaps you can try selling it to someone else.