Problems with Dell

[Yukster]

I just bought a Sony Cybershot DSC-V3 from Dell's Electronics and Accessories section... The price was good, with their $60 instant savings, and $70 coupon.

When I recieved the camera, the outside brown box was in good condition, but the actual box that the camera came in cut with a razor blade across the bottom, and looks like someone removed some stickers or something off the box of the camera. The box looks like it was tossed around a bit. The Sony seal looked ok, so I opened it, and took a look at the camera. It looked ok, so I decided not to complain. I charged the battery, and set the time, and date... Everything looked ok...

I took some pics with the camera, and I started to notice that everything was slanted to the left... I thought it was just me, since I am still pretty new at digital photography (only my third sony camera, my first being a P50, the second being an L1 i just bought 2 months ago). I noticed that the file name's numbering started at 40... meaning that there were 39 previous photos? :confused:

I decided to contact Dell to get a replacement. They agreed to send one to me. It arrived today, and its worse. The box is in poorer condition, the seal looks like it was broken, the camera strap seems to have been used already, the camera's settings seem to have been messed with, the date/time was set already (to Pacific Standard Time). Also, the sticker that is on the camera seems to have been taken off and put back on again. I have not taken any pictures, since i did not have any memory sticks at work, but I have this feeling that the counter is going to indicate that there were pictures previously taken. :mad:

Dell has agreed to send another camera to me, as soon as I send back my first camera (they forgot to put a mailing label with the second camera). One defective/used camera, I understand, but two is pushing it. I am wondering if the third one that they send me is going to be any better. I will keep everyone up to date on what happens.

[Yukster]

:mad: After I got home, I put in a new Memory Stick into the camera, and there was file name ended with 74. So I guess this is a open box product. Has anyone else have had a similar experience with Dell? Please tell me this is not common. I am hoping the third one is not a dud.

[gary_hendricks]

:mad: After I got home, I put in a new Memory Stick into the camera, and there was file name ended with 74. So I guess this is a open box product. Has anyone else have had a similar experience with Dell? Please tell me this is not common. I am hoping the third one is not a dud.

I've not experienced this with Dell. But it really unfortunate that this happened. :eek:

[print-digital]

I have not had any problems with Dell before but I did with a Toshiba laptop, the screen would not display at all, I sent it back to them only for them to tell me it worked for them fine and they had the nerve to try and charge me for the shipping! I decieded to take it down personally and show them. They gave me another one which I tested in front of the PC engineers only for the same problem on a different machine!

[Digideb]

I have a neighbor who decided to upgrade from her old Compaq computer when the Y2K scare was all the "rage". Another Compaq wasn't available during this high demand "panic period", so she bought a Dell.
Over the yrs. her Dell has had a host of problems. She experienced the frustration of "outsourcing" long before it became a "household word", as she would be talking to people in India when she called for Tech Help. Her "Texas drawl" & the Indian dialect made for some amusing conversations.
I "inheirited" her old Compaq (my 1st computer) & was amazed & concerned about how much trouble her new Dell was giving her.("crashing" alot & being repaired) She dismissed the problems as an expected part of new (& fancier) computer ownership & that once I upgraded, I would have similar experiences.
When I bought my new Compaq, in June, I braced myself for this high maintenance regime. My new Compaq is 2-3 times more powerful than the "fancy" Dell my neighbor is still struggling with, but fortunately, none of these problems have happened to me. (knock on wood!)
I thought Dell was a good company, but over the yrs. I've become skeptical. ;)

[Yukster]

Well, I gotta say, that even if the products that Dell ships out is shoddy and just junk, their customer service is acutally quite plesant to work with... The customer service rep I working with (no idea where she is from could be outsourced somewhere...) actually calls back when she says she would, and does what she says she would do (the second V3 did not have a return UPS label, so she said she would arrange a UPS pickup, which came as promised). Now, if only if Dell could send me a V3 thats not defective or an open box item, the entire experience would be semi enjoyable.

Third camera should be on the way, I am crossing my fingers, and I have my credit card company number on speed dial to reverse the charges just in case things turn out for the worse (yes, I am a pessimist).