Buyer Beware: Watch Your Dell Notebook Battery
Hey Everyone,
So just over a year ago, I purchased a new Dell Inspiron 9400 from the Dell.ca website. For the first eight to ten months, the battery would last at least 1.5 if not two hours without a recharge. Recently, however, whenever I’d pull out the power cord, the battery would give strange numbers about how much power is remaining. It would say something like “28 minutes…” and just a few minutes later it would say “8 minutes.”
So I decided to call up Dell technical support and was introduced to a catch in their sale of notebooks. The 3 year warranty with CompleteCare that I have apparently does not extend to the battery. I was not made aware of this at the time of purchase, and the friendly voice on the phone now told me that usually the battery is only covered for the first year. So I thought, “well that’s alright - I am within the first year right?” Sadly I was informed that I was just a few weeks past the first year mark and therefore the battery was no longer covered.
Then, the friendly voice on the phone said, “But what I can do for you, sir, is connect you to our [forget the name] department and they can quote you on the price of a new battery.” The tone with which he gave me this sales pitch, as if he was doing me a huge favour by connecting me to a sales person to purchase a new battery because this battery had barely lasted a year, was priceless.
In any case this post is just a heads up to all those who own or are planning to purchase a Dell notebook. Check your battery regularly and if it has issues, get them fixed within the first year. :)
stay in high spirits,
-k.s.
——
Photo Source: Kansir
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This entry was posted on Wednesday, June 4th, 2008 at 2:11 pm under: Quick Tips.
June 7th, 2008 11:55
Sadly, this is true of all computer OEM’s and retailers.
Service plans, formerly called warranties, only cover the laptop only. And even then there can be some restrictions that you might not be aware of. Batteries are covered for only one year, unless there is an option to purchase additional coverage for the battery.
Power supplies are not always covered, as they are not always considered part of the computer.
Then there is software. Make multiple backups of all software, and store them somewhere safe. Use the utility in the start menu to make your “recovery disc”. Any original media that is sent to you is only covered from “manufacturing defects” for the first 90 days of ownership.
If you don’t have it and your PC OS crashes, sending the unit in for service (Can you stand to be without your new PC for two to six weeks?) may be your only option. Of course you could go to a retailer and PAY them to fix it. Of course what they will do is make you BUY a new copy of the OS that you already own. ALL of your data will be lost. NONE of the software that came with your PC will be available (ie. DVD play/burn, Office/Productivity, Media, Games, etc). You will also pay to UPDATE/SECURE the OS. And there’s more. When your done, you’ll have paid $300+ just to have Windows ONLY.
Back to the battery. Since you need to buy a new one now, I would suggest going to a third party, such as Batteries+. Do not buy one from the vendor you purchased your computer from. Not only will they have the battery you need, but the price and coverage will beat anything that any computer OEM or retailer will offer.
That covers just some of the warranty/service plan confusions that many customers have.
Caveat Emptor