Is A Dell 3 Year Warranty Worth £50 ???

Posted by: Cris

Is A Dell 3 Year Warranty Worth £50 ??? - 17/08/2005 20:01

So, I already have one Dell 2005FPW monitor, I think it's so good I want another, and the cheap deals on eBay are attracting my attention.

The average eBay price is about £340 shipped, againt Dell's current £390. So my question is will the 3 year Dell warranty be worth the extra £50? I have never returned anything to Dell before, is the swap-out promise one they keep?

There are several know issues with this model, mostly backlight issues with early revisions, but Dell have caused different problems with the latest, is it worth the eBay risk?

Cheers

Cris.
Posted by: wfaulk

Re: Is A Dell 3 Year Warranty Worth £50 ??? - 17/08/2005 20:17

Unless I'm mistaken, at least in the US, Dell warranties are transferrable.

Quote:
Limited warranties on systems may be transferred if the current owner transfers ownership of the system and records the transfer with us. The limited warranty on Dell-branded memory may not be transferred. You may record your transfer by going to Dell's Web site
Posted by: CrackersMcCheese

Re: Is A Dell 3 Year Warranty Worth £50 ??? - 17/08/2005 20:22

For the sake of £50 just get it from Dell. Theres somethings I'd not get from eBay.
Posted by: Dignan

Re: Is A Dell 3 Year Warranty Worth £50 ??? - 17/08/2005 20:26

Quote:
Unless I'm mistaken, at least in the US, Dell warranties are transferrable.

They are indeed. I'll be selling my Axim soon (great device - didn't turn out to be usefull for me), and I've already checked in on how to transfer the two year warranty I bought with it. There's an online form somewhere on the Dell website. I don't have the link here, but I do at work. I'll post it tomorrow.
Posted by: wfaulk

Re: Is A Dell 3 Year Warranty Worth £50 ??? - 17/08/2005 20:36

It's linked right off of my link above.
Posted by: Cris

Re: Is A Dell 3 Year Warranty Worth £50 ??? - 17/08/2005 20:37

No Dell warranty is offered from the eBay sellers, just 1 year RTB from the seller.

I have the same warranty with my first one from Aria in Manchester. I suppose if I buy from Dell I might get away with covering both for the 3 years if I am economic with the truth.

I'm not sure if I can streach to £390, as this is not out of need, I'm just really fed up with switching between the different inputs. Sounds silly I know, but it sure would be a sweet set-up

Cheers

Cris.
Posted by: andym

Re: Is A Dell 3 Year Warranty Worth £50 ??? - 17/08/2005 20:51

My only experience with Dell warranties has been with computers. On both occasions the telephone support was excellent, replacement components were shipped out quickly, and in the case of a MB swap a nice man from Stockport visited me on site and swapped the board while I waited, he was extremely methodical and very careful.

Because the computers carry a service tag they were very careful about making sure the machine was covered. I doubt monitors will have service tags but they'll certainly have serial numbers. All the bits the guy replaced had their serial numbers taken down and all the original bits were checked against a list, no chance of swapping a 200G drive for a 20 and hoping they wouldn't notice.

In my experience the warranties have been well worth it, and with something like a TFT a swift reliable service would be very useful.

A dual head setup with those monitors would be very cool.
Posted by: tman

Re: Is A Dell 3 Year Warranty Worth £50 ??? - 17/08/2005 21:46

Problems with the latest? I bought a 2005FPW in the last 1-2 months and I've not noticed any problems with it at all. I say just get it from Dell. Peace of mind etc...
Posted by: Cris

Re: Is A Dell 3 Year Warranty Worth £50 ??? - 18/08/2005 04:20

There are reports on A02 revisions there are banding problems near the edges in blocks of solid colours.

They are still making A01 also, these seems to have less problems, but there are still a few issues.

Cheers

Cris.
Posted by: Cris

Re: Is A Dell 3 Year Warranty Worth £50 ??? - 18/08/2005 04:28

I don't want a dual head set-up, I've had a desktop accross 2 screens before, but I don't really like it. That was one of the real sellingg points of the widescreen in the first place.

I want one for the Mac and TV (in PiP) and the other for the PC. Although I use the Mac for 90% of applications now, I still can't find a newsreader I can get on with, Agent is just too good!!! So I am stuck with the PC, and I use the Usenet A LOT !!!! so I am always switching, I have tried things like VNC, which are ok, but I would like just to be able to glance over to see how the other machine is getting on. The thing is is it worth £390 to me????

Cheers

Cris.
Posted by: andym

Re: Is A Dell 3 Year Warranty Worth £50 ??? - 18/08/2005 07:19

It might not be the answer as you've already said you don't like VNC, but what about Virtual PC? It runs well on my iBook so it should be fine on your Mini.
Posted by: CrackersMcCheese

Re: Is A Dell 3 Year Warranty Worth £50 ??? - 18/08/2005 07:28

Quote:
The thing is is it worth £390 to me????



If you need to ask, and if its over a sum of £50 then its probably not.
Posted by: Cris

Re: Is A Dell 3 Year Warranty Worth £50 ??? - 18/08/2005 09:23

I did have a copy of that, not had much luck with it, can you do me a copy?

Nicola needs Office too

Cheers

Cris.
Posted by: andym

Re: Is A Dell 3 Year Warranty Worth £50 ??? - 18/08/2005 10:19

Sending you a PM.
Posted by: tman

Re: Is A Dell 3 Year Warranty Worth £50 ??? - 18/08/2005 10:37

Quote:
They are still making A01 also, these seems to have less problems, but there are still a few issues.

Ah. I just checked the back of mine and it's a A01 manufactured in May 2005.
Posted by: Dignan

Re: Is A Dell 3 Year Warranty Worth £50 ??? - 18/08/2005 11:23

Quote:
It's linked right off of my link above.

Posted by: Cris

Re: Is A Dell 3 Year Warranty Worth £50 ??? - 18/08/2005 14:55

Mine is an A00, I've just been very very lucky, although if I had another A01 to compare against I may not be saying that!

A suppose it all depends on what you call a serious back light bleed problem, the Dell is loads better than my old TFT, so I think it's great!

I don't notice any particular part of the screen being lighter or darker than anyother, but I wouldn't want a 2nd monitor to highlight an unseeen problem in the 1st, I think I will leave it until I feel rich again.



Cris.
Posted by: Cris

Re: Is A Dell 3 Year Warranty Worth £50 ??? - 24/08/2005 16:24

Lets just say I can't resist a bargain....



I paid £285 in the end. A great deal if you ask me. I am very happy, the new monitor is a A01 revision (can't tell the difference myself), and I think it looks pretty sweet!

I got a soundbar thrown in for free, along with a cheap slimline keyboard and a 2nd soundbar for next to nothing. I just hope it lasts!!!!!!



Cheers

Cris.
Posted by: pgrzelak

Re: Is A Dell 3 Year Warranty Worth £50 ??? - 24/08/2005 16:30

Niiice!
Posted by: andym

Re: Is A Dell 3 Year Warranty Worth £50 ??? - 24/08/2005 16:58

Where from? With my new job I can justify the expense.

EDIT: Nicely lit player you've got there, must've taken some skill....