Dell service contract 31 July 2007 at 12:28PM in Techie Stuff 4 replies 832 views

fishhawks

Hi

I Have just purchased a new Dell laptop costing just under £500. I only took the manufacturers warranty when I bought it which will cover me for the first year. Dell have just phoned me to offer me an extended warranty for a further 2 years, making 3 years cover in total for £112. They would collect the laptop for any location within 24 hours of reporting the fault, return to workshop, repair the fault and return to me. Labour and parts included and if the laptop couldnt be repaired they would replace it.

Do you think it is worth spending the extra money?

Thanks

superscaper

Everyone will have their own opinion.
I personally never pay for extended warranties as the law already covers what I need. I'd expect a new laptop to last three years, if it didn't then I'd expect a repair anyway without paying anything under current consumer law. So really only difference I can see is whether you post the laptop back yourself (which they have to reimburse postage costs anyway) or they collect it which I don't think they have to under law. Although many couriers you can arrange yourself will collect from your home address. So basically from my point of view is it worth paying £112 just for Dell to arrange a courier for you. I'd say no. Others may say that using your consumer rights is too much hassle but I think that goes against the grain of the ethos of this site. And if it is a hassle making a company uphold their legal requirements, are they a company you want to deal with anyway. If they won't uphold the law, why would anyone expect them to uphold their own warranty?

Millionaire

fishhawks wrote: »

Hi

I Have just purchased a new Dell laptop costing just under £500. I only took the manufacturers warranty when I bought it which will cover me for the first year. Dell have just phoned me to offer me an extended warranty for a further 2 years, making 3 years cover in total for £112. They would collect the laptop for any location within 24 hours of reporting the fault, return to workshop, repair the fault and return to me. Labour and parts included and if the laptop couldnt be repaired they would replace it.

Do you think it is worth spending the extra money?

Thanks

Thats crap. Ive haggled the "3 year at home next day" service from them for £90 something quid.

They come to your house with the parts and fix it there. its really good.

Tell them you think its too expensive and you would be interested in purchasing the warranty if it was abit cheaper and they offerered you the 3 year next day at home service.

While I agree on alot of extended warranties being rubbish and wouldnt normally recommend them, this one Ive found to be excellent espicially if you cant be without your computer.

superscaper

Millionaire wrote: »

While I agree on alot of extended warranties being rubbish and wouldnt normally recommend them, this one Ive found to be excellent espicially if you cant be without your computer.

I'm not completely against the idea if they offer something above the norm such as onsite fixing. I don't know personally how good Dell are for upholding their onsite warranty (Mesh computers don't, they request return to base for the slightest thing). Certainly go for it if you want to pay for on the spot quick repair, for £90 over three years that's definitely reasonable. But make sure you're getting something for your money, simply "covering repair by return to base" isn't enough over your existing consumer rights to be worth it. But as far as Millionaire's description is concerned I'd say that's good enough extra service above the legal obligations to be worth it (for £90 anyway).

albertross_2

superscaper wrote: »

Everyone will have their own opinion.
I personally never pay for extended warranties as the law already covers what I need.

Ditto, put the £100+ in a savings account.