Retail store to test Dell XPS 13 ultrabook before buying

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FooBar41

6 posts

Wannabe Geek

#119058 18-May-2013 19:07

I'm keen on getting a Dell XPS 13 ultrabook but want to try one before purchasing.

JB HiFi is the only retail store I could find Dell laptops. Unfortunately they didn't have this laptop on display/demo

Are there any other retail stores I can try? I live in Auckland CBD.

Thank you

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349 posts

Ultimate Geek

ID Verified

#821738 18-May-2013 20:25

Jb hifi in wellington has rows of different dells.

FooBar41

6 posts

Wannabe Geek

#822886 21-May-2013 12:03

Any other stores I can try in Auckland? (preferably close to the CBD)

mattwnz

20164 posts

Uber Geek

#822942 21-May-2013 13:23

Unlikely. When I was looking at laptops recently, the Dell models that NZ retailers sold were limited to just a few models.

sep11guy

660 posts

Ultimate Geek
Inactive user

#822966 21-May-2013 14:25

FooBar41: Any other stores I can try in Auckland? (preferably close to the CBD)

closest next to city would be st lukes, n then new lynn.

Batman

Mad Scientist
29769 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#823028 21-May-2013 16:09

I thought you were complaining that a store insisted on testing a laptop you wanted to buy LOL

graemeh

2078 posts

Uber Geek

#823404 22-May-2013 10:05

I've seen Dell XPS laptops advertised at PB Tech in the past.

You may find they have stock of the one you are interested in.

1080p

1332 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#823428 22-May-2013 10:49

FooBar41: I'm keen on getting a Dell XPS 13 ultrabook but want to try one before purchasing.

JB HiFi is the only retail store I could find Dell laptops. Unfortunately they didn't have this laptop on display/demo

Are there any other retail stores I can try? I live in Auckland CBD.

Thank you

Ask a salesman to unbox one for you. They will happily do so.

Sharesies

Trade NZ and US shares and funds with Sharesies (affiliate link).

wellygary

8328 posts

Uber Geek

#823450 22-May-2013 11:29

FooBar41: I'm keen on getting a Dell XPS 13 ultrabook but want to try one before purchasing.

JB HiFi is the only retail store I could find Dell laptops. Unfortunately they didn't have this laptop on display/demo

Are there any other retail stores I can try? I live in Auckland CBD.

Thank you

You were planning to purchase the laptop from the retail store you were going to try it out in?
Or were you simply going to "kick the tyres" at a bricks and mortar store before buying it off the web and deprive the retail store of a sale...

technicaljoe

248 posts

Master Geek

#830123 3-Jun-2013 17:20

Try Sylvia Park JB, I was there this afternoon, and vaguely remember seeing a 13 inch Dell...

FooBar41

6 posts

Wannabe Geek

#834007 11-Jun-2013 10:22

I finally decided to get it! It is an amazing piece of equipment - do not regret my decision.

Sadly, I do have a couple of issues with my brand new XPS 13 from Dell. What quality I should expect from Dell? I am a new customer to this brand.

1) Although the screen is absolutely beautiful, there are slight problems with it.
i) When brightness is set at 15%-20% the screen flickers. This is a huge problem with me because my eyesight requires dimming the screen to this level. And unfortunately 15%-20% is ideal for me...
ii) Near the bottom left corner of the screen, just above the start button, there is a bright spot. Only noticable with lighter colours.

2) The trackpad mouse sometimes is slow to initially respond. This seems to be random - the initial movement takes a few seconds to respond, almost enough time to swipe your finger left-right-left-right-left before it does anything. But once it has responded, it seems to work okay.

Even though I am very happy with this machine, the above issues bug me.

My question is, what quality should I expect from Dell. Are the issues above bad enough to send it back to get fixed, or are problems like this normal for Dell machines and I should just accept it? Maybe I have too higher expectations for a brand new product.

(I know from prior research that the trackpad mouse performs poorly so I did expect that).

graemeh

2078 posts

Uber Geek

#834028 11-Jun-2013 10:47

FooBar41: My question is, what quality should I expect from Dell. Are the issues above bad enough to send it back to get fixed, or are problems like this normal for Dell machines and I should just accept it? Maybe I have too higher expectations for a brand new product.

(I know from prior research that the trackpad mouse performs poorly so I did expect that).

I thought the XPS product line was sold with on site support. I would definitely get the screen fixed and while you are doing that complain about the trackpad too.

In my experience their quality control is rubbish but once the machines are fixed they are fine (this is based on a sample of four quite different machines, all ordered around the same time and with a 50% faulty rate). Problems were a faulty screen and a faulty motherboard (which affected the graphics).

FooBar41

6 posts

Wannabe Geek

#834051 11-Jun-2013 11:10

That's it - I'm calling them tonight.

It comes with 1 year on-site support (but then says for business customers only... screw you Dell!). So I assume that means me sending it back to them.

sep11guy

660 posts

Ultimate Geek
Inactive user

#834053 11-Jun-2013 11:12

no dell are really good in servicing, they send tech to ur home/work to fix it. Just give them good evidence of what the fault is when u lodge the complaint.

graemeh

2078 posts

Uber Geek

#834055 11-Jun-2013 11:15

FooBar41: It comes with 1 year on-site support (but then says for business customers only... screw you Dell!). So I assume that means me sending it back to them.

Not necessarily. I tried to find a definition on their site of what that meant but I failed.

One of the faulty machines was an XPS and it was fixed at a home office. I suspect it is more about how far you are from their service depots and that they will only visit during "office hours". The support staff at Dell will be able to advise you about that.

If you have a workplace they can come you might be OK.

FooBar41

6 posts

Wannabe Geek

#847200 29-Jun-2013 17:59

Good news -
Dell have arranged for a courier to pick up my laptop (at Dell's expense), and will be providing a full cash refund.

In the end, my brand new XPS 13 had the following defects:
1) Two bright spots in the display
2) Flickering display when brightness is set at 15% - 20%
3) Randomly, temporarily unresponsive trackpad
4) Sometimes trackpad produces a right-click, when clicking on the left side
5) Severely misaligned USB ports and audio jack

For other people considering a purchase from Dell -
It was a tough road getting to this point. The customer service representative could barely speak English, often causing ambiguity. They take days at a time to get back to you, so expect 2 weeks to get the problem sorted. However, they can arrange for a technician to come to your property during business hours, and attempt to fix the laptop. If this doesn't suit your schedule, you cannot courier the laptop to their service centre. If you keep nagging (politely) they may give in and offer a full cash refund.

After my bad experience and reading too many Dell horror stories (poor quality control and customer support), I will never buy from Dell again.

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