Dell's ' OnSite @ Home Service ' screwed up my M1210 BIG TIME :(

Okay.. I'm so pissed right now!!!

I had put in a request for the screen replacement from Samsung to AUO3214 for my ONE week old M1210.. After getting transferred from one Tech dept to another, they finally agreed to it..

The tech comes home today, tears the Screen apart from it's cover..bezel.. after taking apart the wires and keyboard.. so far so good.. But once he starts putting everything back together is when the problem starts...

The Back Cover doesn't sit flush.. Then the Keyboard doesn't sit straight, and the LCD Bezel also doesn't line up right..

Then the Tech goes ' oh I hate working on these ultra-portable laptops.. there are so many wires.. I really don't know why it's not lining up..' .. ' The speakers shouldn't be here.. this is really a bad design' bla bla bla

At this point, I don't know if I'm pissed at this Tech or Dell for sending this dumb-ass!!

Then he goes 'I think this will have to be depot back to Dell.. it'll take about 3 - 5 days for turnaround.. If you'd like I'll call Dell and set up the pick up from DHL ' Having no choice and quite disppointed/pissed/confused/loss of words at the moment I said ' fine... lets do that.. '

So, he called Dell and got me a DPS [ Dispatch ] Number and the DHL guy will be picking up the laptop sometime today..

I will take pictures of the damage before sending it in..

I also called Dell and had'em note that this system is still within my 21-Day Purchase Return Policy and if the system did not get fixed as per specs, I'd like a System Swap.

Now, I'm wondering if I should :

A) Send this to the Dell Depot and have'em fix it Or,

B) Just do a RMA or System Swap ?

I'd like to do Option B if they can first send me another sys and have this one picked up at the time of delivery... I wonder if they would agree to that..

I don't wanna just return this one and buy another because I'll be stuck with Vista and I wanna stay with XP Pro with Vista Upgrade CD right now..

I called Dell again about a system swap and got put on hold for about 20 mins after being transferred 3 times.. at which point I lost all patience and hung up.. So much for XPS 'dedicated' support

Thanks man!

Yeah I got the At Home crap.. The thing is.. I told Dell I could replaced the LCD myself since I've done it only a million times, but they wouldn't budge.. Okay fine.. but then they send this retard!!

And I can't fix it now, nor do I wanna take a stab at this thing anymore because the back cover is cracked and what not... If this system doesn't come back like brand new.. Dell's getting Hell from me!!

I already made them put a note in my account that since I'm within the 21 day return period, I am eligible for a system swap if this doesn't get fixed right!

ya I think you guys are right... I'm gonna call'em tomorrow and ask for a system swap.. My only gripe is.. I want it with XP MCE or Pro.. not Vista right now..

This one's already on it's way to the Depot via DHL tonight.. I held on to the battery, AC Adapter, and HDD...

Do you guys think I should ask for an additional discount or something when I call'em ?

Nah.. the AUO3214 sucked even more than the Samsung SEC3517 I had originally... The AUO had, atleast in my case, worse light leakage and the looked like a dalmatian [for lack of a better analogy ] from certain angles!!

I regret having made this LCD request.. After owning the 710M for a year with it's perfect screen [which too was an AUO].. and reading the M1210 LCD thread.. I was quite sure my M1210 screen blues would be solved with this replacement.. Well, not quite so!!.. as it was destined..

Oh well, I took some pics of the damage and will post'em as soon as I can find the damn AC adapter to charge the battery on my Canon..

On the phone with an XPS Tech guy [after waiting for 25 mins!] and he basically said ' We can't do an exchange unless you have the system back with you.. and even after that it'll take upto 3 weeks because that's how long exchanges work '

So I said screw it.. I'm doing a RMA.. got transferred and waiting again for a rep to come on and ask me a series of stupid questions again... :: Sigh ::

That SONY SZ-440 looks awefully good right now!!! .. and I've always been a Dell Customer...

Okay so the Customer Care Rep was halfway decent and offered to send me a new system with the same configuration + Overnight delivery .. But couldn't offer any discounts on the XPS..

Oh well, atleast I get a new one..