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screwed by Alienware

#21
Tash said:
Alienware PCs are easily the worst computers I have ever dealt with. My company has had more than 20 in the test and compat pool over the years and we've had problems with every single one of them. From shipping boxes with hosed OSes to sending machines with non functional fan/heatsink units that resulted in fried CPUs, Alienware has managed to do it all.

And even when they work they are no better than the generic OEM Dell/HP/Compaq boxes we maintin for the same purposes.

I wish people would really do research into companies and talk with people who deal with this stuff day to day before buying, then companies like Alienware wouldn't be able to get away with what they get away with.

Also: most knowledgable computer users will avoid rebates like the pague, you usually have a better chance of winning a scratch off than getting any money out of them. Almost every major retail chain in the computer industry has at least 1 class action against them regarding rebates and the failure of the manufacturer to pay.

Sorry you got burned. I recomend making yourself as much a thorn in their side as you can. Tech support calls to outsource call centers (which Alienware uses, don't belive anything they say to the contrary, I used to work for their outsource) run between $2 and $5 per minute. So make sure you use at least 250 minutes of tech support phone time to balance the $500 they got from you.
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A friend of mine RAVES about his alienwware PC... I looked into them a bit ago to build a Multi-media PC for our church's youth department...

Yeah.. we got a Dell that has everything we need at 2/3 the cost... Oh.. but it doesn't have the cool case :hmm:

Honestly, from what I've seen you got it right.. over-priced, overrated... and now it seems like they are idiots... NOT the way for them to get more customers.
 
#22
It had been 5 years since I'd bought a PC. Obviously I'm happy to be using the latest and greatest software and PC games. However some friends of mine have high end Dell PC's and they paid less than the $1800 I should've been charged (w/rebate), and WAY less than the $2300 I was actually charged (w/o rebate). They're running the same games as I am (Halflife 2, Far Cry, etc) at the same resolution. I really don't know what liquid cooling does for me, except increase the size of the tower case (and increase the cost). For $2300, my PC is ridiculously overpriced. I filled out the customer satisfaction survey accordingly.

I had bought Alienware mostly based on my brother's recommendation. Big mistake... I should've asked around more.
 
#24
This is just infuriating. As far as I'm concerned, I *did* send them the correct document and they're just lying to me. :mad: But for the sake of argument, even if I didn't:

If I buy, say, Norton Utilities from Best Buy and go for a mail-in rebate, I understand that Symantec needs a sales receipt and a UPC code and a rebate form to demonstrate that I am truly a customer.

However I bought an Alienware PC direct from the Alienware website and the money went direct to Alienware. There is absolutely NO good reason why they need a specific document. All they have to do is make out the rebate check to the same buyer at the same billing address. The whole idea was that they get to sit on that $500 for six months and let it earn interest. But no, they've created a stupid little catch-22 to justify keeping the entire amount.
 
#27
Fuzzbass said:
Yes... a non-Alienware PC. The Alienware PC is way too big to fit in a mini-fridge. :scowl:
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naaaah... the motherboard is the same size!!!

*L* I actually saw a website several years ago where some folks took a 286, overclocked the MoFo out of it..

Then they stuck the MB and Hard Drive in a Minfridge with bottles of Gin and tried to play GL Quake..

The processor actually lasted about 15 minutes before it went poof...

They weren't able to repeat the experiment... apparently while investigating the extent of the damage to the chip, and MB, the coolant "dissipated".
 
#29
Davidoc said:
Alienware computers are overpriced and just not worth it. You can save sooo much money from asembling an equivolent one yourself.
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I'm not much of a hardware person, but some of my friends and colleagues are, and I know from them that this is very true.

The reason I didn't build my own machine was because occasionally DIY machines have driver conflicts and such that can be difficult to diagnose, let alone treat. I felt better buying a pre-made machine because if an issue occurred I'd know whom to contact. I went with Alienware because I didn't mind spending a little more money for an increase in performance (relative to Dell, Gateway, etc).

But as it's turning out, I'm spending a LOT more money for a very small increase in performance. Some friends and colleagues upgraded about the same time I did: they bought Dells and spent a helluva lot less, got more features, and are playing the same PC games I am at about the same resolution and speed.

So, DIY is an excellent idea... but as far as I'm concerned, even a Dell is a much better choice than Alienware. One buddy of mine got a $1000 Dell with a slightly slower chip and mediocre video card. He threw in a $500 video card and his machine now seems just as fast as my $2300 Area 51.

Maybe I should look on the bright side: my tower case looks way cooler than his. :rolleyes:
 
#32
DigMe said:
I don't know man...I was talking to a guy who bought one about the cost thing and he ended up finding all the comparable parts through pricegrabber.com and adding up the cost of each part from the cheapest source. The assembled and warranted alienware machine came up cheaper than buying all parts separately.

brad cook
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then Pricegrabber failed him. I don't use it so I wouldn't know how they compare to just looking for sales and direct vendors.
 
#33
Hehe... this is why I buy Sony's. I've been using them for a few years now... never had a problem with the PC, the laptop, CS, or discounts (I had to do mail-in on my monitor, got it back in <2 weeks). And their computers are, IMO, the best ones out there for the average user or gamer who doesn't want to build his own. I had to talk to their CS department one time, to ask about the RAM in one of my boxes, and the person on the other end was very polite, knew what they were talking about, and got me on my way in just a couple of minutes. Their prices are a tad high I think, but in the end, I'll pay that little bit more to be treated better and get something that I know without a doubt will satisfy me.
Sorry to hear about your deal though. I'd just constantly call/e-mail them. Eventually they'll get sick of it, and something will come of it.

-Ray
 
#34
Ray Salamon said:
Hehe... this is why I buy Sony's. I've been using them for a few years now... never had a problem with the PC, the laptop, CS, or discounts (I had to do mail-in on my monitor, got it back in <2 weeks). And their computers are, IMO, the best ones out there for the average user or gamer who doesn't want to build his own. I had to talk to their CS department one time, to ask about the RAM in one of my boxes, and the person on the other end was very polite, knew what they were talking about, and got me on my way in just a couple of minutes. Their prices are a tad high I think, but in the end, I'll pay that little bit more to be treated better and get something that I know without a doubt will satisfy me.
Sorry to hear about your deal though. I'd just constantly call/e-mail them. Eventually they'll get sick of it, and something will come of it.

-Ray
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With Sony, you are paying A premium for the name, but in Sony's case, that premium comes with it the reputation of great equipment and support.
 
#35
bassman314 said:
With Sony, you are paying A premium for the name, but in Sony's case, that premium comes with it the reputation of great equipment and support.
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Most definitly. Those cats over there know what's going on, and how to run a company. I mean, when I got my latest PC, it was (still is, pretty much) top of the line, and with a 19" LCD screen for $2100, it couldn't be beat, I didn't think. Sure, you can get a DELL and what not, but the components are cheaper and not the same performance, let alone style and support.

While we're talking tech, kinda, anyone see the new X-Fi card from Soundblaster? That is going to be one HOT sound card once it comes out! Info link:
Invalid Link Removed

-Ray
 
#38
^hahaha
bassmutant said:
I used to be a computer technician once upon a time, and remember 5 or 6 years ago, alienware being a small, reputable hot rod pc building company that had great tech support...
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I remember this also. They were basically hand-built, individually tested and installed, the wiring was perfect and uncluttered for excellent cooling, and customer support was supposedly excellent. Damn Gibson. :p
 
#40
I'm sorry to hear about your 'rebate' situation! As for the rebate thing in general...........I have to say that I bought 2 e-Machine's (ya okay stop laughing) systems and a wireless router & wireless cards last summer with pretty good rebates for each componant (PC, Monitor, Printer, etc)! I followed the instructions to the letter. CompUSA even prints out rebate receipts (so I can keep the originals). Of course you have to wait several months but I got back every dime that was owed to me.

I hope that you can come to a happy conclusion.
 

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