expensive repairs used to sell more Axims?

Grant837 · 08-30-05, 05:23 PM

It took some time to get a reply from Dell support, about the crack in my screen. Perhaps providing the core of the message speaks for itself:

"To repair the axim outside of warranty will be very expansive.
Because of service costs. It is advisable to buy a new one, with
a lot more options and almost the same price and in most cases
even cheaper."

After 3 months of ownership, my Aximv50x fell 30 inches onto a wood floor and appears to have a small crack in the screen. So far it still works fine, but who knows when that crack will spread.

In anycase, and I am not the first to say this, it is rediculous that repairing one part of an Axim costs as much or more than a new one. Since Dell has pretty much a monopoly on repairs, I am thinking that this advice is designed to create new sales, of both Axims, as well as their full serive warrentee.

I wonder why Dell can not make their PDAs more solid, and more modular to make repair a more reasonable and client friendly solution.

Grant837 · 08-30-05, 05:26 PM

I forgot, as suggested in the Stickey for this site, to provide some id for Dell:
Tracking number: ET20050824_0000001797
Dell Case Number: 510366327

Grant837 · 08-30-05, 05:33 PM

I forgot, as suggested in this forums stickey, to give some data that Dell might use to reply:

Dell Case Number: 510366327

Tracking number: ET20050824_0000001797

Don't Panic! · 08-30-05, 06:06 PM

Well considering the X50v has been on sale for like 280USD and a new screen by itself costs about 100USD it really is cheaper to by a new one n the long run. This is not just a Dell thing. It's the way consumer electronics are these days. Think of it this way. When's the last time you saw an electronics repair shop open?

Howard2k · 08-30-05, 07:16 PM

Dell don't make the PDA either. They have it manufactured for them by another company and stick a Dell label on it.

They probably assessed the costs for repairing the devices before they launched their own re-branded PDA Brand and decided that in the long run it was no economical.

As Bobby points out, there ARE options to have it repaired. http://www.pocketpctechs.com will do it for you. But you might be better saving your money for a new PDA. Your call of course.

08-30-05, 07:22 PM

If you've only owned it for 3 months, can't you return it for a new one under warranty?

My co-worker has had his replaced five times over the past 2 years, free of charge.

Howard2k · 08-30-05, 07:25 PM

Dropping it on the floor should not be covered under warranty.

If he has the accidental damage plan then sure.

Dumbman1991 · 08-30-05, 07:33 PM

if he bought it at a store, alot of stores have a 3-4 month warrenty for free just if u break if within that time and most warrenties cover accedental damage

Howard2k · 08-30-05, 07:44 PM

What warranties cover accidental damage? I've never heard of a standard warranty that covers accidental damage.

If I buy a new cellphone and then drop it on the way out of the store and it gets run over by a bus it's my problem, not the store's problem.

Don't Panic! · 08-30-05, 07:45 PM

You cannot buy Axims in a store Dumbman1991.

Snerkel · 08-30-05, 09:11 PM

Its not the cost of parts, it is the labour involved in repairing a unit.

A production line will wizz the PDAs out without a human in site, repairing a unit involves a technician sitting down, stripping the unit, fitting the new part, then carefully rebuilding. The repair cost has the cost of running a business built-in, including such things as Insurance, wages, power, etc.

Grant837 · 08-31-05, 05:51 PM

A few comments about the comments:
I live in the Netherlands where the US$ price of the Axim x50v is about 550$, and if they can sell it for 280US$ in the US, then why cant they at least replace mine for around that price and declare it a repair? Get my drift: a for a repair, they should only charge their global pre-profit, etc price.

Modern manufacturing is in fact modular, and it woud not be much of a design change, if any at all, to be able to replace key parts almost plug and play. I mean, what are we all going to do when they decide the battery is an internal part of the PDA, and if you want extra charge time, you have to buy a second PDA...

Over here, we still have electronics repair shops...

Dell does offer a warrentee that covers accidental damage.. and so does my MasterCard, which I purchased my Axim with, so I am not totally s***ed... just 50Euros for the administration (ugh).

txtl · 08-31-05, 06:16 PM

You can buy a new digitalizer and replace it yourself. It would cost about $85

http://www.pdasmart.com/products/AX2...scenterx50.htm. Ebay may have it for cheaper price

cajun600 · 09-05-05, 01:21 AM

Originally Posted by Grant837

It took some time to get a reply from Dell support, about the crack in my screen. Perhaps providing the core of the message speaks for itself:

"To repair the axim outside of warranty will be very expansive.
Because of service costs. It is advisable to buy a new one, with
a lot more options and almost the same price and in most cases
even cheaper."

After 3 months of ownership, my Aximv50x fell 30 inches onto a wood floor and appears to have a small crack in the screen. So far it still works fine, but who knows when that crack will spread.

In anycase, and I am not the first to say this, it is rediculous that repairing one part of an Axim costs as much or more than a new one. Since Dell has pretty much a monopoly on repairs, I am thinking that this advice is designed to create new sales, of both Axims, as well as their full serive warrentee.

I wonder why Dell can not make their PDAs more solid, and more modular to make repair a more reasonable and client friendly solution.

I wonder why you blame dell for the dropping your axim. Buy complete care next time. The LCD is probably 1/2 the cost to of the axim, and then labor to replace it. Do the math buddy, get dell's complete care "insurance" warranty and you won't have to worry about these problems.

Dumbman1991 · 09-05-05, 01:27 AM

i need to upgrade my insurance