Ordering parts from Dell? Expect 3rd-rate service

hamhox · Joined: Oct 21, 2006 Posts: 58

I discovered a bad optical drive ribbon cable in a Dell Optiplex GX280.
Started calling Dell fone nums, finally got thru to a human who could take the order (after MAJOR frustration with unintelligible morons). End user balked at paying the paltry $20 for the part, told me to just keep the machine as payment for my time. So I then proceeded to order the part for myself; got different Indonesian moron this time, quoted me altogether different price & shipping costs, asked if I wanted email confirmation, I said yes. After about a week with no email, I called to inquire as to the status of my order. I clawed my way thru the menus til I got a human, was told the order had not been shipped and was supposed to be delivered no later than the 22nd. Order was placed Sept. 8th. This sort of devil-may-care treatment of what is SUPPOSED to be real-world serious business is the sad, sad state of affairs today.

Blah.

Hocks

goretsky · Posted: Thu Sep 17, 2009 12:48 am Post subject:

Hello,

Isn't this a standard PATA cable? If so, you should be able to purchase a replacement for a few dollars at a local computer store.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky

drwho07 · Joined: Nov 29, 2007 Posts: 1546 Location: Central FL, USA

And if the local computer guy was me, you'd get the cable for free.
I have a whole (big) box of brand new cables in my shop.
How many do ya want?

They sell for $.50 to a $1 each at computer shows.
I'd gladly give one away to anyone who needs one.

Cheers Mate and happy hunting.
The Doctor Cool

hamhox · Joined: Oct 21, 2006 Posts: 58

Sorry for not specifying. This cable assembly is a ribbon cable with regular female IDE connector on one end which mates up with MoBo. the other end fits the optical drives found in laptops, and on the opposite side has the power connector (Berg?) the type used on floppies.

goretsky · Posted: Sat Sep 19, 2009 12:08 am Post subject:

Hello,

Interesting. It sounds similar to this cable.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky

drwho07 · Joined: Nov 29, 2007 Posts: 1546 Location: Central FL, USA

From Dell's own website, I found this picture of the internals of that PC.

This is a picture of the CD/DVD drive from the inside, showing the standard IDE cable with the two connectors on the business end.
This particular cable looks a little different, because they have provided little plastic loop-handles to make unplugging the connectors a bit easier.

But it's still a standard IDE cable..... available at any computer shop, for a little or nothing.
That PC uses a standard IDE CD/DVD burner, also available at any computer parts supplier. Here, I can buy one at any one of a dozen shops and stores around town. I've replaced several in just that very Dell model. NO Problemo!

Good Luck,
The Doctor Cool

tbernstein · Joined: May 16, 2003 Posts: 1576 Location: London

It's not just spares!
I ordered an MP3 player from Dell, it was a few £ cheaper than Amazon.
BUT, after I'd placed the order I was given a delivery date of a month ahead. (at best).
I could have bought it off the shelf from most local electronics chains for a little bit more.
I cancelled, after a fight with them.
Amazon supplied one by return. It arrived within 48 hours of placing the order.

drwho07 · Joined: Nov 29, 2007 Posts: 1546 Location: Central FL, USA

Service after the sale is NOT totally a lost art, but it's getting harder and harder to find.

In the past year, I've ordered several things from someone on the internet that I've never dealt with before. And for the most part, I've gotten very good service.
I buy all my printer ink from a company in California and they send it right out and even pay the shipping, as long as my order is over $50.
I've bought two seat belt extenders from a company in Sarasota, FL and I've had my extenders in two days.
I bought a DVD recorder from a company in New York that I'd never heard of before and they shipped my recorder the same day they got my order.
In all cases, I have used PayPal to pay for my order. That seems to speed things up a bit, because the money transfer is almost immediate.

Well, I gotta run, I've got three (maybe four) service calls today.
Y'all have a great day now, Y'hear?

The Doctor Cool