Dell's "In home" repair for Alienware M17x R3

[JoeyFUZZ911]

Has anyone had or know someone who had the "in home" service repair from Dell? What was the experience of it? good, bad....please explain. Thanks!

[Le0-]

depends on where u live.. for any dell machine...
they send out a technician if the case is proved to be needed. technicians may vary from those who just passed an exam and see your machine first time in their life (which in case of R3 is usually correct) or very experienced ones that know any dell's machine.
If dell told you they'll send out tech, be aware that if he screws up u better figure it out before he leaves ur home.
in all my 3 cases of repairs i was "helping" the tech, so I kindly explained how is my beast expensive and how freaked out I am about the repair, for me it worked and hopefully went all good.

[DaneGRClose]

As Le0 said it really depends, some are amazing some really suck and don't deserve a fry cook position. The ones in my area are terrible so I just have parts shipped directly to me. The best thing you can do is thoroughly study the service manual to the point that you could take your machine apart yourself, if you know what your machine should and shouldn't do and keep watch on the tech you should be just fine

[Voodooi]

To share my experience with the in home service (although it was an M11X-R1), the tech came with the parts and fixed my hinges within 48hrs (could of been 24hrs, but I had a long shift that day). The job was oustanding and they work with you to make a time slot on your schedule.

[dookie11]

As Le0 said it really depends, some are amazing some really suck and don't deserve a fry cook position. The ones in my area are terrible so I just have parts shipped directly to me. The best thing you can do is thoroughly study the service manual to the point that you could take your machine apart yourself, if you know what your machine should and shouldn't do and keep watch on the tech you should be just fine

Can I request shipped parts the next time I need something fixed? I definitely do not trust some weirdo coming to my house, unless I could be assured that it was a hot babe.

To share my experience with the in home service (although it was an M11X-R1), the tech came with the parts and fixed my hinges within 48hrs (could of been 24hrs, but I had a long shift that day). The job was oustanding and they work with you to make a time slot on your schedule.

How'd it become 48hrs? I don't get it.

[simonmpoulton]

As far as I am aware you cannot get parts shipped to you directly - they have always had this policy for most parts even pre-dell you HAD to send it into the depot even though you may be perfectly capable of changing the part.
I've also had my M11x hinges changed by the in-home tech on two occasions and he's done an excellent job both times. The first tech hadnt seen a system like it before but was very careful and fixed it perfectly and the second tech had worked on several of the systems before and fixed it quickly.

[dookie11]

Anyone who lives in SoCal had "in home" service before? Can you share your experience?

[DaneGRClose]

Can I request shipped parts the next time I need something fixed? I definitely do not trust some weirdo coming to my house, unless I could be assured that it was a hot babe.

Yes and no Dook, technically they're not supposed to and will refuse that request 99.9% of the time. There are a few ways around it. If you can prove that all of the onsite techs are incompetent in your area and that you know what you're doing they will with certain parts. If you can become friends with a level 2 tech/engineer/etc or a manager they will. Or if all else fails if you know the tech in your area and the onsite tech is comfortable with it they will drop you the parts to do it yourself as they still get paid for doing nothing.

As far as I am aware you cannot get parts shipped to you directly - they have always had this policy for most parts even pre-dell you HAD to send it into the depot even though you may be perfectly capable of changing the part.
I've also had my M11x hinges changed by the in-home tech on two occasions and he's done an excellent job both times. The first tech hadnt seen a system like it before but was very careful and fixed it perfectly and the second tech had worked on several of the systems before and fixed it quickly.

Read the above, there's always a way around restrictions, and there's always a way that plays with the rules but gives you other options too.

To further that unless you are REALLY good with a manager or the local onsite tech major components like a mobo is something they will not ship you directly. I've actually got nothing but incompetent techs in my area, am really good with a manager I have a direct line to, and have proven the local tech that I know more than he does so I always do my own repairs.

[Srqt]

I had an in home replacement of my MOBO. The tech seemed knowledgeable though he did tell me mine was the first R3 he had ever worked on.

He was friendly and worked at a good pace. I watched him very carefully and he did the job well.

[ruderthanyou]

Anyone who lives in SoCal had "in home" service before? Can you share your experience?

I'm in South Orange County, I should have someone coming by this week (just waiting for the tech to call). I'll let you know how mine went....but would love to know what to expect too.