If you’re looking to purchase an inkjet or a laser printer, Dell might be one of the manufacturers on your short list option. Below you’ll find an overview of some of the pros and cons to choosing a Dell.

Pros of Buying a Dell Printer

There are a number of advantages to purchasing a Dell inkjet or laser printer.

• Price. Generally, Dell supplies and printers are among the most affordable on the market, especially if you purchase them as part of a bundle with your computer and other accessories.
• Variety. Dell printers come in a wide variety of models. There are inkjet models that are also available as all-in-one units if that is something you are interested in. The company also makes color and monochrome laser printers. The advantage here is that you have more options to choose from than you might with some manufacturers.
• Convenience. Because Dell is not sold in stores, you can order the printer directly over the Internet or phone without having to leave your home to shop around.

Cons of Buying a Dell Printer

Although there are some reasons to consider choosing a Dell, there are also reasons to search elsewhere for a quality printer. Here are some of those reasons.

• Customer service complaints. In 2006, Dell’s customer service came under fire when it became clear that the number of complaints from customers had increased dramatically. Almost half of their calls required a call back that often never came. Promises for refunds were made and never came.
• Business practice complaints. In 2008, Dell was found guilty of misleading advertising and other problems related to their products. More than 1,000 Dell owners signed on as part of the case after having their own problems with the company, including warranty problems and other issues.
• Higher price supplies. Dell printers are notorious for having smaller ink cartridges and toners than other models (except Lexmark, see below). That means you will end up spending more on ink in the long run, even though the cartridges themselves are fairly priced. Also, new Dell ink and toner can usually only be purchased directly from the company.
• Not made by Dell. Dell printers are not made by Dell. Instead, the company uses Lexmark printers and sells them under the Dell brand. If you do not like Lexmark printers, which do tend to receive a fair share of complaints themselves, this could be an issue.

Customer Service Improvement

To its credit, Dell has acknowledged that it had serious customer service problems in 2006. To work on resolving the problem, the company has increased spending to $150 million in this sector to improve the overall service it provides to customers. The jury is still out on whether or not this has been an effective move.

Getting a Dell?

Before you decide whether or not to purchase a Dell, you should continue reading reviews of the printers you are most interested in. Do some comparison shopping before choosing the right brand for your needs.

Tags: customer service, dell, ink cartridges, inkjet, laser printer, lexmark, monochrome laser printers, quality printer, toners | Category: Printer Models, Reviews & Comparison | Subscribe to comments | Leave a comment | Trackback URL