As Jar Jar Binks would say.... HOW RUDE!
I've heard that even in new computers it is common practice from some companis to assemble them using some OLD computer parts. I don't know if that is false advertising - but replacing your defective notebook with the SAME one when you were offerred a new one - and under the supervision of their district manager smacks of incompetitant inconsideration!
This reminds me of the time I took my car into a brake and suspension auto repair shop. I explained I had recently had my brakes serviced and there had just been a terrible sound and odd change in how my brakes were performing. Could they check it? Well... a few minutes later the manager called me over to follow him - he wanted to show me what the problem was. The brake caliper had detatched itself from the chassis and was gripped about the disc and flopping back and forth unable to effectively stop the car!!! He said whom-ever had just serviced the brakes messed it up - and he asked who did the work? He had several mechanics staring in amazement at this... maybe they all wanted to witness my revealing who the guilty firm was.
I reached into my posctet and showed them the repair shop was (of course) them! I was not very happy at the moment - and was polite with an edge. I could have been physically hurt by this failure if I had had an emergency stopping situation. The look on thir faces was ashen.... to say the least. They retired a few steps away and naturally said they would stand by their work (how game) and would repair everything properly.
After it was fixed I took the car to another repair shop immediately and explained what had happened.... and would they look over my brakes, please. That deficient repair shop is not in business under the same name - it passed on within a year. However, their repair techs still work ... somewhere. To this day I remember the LOOK of the repair person who originally took care of my brakes!
I imagine everyone has some sort of story where they were the recipient of shoddy service or something similar. And if not... then your number is still coming up! <chuckles>
In conclusion on your original point... I had a Dell under a 3 year year extended warrenty. With less then 2 months to go til the extended warrenty epired I sent my notebook back to DELL for an odd intermittant repair. THeir service person called back to explain my notebook was unrepairable... so they were going to replace my nearly 4 year old computer with a new (refurbished) one. I revceived one with every measurable aspect improved excpet for screen resolution. I had their most advanced and highest resolution screen but it was less of a screen compared to the one I turned in. It has performed well for me now for nearly 2 years... no significant physical issues. I am happy with my DELL experience... although I know there are legions of individuals who are unhappy with DELL... as there are legions of individuals who are unhappy with various manufacturers. The trick is however - to buy from a source where there are the smallest number of unhappy customers!!!