Anyone else experienced problems with tech/cust support to FPO/APO addresses?

     I recently paid over $1,400 for a new notebook, which the hard drive went bad after six months.  I am a U.S. Navy Cheif stationioned in Italy, and there are no international toll free numbers offered by Dell.  This requires me to pay over .50 per minute to go through multiple options, following receipt of several numbers received during multiple chat sessions.  After placing my initial trouble call and parts order, the parts were not mailed until after five days of placing the order.  During one of my calls following the third week of shipment, the customer support person stated I needed to contact USPS to track my parts order.

     During my multiple attempts to resolve this issue with Dell (e-mail, chat, and phone calls), I have yet to make contact with anyone who is in a managment position that can assist me with this issue.  Just wanted to post this one to see if anyone else stationed outside the U.S. has identified a route to resolve computer issues such as the one I am experiencing.  This type of customer service has greatly impacted my ability to remain in on-line courses.