What's up w/ Dell Computer Co ?

[jaysunb]

Six weeks ago, my wife spent several hours on the phone w/ Dell ordering and customizing a new laptop. She was told it would be built and shipped within 21 days.

well....today ( 43rd ) for the third time we get a recorded message from them saying they are back ordered and the ship date is now the 28th of August. A full 10 weeks since the order was placed.

I'm wondering if others have had this experience or is this a fluke ? I've heard some pretty negative things about Dell over the years, but I figured it was probably competitive hype or typical opinion talk.

Anyone else have good or otherwise opinions about this gang. They give the option to cancel & I'm strongly considering it.

[Mika]

1. Huh? How much customization is she getting?

Must be on a slow boat from China.

Serves her right for buying from Michael Dell --> http://www.newsmeat.com/billionaire_political_donations/Michael_Dell.php

[jaysunb]

4. Wow !

There's a cancellation coming right up...based on that alone.

Thanks

[momzno1]

2. I have had only bad experiences with Dell

Worst computer I ever had. I liked my HP, and now I use Macs.

[TwilightZone]

3. From my experience, it's probably a fluke.

I have a lot of clients who have purchased Dells, and from our collective experience, the original shipping date is usually pretty accurate, if not even a bit conservative.

In a couple of cases where there was an unexpected delay, the cause was usually a late shipment of a particular component. If you call Dell, they can probably tell you what is causing the delay and may be able to offer alternatives that will allow it to be shipped sooner.

[Gregorian]

5. I just ordered a 690 Precision.

The keyboard shipped within hours. And the rest followed rather quickly. In fact they even gave me two day air for free.


I know, Dell. But you cannot beat the 3007fp monitor. Thirty inches of amazing beauty. But I feel so dirty buying from Dell.

[Onlooker]

6. I'd cancel

First, Dell is staunchly Republican. Second, there might be back to school special coming up so you might get a better price. Third, a lot of people say that you should buy through Dell business because you get better service (and often better prices). Fourth, do a search, if you didn't already, for "Dell coupon codes" and you might find a way to save. I think Dell are good computers, but you can sometimes do better at the big stores. Often Gateway has very good deals on laptops at the department stores. Overall, I think Dell are good computers.

Also check this out:

http://consumerist.com/consumer/insiders/22-confessions-of-a-former-dell-sales-manager-268831.php

[emulatorloo]

8. Fifth, Michael Dell is creepy. EOM

[JanMichael]

12. Beat me to it. He is a creepy bastard.

Most corpo conservatives are.

[liberal N proud]

7. In June I ordered a new lap top

Received it 5 days with standard shipping.
I added RAM and virus protection.

I was impressed because I thought it would arrive while I was a way on an unexpected trip, but it came in time to have set up and ready for the trip.

[Mika]

9. Tell her that a Macbook Pro is all the PC she'll need (and more). It'll last a long time too.

17 inches of magnificence.

[mod mom]

21. I love my Mac too. (and they're blue!)

[tammywammy]

10. I've never had a problem with Dell

Mine always ship very quickly. Once a monitor for a desktop went out and they replaced it no problem. I think it's a fluke. I'd call and see what's causing the hold up.

[truedelphi]

11. I think that there are laws on the Federal level that state that things have to received within

Thirty days of the order being placed.

probably you should call your State's Attorney general Office and find out the guidelines

[Elwood P Dowd]

13. Michael Dell gives massive amounts of $$$$$$$$$ to republicans

Almost nothing to Democrats. See Mika's post above.

http://www.newsmeat.com/billionaire_political_donations/Michael_Dell.php

[jaysunb]

14. Saw it

it's the deal killer.....

[Perky]

15. Do not be late on a single payment

Yout interest will skyrocket top 25%

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

16. Well...

Speaking as one who is geekishly inclined and one who does have a few contacts in the more rarified areas of the computer industry...

1. Dell is in big financial problems. They are in Really Deep Shit with the SEC and have to rebook going back to 2001. Seems they were, as they say at The Wharton School of Business, "Just Making Shit Up". This has to be a problem for them with their supply chain. Note: They just applied for an extension to submit revised accounting, which surely means they got them a big ol' Tejas-sized mess on their hands.

2. The industry is stiff with stories about Dell Consumer Customer Support. Not whether it sucks, just on what order of interstellar magnatude it sucks. Some say galaxy-sized suckage. Others argue, viciously, for suckage beyond 3 dimensions, perhaps into the full 12 dimensions of string theory.

And one final vignette: The director of Marketing for Dell is a kid from my hometown. I knew both him and his dad. None of this surprises me. LOL.

[Rock_Garden]

20. I believe, and have experienced, every word you said in item #2.

Since you are geekishly inclined, would you please mention another brand or two that have good things said about them, particularly in the realm of customer service? I will never buy another Dell, but which other way does a person jump? Thanks for your comments, by the way.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

25. Head over to NewEgg...

And take a look at the laptops there. Asus makes a good one, for starters. Also, Costco. Surprisingly, Costco is one of the biggest refurbishers of laptops in the nation and sells refurbished laptops at great prices.

I might add that while I eschew their desktops, both HP and Compaq's laptops tend to be solid. Lenovo is doing good things as well.

Avoid Fujitsu if you want to put Linux on the laptop. They are using a new scheme that is a replacement for the traditional BIOS, and they will only boot Windows Vista.

[NuttyFluffers]

28. i'm a tech geek journeyman and endorse this message

surrounded by tech geeks extraordinaire and such treatment is common. in fact, shipping is normally pretty bad as well with Dell. HP shipping and customer service has been quite solid. ahh, no sense reiterating stuff, just giving seal of approval!
:toast:

[CabalPowered]

22. LOL!

...perhaps into the full 12 dimensions of string theory....

:rofl:

[Uben]

17. I've had two De;;s...never again

The computers were "okay", but that's about the best I can give them. Once they outsourced to India, I dropped them. I do not buy from sources I know contribute to republicans....my perogative, their loss. If they want to inject politics into their products, I will too! It's the only way we can hurt them.

[BlooInBloo]

18. I've had only good experiences with Dell orders, 2 personal, and a jillion business...

... My last laptop from them is the best $2000 I've ever spent in my life.

[DURHAM D]

19. Did she order a Vostro by any chance ? - a new line.

I ordered one a couple of days ago and was very surprised to see the ship date as two weeks from now. This is the 5th time I have ordered from Dell and they always ship quickly and sooner than they say.

[matt819]

23. Quite apart from the fact that it's a red company

Which of course makes them evil, etc.

Nevertheless, I have supported that evil company and contributed to globalization by buying their computers. All experiences have been positive. Computers were shipped when I was told they'd be shipped, and they were delivered as ordered. I've had no technical issues with any of them (2 laptops and 1 desktop in the past two years).

In two cases I created an online order and then called to complete the order. The advice I received struck me as reasonable (you need this, but you don't need that, etc.), and at the end of the process they agent knocked some money off the online calculated price.

[ProgressiveFool]

24. Simple answer: Dell doesn't care about the individual customer

I work with Dells all the time, and people ordering them through a university bookstore. Since the bookstore is a big customer, they get them about a week or so after ordering. Wouldn't want to be ordering one on my own.

[alarimer]

26. I got mine today that I ordered 10 days ago

So it sounds like some kind of screwup.

Of course I haven't got mine in my hot little hands yet- DHL left it at the apartment office, but they have delivered it at least.

[saltpoint]

27. It's been a tough go for that company ever since they sacked the

"Dude, you're getting a Dell" guy for pot possession at JFK, or whichever airport it was.

He was a welcoming personage to that company. Once they freaked out and fired him, they've had nothing but a bumpy ride and a downward slope.

Probably not clinically connected but the vibes are hard to argue with.

I think the best computers are Macs.