Dell con-artists

madauri

Crabman wrote:

She actually phoned up and was given the spec by one of the sales people. Unfortunately yes there was flawed advice given at some stage leading to this sale.

But I still think Dell have screwed this customer. Come on, in this day and age, who gives a rollerball mouse with a new system? And no DVD writer? :rolleyes: If that's the case it should have been no more than £300.

There is no point in saying what it should be. Houses shouldn't be as overpriced as they are, but they are.
But you are saying something new now: do we have to assume that the information she was given on the phone doesn't correspond with the equipment she received?
Did she get a written list of the spec before paying for it?

When I wanted to buy my new PC I went to Dell. I tried the phone but had in mind a very specific offer I had seen in their last catalogue. The salesman dismissed it saying it was old and offered something different that looked nice; he actually was trying to sell me what he wanted to sell based on some limited answers about my actual needs.
This is the most dangerous thing you can do. I therefore refuse to agree to buy anything from anybody on the phone. Next I went to the Dell website and checked what I did want, did my calculations, compared, bought, and saved quite a lot of money. The next day the salesman phone me back and tried to sell me the same model minus several items of equipment plus a programme I wouldn't use for anything for a much higher amount. I had the satisfaction to tell him so.:D
The point is: get the info first, do your homework, then buy what YOU want.

Crabman

madauri wrote:

There is no point in saying what it should be. Houses shouldn't be as overpriced as they are, but they are.
But you are saying something new now: do we have to assume that the information she was given on the phone doesn't correspond with the equipment she received?
Did she get a written list of the spec before paying for it?

When I wanted to buy my new PC I went to Dell. I tried the phone but had in mind a very specific offer I had seen in their last catalogue. The salesman dismissed it saying it was old and offered something different that looked nice; he actually was trying to sell me what he wanted to sell based on some limited answers about my actual needs.
This is the most dangerous thing you can do. I therefore refuse to agree to buy anything from anybody on the phone. Next I went to the Dell website and checked what I did want, did my calculations, compared, bought, and saved quite a lot of money. The next day the salesman phone me back and tried to sell me the same model minus several items of equipment plus a programme I wouldn't use for anything for a much higher amount. I had the satisfaction to tell him so.:D
The point is: get the info first, do your homework, then buy what YOU want.

They didn't send a quote - she had the details written down but nothing official. They said she'd have a DVD writer. No mention of the screen size from what she wrote down. No comment about the mouse but surely would expect an optical. But the fact is that she's got it written, not an official quote.

rygon

I cannot see how dell screwed the customer..they offered a pc at a certain price and it was up to her to either take it or leave it. They did not make her buy it. If the spec she had signed up for been different to the one she got (and it may be worth checking) then yes they have screwed her and she would be able to get a replacement or possibly her money back.
If i bought a shirt in a shop then found out that i can get shirts cheaper elsewhere would i have grounds to take the 1st one back. No as i had agreed to buy that shirt irrespective of what else is on the market.

Looking at the dell website the price of a 3100 is £399 reduced from £429. Are you saying that the price has dropped by £100 in a month, or that the original price you gave included the printer and scanner.

Theres no way she can ask for a refund unless the pc becomes faulty. Thats just the way it is.

albertross_2

Have they bumped up the price because she took out an extended warranty?

A_Nice_Englishman

Crabman wrote:

They didn't send a quote - she had the details written down but nothing official. They said she'd have a DVD writer. No mention of the screen size from what she wrote down. No comment about the mouse but surely would expect an optical. But the fact is that she's got it written, not an official quote.

Was there by a specification in the box when it was delivered? If so, it would be worth checking the actual spec against that.

Crabman

albertross wrote:

Have they bumped up the price because she took out an extended warranty?

I'm looking into this now, thanks albertross this didn't cross my mind :rotfl:

madauri

So if she was told she'd get a DVD writer how is it she didn't complain as soon as she did not receive it?

Anyway, Dell makes you pay for the items they include, so the price of something not included is probably not added in the bill.
That warranty thing is worth to look at.

rygon

normally the invoice will say what extras she gets...as standard it comes with a cd writer/dvd player combo. The screen says 17" at the moment...maybe this has changed within the last mnth but its worth checking.
With these sort of pc you dont normally get an optical mouse either (well you dont in dixons or currys for the same amount of money)

Crabman

OK I now have the invoice from her.

it's strange - there are two lots of warranty items here:

Base warranty
1 Year collect and return

then further down is:
Base warranty
1 Year Next Business Day Exchange

The problem I see is that there are discrepancies between what she was given over the phone and what was actually ordered by the sales guy. E.g. 80GB given instead of 120GB HDD.

I.e. unless that phone call was recorded there is not much to say, apart from complain all the same... :think:

hobo28

Hi Crabman. Unfortunately I agree with the others. It doesn't matter that your friend has gone through a hard time. Dell has done nothing wrong. Now you can of course complain but I doubt it will make a difference.

As for the warranty, the collect & return probably refers to the base unit. The next day exchange is probably for the monitor.

I just can't imagine how you will string together a decent argument. She rang Dell, they offered her a PC at a price she agreed. Deal is done. You only have a point if they did not deliver what they said they would.