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Getting the Best Deal From Dell — Or Not

Posted by kdawson on from the consumer-advice-or-proprietary-information dept.

Nom du Keyboard writes "When The Consumerist published 22 tips for getting the best deal from Dell Computers, according to a self-described former Dell sales manager, Dell fired back with a take-down notice. You might want to look quickly, in the event it does get taken down. The Consumerist's lawyer's initial response was to deny the takedown request."

14 of 207 comments (clear)

  1. wtf? by User+956 · · Score: 3, Insightful

    When The Consumerist published 22 tips for getting the best deal from Dell Computers, according to a self-described former Dell sales manager, Dell fired back with a take-down notice.

    When are these companies going to learn that trying to suppress information on the internet just makes it multiply?

    --
    The theory of relativity doesn't work right in Arkansas.
  2. Dell already apologized by Urusai · · Score: 3, Insightful

    ...approximately.

    http://direct2dell.com/one2one/archive/2007/06/16/ 18397.aspx

  3. Insurance Fraud by kebes · · Score: 5, Insightful
    I'm all for trying to get the best deal you can on any purchase. However one of the recommendations is:

    3. Extended warranty for laptops ...Once your model is off the refurb site, drop it. Voila! New laptop.
    So, basically, the recommendation is to purposefully destroy your laptop, and then file a claim under the "accidental damage" provision of Dell's extended care insurance. The insurance, by the way, does not cover purposeful damage to the property. So basically this 'tip' is "commit insurance fraud."

    Will this work? Yes. I knew a guy who did this with Dell's plan... got a nice upgrade for "free." I'm not convinced, however, that insurance fraud is really such a great idea. Nor am I convinced that this guy should be encouraging people to commit crimes.
    1. Re:Insurance Fraud by froschmann · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Telling people to buy printer cartridges from kiosks by "seeing if the employees seem cool" and "paying cash" for items that aren't in inventory also seems a bit below the board.

    2. Re:Insurance Fraud by RickRussellTX · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Agreed, and it makes me wonder if The Consumerist read the article carefully. They're pretty aggressive about bad behavior by companies. So it's OK if a consumer steals for personal gain?

    3. Re:Insurance Fraud by networkzombie · · Score: 3, Insightful

      I agree. The author is condoning fraud and should be taken down. I purchase 10K worth of stuff from Dell each year and although I scream at their tech support for being idiots about twice a year, they still offer a great deal. If you intentionally rip people off, you are a criminal. If you tell other people that it is okay to intentionally rip people off, you are also a criminal. The article should be called - How to be a burden to society.

    4. Re:Insurance Fraud by Mistlefoot · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I can see it now...... Some honest people with laptops that are broken will be hassled more while trying to get a replacement as safeguards are increased to try to remedy this.

      And yes. The price of insuring your laptop may very well go up. Insurance companies aren't in the business of losing money. At the end of the day the of insurance fraud will be paid for by honest people.

  4. Why I hate buying PCs from Dell by Blahbooboo3 · · Score: 3, Insightful

    It's such a hassle to get a good deal from Dell. Between their rebates, coupons, instant discounts, and special offers the entire process is like buying a car!

    If dell is trying to figure out why its market share is declining, it is likely because of the difficulty in knowing what you are buying is the best price. I don't think HP makes people go through all this nonsense.

    Oh and also the whole small business vs. home office crap. What an annoyance how they both contain the exact same machines with just very slight differences.

  5. As another poster has already pointed out, by Dr.+Photo · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Dell already apologized: http://direct2dell.com/one2one/archive/2007/06/16/ 18397.aspx

    And this article was posted to Slashdot AFTER that happened, and there is STILL no "Update: Dell actually apologized before we posted this article, 'cause we're dumb."

    You're doing them a huge disservice by letting this stand uncorrected, kdawson.

  6. Dell needs to quit the shell-game. by jcr · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Being cagey about their pricing only pisses off the customers and makes dell look like a fly-by-night operation.

    -jcr

    --
    The only title of honor that a tyrant can grant is "Enemy of the State."
  7. Re:wtfraud? by Harmonious+Botch · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I'm goig to buck the slashdoxy and defend Dell. Please read the full post before modding down.

    Doesn't #3 bother anyone else? It is explicit instructions on how to commit insurance fraud. If I were Dell management, I'd want it taken down for that reason alone. ( How would you feel if someone posted your bank password on the net, thus enabling any reader to defraud you? )

  8. Stop smoking your hippie dust by megaditto · · Score: 5, Insightful
    FTFA:

    3. Extended warranty for laptops - Do it for as long as you feasibly see using your laptop, and include accidental. Two years is typically the lifecycle from "new product" to "no longer produced/no more refurbs" though YMMV. Once your model is off the refurb site, drop it. Voila! New laptop. The standard warranty will not cover any screen defects.
    That's not "keeping people honest," that's encouraging fraud and abuse of the warranty system. Also see their suggestion on how to get Dell reps to steal printer ink for you ("offer cash")
    --
    Obama likes poor people so much, he wants to make more of them.
  9. Re:Well, since it might get taken down... by jellomizer · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Dell is on a major decline. Back in the late 90s everyone wanted a Dell although they cost more then then others. But they were good systems... Dell sense has lowered the quality of the systems and made purchasing one a major hassle. Right now Apple is taking Dells spot as Yea it cost a bit more but it is worth it. PC.

    --
    If something is so important that you feel the need to post it on the internet... It probably isn't that important.
  10. Re:wtfraud? by Harmonious+Botch · · Score: 5, Insightful

    As you say, other parts of the same paragraph may indeed offer advice on what insurance to buy or not buy, but quoting from item #3 of the website in question: "Once your model is off the refurb site, drop it. Voila! New laptop."
    This looks pretty clear to me. On a certain date, deliberately damage the merchandise, and the insurance that you bought will get you a new one. This part is advice on how to commit fraud. Surrounding it with other advice doesn't change that.