Getting the Best Deal From Dell — Or Not

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."

Comments

Insurance Fraud

[kebes]

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.

Re:Insurance Fraud

[RickRussellTX]

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?

Re:Insurance Fraud

[Mistlefoot]

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.

As another poster has already pointed out,

[Dr. Photo]

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.

Dell needs to quit the shell-game.

[jcr]

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

-jcr

Re:wtfraud?

[Harmonious Botch]

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? )

Stop smoking your hippie dust

[megaditto]

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")

Re:wtfraud?

[Harmonious Botch]

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.