Friday, August 03, 2007

Dell Sucks

Let me relate to you my experience with Dell. Dell Sucks, by the way, in case you didn't read the title.

My niece, god bless her, was accepted at a university here in New Hampshire. This year, the university is requiring all of their freshmen to bring a laptop. Not a bad idea. And, they have this contract with Dell that gives you a discount, and will have all the features you need, yada yada yada. So we ordered one. On July 5th.

Well, the ship date of 7/18 arrives, and we get notified that it's been pushed back to 7/27. Great. 7/27 rolls around, and three things happen. We notice that the new ship date is now 8/3. Next, we get an email telling us that the new date is 8/3, and we need to either cancel the order, accept the new ship date, or accept ANY new ship date in the future. Third, I received a message on the phone stating that FTC rules required that, because of the number of times the ship date was changed, I needed to call this number and confirm that I still wanted the laptop, and if I didn't call by 7/27, the order was going to get cancelled. (I had gone away, and received that message on 7/28)

So, I tried calling the number I was given, and after hearing "welcome to Dell" I was transferred to a voicemailbox that was full. Great. Needless to say, I was a bit pissed by this point. So, we went to Staples and found a better laptop, cheaper, and after the rebates, we get more stuff to go with it. So, I spoke with the Dell rep in the area and told him that I'd found another computer, and didn't want the Dell. He said he'd cancel the order. That was on the morning of 7/30.

Well, we then find out that the order was shipped the next day. So, we called DHL and told them not to deliver it. We called the credit card company, and asked if the money had been charged tot he card. No, they said. And since there was now only $50 on the card, they didn't see how it could be. (The hold that Dell had put on the money had run out sometime before 7/27)

So, we get up this morning and find her card $1200 over limit. Great. After 68 minutes on the phone with dell, and getting told a few times "let me transfer you to the RIGHT department," I am left with waiting 3 weeks to get my money back. That's after they admitted that not only was it their fault, but they only thing that is keeping them from crediting the card is a company policy on how they handle credits.

So, moral of the story, DELL SUCKS! Go to Staples, you can go home with your computer.