Inconsistent Dell Website

[Richard Cranium]

I spend a LOT of time at Dell.

Why ? The deals are unbeatable, however the site is very odd.

I can configure, say multiple digital cameras,, or a system,,, do it 2 or 4 times the same way and come up with different prices.

Just now attempting to mimic an order for 2 Canon A40 cameras..
The original went in at $388 for 2
Now the best I can do is $423 ?

The discount coupons sometimes work many times, othertimes not. There is no rhyme or reason to the disparity.

Still, the time spent is well worth it in the end, Let's not forget the 2.0 Dells with 15" LCD's & 64mb Vid cards for $555~

Start here if you're interested, stop in as often as possible, some deals only last minutes->>
http://www.techbargains.com/

later
Doc

[osprey4]

It's no wonder Docmartin was expressing his frustration about this. I tell everyone if you see a deal, grab it, it may be gone tonight. It happened to a co-worker who tried to get that Dimension 4550 with the free flat screen, some got it early evening then later that night it was gone.

This is how Dell does business, they can offer things instantaneously based on demand and inventory.

[John Prophet]

I would say that there is a method to the madness. When you study marketing and especially internet marketing you come across something called a "feeding frenzy"...you also see a thing called "urgency" being used to push products. It is just a form of supply and demand. If I send out a newsletter to everyone in this forum saying that I have only 5 sets of logitech z-560(?) speakers and that I am offering them at $85...well, do you see how that creates a sense of urgency?? What if I sent out a similar newsletter once a week at Monday noontime with similar deals? Everyone would come to expect that newsletter and they would have credit card in hand ready to order! Or if I sent out a letter saying that the special price was only good for a 1 hour window...again you see how that adds a little urgency into the equation. (CompUsa was doing that a few months back with that popup ad)

While the inconsistencies MAY be due to the mechanics of their process (inventory reporting etc etc), it MAY be a ploy of sorts to create some urgency. We see that even in this short thread it is posted up "If you see a deal GRAB IT"...Id say Dells marketing strategy works.

JP

[evan]

My problem with the Dell website is that I don't see any links for the special offers. For example, I read about free shipping here, then when I go to Dell.com and I see the little sideways arrows with the words "expires on 12/11" etc., but there is nothing above or next to it. There is nothing to click and no description. What expires on 12/11? I am wondering if I have a technical problem with my browser or does Dell simply leave the arrow and the generic "for a limited time only" stuff all the time and only put a link with the description when they have something to offer.

It is this way in IE and Opera, on my home computer and at work. Could it be firewall related?

Any help would be greatly appreciated - thanks.

[pickel]

Products. "Dell continually upgrades and revises its products and service offerings to provide Dell customers with new products and service offerings. Dell may revise and discontinue products at any time without prior notice to customers. Dell will ship products that have the functionality and performance of the products ordered, but changes between what is shipped and what is described in a specification sheet or catalog are possible. The parts and assemblies used in building Dell products are selected from new and equivalent-to-new parts and assemblies in accordance with industry practices. Spare parts may be new or reconditioned. The quoted Dell SKU numbers for Dell-branded hardware products are of the quantity specified by Dell and conform in all material respects with the Dell product specifications current on the date such products were shipped." Dell's online policy...

Notice......"Dell products are selected from new and equivalent to new parts assemblies...."

That's the reason I didn't buy a Dell or Gateway or HP or Compac
I beleive, most of us want NEW parts in your new computer!

[Richard Cranium]

Evan, one way to check, though a bit time consuming, is to add the item to your cart.. Then click the link at the bottom right that says "figure Tax & Shipping"

You choose your preferred method to ship.

It will usually come back with $x.xx to ship then a minus -$x.xx below it indicating the removal of the shipping charges.

Note the special discount codes listed here and at the link provided at the first post, study them carefully.. You will find some deals that may suprise you.

Pickel, how dare you compare a Dell to Gateway, HP and Compaq j/k
But seriously, the Dell's since "97 or so have shown consistent improvement in case design and similar opening methods.
Cooling improvements that the others have totally ignored.

The new Dell's that I've bought over the last 2 years have been very good units.

The HP's, Compaq's, Gateways's have been a big disappointment, they show NO improvement in design.

Even E-Machines show improvement in airflow design and the relocation of the Hard Drive to a vertical position at the bottom front of the case has helped lifetime expectancy of them.

I "suspect" that if Dell is using "like-new" parts in any machines they're probably minimal at best and only doing this publishment to cover liability.

[Mithin]

If you get a good deal and its the same day and want to get more you can sometimes call them up and ask to duplicate your order. Ive found this to work several times. After more then a day has passed though it doesnt really work.

[Geotpf]

Originally posted by osprey4
It's no wonder Docmartin was expressing his frustration about this. I tell everyone if you see a deal, grab it, it may be gone tonight. It happened to a co-worker who tried to get that Dimension 4550 with the free flat screen, some got it early evening then later that night it was gone.

This is how Dell does business, they can offer things instantaneously based on demand and inventory.

Yeah, I'm eternally grateful for Doc's scoping out of Dell's website. I managed to get the 4550 deal, and I just (an hour ago) sold it on Ebay (breaking up the monitor and computer into two units). I paid $640-something; sold the two for slightly more than $800 combined, plus I charged a grand total of $95 for shipping and handling, which will probably more than cover my Ebay fees plus my shipping costs. I made money, and both buyers got a pretty good deal themselves (even at what they paid for it, it was less than my guess as to the retail value-plus probably each of them didn't want the other item). I will probably do this more often, if payment, etc., goes smoothly (which I'm sure it will...both buyers had plenty of positive feedback with no negatives). I earlier sold some stuff that I had just lying around, gathering dust, and made a hundred bucks off the items, and that went smoothly (other than one check getting lost in the mail, which was resent without a problem). I also bought a hard drive for my personal use from Dell earlier at a deal I think I got from Doc.

[Troit]

You have to be sure to check the "different" Dell sites: Home, Small Business, etc. Small Business might have an additional 10% off something while Home doesn't. Or the other way around.

[John Prophet]

Since we are discussing Dell here, can someone post the link to that page at Dell where you can transfer the warranty??

Thanks, JP