M18x Order Status Discussion

It was the ribbon cable for the lighting it had a break in it with some patching skills I got it to work.. Now getting raid0 to work is the next step all though I will do some benches until I get a new interposer cable!

 

Well, after about 10+ years of drooling over Alienware products, I finally got to order mine today. This will be my first gaming rig since 2004. After my last gaming rig died I went console and I am finally coming back to PC gaming! Cannot wait until this rig is in my hands!!!

-Alienware M18X R2 - Nebula Red
-3rd Generation Intel Core i7-3630QM (6MB Cache, up to 3.4GHz w/ Turbo Boost 2.0)
-8GB Dual Channel DDR3 at 1600MHz
-Dual 2GB GDDR5 AMD Radeon HD 7970M
-128GB mSATA + 500G 7200 RPM
-Slot-Loading Dual Layer Blu-ray Reader
-Alienware Orion M18x Backpack

And some other extra goodie accessories. ETA 5/20/13 for the rig and 5/9/13 for the backpack and the extra goodies.

Had an issue when I placed my order today. About 2 hours after I placed my order I got an e-mail saying that my order was delayed due to security verification. I found that odd considering 20 seconds after placing my order they already pulled the funds from my account.

I called the number and extension that was included in the e-mail. Was on hold for OVER 2 HOURS!!!! waiting for a support member. Finally got fed up and contacted support via chat. He gave me another number to call and I was connected immediately. Apparently Dell tried to contact me for verification before they put my rig into production, which I found funny because they already pulled my funds.

I was told they tried calling me 10 times and could not get a hold of me. Funny how they couldn't get a hold of me when I was holding the phone in my hands while on hold for over 2 hours and call waiting never went off. Hope that is the only bump in the road I get.

 

Congrats on the order, Epiic. Commiserations on the customer service! LOL - I'm sure you'll get there eventually. Welcome to the forums, too!!

One thing I would say - and it's only a friendly bit of advice. I don't know if you have read the forum boards much, but Alienware have some rather exciting news regarding new products etc that is to be announced around the 10th June - there is plenty of speculation about what that news will be 100%, but it's widely rumoured that there will be new models - M14x, M17x and M18x. See this thread:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware/717901-alienwares-e3-big-news-06-10-2013-save-date.html

As you have waited so long already to "join the Alienware" club, it might be prudent to wait a couple of weeks longer and you could benefit from new hardware that is set to superceed the machine you have just ordered.

I mention it only as I know how upset I would be, knowing that I have just bought "yesterdays technology" that has just been refreshed.

 

Well, managed to get finance for a m18x instead of paying cash for a m14x. What the hell.....you only live once!

Basic spec below .......


Processor : 3rd Generation Intel Core i7-3630QM (6MB Cache, up to 3.4GHz w/ Turbo Boost 2.0)

Memory : 6144MB (1x2048 + 1x4096) 1600MHz DDR3 Dual Channel

Hard Drive : 500GB 7,200 RPM + 32GB mSATA Caching SSD

Optical Drive : DVD+/-RW (Read/Write)

Graphics : Dual 2GB GDDR5 AMD HD 7970M CrossFireX

Wireless : Intel 2230 Wireless Card + BT

Operating System : English Windows 7 SP1 Home Premium (64 BIT)

I HATE windows 8, pointless on a non touch screen but that's just me!

I will upgrade the hdd to a Samsung 500GB 840 Series Desktop and Notebook Kit SSD - Solid State Drive - MZ-7TD500KW (would I leave the 32gb ssd in place or remove it?)

And the ram to Vengeance Performance Memory Kit 16GB (2x8GB) DDR3 1600MHz CL10

I do have a killer wireless-N 1202 in another laptop belonging to the wife I may swap but I don't know if its better or not?

Now just to wait a couple of weeks....currenly in per-production, EDD of 22nd may.

 

Nice machine!

I'd leave the mSata in but change how it's used - there's no point in having it cache your SSD when you get it. Change it so that it's used for additional storage. As for the Killer, it might be hit and miss but it's not hard to swap 'em around if you wanted to test it out.

 

Thanks!

That's what i thought, i will probably remove it. It was'nt until after i placed the order i realised that i had opted for the wrong HD, i was just going to go for the normal 500GB without mSata but forgot to change it before i placed the order.

as for the wifi, i will just leave it as it is if there is no great difference, but as you say, swapping them is easy.

 

Actually, if you are leaving the 500gb HDD in, you might as well use it to cache it still, that way you have two fast drives - one for OS and frequent used stuff & a nice fast 500gb storage drive.....

 

Thanks for the headsup. Unfortunately I dont have that option. I am only in the USA for a few more weeks and where I normally live, they do not ship Alienware. So I am stuck where I am at. Unless I can convince the wife to stay here until the end of June. Haha.

 

Dell called me yesterday and confirmed the 5/20 ETA for the rig and they pushed my accessories until 5/14. To my surprise today, knock at the door and FedEx dropped off my accessories which also included a free copy of diablo 3 I didn't know about.

Cool to get my accessories early but it's just making me more antsy staring at all this stuff and not being able to use it. Hopefully my rig comes in early as well.

 

Just another quick update on something I think is weird.

Got a call from the Del rep the day after I received my accessories. Wanted to make sure everything got to me and that nothing got damaged. Told me my rig should be done by Tuesday.

What has me puzzled is what I noticed yesterday while paying bills is that dell kicked back the price of my rig back into my account. A week after they originally charged my account and had already taken the funds out.

 

That was probably a pre-authorization. They don't normally charge your account until the unit ships. The credit card company can confirm that for you, because that sometimes does not show accurately on the statement. If they did charge you, they may have been required to refund it since the machine had not shipped.

 

So I called and was talking to a sales rep for a new m18x r2 and through some hardware adjustments my price dropped after tax from around $3000 to $2800.

I was pretty happy and decided to just to verify I got a good price.

I then went through the main website and this time tried building the laptop from ground up and it turns out it is actually less expensive through the website...I tried calling an hour before they closed but I was put on hold and bounced around from one department to another and then they closed.

Would it be too late to cancel my order tomorrow?

I originally choose the 3rd option from the main alienware website for $2849.

The sales got me to take out one of the 500GB sata, mSata, 8GB memory from the set of 16

He got me to sign up for the Dell preferred rd and he said he applied my AAA status for a discount.

He did offer me a 1 year accidental damage protection so I guess that's worth $100

What I plan to do is cancel my order and try to get a better sales rep...Or did I actually get a decent deal?

##update
I called in the morning but got a non us sales. she was able to cable my order even though it was in process. I think it was because it wasn't really in process physically.the sales tried to sell me a new one but I turned her down

 

If its exact same spec but expensive than the website then just call next morning and request a price match or just say you would like to cancel the order, but I think they will do a bit of drama and they price match it.

 

I'm.just wondering if they have a system to keep track of my account that will tell a new sales I have a quote from another sales so they should leave me alone? or is it perfectly fine if I call in multiple times and ask for multiple quotes?

 

Call as much as you like.

 

If they find out, you might be accosted by undercover extra-terrestrials and spanked really hard for being such a sneak little fellow.

 

If you call too much they'll send out their enforcer:

 

Well I ordered an M18x R2 on 5/1 and EDD is set at 5/31. I have not had any type of delays according to the reps. I am just anxious to get this thing lol. I just hope I get it before the 31st and my case specialist insures me that I will more than likely get it before said EDD. With a price tag of $4,938.06 I would really hope I got it before then. I also got the HD3 Gaming Chill Mat which was $57.77 on top of that. I already received the chill mat on 5/3 lol that was more like a tease to me. Here are the specs of the one I ordered. Also has anyone else received theirs way early than the EDD? They also gave me free 1 day shipping

Description
---------------------------------------------
Alienware M18X R2 - Direct
3rd Generation Intel Core i7-3940XM (8MB Cache, up to 4.2GHz Overclocked)
32GB Dual Channel DDR3 at 1600MHz
English Keyboard, 101 Key, M18X R2
18.4 inch (467.36 mm) WLED WideFHD (1080p) display (1920 X 1080)
Dual 2GB GDDR5 NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680M SLI Enabled
256G SSD + 1TB 5400RPM
AlienFX Color, Quasar Blue
AW Command Center M18XR2
Windows 7 Ultimate 64 bit Service Pack 1, English, w/Media
Space Black Anodized Aluminum
Adobe Acrobat Reader
Slot-Loading Dual Layer DVD Burner (DVD+-RW, CD-RW)
Creative Sound Blaster Recon3Di with THX TruStudio Pro Software
Killer Wireless-N 1103 a/g/n 3x3 MIMO for Gaming and Video and Bluetooth 4.0
Internal Wireless Bluetooth 4.0
Alienware M18x 330W A/C Adapter
Alienware Documentation
Placement, M18X R2
Shipping Material, M18X R2
NO VIRUS PROTECTION REQUESTED
Resource DVD, M18X R2
Windows 7 OS Label, Alienware Notebooks
DataSafe Local BackUp
PC Restore
DELL-DOWNLOAD-FLAG
Camera Software 2.X, Factory Install
Dell Support Center Software 3.0
Quickset, M18X R2
Dell Digital Delivery Client
Windows 7 Browser Search for Alienware
96WHr 12-Cell Primary Battery
Microsoft Office Trial
Dell Hardware Warranty Plus On-Site Service, Initial Year
In-Home Service after Remote Diagnosis, Parts and Labor On-Site Response, Initial Year
1 Year Limited Warranty
No Warranty, Year 2 and 3
Soft Contracts Dell In-Home Hardware Agreement for Alienware
Warranty Support, Initial Year
No Wireless HD Selected
Alienhead Chrome Red
Alienhead Chrome Red
Steam Factory Installed and Steam Extra Content
Skype VOIP Application
Standard Nameplate

 

Or you might get this guy turn up at your door to shove one of these up your wazoo....

 

Im surprised that they dont have some sort of caller ID recognition & catalogueing...
Assuming someone is calling from a non-hidden number, simply create an automatic new account for that number (if this is first time calling) and enter the details/notes of any quote given. Then if this person calls again then that account will pop up infront of the alternate sales advisor where hed be able to see if any quotes have already been given to that person so as to not undercut?

obviously guessing dialing iwth hidden number will stop this but im not sure everyone will know.

 

Well, having one sales rep undercut another is actually a good thing. I wouldn't want to see that stopped. The person willing to make a smaller commission tends to generate more volume... in so doing, makes more money for himself and the company, and generates happier customers. It's an internal form of free enterprise working properly. If you put an anti-cheat mechanism in place it would be detrimental to everyone.

 

Well, I know Dell UK have a record of your quotes. Also, if you get a quote from one rep, then call up to get a quote from another, the second rep cannot step on the first reps toes for 24 hours or so - they call it customer ownership. Still, it should not put you off shopping around because you are the customer at the end of the day and you want the best deal you can get. If that takes a few calls and a few reps, so be it.

 

Another update. My rig has shipped, finally!!! But what puzzles me still is that they have yet to charge my account!!!!

 

Mine is due the 22nd but as its not yet shipped and it takes 5 days to deliver I suspect I will get a delayed email in the next couple of days.....

Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk 2

 

When did you two ( epic and toondw) order yours? Mine was due two days ago so I a bit curious what the wait was or has been for you two.

 

8th may. Eta 22nd but I think it maybe a few days late now. The rep who emailed me today said they are having part delays but did not state what. Even if mine is sent on monday it takes 5 days for delivery so definitely going to be late

Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk 2

 

Thanks for the quick reply I have been told they are out of two chassis parts. Mine was ordered the 9th as a "priority replacement order". Whatever that means. I was told mine was supposed to ship the 15th and has yet to ship. The weird thing is they have no ETA on the chassis parts from what I have been told. I surely hope yours is not waiting for the same parts as mine.

 

7th of May here. My delivery date was never changed for the machine. My accessories got to me 5 days early than the EDD.

 

Ok cool so yours was ordered 2 days before mine and has shipped. That's great to know thanks for the reply.

 

You guys are sooooo lucky mine was ordered on the first of may and it still has not shipped. I am getting very impatient because it seems like everyone else is getting theirs earlier than me and I ordered before everyone lol. its just weird. I am hoping it will ship out on Monday. Does anyone know if they do production on Saturdays? and or ship on weekends? Im talking about alienware themselves and not fedex or ups.

 

I think they do. The reason I say that is I just got an email saying I will receive mine the 24th. That tells me the factory received the parts and have started work on it again.

 

If they are behind I hope they do! My order still says delivery on 22nd but as its not even shipped yet that wont happen I only wish they were honest and told people what was going on. I bet I dont get a delayed email until the 22nd now, which I think is silly as they know its delayed now!

Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk 2

 

Well if mine is not here by the EDD I will be cancelling my order and going with origin laptops as they ship really fast compared to Alienware.

 

I dont have that luxury. Paid via a decent finance agreement and got just over 500 uk pounds discount so I will just have to grin and bear it........ I will still threaten to cancel however as I may get something for nothing!

Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk 2

 

Yeah I heard that if you threaten to cancel they will give you a $100 gift card or something. Im just hoping it will ship out tomorrow being that it will be Monday and people who ordered the exact one as me got theirs shipped friday and they ordered on the 7th. I ordered on the 1st.

 

Yup.......lets see what happens tomorrow. Fingers crossed!

Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk 2

 

that's kind of what I am waiting for. Tomorrow shipping resumes and so does business. I am sure it doesn't take them long to put these things together and build them out, and from the sound of the email I received last night they have whatever parts that they were out of.

 

Well,

Cancelled my order. They could not give me a ETA, nor would they confirm what parts they were waiting for.

I will be going to a custom builder now.....

Sent from my Nexus 10 using Tapatalk HD

 

Mines on the truck out for delivery. Oh the torment of waiting!!!!

 

I'm sorry to hear that, I wish I had an update n the status of mine today, so far nothing though. All I am ever given is a date through an email or something, but their systems never show an EDD for me.

Epiic,

I am glad to see yours has shipped that is awesome!

 

Rig was delivered about an hour ago. I freaking love this thing!!! Installing all my games now. Can't wait to see what this baby does!!!!!

 

I am so jealous... I was told today that instead of me receiving my laptop Friday it will be shipped Friday. That means I will have to wait until Tues to enjoy mine

 

Dude you are sooooo lucky. I just talked to them again today and they are still saying it should be here either one the 31st or before. When did you order yours?

 

Mine was ordered the 9th as a priority build from an exchange order going south. I believe epic ordered his the 7th possibly the 8th.

 

Yes, the 7th was when I ordered mine. So far this machine is performing flawlessly. No hiccups from what I can see.

 

That's awesome I am envious to say the least. I so hope mine gets here before the weekend. I have big plans, two intel 520 180gb ssds in raid 0 16gb of vengence 1866mhz and a 3940xm waiting to go in. I'm ready to pimp it out lol then catch up on some much needed gaming

 

well..............................after i cancelled my order yesterday and looked around i could not find anything that matches what i want, at a decent finance deal other than Dell. So..........i have once again ordered a m18x but this time with 680m SLI and the upgraded processor........EDD is 1st July 2013! nearly 2 months away..........still, when it arrives i will be blown away! I am aware there will be new models soon but to be honest i got this one with a £500 discount and reasonable finance so im happy! I plan for this to last 3-4 years.

 

You should have the latest processor which would should be better than what your ordered.

 

? You recon they would give a free processor upgrade if the new ones come out before delivery of this one? For free???? Now that would be nice!

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2

 

Always happened in the past. That is why the long wait period.