AW/DELL Ordering Advice - How to save $$$

I'm going to give this a try tomorrow on the new Studio 14 with 720QM cpu here in Canada.

Edit: I will post feedback.

 

great post, thanks
rep++

 

So, I spent a bit of time on the phone with a rep getting a system reordered. Trying to use the e-value code for the double memory, and get it in the Employee Pricing Program. On his end, those two were not compatible.

What I learned is that the maximum discount he could apply (with what he termed 'no questions asked') was $300. This included the 3% for the DPA, but not the 10% for the Employee Pricing Program. I don't know if that included shipping upgrades also.

I also don't know if that was just his hard line or if that is their policy. I tend to think that might be the policy. I'm not sure if there was a way to get to a higher level of salesman or not, to authorize a larger discount than that.

Adam

 

Hmm. I wonder how much truth there is to that. Maybe he was just gaurding his commission lol

EDIT: Link to mfactal's thread How to order from US for non US citizens added to original post

 

I'll be trying this in two months time to try and get the M11x price down to £500 for me. Can't order it if it's any more than that, plain and simple. Seeming as the base price in the US is £512 after conversion, and that I'll be able to claim the tax back (taking it outside of the UK), hopefully I'll be able to meet that...

Any tips you'd have on being able to haggle that price down? Extra tips, I mean. Anything in particular working right now for European purchasers?

 

Hey DR650SE, thanks for the link
It's worth noting that you guys should dig good in your family tree and find some remote uncle that works with Boeing, that's an instant 16% off ....

 

opps they are closed on sundays I can't try today...

 

Boeing gets 16% off that fning ridicuolous if i had know that i would of called up my friend down the street, lol duely noted good sir for future refrence duely noted!

 

Hey OP
I think it's worth noting in the first post that calling and asking about your order status can get you a free NBD upgrade if you ask politely. (which i am going to do today)

 

whats NBD mean?
"Next Buisness Day" ?

 

Noted .

 

next business day, yep.

 

Sheesh how do you guys get the amazing discounts! The Reps are made of steel!

 

I can not get them to budge at all. The only thing was they threw in a free tv tuner but will not cut taxes off, no discount, no back pack not even an extra battery. I am still holding out till the blu-ray drive is available again, they said they are 30% sure it will be back in 2 weeks. I have $3,500 burning a hole in my pocket and about to start looking for a better system. Tired of waiting and reading more and more problems with them everyday

 

lol, your're lucky, I didn't even get a free tv tuner!! I asked my rep about the blu-ray and she said that was Dell-Europe and that they weren't affiliated or some crap. It took me forever to end the convo with her too!

 

deltaone45, I'll probably end up getting the set up that you have. Can you hook me up with your rep? I can't PM yet, so hopefully tomorrow I will be able to!!

 

im in the middle of an excersie on my base but ill try and get the info as soon as i can

 

Just wondering if you guys knew any good suggestions for laptop like this. Was looking into the M17x but it was way out of my price range, gonna try and do like you suggests and get a M15x cheaper. Price I've got right now is 1674, but I've only got 1500.

 

Trying to negotiate with Dell but they aren't moving alot on the system, the said they only give 5% off for EPP. THis is what I was quoted so far:

Space Black - Anodized Aluminum $2,801.14
1 AlienFX Color, Quasar Blue
1 Alienware Command Center, M17x
1 5.1 Channel Audio
1 8X DVD+/-RW Dual Layer Drive,QuickSilver
1 Intel Core i7 720QM 1.6GHz (2.8 GHz Turbo Mode, 6MB Cache)
1 6GB DDR3 at 1066MHz
1 17-inch WideUXGA 1920 x 1200 RGB LED (1200p)
1 Dual 1GB ATI Radeon Mobility HD 4870 in CrossfireX
1 Standard Nameplate
1 Automatic Updates: Critical Updates Only
1 Alienware M17x 240W A/C Adapter
1 640GB 5,400RPM SATA-II HDD
1 PC-Restore, Dim/Insp
1 DataSafe Local BackUp 2.0 Basic
1 Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium, 64bit, English
1 Dell Wireless 1520 802.11n Half Mini Card
1 Dell Hardware Warranty Plus On-Site Service, Initial Year
1 Next Business Day Parts and Labor On-Site Response, Initial Year
1 Warranty Support,Initial Year
430-0628 1 Bluetooth 2.1 with EDR
*DISCNT 1 -DISCOUNT/COUPON APPLIED

Seems high for what other people are getting.

 

Note: Added a few more notes to the EPP section. Family members may also qualify for EPP. So if you have a relative that works for a large company or a company that has an EPP discount, then you may qualify as well.

 

That sales rep is lying or is inept! I just went online and checked the EPP, its still 10%! Try to push him/her by saying that you are sure that the EPP is 10% and if they are only willing to give you 5% you might as well order it online yourself!

 

@jabbok, just get the quote# and then call back tomorrow and talk to another rep. As long as you ask them to save the quote and obrain the quote#, its valid for a couple of weeks I believe. Not sure on time frame so check the quote email which is sent. Be sure to specifiy you want the quote sent via email.

You'll get it down.

 

I have the quote number and it is good for 5 days, I am calling back again today to negotiate further.

 

OMG, THANK YOU A MILLION TIMES FOR THE ADVICE. You saved me hundreds of bucks for the purchase.

System : Alienware M17x

*Space Black - Anodized Aluminum
*Intel Core i7 720QM 1.6GHz (2.8 GHz Turbo Mode, 6MB Cache) (Upgraded from Intel® Core™ i5 520M)
*4GB Dual Channel DDR3 at 1066MHz
*Alienware M17x 240W A/C Adapter
*17-inch WideXGA+ 1440 x 900 (900p)
*Dual 1GB ATI Radeon Mobility HD 4870 in CrossfireX (Upgraded from Single Memory)
*500GB 7,200RPM SATA-II HDD (Upgraded from 250GB)
*AlienFX Color, Quasar Blue
*Alienware Command Center, M17x
*Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium, 64bit, English
*DataSafe Local BackUp 2.0 Basic
*PC-Restore, Dim/Insp
*Alien Schematic
*Alien Red Glyphs
*ADOBE READER 9.0 MULTI- LANGUAGE
*8X DVD+/-RW Dual Layer Drive,QuickSilver
*5.1 Channel Audio
*Dell Wireless 1520 802.11n Half Mini Card
*Automatic Updates: On
*CompleteCare Accidental DamageProtection, Inspiron, 1 Year (Upgraded from Basic Warranty)
*Dell Hardware Warranty Plus On-Site Service, Initial Year
*Third Party At Home Service, 24x7 Technical Support, Initial Year
*No Warranty, Year 2 and 3
*Soft Contracts,Banktec Care,Alienware
*Soft Contracts,Consumer Complete Care,Alienware
*Warranty Support,Initial Year
*Bluetooth 2.1 with EDR
*Standard Nameplate
*DISCOUNT/COUPON APPL

Original Price : $ 2403
Discount : ~20%
Discounted Price : $1869.16

What a Great Deal!!!!

Other offers:
*Free shipping and handling
*Next Business day shipping


From what I have read from all the posts so far, I think I have got the best deal =D

 

Oh, I would like to give some additional advice to everyone, when you are negotiating with the sales rep, play some mind games, tell them something which is VERY tempting:

"Hi, I'm planning to get my system by today!"

But be warn! Don't show any sign of that you're rushing for the system, or else they will pick on you instead! (as they will assume you need the pc ergently)
Kind of pretending that you're considering for a few models, and you plan to get one "today", but it doesn't really matter if you don't.

 

im still winning there > i got the RGB LED 1985

 

I can't fathom how anyone can order the 900p screen.

That was THE worst laptop lcd I have ever seen.

 

Yeap, I think I will call them back to see if I can make any upgrade to the LCD. LOL

The Sales rep is impatient tho, she gave me until tomorrow morning to make the decision. Hahahaha

 

Dude if you haven't pulled the trigger get the RGB LED. Do not get the 900p res. You have been warned.

 

I didn't upgrade the RAM

 

the RGB LED is the main reason for getting the R2 anyways ITS GOT TO BE SO BEAUTIFUL my eyes can hardly wait! but wait they must

 

I am getting tired of waiting for blu-ray. Anyone know of a better system? I like Falcon but way over priced. Tosh only has 1 video card but they do have blu-ray drives. I do not care for the design of sagar

 

how did you get such a good deal, I am looking at having to pay around $3000.00 for a system with the RGB screen, i7 820QM cpu, 6gb 1333mhz ram, dual Ati 4870 video cards, this is already with about $350.00 in discounts.

 

Oh by the way, your 1985 includes/excludes tax?

 

I suggest, everything is just about the mind game, plus some luck (to meet a good sales rep)

I didn't mention to you guys about "all the difficulties" I have gone through.
>> Phone up Dell... Wait, and wait and wait... Finally got a sales rep
>> Not a good deal, drop it
>> Phone up Dell, again, and wait and wait.... Got another one
>> Bargain, and bargain, and wait, and wait (for my case, the sales rep claimed that she has to talk to her manager)
>> After 30 minutes, she returned to me with a price ("Is this price good for you?") I said no
>> Wait, AGAIN, and wait, and wait, and wait. After another 20 minutes, she returned to me again ("Is this XXXX price better?")
>> The entire section took me more than 2 hours!

 

its without the taxes but i thing taxes are subjective in this sport since not all of us are fortunate enough to not have to PAY then if i still was stationed in germany id be tax free

 

lol too complicated with all your methods to reduce cost. i spent 3 mintues, no less 2 mintues on the phone with my rep. and got 410 dollars discount on my M17x

now i am offered 18% discount on M11x

 

oh you son of a door knob you ordered on the 2nd and it already shipped!! I hate you and love you at the same time!

 

Any new coupons out there? Last config I got (in my sig) was $1600 shipped.
Or is it worth to haggle down an M17x to $1800's (like some people in previous posts in here) if that includes shipping?

I'm just not sure what to go for, I want to make the most of my money that I spend on this machine. But also I want to save as much as possible!


or how does an i5 or i3 sound with a 240m on the m15x?
If that's capable of running some newer games then I'd definitely go for that. I just don't know how well it'd run..
(borderlands, sc2, Wow, mw2, etc.) hopefully full settings with all the shiny options on

 

well think of it this way if you want the newest monitor availible for laptops and an sli/xfire capable laptop get the M17x if those things dont bother you any then get the M15x it would better suit you and save ur wallet in the end its just prefrence. If they hadnt offerd the RGB LED or sli i would of definantly gotten the M15x if thats any help

 

This is why I wanted the M17x notebook because of the screen and dual video cards, I will see if I can get the sales agent to move more on the price or add an additional year of warranty.

 

Damn
I lost! The final price she offered to me is 2015, with RGB LED(30 bucks more than yours) Haha, but it's still a good deal, I took it!

 

Just called again and they are starting to work a little deal and/or push an xps on me since I have been waiting for a blu-ray drive. I been waiting for over a month with the cash in my hand waiting but I have to have a blu-ray drive. Now they are blaming that it is the dell takeover of alienware that is the reason of no blu-ray, (something about mfg's).

I been looking at the new Asus g763 but only comes with one 5870. I want dual video cards. If I am ready to spend $3,600 on a laptop I want to get what I want. I will wait another week or 2 and see if they change anything

 

I am in Canada and I just spoke with a sales rep he said they could manually add the blu-ray drive but it may delay the order.

 

How do you guys go about asking for a taxless free shipping? cus i live in cali and the tax is craeeeezy, btw, <3 this thread.

 

Those that are getting tax free are likely overseas. I'm in Iraq, and so shipping to an APO is taxfree. However, if you call them or talk to you rep, you may be able to swindle some Next Business Day shipping for free or at least be expedited. Just let them know you really need it quick since you need it for work or anything like that. Just stress that you need to minimize your computer down time. Tax though I'm not sure you can negotiate. I wouldn't think so since it is a law

 

Just got NBD for free! but my order still has a long way to go

 

did your EDD change once you got upgraded to NBD, cause mine did not move a day

 

no it didnt

 

Thats what I'm talkin about! Lessons put into action! lol Once it's built and ready to ship, you won't have to wait so long in transit. Remember, EDD is an estimated delivery. Just a ballpark guess.