Dell UK Web site Errors - can any AW rep's help get this horrible mess sorted out ??

Well, for many weeks now, I (and probably many others) have been trying to configure Alienware machines on the UK & EMEA websites without success. This may not effect every configuration, but it is getting to a point now where it is really beyond a joke if one cannot configure a machine that one would like to order. Some of you may recall me posting a "joke" thread about an 18 that was coming in at a cool 1.2 million pounds.....it's that bad.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware-m18x/734253-anyone-got-spare-million-s-new-18-a.html

Anyway, I am personally trying to configure an Alienware 18 - top tier configuration - with absolutely no joy whatsoever. To make matters worse, Dell ran a 3 day promotion recently whereby there was a 10% discount on all Alienware laptops and Desktops:



Too bad that during this 'special promotion' it was laughably hard to try and configure a machine with any success. I, and probably many others, found it virtually impossible to build a machine without some kind of error being thrown back at us.....ranging from "not available at this time" to "Recovery DVD not compatible" with certain configurations. Goes without saying, because of the massive amount of errors, I (for one) could not configure a machine during this period and lost out because of the web site being as much use as a chocolate fire guard.

I appreciate that things may well be out of stock, but the current errors on the UK site indicate that this is not the case. Personally, I am trying to configure machine from the top tier with a 4930mx, Windows 7 Ultimate and a 512gb mSata 750gb HDD configuration (the rest stock apart from warranty).

It's been like this for a while now.....again, I've just tried to build with no joy. The current problem with this is that if you select a 4930mx, Windows & Ultimate and the 512gb mSata option, you get this error:



However, if you drop the CPU down to a 4900mq, shock horror, the 512gb mSata IS available and does not throw a wobbler saying that it isn't available:



(Note: It is possible to configure with a 4930mx with a 750gb HDD/80gb mSata combination, so that indicates to me that neither the 4930mx nor the 512gb mSata have stocking issues, as a machine can be configured in such a fashion that you can have one or the other but not both together!!!)

I've lost track of the amount of times I have chatted live to a rep, spoken to them on the phone etc......all I get told is that there is a compatibility issue with a 4930mx and the 512gb mSata, which is probably a load of horse poop because this specific combination IS available via Dell USA website, as per below - without ANY error messages - and I doubt that Dell USA would actively be selling that configuration in the States if there were any compatibility issue with it, right?:



I imagine Dell would be losing a fair amount of money because of the amount of constant errors on the above Dell sites. If someone cannot build, they cannot buy, right?

I've spoken to my long term Dell rep, he confirms verbally that there are issues, they have been escalated or tickets raised, but he tells me that even his order processing tools do not permit him to override the stupid errors that are littered all over the Alienware UK web site right now....

I'm getting pretty fed up of 'trying' and 'waiting' for Dell to sort this out. Hopefully someone can fire a rocket at Dell EMEA/UK and get these dumb errors ironed out......

It's getting beyond funny.

Sorry for the rant!

 

Great. Just checked again this morning and now, the 512gb mSata is no longer an option at all !!!

Selecting the top tiered Alienware 18 in the UK only allows one hard drive configuration of a single 750gb HDD with an 80gb mSata. This is pathetic !! - this is supposed to be the elite configuration option, however the hard drive options (well, lack of them) are just bonkers......you can have a loaded 18 but you cannot have anything but the most very basic hard drive set up.....

Seems to be the same case across the entire Alienware range.....no option other than a single 750gb HDD with the 80gb mSata.

 

And 750Gb for the HDD's always on offer don't cut it as far as HDD capacity goes either. Pretty much rip it out and shelve it mediocre parts.

 

True, and I find it very hard to believe that Dell do not have anything other than 750gb HDD's and 80gb mSata's in stock for UK orders.....the machines are all built at the same location, so unless Dell are prioritizing other countries in a certain order, we should all get the same options....

 

It's pretty peculiar. You should see some of the nonsense and ludicrously expensive configs I see the Jap store. No wonder no one buys them here.

Do I sense an looming order brother Stevie ?

 

You certainly can sense me enquiring about such, Brother TBone!

I have a lot riding on Dell Executive Resolutions team doing the right thing by me - once I can build a machine and forward them a quotation. Any new order from me will be very dependant on how favourably they look on things following on from my 'nightmare' experience not so long back.....I guess that's why I am getting frustrated with the web site configuration tools - I can't get a quote on a system I cannot build, even the rep's order tools cannot override the web site options, and therefore, I cannot progress things any further right now....because the web site and/or options are FUBAR'd.....

 

That's quite a broken mess. Dell might wanna sit up and fix this fast - they'd be hemorrhaging sales.

 

That's exactly what I thought and why I posted the thread. I wonder how many people have been trying to build a machine and have just given up on the idea because of the really poor web site ad/or lack of options....

 

I wonder how many people got poorly specced machines because they didn't know too much better. And that's probably the saddest part.

I couldn't even imagine getting an Extreme processor and a spinner for my main OS drive.

 

^^^^ Exactly.

 

What Dell needs is a few non-US reps perusing this forum too. Chances are a US Dell rep will see and recognize the problem whist have no chain of command to get any thing done.

 

That would be an excellent idea. We could do with someone who can act on things that are beyond direct control of our US AW Brothers........

Wow, the UK site just keeps getting better and better - not.

The 512gb mSata is back! - still throwing errors when selecting it with a 4930mx, with any other CPU it is fine. Also, the price has jumped from £110 over base to a massive £390 over base......what the hell, Dell????

No wonder they removed it the other day, those who did NOT want the 4930mx would have been able to snatch a £110 upgrade to a 512gb mSata if they placed an order yesterday or a few days prior to that......

 

Hmm everytime I try thats never there, £110 for a £250+ msata who wouldn't lol i paid more for the 256gb through dell xD

 

Looks like the option to grab the 512gb mSata for £110 has been rectified. Funny how they can rectify pricing issues, but cannot rectify the error you get when choosing a 4930mx and the 512gb mSata.

Great site, Dell.....just bloomin, brilliant.....

The other thing I find odd is that on both UK and USA sites, configuring with Windows 8 (not that I would touch it with a bargepole) means you cannot have a 512gb mSata at all - on the UK site, it's just not there to add, on the US site, it throws a compatibility alert.....

 

Hey btw what coupons will you be using when you order yours?

 

Well, I wont be buying (if I buy) it through the normal methods - my case is different because I will be dealing with Dell Executive Customer Resolutions regarding previous problems. They will be the ones to give me Dell's best price in respect to resolving my previous case - they will be doing the discounting, not voucher codes.

If you are looking for codes, you can try DMXDimension for the UK. Otherwise, find a good rep and haggle a bit - be prepared for not massive discounts - I think either way, anything over 10% right now would be good.

 

I've actually managed to get 30% off and free shipping however that can be further improved providing a UK person as a coupon more than 10%, a deal can be made where I can order 2 and sell the other to that person saving both of us £1000+, anyone out there with a 15%, 20% or more coupon looking to get an alienware let me know asap as ill be buying soon

 

Hello asim_j I have just read your post and im actually interested on your offer but does it work with any alienware laptop models such as 14/17/18. Im from uk too

 

Yea it will, just alienware laptops, however youll need to provide a coupon better than the 10% one available otherwise a lot of people will be asking and im limited to buying 2 machines (1 mine and 1 for someone else). Also pickup would be prefered so London is preffered.

 

Dell UK web site still FUBAR'd as far as 4930mx and a 512gb mSata goes.......at this point, I'm thinking of just keeping my cash and forgetting about the whole thing. This really is pathetic. There is obviously no compatibility issue, as if there were, Dell USA would not be selling the same configuration as being available without errors when configuring.

Somebody in EMEA needs to pull their thumb outta their butt....

 

Maybe go for the 80gb and buy the 512gb seperatly, I believe the stuff is really easy to change in the 18

 

That's not the point, nevermind the fact that the ENTIRE issue with Stevie's service record w/ Dell is regarding SSDs.

Making things better >>> Getting around bad things.

 

Yeah, it's not the point....but I can understand that many people don't know the in's and out's of my case.....if it were different, I would certainly be looking aftermarket.

 

Can't add an Alienware M17 with Nvidia 780m to the basket, as the UK power cable is incompatible!

Give the option to 'fix' but nothing happens..

 

You mean this STOOOOOOOOPID error:



This is REEEEEAAALLLLYYYY getting beyond funny when we cannot even configure machines without the Dell UK web site deciding it is going to throw a fit.....this particular error is brought about when adding a 256gb mSata - deselect it and the error goes away.....for god's sake, why on EARTH would a power cable be incompatible with an mSata drive???

C'mon Dell......get you ACT TOGETHER!!!!

 

Oh no they have that for a reason, you'll need to switch enegry suppliers if you want that upgrade, they get comission on every switch.

 

Yes that stupid error!!

 

Haha - that's too funny about switching! - Maybe British Gas and Dell have teamed up to rob us even more...."Sorry, sir....you will need us to come out, survey your home, assess your current power draw before we can sell you an mSata SSD"

Obviously, we, in the UK need to hook our AW's up to the national grid in order to run a mSata drive that could be powered by a hamster's wheel - how absurd is that particular error!!! - I mean, I could understand it if it were an 18 trying to run SLI or an Extreme CPU on a 240w PSU - an mSata though??? - you gotta be kiddin' me, right? LOL ...... the stupid errors are littered all over the place. Someone at Dell UK web design needs to be lined up against a wall and shot......many times over.

 

I actually get the power warning after I make any three changes and it doesn't go away, I also never get the 512gb msata option :/

 

Is that on the 17? - afaik, the 512gb has never been an option - obviously that would require "too much power" and we would need to harness solar energy to power it, or maybe the Hadron Collider.

Cap'n, we just dinnae have the poooooower!

 

Na on the 18, you get to see the option but I don't.

 

Another blunder - you gotta select Windows 7 to have the 512gb mSata appear - if you go Win 8, you don't see it.....mind you,this is the same on the US site - if you try it on Dell.com, it throws a compatibility alert when you select a 512gb mSata and Windows 8.

In the UK, if you choose an AW 18, Win 7, and a 4900mq, you can have a 512gb mSata - if you change the CPU to a 4930mx, BAM!! - error error error....

 

Ah yea I get this error now :/

 

Yeah....thought you would. Great work Team Dell UK/EMEA......

This has been the case, on and off with other crappy errors, for weeks - I've been trying to configure an 18 with a 4930mx and a 512gb mSata for a loooong time now....Dell UK/EMEA just can't seem to get things right....and the shame is that I already missed a genuine 3 day 10% off AW promo earlier in the month, NOW, I'm gonna lose out on voucher codes expiring before Dell UK/EMEA get their web site act together.....

I'm swaying more and more to just keeping my money......

 

Can mention that Swedish site has exactly the same problems(And have had since quite a long time back)

And here as well the reps from Dell all answered differently regarding the problems.

I decided to just skip on the 512GB SSD and buy it somewhere else and install it myself(Didnt want to, but didnt feel like waiting either since this seems to be taking forever)

 

Brother Stevie - kind of all dressed up with no where to go.
Dell, Dell, Dell.. Tsk

 

Well it seems fixed this morning, we now have the US style site.. Will have a play around at work later (cough)..

 

Pretty much, Tbone....

Well, the 512gb mSata on the 18 is STILL throwing the same error with the new web site layout.....I find it hard to believe that the mSata is incompatible with a 4930mx or suddenly becomes mysteriously unavailable of you do select the MX......I just wish that someone would rectify the glaring error.....

 

Wow.....now the VIP codes no longer work.........tried entering them at the checkout but they do not alter the price - just states the following:

Coupon Terms and Conditions

Coupons Entered
The following coupons have been entered but require additional information or do not meet eligibility requirements. Click "View Details" link(s) for more information.

VIP Discount
Expires 15 September 2014 View Details Remove Coupon

Great stuff.....way to go Dell UK......firstly, make it impossible to configure the machine I want and THEN nullify the VALID discount codes that we can use......the "Q" code still works but none of my other codes that worked yesterday are working now that Dell have messed yet again with the website.....

I think I'm just gonna give up on this idea.....what a joke.....

 

My codes are still working

 

My error, I was shopping under HSB, not EPP. Working again now.....

 

I found the reason for the compatibility error!

From their chat support lol

 

Hahahaha - that is sooooo funny. It's always nice to 'chat' with someone who doesn't know their butt from their elbow....

 

:O:O I found a solution!

It's not nice but it works, you have to basically check the 512GB box and then immediately select customise accessories before the error pops up xD its in my basket

Module Description Show Details
Base Alienware 18 BTX Base Mod
Operating System Windows® 7 Home Premium (64 BIT) English
Memory 16GB Dual Channel DDR3L at 1600MHz
Keyboard Internal UK/Irish (QWERTY) Keyboard
Video Card Dual NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780M with 4GB GDDR5 - NVIDIA SLI Enabled
Driver Killer NIC 1420 802.11n/ac WiFi and Bluetooth 4.0 (SAF)
Hard Drive 512GB mSata SSD Boot + 750GB 7200RPM SATA 6Gb/s
CD ROM/DVD ROM Slot-Loading Dual Layer Blu-ray Reader (BD-ROM, DVDRW, CD-RW)
Wireless 5G WiFi Broadcom 4352 802.11n/ac and Bluetooth 4.0
Cable UK 250V Power Cord
Documentation/Disks Ship Docs : Eng
Bundle N00AW853
Extended Service 1 Year NBD with Premium Phone Support
Placemat Placemat English
Documentation Documentation not included
Order Information Alienware M18XR1 Order
Primary Battery 8-cell Lithium Ion (86 wHr) Battery
Processor Intel® Core™ i7-4930MX Processor (8MB Cache Overclocked up to 4.3GHz w/ Turbo Boost)
Color Choice Anodized Aluminum

 

Bah....can't get that to work either...

 

Besides, orders were being cancelled for 'bad part numbers' in the US like CRAZY after the launch. I bet they wouldn't feel bad about cancelling that.

 

Well, I got the mSata added in with Asim's trick - eventually.....man, I had to be like Mr. Mayagi catching flies with his chopsticks - fast hands required indeed! LOL

That is true, Hybrys - I recall mass cancellations, so I would probably not be surprised if that did happen....

 

Lol.. Glad to hear there was a work around. Locked and loaded now Stevie?

 

Well, I'm loaded - not quite locked LOL. I can't get the price to exactly where I ideally would like it to be. I might just hang fire, wait to see what happens with the 18 bios issue.

 

Yeah the bios issue is abit of a blunder. I'm disappointed it hasn't been addressed already. It's gone on too long. Well I hope you get the price your after, atleast it might entice you more.