Hinge Cover Shortage on Alienware laptops

Just a couple hours ago, I had got of the phone with Dell customer service. I ordered my M17x R4 on 10/19 with an EDD of 11/19 with 7 day shipping. Now, I understand 5-7 days is the standard, but today is the 11th, with Monday being a holiday and not counting Saturdays as a business day, AW has 4 days of shipping until my package is expected to be delivered. Checking the site gave me no insight to why it hasn't shipped. So, being concerned, I decided to call.

The friendly support person I talked to (I told to take as much time as needed to find out what the delay is) did some research and found out that my M17x should be completed shortly due to the factory being short on Hinge Covers.

He then confirmed that the AW's are ASSEMBLED in China (never said where the parts are made) and he said he marked my order for expedited production and shipping in hopes I receive it by the EDD. If I don't, I'm a little upset that I spent $2700 on a computer I had to wait OVER A MONTH to have.

I'm not sure if anyone else ordered a laptop around the same time as I have, but if you've been refreshing dells Order Details page and it hasn't changed in the time you expected it to, I suggest you call a representative. If anything, it might help you get your system sooner then some guy that ordered his a week ago.

Anyone else order anything similar to me around the time I did and already received theirs? Just curious....

Reference Specs: M17x R4 - i7-3630QM - 1080p 3D screen - 500GB HDD - 56GB RAM - 680M - Red case - Custom AlienFX & Nameplate - Killer Wireless

TL;DR - My Alienware was delayed due to a hinge cover shortage and I wasn't informed. Called a rep who SAID they expedited my order. I'll know soon if they did or didn't

:::UPDATE:::
Dell just called to let me know that my order is in the final stages of production. It should be safe to say they have hinge covers now.

 

Im afraid expediting the order is the standard response they give.

 

regardless, it's better than no response

 

They can't make parts appear out of thin air, Just be patient and it will be there before you know it. I had to wait a month plus for mine right after the r3 was released. Longest wait of my life haha.

 

I can sympathize with that, haha

I was posting this to give people a heads up who may have ordered around the same time i had. there wasn't any info from anyone around my order date so I wanted to get some info out there..

 

Ah that makes sense. Hope you get your system soon!

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S2 running Resurrection Remix

 

Ordered mine on 10/15, EDD was 11/12 - Was certain i would get the laptop way before then. When 11/9 came around I called Dell since the Order Status screen still said in production. Customer Support told me there was a shortage of hinge covers and power supplies/adaptors... and gave me a new date of Nov 23rd.

The order status page now has a blank EDD. Hopefully I'll see an update soon.

 

they must still have a shortage as my roommate who is ordering my laptop for me using the chat system was told they are short on several components including the hinge covers, this is an m17x that i am ordering

 

There is a strike at one of the factories...can't give any details...don't ask.

 

^ rumor?

please elaborate. Dell is not the only company being eaten alive right now...

 

I said don't ask....than you know....

 

Compal Electronics is the one that builds AW laptops (and Lenovo/others), and their approximate output is 100k laptops a month, if I recall correctly. They did go on strike in mid October and it only lasted maybe a week or so, Combine that with a random shortage of various parts and delivery times will be pushed back for many. I myself ordered on 10/29 and my EDD is still 11/27.

I have spoken to people who have claimed their Dell rep said it was everything from hinge covers to power cords to motherboards (me) to felt bags (me) to every part except the RAM (seriously?).

So, my advice is to sit tight and 1 week before your EDD, give them a call and check the status with an actual person.

 

i have heard both hinge and power cord during my travels. fwiw

 

I also called & spoke with someone from Dell. I was told basically the same thing. I was also told that the case for m17x R4's were also backordered. I do appreciate Dell's honesty.