Can I Get a Better Deal from Dell?

Last Christmas I purchased an XPS 15 for my kid for Christmas. Excellent unit all around, and now it's time for dad to treat himself.
Configured an XPS 15 for myself with these specs:

1) 2nd generation Intel® Core™ i7-2720QM processor 2.20 GHz with Turbo Boost 2.0 up to 3.30 GHz
2) Backlit keyboard
3) 6GB RAM
4) 15.6 FHD B+RGLED TL (1920x1080)
5) NVIDIA® GeForce® GT 540M 2GB graphics with Optimus
6) 750GB 7200 RPM SATA Hard Drive
7) Tray Load Blu-ray® Triple Writer
8) JBL 2.1 Speakers with Waves Maxx Audio 3 + Creative SoundBlaster X-FI MB 1.2
9) Intel© Centrino© Advanced-N 6230 & Bluetooth 3.0
10) 90 WHr 9-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery

Ordered online, (haven't spoken to any reps), and got a total price of $1520. Free delivery. Oh, and my state's taxes added to that, (6%), of course.
Any opinions on this deal? Any coupons floating around these days, or suggestions on how to knock down the price?
Appreciate any help. Thank you.

 

If you wanted to upgrade to a 17" display...

Best deal and coupon Dell XPS 17 17.3-inch Laptop with 2nd gen Intel Core i7, 3D 1080p | XPS 17 Coupon, Deals, Reviews - LogicBUY

 

Use this coupon: 932N$0ZCCHWZB9
save $100

 

I picked up the XPS 17 in my sig for a little less than that (right around $1500) after taxes by configuring the base model and using a couple coupons off here to save $400-$450 (one was the $100 coupon, one was either $300 or $350 off a $1600+ config...). I added the SSD and RAM upgrades, but the base system was a bit better than what you have there.

I suspect that if you can find the $350 off coupon and use that and the $100 coupon, you will come in a bit lower. Still, you have a nice fully-tricked out system there. And it will blow your son's out of the water (especially the CPU)! Even the 2630QM beats the gen 1 i7-extreme when nothing is overclocked!

EDIT: codes I found at the link given by otacon:

Note that the $350 only works on the base model, if you select one of the upgraded ones it blows out the Dell savings there. Configure the base for what you want and apply discounts! I don't know for sure if they work on the 15 too, but you can try, I think they will if you get over the $1600 mark.

 

Thanks for the quick replies, gents!
zjacobss, the coupon worked. Good for $100! Thank you.
otacon and madmattd, thanks for the links but I'm not looking at the 17's. A bit too big for my needs when travelling.

I'll continue to dig around for more coupons and deals in the meantime and post back here if I find anything.
Think it might be worthwhile to give Dell a call do some haggling?

 

Dell won't haggle unless you already have a laptop and try to send it back or something. Logicbuy.com is the place I use the most.

 

Even with a loyal customer? We've purchased three Dell's over the years.
What about a student/education discount? My kid's in college.

 

Can't hurt to call all they can say is no..lol

 

If you plan on gaming, XPS 15 is a bad computer in this price range. There are better alternatives in the $1300-1500 price range. XPS 15 is only worth it when you get it down to ~$1000 with i7 Quad/1080p.

 

Bob, no gaming at all. Strictly home office, surfing the 'net, emails, and such.
The machine is more than I need, but what the hell? If I don't spend my money my in-laws will.

 

Haha, that was hilarious. Nice looking system specs. However like others said, it's worth calling them and haggling as you never know what more savings you could get. This THREAD has lots of brilliant advise about how to haggle by phone. I know I'm definitely calling them and using that thread next time I'm ordering. I'll be working my smooth talking magic on these reps. (I wish , hopefully though )

 

Understood. I travel too, but I didn't care, I decided a 17 was what I wanted. If I was still in school or something then I would have gotten a 15". The 17" is actually lighter than the old 14" Inspiron 1150 I used to take to class daily...but it naturally is a fair bit larger. I understand the issue, and the XPS 15 really is a nice system too.

I tried those coupons out yesterday on a test build and the $350 definitely doesn't work on the XPS 15. I think the $150 might have, but there definitely is a $100 that works as you saw, so that is great! Also, there is always a free shipping coupon. Not that Dell charges much for shipping anyway (like $9 in US iirc for 7-day). The best part is that in the lower-48 in US it never takes 7 days to get to you. If you are close enough, you even get it next day! I'm near Boston, mine arrived the day after it shipped from New Jersey! But usually it is no more than 2-3 days since Dell has a lot of places around the country.

EDIT: One more thing. I see you have the XFI add-on software configured. I think the general consensus is that it isn't worth the extra $20. But it's up to you of course.

 

E.D.U., great link. Thanks for sharing. I'll have to make time to do some reading.
madmatt, I agree regarding the XFI add-on. Seems to be $20 unnecessarily spent. I'll delete that when I get back to Dell.

 

Well, after about a week and a half of trying, the best price I have been able to get from Dell is $1,399.99 Not much of a savings from my original price.
Spoke with four reps and each pretty much said the same: the XPS15 is already discounted and I am at a rock bottom price right now. I was hoping to get it down about $200 but that doesn't appear to be in the cards right now. To pull the trigger or not, that is the question.

 

try this coupon 4VB4CC3X7BJ4F6 if you havent bought it yet

 

Thanks, but it's not valid for my order according to Dell.

 

What dept is that coupon valid for ?

 

try this link for that code, sorry no time to test it right now

The Dell Online Store: Build Your System

it works, comes out to $950 with the following:

Core i7 2630QM 2.00 GHz CPU (Sandy Bridge)
6GB DDR3 Memory
750GB 7200 RPM SATA Hard Drive
15.6" (1920x1080) LCD /w 2MP Webcam
Blu-ray ROM + DVDRW
1GB NVIDIA GeForce GT 525M
USB 3.0, Mini Displayport, HDMI, eSATA
Intel Centrino Wireless-N 1000
9-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery
Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit

expires: Monday, July 25

 

kizh, it did work! Configured the exact same rig and it was $75 less using that link and coupon. Thank you. I'll be hearing from the rep later today to see what he can do to close this deal out.

 

That's the deal I took advantage of as well!