Dell Estimated Delivery Dates and Reality Thread

Hi Guys,

I've been following the order progress threads but wanted to make a dedicated thread regarding Dell's EDDs after placing the order and hear about peoples actual experiences. I have read plenty about people getting their machines well before the EDD but also many posts about how their EDD gets pushed back.

Does the EDD always get pushed back if it comes late or could the day listed on the website come and go with no computer?

Is there any way to get an update with any more detail than just checking the website and seeing IN PRODUCTION?

Is there a specific telephone number within Dell that gets you to people who actually are helpful with already placed orders? Email add's?

I get the sense that the whole process is a bit of a mystery but hoping a compilation of responses could shed some more clear light.

 

In my experiences over the course of many Dell PC orders as well as what I most frequently read about others' experiences, Dell tends to play it safe with the EDD. Meaning that you're probably going to get it earlier than the EDD. I think the most typical wait time from ordering to delivery is no more than 2 weeks. Many report 1 week which I feel is lucky and not all that common. Some, though, report 3+ weeks which I feel is unlucky and rather rare.

I had always received PCs from Dell in 1-2 weeks until my latest order of an XPS 15. Ordered on 3/23 with an EDD of 4/13. Called in multiple times for status updates over the course of the production and was told by multiple reps that everything was fine, it was in the boxing stage, it was in the final stages, etc. Even told it would ship on 4/8 specifically at one point. However, on the actual date of 4/8, I was told the order was delayed until 5/4. I was given different and bizarre reasons for this, but, fortunately, the system shipped on 4/12, and I received it 4/13. So, that was my latest experience. Pretty bad overall, even though I did actually receive it on the original EDD, and there is nothing wrong with it at all.

Delivery time aside, I strongly believe the service team is in need of improvement in the order status area. It is evident from my XPS 15 experience that they only tell you what their computers tell them. This can (and did, in my case) lead to varying contradictory and nonsensical status updates (or reasons for delay, if your order has been delayed). They do not seem to be willing or able to get specific or accurate status or delay reasons for you from the actual assembly team in charge of your system. They only read what's on their screen. Might be accurate, but in my latest case, it almost never was. I mean, I was told by 3 different reps that my order was fine when it wasn't. Then, after the delay, I was given two different reasons that both sounded bogus (parts backordered and defective processors). And they couldn't provide me with details, which was extremely frustrating at times.

What I'm saying is that I don't think there is a number that will guarantee you a rep who can get you detailed and accurate information on your order. You might, and should, have a better experience than I did with the XPS 15 order, but there isn't a number that will guarantee that you do, sadly. As for e-mail, I don't know. I haven't used it much. But it seems they ignore you if the problem is too much for them. I sent them a lengthy one detailing the problems I was having with my XPS 15 order some days ago, when it was still delayed for unknown reasons. Still haven't received a response despite their automated reply telling me I'd have one in 1 business day.

One more thing to add to this long post: The automated order status line (forgot the number) is useless. I heard it used to be pretty valuable for detailed status info. But now, all it seems to do is inform you that your order "is currently being processed" no matter which stage it's in. That's what it told me for over 2 weeks: currently being processed. Then, after the delay, it told me that my order had shipped on April 29. That's right. April 29, 2011. Hmm. Further, if you happen to have multiple orders, you're supposed to be able to speak "next order" into the phone in order to skip ahead. Simply put: No, you can't. I always had 2-3 orders when I called the line, so I tried every time to say "next order." It never worked once.

And that's what I've got to say about EDDs and customer service.

 

My original EDD was May 5th, but it is being shipped as we speak with 7 day shipping, so I'd say you can can generally expect your laptop about 2 weeks before your EDD if everything goes well.

 

Oh, yeah, the shipping options are somewhat of a joke, too. Mine took 1 day to arrive after shipping despite me having chosen 7 day delivery. But, then, working partly as a shipper for a local company, I don't believe there is a single ground service in the continental US that takes longer than 5 days between any 2 points. Usually, even the ground service is only about 3 days. It can easily be 1 or 2 days, too, if the manufacturer has lots of factories/warehouses scattered across the country. ...Hopefully, that all made sense. But, the bottomline is, don't bother paying to upgrade your shipping with Dell unless it's to overnight. Even then, you still might not be saving much, if any, time.

 

interesting. order date?


also, thanks for the reply jmeyer

 

My order date was 4/5

 

First order
Ordered: 28/2/2011
In production: 01/3/2011
EDD: 28/3/2011
Delivered: 25/3/2011

Replacement Order
Ordered: 25/3/2011
In production: 01/4/2011
EDD: 28/4/2011
Delivered: 11/4/2011

For your information, I have made numerous calls to Dell technicians in asking for the latest update on my replacement order.

 

thanks for the info! two follow ups: did you find those calls helpful and if so, what # did you call??

 

Original order date: March 20th, 2011
Estimated Date to be shipped out: April 29th, 2011
Estimated arrival date: May 6th, 2011

I chose the free 7-day shipping, I received the laptop on March 30th. Only took 10 days from original order date.

Dell L702x, i7-2820QM, 6GB RAM, 3D, 555M, Bluray writer, 6230+BT

Kansas USA

 

wow, crazy run good

did your status change to shipped before you received it or did it show up out of nowhere? i had no idea it could come so fast but good to hear it! any issues with your wireless card?