*VERY* Disappointed with Dell and the XPS 17

So I got my tax return and was wanting to replace my older desktop with a 17" laptop. I looked at Dell, HP, Asus, Sager and Lenovo. For under $1,200, Dell was looking like the winner until I called them. I actually did a pre-build on their website with the features I liked but was saddened to see some things missing from what is supposed to be their "xtreme performance system."

The phone call connected me to a guy who was apparently in India and his English was hard to understand. After I got him to pull up my saved cart I started asking him some questions...

*saved cart*
Dell XPS 17
2nd gen. i5-2520m 2.5GHz (I don't need an i7)
Nvidia GT555m 1g DDR3 GPU 192 bit
JBL and SB audio upgrade
6g 1333 RAM
Blu-ray
Backlit keyboard
2 year full coverage warranty

So my questions...
1. Why doesn't the XPS come with a DDR5 GPU option?
- I don't know, there is no option for that upgrade at this time.

2. If I buy the XPS now and a DDR5 becomes available later, can I send it back in and pay or get a discount on installing a DDR5 upgrade?
- unfortunately, no.



3. Ok so HP has an offer on their dv7t quad 17" which comes with the i7-2630qm, a Radeon HD 6770m 1g DDR5 GPU, free Blu-ray, free 6g RAM upgrade, no backlit keyboard but a full 3 year (not 2) warranty, and is $10 cheaper than your Dell XPS ($1195 vs. $1185 w/ coupons). Can you knock some more off the price of your Dell to compensate?
- unfortunately no, with the use of your coupons that is the best price we can offer you.



Screw Dell. I was all set to drop $1,200 too if they would have just worked with me a little.

 

Next time try to get hold of an American rep. Indian reps are no good. It'll be the same story with HP if they also outsource to India.

 

Dell sales is like a magic 8 ball

Question: how long will it take to get my xps?
Answer: definitely

 

When I was trying to work with HP on several laptops, everyone that I spoke with was in the Philippines. Honestly a CSR on the phone is not going to know why Dell/HP/Lenovo/Sager made the choices they did, regardless of their national origin. Tech support staff are no more "in the know" either...

 

fixed hehehe

 

As a person who just purchased the new refreshed HP dv7 and then returned it to HP last week to purchase an XPS 15 this week, I can tell with my experiences dealing with HP that with the one exception of their quick and prompt return process, the Customer Service has been absolutely horrendous. So if you think you hate customer service now, dealing with HP will make you think that all Dell reps were trained at the Ritz Carlton.

 

haha I like it

 

I just called Dell to see if I can get that Windows 7 sticker, Intel Core i5 sticker, and Energy Star sticker replaced cause I had my palmrest replaced without them. I got transfered 7 times, had to call back cause the call dropped, and ultimately was told that they didn't have any extras.

With Dell, YMMV.

=|

 

They must have tons of them anyway you can grab all those stickers from ebay

 

Why the hell would you want stickers cluttering up your notebook?

 

I happen to like the stickers and its not that messy

 

Good luck actually getting your hands on an HP. I ordered a DV6QE on April 4th. I got convinced to purchase an XPS after that. I ordered the XPS 15 on April 8th, it was in my hands on April 15th. The HP still hasn't shipped. Go ahead and read about the delays on the HP forums.