Dell makes my head hurt... too many options

[NOTE: for the humour-impaired]

Home, Small Business, Higher Education, EPP.

Then combine those configuration entry points with the various different preconfigured model tiers.

Then toss in the zillion and one "Specials" that one can find preconfigured around the Internetweb and in email links.

Not only are the component upgrade/downgrade prices different for all of the above, but even the *availability* of certain options changes (that is by FAR the most annoying aspect of this whole process).

It's a huge game of "Where's Waldo?" trying to configure TheBestPrice(tm). After 4 days, hell I still don't know if nailed it.

I ordered an M1330 on April 16 through the $599 off EPP link. I was able to stack the 12% off for 3/4-year warranty, a 10% off EPP coupon, and 4% off for DPA. System price was $29xx, and after taxes it ended up being $1991 delivered (My system prices are going to seem high because I'm configuring with the new SATA II 64GB SSD, 9-cell, and 2 extra AC adapters).

But I wasn't thrilled. I wanted blue and not black, but that wasn't a configurable option. I wanted the integrated graphics to save on battery life and heat output, but that wasn't an option; I had to take the 8400GS. After the fact, I realized that I should have taken the 4-year warranty package, not the 3-year (after discounts the difference would be $59.20 and you get a $70 gift card... idiot!)

Overall I was disgruntled (actually, I've never been gruntled to begin with).

So fast forward two days. The XPS M1330 is $699 off, today only, through "Dell's 10 Days of Deals". For giggles I decide to see if I can do better than what I initially configured.

Whoa! There's the Midnight Blue option. Hey! There's the integrated graphics.

Dagnabit!

So I get me another 10% off coupon, configure everything as I want it, try different options, and ended up calling in to cancel my order (and see if the sales rep can do anything for me... doubtful as I'm cutting things fine as it is). After hanging up twice on Punjab in Calcutta, I got a U.S. phone rep (a very friendly and personable lady named Durinda), and about 30 minutes later, after cancelling my previous order, and reconfiguring everything, I wound up with a system that had a starting price of about $300 higher ($3257) for only a net difference of $60 after taxes.

I got the color I wanted, I dropped the 8400GS, I upped the warranty from 3-year to 4-year, and upped the processor from T8300 to a T9300. $1934.95 + tax.

I'm exhausted, but I think (hell, I'll never know for certain) I got a good deal...

 

Bummer. But you got a better deal than I did.

 

The problem isn't "too many options" so much as "changing availability of options."

 

Hey, all that confusion is why you come here...NBR is a place to obtain notebook clarity. :laugh:

 

All the M1330's I see on Dell's site are 1280x800.
How did you get a 1440x900??

 

By dreaming. It's 1280x800...

 

Kinda nice to have "Choices" don't you think?

 

People just complain too much.

 

Jesus people, just lighten the heck up. Did I need to sprinkle smilies throughout the darned thing? I thought the sense of humor would come through... guess I was wrong.

 

Lol I enjoyed it as I'm going through the same exact thing myself.

 

Yea, Dell is like that. I really hate when deals change to better ones, and it drives you nuts. I got a Dell XPS M1530 for $999 in XPS Deals, $1200 in upgrades additionally. I was concerned if the Core 2 Duo 1.83GHz was enough, but I thought "Hey, it's a great deal. Take advantage of it." So I did. Thinking I got the best deal, the deals ended. I was glad that I got the XPS. BUT... whats this? The XPS deals are still up? There on the site, SAME PC, but with Core 2 Duo 2.00GHz for the same price as the one I ordered (like a free $100 upgrade). I wasn't too mad, but dam, that was bull****. Dell can be VERY unpredictable...

 

lmao...

AGREED!!!

 

Well, that's how they make money. If everyone knew what's gonna come up next then Dell would never be able to sell anything at a higher price.