Dell shipping - too long at 'order processing'?

Hi,

OK, I know it's been discussed countless times before, but... I just have a question about Dell shipping dates. Actually, I live in Canada, so we're talking Dell.ca here. Anywho... I ordered an Inspiron 6400 on Saturday (July 1), and my order status on the Dell website has not moved past 'Order Processing' (today being Wednesday). Am I just impatient, or is there something wrong? I've read other reports of people receiving their Dell's in 5 days; alas, I am not that fortunate. Anyway, any comments on this?

Thanks,

 

Give it a couple more days. I recieved mine in 8 days.

 

ordered mine july 3rd. (canada too) i can't even check my order status.

 

If it's too long in order processing there might me some problem with your credit card, chat with them

 

Personally, I don't believe in Dell's order tracking. I'm willing to wager that they just made up some automated system where it makes up an estimated ship date that is pretty far in advance so barring a part being out of stock it won't be too hard to miss it and then it generates the advancement through the set steps during that time. I don't think that it's a coincidence that if you place an order and it's "stuck" at pre-production, or kitting when you call or chat with them about it having been there for days it mysterously advances within a couple of hours. Not to mention the fact that I've actually received packages from Dell the same day that I get the email saying that the item shipped that day. That was with ground shipping too. The order tracking is facinating to get the feeling that you can "watch" your computer being built and track it's movement over in Malaysia, but I think it's accuracy is pretty crappy. For instance, you really think Dell takes the time to "test" every system they build?

 

Their tracking system isn't all that accurate at all. Like today I got my notebook back from the repair depot and about an hour later I got a call from dell with the order number and tracking number.

 

couldn't be more wrong.

i directed a team of developers for a software company here in so cal. we built logistics software for OEMs like IBM and Dell.

the systems are infinitely complex and interface with CSRs, warehouse staff, outside vendors, billing, etc. etc.

if there is a problem it's usually human error; i.e., someone didn't scan your notebook at a particular station cuz he's backed up, but to think it's just a webpage that someone updates is a little naive.

as well, of course they test the computer before shipping, everybody does.

i hope you're just venting and don't really believe what you wrote.

 

I wasn't being completely serious about there just being a random array of steps, but I do think that there's something terribly wrong with Dell's order tracking.

For one thing, estimated ship dates are jokes. They make them way farther than they can actually send the product just so that the customer is happy and thinks that they are getting it sooner than they might have. If their computers took as long to ship as they "estimate" them to, it would be pretty bad.

Another thing is, if all the mess ups are human errors, they need to get some new workers in there. No wonder they are made so cheap, the workers are just plain dumb. I've ordered so many Dell products, and I've had a product stay in one stage for days (not boxing, I'm well aware of the fact that that is the stage at which the computer comes from it's building plant to the regional distribution facility for the carrier). And always, after it's behind a while, it will mysteriously jump three steps, or be delivered. I have a hard time believing that there's that high of a chance that my computer will skip the last three steps (or the people at those stages will happen to skip my computer each time) and be delivered to me. I got a desktop once the same day that I got the email saying that it had shipped, and I checked the UPS tracking and they had had it for 3 days already.

As far as testing, I was exagerating implying that they don't test each system at all. However, there's no way that they do anything farther than simply power on the systems. Often there's systems that are received to the buyers that won't boot or even post. The "testing" stage often takes a day or more, and they say that they "thoroughly test each system", which simply can't be true.

I don't doubt that there is some truth to the Dell tracking system, but still; it's not to be trusted at all, since the system is not consistent at all.

Well obviously, they wouldn't pay somebody to randomly update it, it would be a script to do it. I'm kidding though.

 

Well, maybe I was a bit impatient. Now my notebook's 'In Production', and the delivery estimate is July 18th (this is still Dell.ca we're talking about, so I believe it's stationed in Ontario, not Tennessee [sp?]). How much of an overestimate of time do you think this is? Anyway, thanks all, for the in-depth comments!

 

my dell outlet order stayed in order processing, even a week after I got it,

 

i'm still waiting to login tothe order status page. i rodered on july 3rd but they said i orderedit on the 4th