Frustrated with Dell Preferred Account, need advice

Well, I applied for a Dell Preferred Account so I could pick up a laptop for my wife and myself. I was approved no problem and just ordered my wife's Inspiron 1525. So, then I went to order my Vostro. Apparently, you can't use your Dell Preferred Account on anything for business! You have to open a seperate Business Preferred Account. I wish I would have known this ahead of time. So, now I'm at a loss of what to do. The XPS M1530 is too much for my budget and I don't want to open up another card. Now, the XPS is more affordable in the outlet store, but what's the word on buying refurbished M1530s? I've read both good and bad things about refurbs. I'm looking for a laptop with 2 gigs or RAM, a decent processor, something that will allow me to use at work, movies, internet, and play WoW at a decent framerate. What would you guys suggest? I like the Inspiron, but I doubt WoW would run well in it.

 

My advice to you is if you have good credit... open whatever the heck they want and buy what you wanted like you originally intended to. Then transfer balances to a zero % APY card or low interest card.

I bought two and was going to use my 4.9% card. I decided to check out the dell preferred crap and was given an extra 4% off if I used my card for the purchases. So I took that paid the first payment and transferred to my low APR card afterwards.

If you can do something like that then its worth your while. Thost 0% introductory APR's are usually good for a year on the offers you get in the mail.

 

I have bought 6 laptops from outlet and they all worked great. The xps below has 0 problems (no grainy screen, no cpu whine). The only draw back to getting outlet is that getting a warranty is alot more expensive. If you check often you can find a great deal there. I often found equivalent spec'd laptops at different prices. I've seen the XPS M1530 for as low as $700 with an 8400 gs, so that would be your best bet when combined with the -15% off outlet coupon.

 

Where do I find the -15% coupon? I looked at didn't see it.

 

Are you or your wife able to get Dell discounts through your employers? Dell is having a smoking deal right now on M1530s. You can get 10% off coupon, which stacks on top of the $799 off discount, 4% off for using your Dell Preferred Account, and another 4% off for purchasing through Employee Purchase Program. You also get 12 months no interest financing for buying XPS systems. This is what I ordered a couple of days ago:

XPS M1530 - Intel® Core蒂 2 Duo Processor T8300 (2.4GHz/800Mhz FSB, 3MB Cache), Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium Edition
Unit Price: $2,078.00
Quantity: 1
Total Price: $2,078.00
-- XPS M1530 --
-- Intel® Core蒂 2 Duo Processor T8300 (2.4GHz/800Mhz FSB, 3MB Cache)
-- Midnight Blue Casing With Microsatin Finish XPS M1530
-- 4GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 667MHz (2 Dimms)
-- High Resolution, glossy widescreen 15.4 inch LCD(1440x900) & 2MP Camera
-- 256MB NVIDIA® GeForce® 8600M GT
-- Size: 250GB 5400rpm SATA Hard Drive
-- Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium Edition
-- Slot Load DVD+/-RW (DVD/CD read/write)
-- High Definition Audio 2.0
-- Intel Next-Gen Wireless-N Mini-card
-- Trend Micro Internet Security 24-months
-- 56 WHr 6-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery
-- Get $70 Gift Card with 4 Yr Ltd Warranty and At-Home Service
-- Finger Print Reader XPS M1530
-- High Resolution, Blue glossy widescreen 15.4 inch LCD(1440x900) and 2MP Cam
-- Included 3 GB DataSafe Online Backup for 1Yr
-- Dell Members save $799 off this select XPS System!
- $799.00
-- Dell EPP Members receive 10% off select Inspiron and XPS systems priced $799 and above!
- $127.90
-- Dell EPP/FSS customers: Save an ADDITIONAL 4% INSTANTLY by paying with your Dell Preferred Account. (Subject to credit approval. Limited time offer.)
-- Dell Members receive 8% off systems priced $800 to $1600 with 3/4yr At-Home service.
Subtotal: $1,016.66
IVA: $74.95
Shipping and Handling: $19.99
Import Fee: $16.00
Shipping Discount: -$19.99
Total: $1,107.61

Not bad for a laptop that will last me for a few years.

 

That ticked me off too, same exact situation bud. Get a 1720 or something from the outlet, you can configure a lotta stuff for about as cheap (or close to it!)

 

You get it if you subscribe to dell's mailing list. People sometimes post them in the tech deals forum too. Otherwise you can buy them on ebay for around $5. They tend to appear about twice a month.

 

The Inspiron line will run WOW just fine...maybe not with the 1525 that doesn't have a dedicated card but my 1420 with the 8400m GS runs games surprisingly well...

 

If it is your own business (and I'm assuming it is a corporation) then why not buy it on your personal account and transfer the debt (and asset of course) onto the company's books via an employee reimbursement? You can even levy the interest charges on the company and get a tax deduction for them.