Has Dell handled the new laptop rollout Effectively?

This is just a question that has come to mind as I have been roaming the forum waiting for my 1720 (which is due to come in 3 weeks): Has Dell handled the new rollout well?

Within 2 weeks they introduced new Inspirons, Vostros, and the M1330s with the intention that they would reshape their image from a design standpoint. However, it seems that with the delays in getting out the new products including some of the critical elements that make them distinguishable, that they may have been better off if they had planned a manufacturing ramp up to occur at the same time. The inventory should have been in place (especially if they had a proper market analysis from a consulting firm) to get the products out with minimal delays so that they could build off the good impression from their new lines. Instead, it is a currently mixed bag with sometimes misinformed CSRs, 3 week backorders, and delivery dates that for some people extend into October (I ordered something else last night). Couldn't this have been handled better?

Let me know what you think.

 

You honestly want to know what hurt them a ton?

There were fantastic deals on the M1330 (Drake) and 14/1520s (Stackable EPP coupon) consecutively. They then started aggressive back to school pricing ($599 for a well specced Vostro), and the M1330 continued to sell without a deal.

They wanted all of these laptops to be the hot new thing for back to school, so they rolled them out as late as possible, or when they thought they had enough supply, but they really should have started production orders in EARLY June, so that the early non-school rush for new product would be taken care of.

The m1330 is a separate debacle, though demand for that has been so great I almost can't fault Dell.

 

well.. guess they didn't anticipate that they would be flooded by the orders....

 

They did it on purpose

 

They have indeed created a feeding frenzy with a market shortage. They made their products hot and desirable, something Dell hasn't seen in years.

 

I think that what they are doing will do more damage than good in the long run

 

I have been a long time Dell customer. I for one am not impressed with the way things have been handled. When I ordered my 1720 on July 8 my estimated ship date was July 19 with no mention of the color that I ordered on back order for what is now 15 days on the day I ordered. Now 3 weeks later, I am still waiting for my unit with god knows how many delays I may see in sight. I think Dell should have done a better job on their website keeping ship dates and things like that updated so consumers could have stayed informed and made a decision as to either wait or go somewhere else. I understand that somtimes demand exceeds supply but why does Dell have to be so darn secretive about backorders?? When I called last week to see what the hold up on my unit was, after spending over 1hr and 35 min. on the phone with thier reps...NO ONE could give me any answers on anything, including a comitted ship date.

Also, I dis-like the fact that they keep delaying my order from week to week, I think I would just prefer them to say OK, your unit is not going to ship for a month and it will ship on this date or sooner...instead when my so called ship date arrives, in the last hours on that given day I get the dreaded delay email and they extend the ship date out another week. For gosh sake..that scenario could go on to infinity and beyond.

After purchasing 6 computers from Dell in the past 7 if you include this order, this whole mess has really changed my mind about future Dell purchases.