How accurate are dell order status's?

I just thought of something, how accurate is the automated voice order status for Dell? Do we even know how far behind this thing could be? I see people talking about how their laptop sat in a status for 4 days and then within an hour went to boxing and testing and was shipped. That wouldn't be because they just did it really fast, that would be because the voice status is just real behind. My laptop has supposedly sat in the Build phase for 5 days, I am almost 100% sure that it is likely already been through testing and is probably in boxing by now ready to be shipped tomorrow (Monday). Anyone else have any light to shed on this?

 

Look at your estimated ship date. The laptop will ship by that date, and at times a day or two earlier. That's all you need to know. Once it ships, you will get an email with a tracking number.

 

so far I"ve had 3 m1330s shipped to me. all of which came earlier than the eta

 

How long did each one take?

 

don't remember too well in terms of my older ones but the most recent :

situation:
replacement order placed friday
got it the next friday w/ nextbusinessday shipping

 

I would call. I had "Shipping data unavailable" on my order for a week. I finally called, and she told me exactly where it was in the process. Then I got a tracking # and peed my pants for two days until it came

 

I've never had a dell ship even at the expected ship date. They always ship sooner, sometimes much sooner. I ordered my 1530 last Monday, Dell estimated ship date was 2/12. I have tracked it and its in town right now, I'll get it tomorrow, 8 days before it was scheduled to ship, one week to the day from when I ordered it (at night at that!).

 

I was talking to a dell rep which told me that there system is updated every 4 hours and shows a much more accurate version of the order status. She also said that mine is "In Production" instead of what the website says as "Pre-production"

 

Sounds like Bowlerguy is very impatient to get his...

 

I sure am.

 

Not only do the phone and the website give different answers, I get different answers using the phone when I search by Purchase ID as opposed to Order number.