I Bit the "Black" Bullet

Well... I did it. I succumbed to the many success stories of the Jet Black Inspiron 1520. Even though my ESD did not pass, I knew that my computer had another 2 weeks of delays. I told myself, It just wasn't worth it. Here are my specs:
Intel® Core™ 2 Duo T7300 (2.0GHz/800Mhz FSB/4MB cache)
Jet Black
FREE! 2GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 at 667MHz
Glossy, widescreen 15.4 inch display (1280x800)
256MB NVIDIA® GeForce® 8600M GT
FREE! 160GB SATA Hard Drive (5400RPM)
Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium Edition
CD / DVD writer (DVD+/-RW Drive)
High Definition Audio 2.0
Dell Wireless 1390 802.11g Mini-Card
McAfee SecurityCenter with anti-virus, anti-spyware, firewall, 36-months
56Whr Lithium Ion Battery (6 cell)
Built-in Bluetooth capability (2.0 EDR)
Dell Travel Remote Control, IR
Jet Black color w/o Camera

Anybody else decide to go black? There is a truth to the saying, "Once you go black...you don't go back."

 

I'm curious as to how you paid for your 1520 (incl. tax, shipping, etc.)? Frankly, if I ordered a 1520, I would go with black because of its conservative, sleek looks.

 

The all-black vostro looks conservative. The Black-Lid-but-Silver-everything-else looks like the Oakland Raiders (imho)

 

My final price was 1405 (w. free shipping and $50 taxes).

 

black is nice but I would rather wait for a red one

 

wow that seems high imo.. pricing for my vosto see sig below... maybe you could get a better deal and faster shipping that way??

 

wow zfactor, how'd you get yours down so low?

 

25% off mystery coupon and then a 10% business discount i had been mailed a while back.. i ordered online and then called and said i forgot to add the 10% and will cancel if i cant do it over the phone and he applied it.. so they stacked. then was issued 2 50$ credits so far for my delays... but even before the 10% it was still a heck of a deal

they release new coupons every week they are coming up tomm they may run a vostro one again..

 

I had a Dell Care Package Plan applied as well.

 

so how long did you have to sit on hold mattstl77? and they did have to flat out canx orig order and reissue new one??

 

20 minutes

 

hmm been on hold now like 50 mins =(

 

I didn't even bother calling to cancel, did it (quite quickly too) via chat.

 

I cancelled my midnight blue for the jet black. I actually got a lower price and a faster EDD

 

Quick Question:
Which order status do you find is the most accurate: internet or phone?
The reason I am asking is because my online status says "Pre-Production" and the phone status says "Build." I always understood Pre-Production and Build to be different statuses on the phone (Instead of "Build" the lady would say that the order has been processed and...something else I can't remember).

 

But hopefully the quality of performance won't be as bad as da Raidez! (especially if Russell keeps holding out, but anyhoo...)

OP, nice system and freebies. Hopefully shipping time will be much better for ya.

 

I know the phone is more detailed. I think the internet will only give you "production", no details, then it goes right to shipped (or cancelled or changed), whereas over the phone you'll hear kitting and boxing stages.
Looks like we both put our orders in today! I'm in build too, can't wait to get it!

 

AND you get to be verbally taunted by the computerized voice lady!!

 

she does use quite a mocking tone, I've noticed after about 30 calls!!

 

We should track our progress and see how fast the 1520s are getting out compared to the 1420s.

One more question for you all:
Is this the sequence of your laptop being made/shipped:
order processing->pre-production->kitting->build->testing->boxing->shipped?

I know people have seen their laptops take a few steps forward in status but then take a step back. But is this close to being accurate?

 

^^^ More like taking one step forward and two steps back!

My clueless self didn't even know that there was a 'kitting' stage until I recently started to read about it on here...!?!

BTW, don't leave us 1720s out!

 

wtf.... my 1500 was in boxing a few hours ago, i was like hmmm i tried calling again.. it said in the build stage...wtf??? then i just called back and it says boxing again...

this stuff cant be accurate... and how the heck does it take 2-3 weeks (my eta) after the thing gets boxed before i recieve it... dell has issues

 

^^^ Sorry Z, didn't mean to jinx ya (see post above). :/

 

Update for you all:
I got home from work today and checked my status online and lo and behold, it was not there! So I went to call my Case Manager and there was a message for me in my box. It was some other Dell CSR and she said that saw how my laptop was canceled and wanted to know if I want to re-submit it. Well, then I freaked out. So I called my Case Manager and he said that she was referring to my last order (canceled yesterday before I ordered my black bullet). I asked him why I couldn't find my order online. He said he didn't know and would look into it. After I logged out and logged back in, it was there.

He wanted to know if there is anything else he can do. I asked him if I was still eligible for the compensation that I got with my last order. He said of course. He said that he may have more for me after the order has shipped, so that was cool.

He said that he would call me whenever my order shipped. I said that I wasn't buying that because he said that before but never fulfilled it. Then he said something made me feel like an a$$hole. He said his son was hospitalized and had to spend some time with him. As a Dad whose son has been in the hospital too many times, I know exactly how he felt. I quickly apologize. I think he was telling the truth because who would use that as an excuse. I told him that in the grand scheme of life, laptops are worthless. So I felt like crap but I think he appreciated my sincerity.

Moral of the Story: In the grand scheme of life, laptops are worthless.

 

^^^ I appreciate your perspective and agree with your last sentence. However, I don't think that he should've brought up such a personal issue, whether true or not, as it borders on whether it's staying professional or not. But as I said, what you said is true and you handled his statement well.

(EDIT) I dunno if I need to do this, but I don't want to sound like I'm on a moral kick so I'll clarify... I think that the main reason why I think that this is unprofessional is that it puts the customer in a tough position - what does the customer say to something like that (and NOT feel like an a**)? Also, we can question why the rep did it: to make him feel guilty (and direct attention off of matter at hand), or lie, or to work out some personal issues by telling a stranger, or...? Whatever it is, I don't see it as a good thing.

 

I agree that, that wasnt really professional. You dont try to make your customers feel bad Period. Regardless of the situation, we as the customer shouldnt be told things like that because it upsets the process of conducting business. I agree that laptops are worthless. But theres shouldnt be any reason for you to compare life and a laptop. Definatly not the same thing.

 

Yeah, as bad as this may sound, I find that extremely unprofessional and such issues should be left unsaid. That's one of the number one rules in the business today - do not mix your personal life with your job, specially not to a customer. Sadly, with the way Dell works, I wouldn't be surprised if this was just a cop out to get out of a verbal beating. If he's telling the truth, then I appologize, but they just can't go blab out on that. Take a day off, clear your mind, anything, just don't put that on a customer.

Anyhow, I'm regretting that I went with black as I thought it would have my Dell arrive sooner. So far, no dice. Bad service, bitter taste. I haven't even been delayed half as long as some of the people here, but this is my first time ordering through Dell and a first impression is all it takes. Not only is black not working any quicker, but colors are actually getting somewhere faster than this now. I'm literally going nowhere fast.

 

He didn't just come out and said that his son was in the hospital. I asked him and said his son was sick. I asked was it serious and he said that he had to be hospitalized. I think I can set aside my anxiety issues if the man is going through a rough time. I would hate for him to have a worse day than he is having already by complaining about laptop. But I pried it out of him because I try to be understanding. I am finding out that he has been just as understanding as well.

When did you order? You did not receive an order confirmation? I ordered at 4 pm last night and by 9:00 it was in production. My case manager said that he was going to expedite my order, but I am not holding my breath.

 

^^^ I guess I don't understand what you mean by going from the point of conversation that you weren't buying him calling back to you asking about something that would lead to him talking about his son. So you're saying that you asked a question in-between these two points, and he didn't just say something about not calling before b/c of his son..? Actually, doesn't really matter.

mattstl77, what you did and your perspective are very noble, and dammit if I hadn't run out of rep to give today, you'd get some.

 

I went Jet Black on my 17" 1721, ordered it on Monday. Paying more $$$ for a different colored top seemed silly to me, when I'm probably going to end up modding it anyway.

 

I told him that I was disappointed that he didn't call back and I asked if he had the days off. He said that he had to take some personal days. Being nosy, I asked him if everything is ok. He said that his son was sick. I asked was it serious and he replied that he had to have him hospitalized. My son is only 16 months old and has too many surgeries in his short time on earth. So his situation struck a heart string in me. I apologized for giving him a hard time because in the grand scheme of things, whether I get my laptop on time is pointless. This man's son is sick enough to be in the hospital. And I was doing my darnedest to give him a pleasant experience on the phone. I really had no reason to be upset and I am sure that he has had his fair share of jerks yelling at him. So why should I make his day worse? I doubt that he was lying. What man would say that about his son (real or made up)?

 

^^^ Thanks for the clarification, but no need. I don't know if your last sentence is directed at me or not, but I agree that hopefully he isn't making it up, it was just a possibility. You did a good thing and it was nice of you to ask about him. It would've still been better if he had not answered as he did. Not trying to be heartless; I just come from a profession where self-disclosure must be at an absolute minimum and we shouldn't put that on customers.

 

I understand. I am a teacher so it is kind of my profession to care about individuals (not saying that you don't). I guess we could both be right!