My bargaining plan for the 1520

I am going to buy either the Inspiron 1520 or the 1420 (but for now let's just say its the 1420 since it doesn't really make a difference), so i have devised a plan to bargain the price down to the bone. While reading this, if at any moment you think I'm crazy of my plan won't work, just tell me and why.

I have built many notebooks on Dell's (Canadian) and have looked at the price differences and options across the board and have listed all the possible ways I can negotiate with the sales dept.

1. To upgrade from a 8400 GS to a 8600 GT in a 1520 it will cost $100, yet the same upgrade on a Vostro 1500 costs only $50. I will explain that if one component costs $50 on one notebook of the same size and thickness, it should cost the same on the others.

2. XP Home Edition is still available in the Business section so they still have copies left; therefore there should be no reason I can't have XP come with my 1520 instead of Vista at no extra price.

3. The notebooks configured in the Business section have option to have trial software or crapware (i.e: Norton and others) not be installed, so I would like my 1520 to have the same options.

4. Upgrading from a 6-cell to a 9-cell battery on a Latitude D630 costs $20, yet on a 1520 it costs $40. Now I must admit that I don't know whether the batteries are of the same type or size, but if they are then the same upgrade on a 1520 should only cost $20.
* Can someone confirm if the 1520 batteries are the same as the Latitude D630 batteries? *

5. Why do the Latitude D630's, or all Business class notebooks have a minimum of a 3-year warranty when they are so very close in price to the 1520. I can configure a D630 with nearly the same specs as a 1520 and if it weren't for the limited time discount on the Inspiron notebooks then they would cost nearly the same, so where does the 3-year warranty fit in and why can't I get it free of charge for the 1520?
* I know this is a long-shot, but is it worth a try? *

6. Why do so many other Dell notebooks have an option for an 80GB 7200rpm hard-disk for those who prefer to sacrifice storage for speed while I am stuck with only an 80GB 5400rpm hard-disk and only an option to increase storage and speed at the same time? I have searched and found on other Dell notebooks that a 7.5 mm 80GB 7200rpm hard-disk is an $80 upgrade while a 9.5 mm (which I believe is the size of the 1520) 80GB 7200rpm hard-disk is a $60 upgrade. I want that too.


So that's what I have, anyone think I have a shot?

Thanks,
Mike.

 

All I'm going to say is if you're expecting all those things to work out, your in for one frustrating phone call. You've obviously done your research, but there's a limit to what you can ask for.

 

NO. CSR's are mostly scripted, they may not speak english too well, but they still know ideas such as: revenue, margin, and profit. You have to realize that profit margins on laptops are either razor thin or non-existent. Dell already gives $XXX coupons for their laptops and are probably selling them below cost. They are already losing money selling you the computer in hopes that you will buy a warranty or extra accessories. If I were the CSR, I would just point you to the website or brochure and say that prices are non-negotiable.

As far as 2 and 6 goes, Dell isn't going to vary their production lines because you want it your way. Only Burger King does that.

 

1,2, & 3 you have a shot.
4 & 5 probably not since your comparing against another model
6 no idea

Let us know how it all turns out.

 

Well, do you think i should just focus on a couple of my points to keep it simple. I don't expect all of them to work, but I am wondering which ones would have a higher success rate and should be top priority.

 

I am pretty sure the Inspirion and the D630 use different batteries. Your logic for the most part is sound but as lithus and chuck have said,i dont think you are going to have a lot of luck. but who knows you may get them to cave on one or two things, or they may make you a better offer. it never hurts to try though.

 

I guarantee you they will give you an excuse for every single one of your points.

For example, #2. Yes they obviously still have XP keys left because XP is not dead. But they CHOOSE not to offer it for some reason to inspiron models.

It's like saying, hey there's a metallic pink shiny paint in the paint store, why can't you make my insipiron that color. Because we don't want to, that's why.

They have a right to have whatever pricing/options they want on THEIR products. They chose those for a reason, so their not gonna go out of their way to get u the stuff u want.

 

Do you think I have a shot at asking for no OS hoping for the price to be reduced. I can tell you right now that I will not use Vista.

 

Why not just get the Vostro? Do you like the looks of the Inspirons much better? I'd just price out everything you want on both systems, and if the total is much different, ask if you can have the Inspiron with the price and options of the Vostro.

Dell's pricing isn't too logical, but it doesn't have to be. They don't have to justify it to you, especially when you're only threatening to order a different Dell computer. Maybe if you found another company's computer with better pricing, it might be more effective. That would be tough though, because Dell's pricing is mostly pretty good compared to anyone else except other Dell models.

I believe the batteries are different.

Ask... they might let you do that. Another option is to buy the drive separately and stick it in there. You can buy one here: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...Subcategory=380&description=&Ntk=&srchInDesc=

Then with your old drive, you can either:
- Keep it as a spare
- Sell it
- Buy a 2.5" HD enclosure and use it as an external hard drive

 

the prices fluctuate so much there's no way you can argue them into changing them.

One day an upgrade is $20 for one laptop, the next it's $50 for the same upgrade on the same laptop, you just have to mess around a lot and hope you're getting the best deal.

 

Again, probably no. Having no OS costs Dell money, you'd think it'd be the other way around. Bloatware is on the machine for a reason - advertisement - not because Dell decided one day to slow down your computer.

 

I think the sucess rate for 5 won't work when comparing it to the business Latitude line. I think most companies, if not all, offer 3 year warranties on their higher end business end notebooks (like the 630) but only one year on the Latitude 530. Lenovo, LG, etc. offer 3 year warranties on their higher end business class notebook while 1 year on the home office notebooks. An Ispiron is a home user laptop, more of a lower class line.

But I've noticed that Dell reps are more inclined to give a warranty upgrade for free or discounted price to ie. complete care or 3 year year if you call later in the week (Thursday...which is Friday in India) than on a Monday.

 

read my annotations.....

 

I agree. Just buy a Vostro! Cheaper, and still the same! Save your self some time...

 

Because on the Dell Canada site, all the Inspirons are at a discount and ironically, all Vostros are at a discount EXCEPT the 1500.

That's not correct, sorry, it is discounted but for some reason there is no crossed out original price and discount price for the 1500.

Here is the real reason which I just verified now, with identical specs the Vostro 1500 comes to $1439 but it says thats the regular price and does not show the discount price even thought it is supposed to be discounted. When starting to build the 1500, it looks the like the price is initially low enough to meet the 1520's price at $1289, but it quickly surpasses it (partly because the bluetooth costs $80 on the Vostron instead of $20 on the Inspiron.

 

That's terrible... They offer WAY too many options as it is.. Seriously. Most manufacturers do not give this much variety in such a large series of machines. Especially when your dealing with tech support and this many peripheral changes... ALL of a sudden you have someone calling in on a 1520 that doesn't have XP.. and your the one that does. So theres so many factors to why certain things won't work... Theres cheap.... and then theres your post.

 

Ok, I reworked my plan and fixed many things. First, all those who suggested the Vostro 1500 instead were right, it does come close to cheaper. here'es why its "close". I played around with starting at different initial builds and found one that was the cheapest and it comes to $1299 compared to the $1289 for the Inspiron 1520. Here are the small problems, the config only allowed XP which causes an incompatibility issue with the 355 Bluetooth. I can either ask for Vista instead since other Vostro 1500 comes with it, so that shouldn't be a problem, or I can just install the utility on Dell's support page that allows the 355 bluetooth to work in XP. The seocnd problem is that the integrated bluetooth costs $80 on the Vostro yet only $20 on the Inspiron? I might have a shot at that since it is an illogical pricing issue, so that would bring the system to $1239, which i can then get the 8600 GT card for $50 and reach $1289 which would tie the 1520's price yet have better spces. At this point I can stay or ask to be reduced from a 120gb to a 80gb hard-disk which wasn't an option in this build but is an option in all other Vostro 1500 builds. I can get a sick deal on this notebook.

Any thoughts?

 

The bluetooth upgrade you should be able to get for $20. I know some M1330 customers in Canada were able to get the BT module for $20 instead of the $80 originally. In fact, Dell Canada must have acknowledged the problem because the module's now listed for $20.

Your new plan sounds much more achievable. Plus I like the black of the Vostro better.

 

Should I order it online and then call to change the stuff around vis a CSR or should I buy it over the phone?

 

When you call a CSR, they're going to step you through the entire order part by part anyways. Of course have your configuration ready to rhyme off the specific parts when you're on the phone.

 

Ok, I just called and ordered and I have some bad news. First, the CSR told me it was not possible to order the Vistro 1500 with XP with bluetooth since it "would not go through" due to compatibility issues. I told him that I am aware of these issues but the Dell support page offers a utility that will make it work and be compatible so don't waorry about it. He told me he still could not put it through. I asked if he could give me Vista instead of XP and he said the Vostro 1500 is only discounted with the XP version. So basically he took bluetooth completely off. This gave me the ability to add the 8600 GT and still get to $1269. While you might think this is fine since he told me to use the $80 I "saved" to buy a bluetooth adapter, I kinda wanted an integrated solution and, I would have been able to talk it down from $80 to $20 which would be perfect. But with it ou of the picture I got screwed. Nevertheless I took the deal hoping to fix it with someone else later.

What I want to do is call back, demand the bluetooth at $20 whether it has to come with Vista or not, and at the same time ask why I can't get a smaller hard-disk - 80GB instead of 120GB.

He told me that if I have any inquiries to call him back at his number or email him so he could call me, but I don't want to deal with him anymore. I would like to call someone else and give them my order number and explain that I would like two part numbers to be changed (the OS and bluetooth).

Anyone have any suggestions of how i should approach this?

Thanks,
Mike

 

you can buy the BT module later for $20 and install it yourself!

 

Will it fit into the laptop nicely? I am good with computers so i am not woried about opening it up, but will it void warranty?

 

Yeah just buy it from Dell spare parts. It won't void your warranty... as long as you're careful and don't screw anything up. In fact, I think there might even be panel access for it on this machine... not certain though. Look in the service manual (on the Dell website) for instructions on adding the bluetooth card.

 

Ah, just realized one thing that really urked me but that I forgot about, the particular config only allowed the option for TrueLife screens, but I will most probably be in areas such as classrooms, halls, and perhaps outdoors. I would much rather have the non glossy "high-contrast" screen (TrueLife) if it meant I can have less glare. I trid to convinve him to give me the non-TrueLife, but he said he couldn't.

Anyone think its an option worth fighting for?

 

Very easy I believe the bluetooth goes in the WPAN slot someone please correct me if I'm wrong 1520 Manual

I think that anti-glare is but that's because I hate glossy screens because I always get bad reflections!

 

I can't find the Wireless 355 Bluetooth Module for the Vostro on Dell's site. I have found them for the Ispiron and XPS, but that's it. Do you know where I can find it? Also, how much of a difference in glare is there between the TrueLife screen and the regular screen for the Vostro 1500?

 

I am not sure if those are the same for Vostro I'm thinking not because the older Inspirons had a different connection (i think) here is a refurb link and it is for Vostro. They will eventually have new ones available on the site

 

You think too Much

 

If it's the Inspiron 1520, it should be the same.
If it's an older Inspiron, it might be different.

 

If the bluetooth card would have come with the notebook rather than having been installed by myself later, would I have gotten a switch for bluetooth on/off built into the notebook?

Also, I live in Canada and the Dell Canada site does not have that part.