Was just told my Dell CS, ALL BATTERIES backordered, plant accident. WTF?!?!?!

I just called to confirm my laptop is shipping today and guess what. THey said there was a battery plant accident and that all laptop batteries for the m1330 XPS are backordered and have been for over a month.

This was weird since I was promised over a week ago that if I downgraded to the 4 cell battery that I would be able to get my laptop immediately since that battery was in stock.

Apparently my only option is to just wait and that they would keep me updated.

This is absolutely crap. Are you guys also having problems and being told this battery plant nonsense and ALL batteries are backordered?

How the hell do you end up in August back to school sale with NO BATTERIES for laptops? If I was a shareholder I would be fuming.

 

In my opinion, Dell doesn't give half a ****. People will still buy their laptops, no matter how long the wait. Dell will do anything to get the main parts from the cheapest manufacturers.

 

I read on another thread that the plant burnt down... you'd still think they'd keep batteries in stock though, and not rely on a factory to ship them each time you need a new battery, especially during back to school time.

 

As far as I can read there was a plant fire back in March, but nothing recently... Also a CS rep said that there should be no reason for the delivery of my m1330 to be delayed and that there should be no problem in the supply of batteries (9 cell that is, as they do have a 6 cell shortage). My m1330 will be assembled in Limerick, Ireland so it appears that they don't have that much of a battery problem there, fortunately...

 

According to CS, battery is delaying my m1330 also.

 

VERY old news its been like this for almost 6 months. A korean plant burned and every manufactuer has this issue. If your going to whine dont whine to Dell. I hate Dell but no need to blame the wrong people

 

It is Dell's fault because of their supply chain management. Most manufacturers have a large stockpile of parts at their own factories which they use to build their products. However, Dell does not keep any stock. They order parts from their suppliers as the orders come in. Therefore, they are much more vulnerable to supply flucuations than other companies.

 

That is very true. In fact, many leading companies use this same method today as a means of cost control. This however, is also probably why Dell sources parts from many different manufacturers. It makes it difficult for me to believe that one battery plant accident has delayed delivery of all their batteries. Surely they have another source from somewhere. I would pressure them to make good on a battery, or back out of the purchase if I was you.