What happened to Dell and it's quality/choices

I got to build a Dell comptuer. I have almsot no choice but for ram and processor.

Every model has only one choice for GPU. Why? It use to be you could build a computer you wanted. Now if you want dedicated GPU you have to go to a Studio and pay 200 bucks more? And if you want a non-suck GPU you have to go to a XPS and pay another 200 bucks.

What happened to modability.. what happened to choice and quality at Dell?

I got to HP and i can choose to get integrated graphics or upgrade to dedicated... why did Dell move away from this? And move into ... if you want this upgrade to a new model and pay 4 times more...!!!

 

Dell's quality has plummeted in the past year or two. I'm glad to say I just sold my last ever Dell laptop.
Went back to my older Dells (Inspiron 9200, Inspiron 4100).
I won't buy dell again because you used to get pretty good quality with Dell. Now you get nothing, even in the XPS line. The inspiron 1505 is of better build quality than my XPS M1330 was.

 

I have gotten dells for 15 years and they have always been great. But lately it seems bad

 

Like most companies, Dell is cutting costs to stay in business. With intense competition and tiny profit margins per machine a large company like Dell can cut millions off of cost by cutting pennies off a machine.

Eventually, it catches up to you.

 

HP seems to still be providing good stuff and options

 

Still? HP was never good, they just didn't decrease in quality - they started at Dell's current level and have remained there.

 

lol that is kinda true!

 

HP dV5T is getting rave reviews. they offer better options then XPS and cost less too

 

When I was pricing out Colossus (see sig), I noticed that what parts were available for choosing differed based on what link you clicked on. Sometimes the most expensive package had the fewest options. Some notebooks only have one GPU option. There just isn't enough room in them to accomodate a lot of differing GPU options. RAM and CPU can depend on what "package" you click on.

You may not get as good of a deal if you go "outside" of their packages. You can also always call in and ask. I did that on my system. The config/price I was looking at did not show the X9000 CPU as being available. The CSR said I could get it for XXX extra.

 

Dell did decide to start contracting out its computer manufacturing (like a lot of companies today would). Unfortunately, that means that a period of time may elapse for the new factories to get good at putting these things together.

Otherwise, welcome to the new reality. Dell performs the marketing and designs a computer, then people thousands of miles away get parts from all over the world and try to put it together. If there is a design flaw or defect it could take weeks or months to 'catch' and then fix. Based on some of the issues floating around, I am noticing that lately, hardware issues do not get fixed - they get software patches (A lot cheaper to design a patch vs. retool a factory). Quality ain't what it used to be!

 

I would say my current Studio 15 is much better overall than my Inspiron 5160 that I purchased in 2004 and definitely much better than my Compaq from 2000.

 

Dell sure has come a long way from Michael Dell building the computers himself in his college dorm room! Dell is just going through the same stages that every company goes through as they get bigger. The larger a company grows, the more work they have to outsource to keep up with their supply & demand. And when you outsource your work, unfortunately you usually end up with lower quality control standards.

Dell used to be seen as a premium product, but I think now they have sunk to a point where people are getting fed up with the poor quality, and many people are now starting to look at other brands for their laptops. I have gone through 3 laptops over the past 2 months trying to find a replacement for my 3-year old HP nc8430, and I have yet to find one that is of better quality than it. I have tried HP (dv7t), Toshiba (Qosimo), and now I'm on a Dell (studio 15) - and I am getting the impression that quality as a whole has degraded over recent years. I think it is a result of companies trying to make the fastest & flashiest looking computers for the lowest prices, and in doing so they end up cutting corners where they shouldn't. For Dell, they have cut HUGE corners on their touchpads and speakers, both of which probably only make a difference of a few dollars per system, but IMHO they degrade the overall quality considerably. They could choose to use higherer quality speaker like Altec-Lansing and touchpads from Synaptecs, but they would rather save a few dollars and use their own generic/OEM-branded stuff. I love this Studio 15 that I got, aside from the horrendous speakers and the skethcy touchpad performance. Too bad, because it's a really nice laptop otherwise.

And don't even get me started on the looks of current laptops, where manufacturers are focusing more on "shelf-appeal" rather than real world practicality. Luckily Dell doesn't have to worry about that since the majority of their systems are sold sight-unseen through their website. But some of the other brands that use high-gloss screens and LCD lids because they "look" nice on the shelf in stores, even though they are not very practical in the real world, they just drive me nuts. Good thing Dell still keeps a high standard in that area.

Okay, I'm done.

 

I agree with you on a lot of those points. Computers are being sold more on '*** appeal' than functionality these days. Where specifications tend not to vary much, the only thing that they really seem able to do is come up with different / stronger chassis' and different hardware or software gimmicks.

I don't agree really that outsourcing = lower quality, since there are efficiencies in working that way. I am however, surprised at how the product lines at dell seem to be expanding, but the only real separating factor between brands is price. Personally, I would rather see the product line reduce to a simple consumer or business end, and allow maximum customizablity. It's annoying when certain processors (and therefore chipsets) are not available on one line and so you have to switch to a completely different line which you may want nothing to do with.

I caught on engadget that Dell is rebranding the mini 9 a vostro a90 and planning to sell it for a grand. Things like that drive me nuts also. They are just searching for the place where they can charge the premium without justifying it.

 

I like Dell! My 1530 was my first lappy in 1/08, and works well for me.

I do agree, that Dell needs to provide more quality/choices when they bring out new models.

I think that rebranding the I9 into the Vostro a90, for $1K is not worth the price.... When Dell, can't even keep up with current orders right now!


Cin

 

Cin, maybe if you'd had previous Dell laptops you'd understand better. It's like a bait and switch. They provided quality laptops for a few years, and now are providing garbage. If you'd owned an earlier XPS or Inspiron you'd see the huge difference in quality. Since this is all you've seen it does not seem too bad since it's not much different than the poor quality of other brands, like Acer, HP, Compaq, etc.

 

My Vostro 1400 is the best Dell I've owned/used. Now I'd agree that Dell quite recently has been going a little crazy with a bunch of new models that don't have a whole lot of customization, but there are still some solid Dell configurations.

 

All companies are trying to save money by cutting corners. At the moment, Apple, Lenovo & Sony seem to be giving customers more consistent quality with their notebooks. However, even they have quality issues.

Another plus for Apple & Sony is you don't have to wait a month or more for your notebook to arrive at your home. I canceled my M1530 order in May after waiting a month. When I heard about the Nvidia GPU problem, I was glad I did. Now, I'm interested in the upcoming Studio XPS 16, but I'm worried about the wait and the quality of the unit when it finally arrives.

 

I should have added that while I am bringing up all these different points, it doesn't mean I HATE my computer or anything. I actually like it quite a lot. I just think that there could be more value. I mean, just the other day I was pricing out a potential new desktop . . . quadcore, 4 gigs of ram, top of the line graphics card, all for less than I paid for this laptop. That may seem like an unfair comparison, but then again . . .
If there is going to be such a premium to go portable, they could certainly make em' with higher quality screens and work harder to sort out the bugs prior to release. You are basically stuck with these things after awhile anyway.

 

I think Dell has great choice! :s

 

yea i much prefer hp laptops over dell

 

Yet your saving up for an alienware computer...which is a dell.

 

Not to mention a botique brand that has lower quality and worse customer service than Dell.

 

Dell still offers as many choices as they ever did, if not MORE! The change has been in how they market these choices, not so much in the actual products available.

There was a time when you could configure an Inspiron 1520's hardware specifications to be virtually identical to an XPS M1530. Both models could have a 2.2GHz T7500 processor and 256mb nVIDIA 8600M GT graphics card, for instance. It wasn't a very smart business decision, though...if you could get all the goods for less money on an Inspiron 1520, why would anyone spend more for an XPS M1530???

Dell has now created three distinct product lines-

Inspiron- lower starting price, integrated graphics (except 1420), 2.4GHz T8300 is the top processor offered on any model, only basic WXGA or WXGA+ displays (1280x800, 1440x900)

Studio- multimedia/entertainment-oriented mid-level notebooks, multiple custom options (color & design choices, fingerprint reader, backlit keyboard, LED display option), choice of integrated or discrete ATI graphics, 2.5GHz T9300 processor is top model available, choice of WXGA, WXGA+ or WUXGA display (up to 1920x1200- high def)

XPS- gaming and high-performance multimedia, offers up to 2.6GHz T9500 in M1330 and M1530 and 2.8GHz Core 2 Extreme in M1730 models, powerful nVIDIA discrete graphics, LED and high res display options

Look at it this way- would it make sense for Honda to only build one car, the Accord, and offer a hundred different options from a tiny 4-cylinder/hybrid front-wheel-drive setup to a big V6 with all-wheel-drive? No, it's much more logical to build the Accord, Civic and CR-V which meet the needs/wants of much larger group of people! It's marketing, plain and simple.

The OP mentioned something along the line of the Studio costing $200 more (than the Inspiron) and the XPS costing another $200 more than the Studio. That may seem to be true, but it's based solely in perception and not in fact!!! Take a look at the following models that I just configured on Dell's website-

Inspiron 1525, Jet Black, 2.16GHz T5850, Vista Home Premium, WXGA (1280x800) display, 2GB RAM, 160GB Hard Drive, Intel X3100 graphics, CD/DVD RW, Dell 1395-g wireless, Webcam, 6-cell Battery- $729

Studio 15, Jet Black, 2.16GHz T5850, Vista Home Premium, WXGA (1280x800) display, 2GB RAM, 160GB Hard Drive, Intel X3100 graphics, Slot Loading 8X DVD RW, Dell 1397-g wireless, Webcam, Fingerprint Reader, 6-cell Battery- $749

The Studio 15 is only $20 more than the Inspiron 1525 with the same exact hardware!

Studio 15, Jet Black, 2.16GHz T5850, Vista Home Premium, WXGA (1280x800) display, 3GB RAM, 250GB Hard Drive, 256mb ATI Radeon Mobility HD 3450, Slot Loading 8X DVD RW, Dell 1397-g wireless, Webcam, Fingerprint Reader, 6-cell Battery and 15-months McAfee Security Center- $978

XPS M1530, Tuxedo Black, 2.16GHz T5850, Vista Home Premium, WXGA (1280x800) display, 3GB RAM, 250GB Hard Drive, 128mb nVIDIA 8400M GS, Dell 1395-g wireless, Webcam, Fingeprint Reader, 6-cell Battery and 15-months McAfee Security Center- $999

Both with an entry level graphics card, all other hardware and software being identical, the XPS M1530 is only $21 more than the Studio 15!!!

So there's barely $20 between any of the models if they are similarly equipped.

I can't really understand how anyone can think there is a lack of choices in all of this? Every Intel processor from the basic 2.0GHz Celeron (or 1.6GHz Atom) all the way up to the 2.8GHz X9000 Core 2 Extreme is offered, Intel integrated, ATI integrated, nVIDIA discrete and ATI discrete graphics are available, display resolutions from 1280x800 to 1440x900 to 1920x1200 are offered, with some even in LED, numerous models with backlit keyboards, Studio and XPS models have fingerprint readers.....the list goes on....

Is there any other notebook manufacturer that offers MORE options from which to choose???

 

That's kind of a false comparison however, because the cost of upgrading past a base model on any of the lines increases the spread in price quite a lot. The cost of a processor upgrade on one line may be 75 dollars, the same on on another line, 125. You make it sound like only 40 dollars separates the cheap from the elite . . . and that is just not the reality.

Plus, that can only hold true at this particular moment. The phenomenon that many of us have noticed lately is the relative purging of available options from each in individual line. Not only that, but dell is not keeping everything up to date to justify the cost, for example, most of the computing world moved on to the Geforce 9xxx series a few months ago.

PLUS . . . this discussion is questioning the quality of Dell's offerings also. Having lots of choices does not get you around THAT particular issue. Especially when NOT listed in your choices is which vendor will be supplying a particular part. For example, there are like 4 LCD panel suppliers and at least that many DVD drive suppliers. They seem to vary enough in quality to make your happiness a little hit or miss.

Finally, the purpose of 'simple' marketing is to maximize differentiation between lines to add as much value as possible between them all. For the same cost thus, you can charge more because you think you have handle on who the target audience is and what they will pay. Dell is not trying to give away the house just to make us all feel special, your interesting snapshot of the lines might reveal a serious problem for them rather than a success for us.

 

LOL Wow..... hahahah.

Back on topic: My XPS is built quite nice, but the customer service is absolutely terrible (even though it's 'premium')

 

I owned two M1330's and I found quite the opposite. Dissatisfied with build quality, customer service was great.

 

Odd. I've gotten hung up on when I was on hold for 30+ minutes twice, got lied two and lied about 2-3 times (tech support SUPERVISOR said to call customer service, that he would log in the case # that I get compensation, and that he recommends it.... then, I call customer service and they said that the tech support supervisor said that I did not understand that i wouldn't get any compensation, was defiant and rude). I was actually very polite because he was going to recommend compensation, and that he was answering all of my questions. Needless to say, I was enraged when I was lied to, lied about, and hung up on a few times after wasting 30+ minutes each time.

 

My 1530 has been good for me! The one time I had to contact XPS support for an issue ~ everything was handled in a timely manner for me.

Now, when I first placed my order back in 1/08..that's a different story. I was dissatisfied from what the Kiosk Rep. promised and told me was happening with my order. Thus, causing me to cancel and order thru Dell EPP and get the *better pricing I was promised*.

Yes, it's my first Dell..but so far so good. Now, we will see what happens when I order my 2nd Dell (hoping fairly soon).


Cin

 

That is practically what I have, but I am barely able to run half of the new things I want to just because the GPU is definitely NOT what they advertised.
Worse still, if I want any real support for my computer, I have to stick to Vista; which negates the OTHER half of my older gaming options due to compatibility issues (DX 10, Drivers, missing DLLs, numerous other crap).

Barely a year later, for even less cash than I spent on my M1330, I can probably find a computer that at LEAST has a dedicated 256mb card available, and if not, it has a socketed version instead of a hardmount or some other proprietary shenanigans.

I apologize if it seems harsh, but I found it VERY **** unsettling that I had to wait 3 months after ordering to get my computer just because it was manufactured in Malaysia; and then find out how boxed in I am in my options.

The one bright point in this is I have gotten much better at resolving some of those whacky Vista issues.

I would LIKE to be able to trust Dell as a company that makes quality merchandise, but I have not at all been convinced by my current purchase that this is the case, before purchase, after, and even now.

 

It's not like Dell has ever made their own laptops--they simply rebadge a laptop made by someone else. As it is, after several years of gradual improvements in laptop quality, all the brands are going down a bit.

Five years ago, the average lifespan of a laptop was about three years (yeah, yeah, here come all the people, but my 10-year-old brand x is stll going strong!--I said average laptop).

About three years ago, there seemed to be a big jump in quality, but in the last year that quality is plunging.

Someone mentioned the Studio 15--total crap. I predict this one will fall apart in three years. Macbooks are all style over substance. Lenovo used to be great, but they discontinued the t16 business class machine and replaced it with an inferior t400 series. HP, toshiba, gateway...none of the laptops available now are as good quality wise as they ones from a year ago. Sure, they have better CPUs and features, but they feel cheaper.

 

That's not really Dell's fault, rather yours.

 

Indeed it is my fault. I fell for their excellent marketing and tact, promises of "amazing modularity and still has room for future upgrades!".

About the only upgrades I could make are via USB.

 

I hardly see how my comparison is "false". In comparing the Inspiron 1525 and Studio 15 as well as the Studio 15 and XPS M1530 with similar configurations, the upgrades were very closely matched in price between the comparison systems. For example, the upgrade from a 1.86GHz T2390 processor to the 2.16GHz T5850 was $100 on both the Inspiron 1525 and Studio 15. I didn't notice any substantial pricing differences for similar/like upgrades in different models.

My comparison also proves that the original poster's generalization (the Studio costs $200 more than the Inspiron and the XPS costs yet another $200) doesn't hold true!

I'll be the first to agree that Dell's prices occasionally fluctuate with little or no obvious reason, but I originally compared these four models over a month ago when I completed a review for my Studio 15 notebook. The price differences between models has remained around $20, as noted, for that time period.

***What isn't taken into account in the models I compared are instant discounts and/or any coupons that could be used- for example, the coupons posted here on NBR.com for 20% off an Inspiron configured to $999+ or 30% off an Inspiron configured to $1349. A discussion of the true value of these types of discounts would be a very interesting topic for discussion, too. Obviously they reduce the sales price by a specific percentage, but they also encourage the buyer to spend more to achieve the next "level" of discount, but I digress...

In my myopic zeal to prove how closely priced the model lines actually are to one another, I failed to look at the entire situation objectively. In retrospect, I think you have a point- although Dell has the three distinct product lines, the fact that they can be configured almost identically and cost almost the same amount is a BIG problem! If there are three distinct product lines, each with its own intended audience, WHY are they so much alike- what's the point?!?!

When the Inspiron 1525 replaced the 1520 back in 1/08, the lack of a discrete GPU option for the 1525 was a sore spot for some folks. The 1520 could be had with the standard Intel X3100 integrated graphics or a choice between the 128mb nVIDIA 8400M GS or 256mb nVIDIA 8600M GT dedicated GPU. Around that time, the 8600M GT disappeared from the options list of the 1720 also. The only discrete GPU available on the 1720 since then is the 128mb 8400M GS....pretty weak for a desktop replacement, by most standards.

There was/is no excuse for the long delay in updating the existing models with the newest Intel technology (Montevina/Centrino2) and rolling out the newest generation of nVIDIA graphics cards. All the other major players (HP, Toshiba, Sony, Lenovo, et al.) have either updated their entire line-up or is well underway (Toshiba is still in progress). Dell introduced the Latitude E-series (which is on the new Intel platform) and that was it for a few months! About a month ago, ONE configuration of the Studio 15 was updated to include the new processors and wireless adapter, but nothing else since then!

The delay in updating their product lines is almost certainly costing them sales to competitors with the newer technology. It's a bargain-hunter's paradise for those who don't require the newest technology, but it's only logical that Dell's profit margins must be suffering. Despite my overall fondness of Dell products, their complete failure to do anything in this regard is idiotic. I can't help but wonder whether it is the result of bumbling incompetence, laziness or possibly even a lack of cash flow that is the true culprit fueling their complacency???

 

The secret to getting good customer service and tech support from Dell- Order from the Small Business division NOT the Consumer site! The Vostro and Inspiron are fairly interchangeable. The Vostro 2510 isn't a bad alternative to the Studio 15. The Latitude E-series is interchangeable with the Studio 15 and lower-level XPS systems in terms of functionality. For the high-powered XPS gaming systems with poweful graphics cards, the Precision can be configured to be a beast just like the more expensive XPS models.

I've dealt with both the Consumer and Small Business folks and there's no comparison....relatively speaking, Small Biz customers are treated like royalty! Of course, I didn't follow my own advice when I bought my most recent laptop, but I REALLY wanted a Studio 15!

 

Of course, you're entitled to hold whatever opinion you wish, but I disagree with you about the Dell Studio 15. I've been using mine for almost two months now and it feels rock solid to me! It actually feels sturdier than my Toshiba Tecra (going on four years old) and built quality is comparable to the HP dv9000t I bought 18 months ago.

Granted, it's not a ThinkPad or Latitude, but it's also not as pricey as the premium versions of those models either...

 

I want to address this again point to point.

The original poster's price differences are justified by what the base configurations are, readily available on Dell's website. While I respect the fact that you compared the 'identical' configurations across the board, you forget that you are therefore analyzing cost differences in a particular price range (ie, an XPS 15 STARTS at $949 - there is no such thing as a $499 version). Therefore, one should only be dazzled by the perceived access they have to the top tier IF they are spending that much. You would already have had to count me out if that was the starting point.

You undid yourself also by mentioning coupons. That same 20 dollar difference disappears and the margin is opened wide again by the use of the coupon. That the coupons never seem to expire is an interesting part of this business that I loath. Offering a coupon instead of a low price means that, at least some of the time, there are people paying MUCH more than they have to simply because they don't know any better. That might fly with Apple customers : ) - but not with me. Just offer the lower price already! Not only do the coupons distort the true cost of the models and upgrades themselves, but the warranties do as well. Just try and figure out how the cost of a warranty varies across models on "special" or across lines. Is it a coincidence that they seem almost completely random? Or are we making up for low product cost with an absurdly high service cost? You can't factor out the coupons because I doubt anyone here on the board wouldn't not use one. I think that the coupons in part pay for the fact that hardware prices have continued to fall, but Dell does not want they reflected in the 'marketed' price between the lines. That may also explain why a lot of 'low end' gear disappears from the configurations from time to time. Otherwise, today's XPS 1530 (assuming yesterdays parts were availible) may start at 699 or something strange like that.

Your example about the loss of GPU options reflects my last point about basic marketing. It wasn't that they can't do it, it was that they realized that they wanted to give those options to the boutique line. Its possible that the GPUs weren't selling to low-buck inspiron customers, but I too digress . . .

I agree that not keeping the hardware up to date is a bad thing. I also think it is related to the outsourcing of manufacturing. Who knows what kinds of things they are trying to sort out with that. Also, maybe they are trying to get rid of the parts they already have in inventory. Maybe they just flat out have more diversity now then they can keep up with.
I disagree though that it is a bargain hunters dream. Prices across the board have moved maybe 50 bucks across the lines in recent months despite the fact that one can easily configure a multi thousand dollar XPS if you took all the trimmings. Last time I checked, I can configure an HP Dv5t with a great processor, HDD, RAM, windows 64, and good graphics to boot for a **** good price, no coupon required! Dell better get their **** together if they still want to be considered a power brand, IMHO.

And just to address the other post about buying in to the business line, as those too use the same hardware . . . well, hopefully now you see what I might think about that. In case you don't, that is just another example of differentiation that breaks down in lieu of the fact that you can change the packaging all you want, but we all use the same hardware. If anything may be frustrating, it is, for example, offering a bunch of SSD with low capacity at a time when a 320Gb HDD is finally becoming a great value!

 

Point taken! I can certainly understand how the average consumer can see a $499 Inspiron 1525 and a $699 Studio 15 and come to the conclusion that the Studio costs $200 more than the Inspiron. The numbers in BOLD are what matter.

My apologies if this wasn't clear from my choice of words, but I intended to "undo" myself by mentioning coupons. The evergreen Inspiron coupons result in a significantly wider price difference between the discounted Inspiron and Studio, for example. Much like mail-in rebates, it's an annoying game that makes it very difficult (often impossible) for the average consumer to know if he/she is getting a good deal. Ask ten different customers who bought the same product and they probably paid ten different prices! :confused2:

Despite my hatred of the pricing games, I still play them (begrudgingly) because I can't stand the thought of not getting the best possible deal. I'm a CPA, so it's in my DNA. Although I actively refuse to buy anything with a mail-in rebate!!!

This is what happens when I try to think and type too much late at night- I don't fully articulate the thoughts that are floating around in my head! The bargain hunter's dream comment was limited to Dell customers, not laptop or computer buyers as a whole. In particular, Dell has been offloading hundreds of Inspiron 1525 and Studio 15 laptops into the Dell Outlet. They are categorized as Previously Ordered New models and sell for a few hundred dollars less than a comparable new one. A lot of them have software pre-installed, the most common being MS Office 2007 Home & Student Edition and 15-month McAfee Security Center subscriptions. It almost seems as if they just start configuring sytems with whatever bits they have hanging around....and perhaps they draw software to install out of a hat or something???

I prefer to buy from the Dell Outlet when I can because I usually save a substantial bit of cash compared to buying the same product new. When I bought my current laptop, a Studio 15, there were almost 1400 Studio 15 laptops available from Dell Outlet. I ended up paying $767.50 plus tax for a notebook that totaled $1417 when I configured it on the regular Dell site. More marketing b/s, I know......

 

Hey allfiredup,

Glad to hear that we have sort of reached accord with one another

This experience at the outlet is really interesting when you think about it. That's 1400 laptops configured, manufactured, shipped, and rejected for reasons unknown. Or, maybe never shipped because of a little damage or whatever. I think its great that Dell is willing to let us save through the outlet (but feel like they do their best to hide the link on their site!) I almost used it once but the coupon at the time made the next cheapest outlet notebook about the same price. They do not post all of the specs either, so I didn't know for example, if I was getting the upgraded screen I wanted.

But I am almost more interested in whether or not the abundance of machines again adds weight to the original argument: That Dell's quality / 'choices' (or features I suppose) have been on a downward slide.

See we are turning up all kinds of ambiguous issues. I should say again that I have really liked having my dell computer so far. It runs good and is a pretty solid piece, despite the fact that it is made out of plastic. I really want to buy from someone next time that takes their old machines and recycles them, for one thing.

 

When I was playing around with price configurations on dell's website I found something rather odd. If I started say with the most expensive package that had the most initial offerings I didn't always get the best price. By going through the three or more levels of offerings and configuring the same machine I could obtain completely different end prices.

I will agree that dell makes buying a machine a very convoluted process.

The last few machines I ended up purchasing through the dell outlet or through ebay and I've gotten some great deals.

 

That's because they have extra warranty and complete care coverages.

 

The configurations included those extra warranty years and complete care. I made similiar machines based on the three initial configurations... whether that meant downgrading or upgrading.

So when purchasing it's important to go through all the levels of configurations to see which gives you the best price.

My point is that the process is convoluted as another poster was pointing out with the coupons and deals.

 

Do you remember which model you were configuring when this occured?

Typically, when you select a specific model (Vostro 1510, Latitude E6400, etc.), the site offers three to four starting configurations. Some of them show increasing savings/discounts with each successively more expensive starting configuration. In those cases, it's VERY important to go thru the configuration process starting with each of those starting configurations to get determine which one will result in the best deal.

Other models (Vostro 1510) show three starting configurations, but none of them are discounted. If you choose the least expensive base configuration (1st column), you can build the same exact configurations shown in columns 2 and 3 for the same price. The reason Dell offers three increasingly more expensive starting points is to encourage buyers to take the bundled items (columns 2 and 3) rather than starting with be most basic, least expensive configuration in column 1 and adding ONLY the specific upgrades you need! I'm fairly confident it results in higher average transaction amounts overall!