Why I am now a big Dell Advocate

---> Read EDIT below (My feelings on Dell have changed after calling their returns department)

A while back, whenever I heard the word Dell the only thing that came to mind was the annoying "Dude. Get a Dell" commercials, the motherboards equipped without AGP Slots, and the consistant anti-Dell bias found all around. Now, my feelings about Dell have changed.

Why? Their support. Dell's support has to be of the highest quality of any of the businesses I've traded with. Not only is their
correspondance speedy and fast, but each paragraph seems to be carefully written. As if this wasn't enough, Dell's customer care representatives often give out great coupons and deals (On top of the "secret" promotions--which are also quite amazing.) in the midst of just simple correspondance with them: With the purchase of my Inspiron XPS Gen 2, I was given a $100 consession coupon (which was combinable with the 40% off coupon), and--just recently--I was greatfully updated to FREE NEXT DAY air shipping (Well worth ~$100 itself or more!), which came as a result of just a simple chat with a representative named Karishma concerning the status of my order!! This is by far the best experience I've had with any business. I am now a huge advocate of Dell, and I haven't even received my notebook yet.

EDIT (My feelings on Dell have changed after calling their returns department): After calling Dell to figure out how to return the Dell system, my feelings about Dell and their support have changed. I made a post previously saying that I was a "big Dell advocate" as a result of my online support experience with them, but it seems this was clearly a direct result of the great coupons they gave me. My Phoning in experience left me very surprised.

I was first a bit agrivated when I found out that I couldn't complete a return simpily online like most businesses allow you to. But, afterwards, I figured that "this was Dell" and they would make their phone service simple and stress free like it should be, so I called the Dell returns number on the website. After going through several dial-in selections, I was redirected to a representative who took my order number. He then, to my surprise, wanted a detailed description on why I wanted to return the order. I found this odd because I had read that many others were able to complete the return process simpily, and commented on how they weren't even questioned about it one bit.

After telling him why I wanted to return it, I figured he would give me some simple instructions on how to shortly after. Instead, he gave me another number and an extension to a different department. So this department's purpose was simply to question me on several things, and then redirect me to another department? After I called the new number, I had to go through yet another barrage of dial-in selections. None of the selections were even remotely reminiscent of a "Returns request". ""Did I have the right number?", I thought. It turns out I had to go through several "If you have any other Questions, press 6" selections until a voice message came on saying that a representative would be with me shortly. Again, I went through roughly six different dial-in selections, all of which were not specified as "Returns" or anything relating to that. I have a feeling that Dell expects many people who are trying to return a system to get frustrated by this point and confused on what to do.

So I waited 10 minutes until another representative came on. Again, I was asked for my order number AND, for a second time, questioned for a detailed description on why I wanted to return the product. So I recited what I had told the previous person. I got pretty frustrated when the rep said "Uhh, Hold on while I transfer you to another department"....

Five minutes later, a woman picked up, asked me what my name and order number was, and asked me why I wanted to return the XPS Gen 2. She had a big attitude and incessantly questioned me over and over again on why I wanted to return it in detail--as if she didn't believe me. Finally she gave up her squabble and recited me the instructions on how to return the system--but not without throwing one last log on the fire ("You realize that shipping will cost anywhere between $50 to $100, right?" Little did she know that I still have three $100 coupons). Apparently, I have to use a "CTS" number she gave me at a UPS Store to ship out the item. Unfortunately, the closest UPS store in my area is about 70 miles away.

ATLEAST there's no restocking fees.

Now I know where that anti-Dell bias comes from...

 

Here here. I am with you. I think Dell is the best as well. They are determined to turn their customer service around by asking us to rate them 1 to 9 and providing us with deals after deals. Yes, I did get free next day shipping, $100 coupon and used their $750 coupons on a 700m, 2 9300s. I am shocked with their service lately

Did I mention I love my 9300. Best laptop ever.

 

yup...if i had an XPS gen 2...my opinions might have changed ...lol...or would it??

 

I agree tha Dell has made significant strides in their customer service. On a related topic, I allowed myself a "return to reality" and cancelled my recent XPS2 order. As much as I would've loved to have had an XPS2 in my hands, the plain truth is I don't need a big DTR notebook, at this time. My desktop still packs a lot of punch for games and my multimedia work and the XPS2 really isn't practical as a mobile platform.

When I called Dell to cancel, the rep was very nice, asked no questions and even offered to sell me a different notebook, at a 35% discount, when I'm ready to buy something more suited to my needs. So, now I'm going to decide between an Asus Z70va and the Dell M70. I'll wait to see some reviews of the Asus before making my choice, but a 35% discounted M70 is gonna be awfully hard to resist.

 

Ok, you're not going to believe this. I simply sent a thank you reply to support, and they replied to me with yet ANOTHER $100 off coupon, which the representative said was combinable with other coupons and promotions! And as if that wasn't enough, I went to check my order status and two different items appeared on the view orders list and had a status of "shipped". I checked both of them and it seems that Dell has sent me TWO MORE $100 off coupons through mail!

So far I have received two $100 off coupons (waiting to receive 2 more) and FREE next day air. What's that worth? ~$500? Is Dell losing or gaining money here? haha

 

OMG...that's craazzyyyyyyy

 

Axim x50v would be nice