dell.co.uk - Has it always been useless?

I'm currently looking to configure a Latitude laptop on Dell's UK website. Whilst superficially the number of options seems very good and much better than other laptop builders' UK attempts, I keep finding issues preventing me from configuring the laptop as I would like.

These are some problems I have found on the Dell website just today:

- Several dead links related to the Latitude D620

- Odd configuration options, such as the D620 only being upgradable from the 6-cell to the 9-cell battery when configured with Windows XP, not with Vista

- Odd prices, for example it is currently cheaper to add a second 9-cell battery to the D630 rather than upgrade the primary battery

- Nationalisation issues, eg. the 630 claiming to come with a "Swedish/Russian 65W AC Adapter"

Has the website always been this way and is it likely to remain so, thus causing me to struggle to configure a Dell as I would like, or is this a temporary thing with the D620 => D630 switchover?

 

Yes it has always been useless.

I had huge problems ordering my laptop online, so I made my order by telephone to the Dell Sales department. It went really well actually, they even threw in a free WUXGA (ultrasharp) screen! Woohoo!

I guess Dell doesn't really care about its UK website that much, which is annoying but probably understandable, considering the bulk of their business takes place in the US. I have tried calling and emailing them to complain, but its like water off a duck's back...

 

Yes - you'll get a better deal if you call them. If you order over the phone, they'll usually give you a discount or throw in some extra goodies for free.