I'm Thinking of Buying From Dell Outlet, Thoughts?

I think the Dell outlet is great!

About three months ago I purchased a "certified refurbished" Vostro. I got a great deal and the laptop looks brand new. It also performs well. I did have to call customer service because they sent me the 90W power brick (they should have sent me the 65W one) and they exchanged it quickly and without a fuss.

I got the computer 3 days after I ordered it, which is another big plus as compared to a new BTO model.

Dell outlet did such a good job I might never buy a "new" laptop again

 

Thanks guys, I just ordered mine. I ordered the monitor stand too, but I'm assuming that doesn't have a built in docking station. It didn't give me an option for a docking station.

 

Do NOT buy the docking station from Dell. Look for it on Ebay. I bought mine for ~$40. You can find all the docking station accessories on Ebay too. That's the great thing about the Latitudes, parts and accessories are cheap and plentiful on Ebay.

 

The laptop arrived early this week and I couldn't possibly be more disappointed. I ordered certified refurbished, but this machine was EXTREMELY abused. For example, the bottom motherboard plastics is cracked where the docking station connects, so I cannot dock it. It looks like someone literally pried a docking station from the bottom of the laptop without undocking it. Further, there are scratches throughout, and a crack in the plastic outline where the AC plug goes in.

Thankfully I ordered NBD service with Pro Support and Complete Care, so Dell is replacing some of the parts today and the rest later on in the month since they are back ordered. Literally everything but the keyboard, hard drive, screen, and motherboard components need to be replaced. The palmrest is probably going to be replaced too. And even stranger, I found a chunk of a CPU thermal pad stuck underneath the bottom cover nowhere near the CPU.

From now on, I'm ordering new.

 

I've ordered countless laptops and desktops in all conditions from Dell Outlet and all have met or exceeded my expectations. I have yet to receive a scratch & dent machine and say man, that thing looks used or beat to hell. 9 out of 10 times, I cannot find a cosmetic flaw (even with dent and scratch) and I am very picky. Maybe it's just me but I think even reading from several other forums, the general consensus has been rather positive.

 

I just ordered 5 Dell Refurbs and received 4 of them so far. 1 is going back as its pretty messed up. The rest and very good to excellent condition. They sent the wrong PSU with 3 of the units and I am awaiting to hear back from them about what they are going to do. They gave me some USB floppy drives and all had a spare battery and all had a nice bag.

 

I agree that the consensus has been positive, I hear nothing but good things too. However, I'm just unlucky I guess. They sent a technician today that replaced the bottom plastics and the bottom metal plate, and now I can dock it. The rest of the parts are on back order so it's just a waiting game.

 

Wow, I would either return it or find a problem necessitating a complete replacement.