Precision M4600 Sale: Starting $600

http://slickdeals.net/?pno=89788&lno=1&afsrc=1&trd=Buy+Now

Looks like a really good deal to me. Only $600 for a dual core or $700 for a quad. I would probably upgrade the SSD/Ram aftermarket. AMD FirePro and 1080p screen included in the starting price.

 

Saw that same special on Dealnews.com yesterday.Considering what you get for the price, hardware wise, it's a very good deal.

That seems to be about $100 more than you would pay for a used "refurb" or "off-lease" M4600 with similar specs. This one is brand new and comes with the 3-year warranty.

Also, consider the fact that it comes with Win 7 Pro 64-bit pre-installed. I think that's a plus over being forced to take Win 8 on a new machine, then having to downgrade it on your own to get back to Win 7.

(My old M4400 is still chugging along fine, or I would be very tempted to jump on this one right now.)

 

This doesn't seem to be offered on the Dell Canada website (figures). Currently they are listing the base m4600 starting at $1150.00. You guys are lucky in the states. We have to pay a marked-up premium direct from Dell up here for some reason. Of course that is the case for all consumer goods. Things just cost more up here.

Off topic...I recently tried to purchase an M6700 direct from Dell Sales. The only upgrade I selected was the IPS screen. Final price to my door would have been $3100.00. The best offer the sales rep I was working with could come up with, was 8% discount above the online configuration price, then the very next day, Dell emailed me a 10% off coupon. But it would not work when I entered it online (got a message stating it needed authorization). When I questioned my sales rep, he replied it was only valid online.

So I'm back trying to find a decent precision m4600/m4700/m6600/m6700 on ebay. Whatever I can find for a good price.

 

3100$ just for the IPS, core i5 and all, that doesn't seem right, I paid a lot less for my config (it didn't have all that RAM or SSDs when I ordered it) and even if it had the IPS, wasn't available with the firepro at the time, it would have come at ~2300$ + tax. Also, yup, I am in Canada.

 

If you're in Canada, might want to keep an eye on the Dell Financial Services (Canada) web site:

DFSDirect.ca

Bought my "off lease" M4400 from them (via the USA site). It arrived in good shape, was barely used, and came with the basic accessories (a power supply, an AC cable, a restore DVD).
Even got the balance of the remaining three year warranty transferred to me.

They have various Precision models that show up there from time to time. If you need the absolute latest model right away, then you should order from the regular Dell or the Dell "outlet" site.

If you can be patient in finding one you want, then prices are much lower on the DFS site, assuming can settle for a two year old configuration, or are willing to upgrade it on your own.

If you have to have a full one year factory warranty, you can buy that on the web site when you order it. Prices are pretty reasonable, too.

 

$2300 + Tax (HST or PST/GST depending on your province) brings you to $2600, then add another $275 for the upgrade to IPS (I did also upgrade processor to i7-2740) and you're at $3100 to your door. The same config on the Dell.com website was $400 cheaper.

We definitely pay a premium in Canada.

The problem with DFSDirect is you never really know what specs your getting for your money. They're never really specific about screen resolution, wireless card, keyboard type...etc.

I much prefer the Dell-refurbished Ebay store. They at least give better itemized specs...and it's auction format. Seen some really good deals on there, but it's mostly Latitude D series and early E series. Every once in awhile they have a precision m4400.

 

Funnily enough, when I checked my config at dell.com, it was more expensive over there at the time. I was kinda baffled since I planned to use the US price as leverage to negotiate the price even more.

As for dfsdirect.ca, their deals are not deals imo and the only Precisions I see on that site are M6400 and M4400...

 

OK, well I am only speaking from my experience with the US version, so the Canadian site may be different. Just trying to give you another alternative, if you were not aware.


In the US, you can call DFS Sales before you buy and ask for the Service Tag # of a particular item before you place your order. (They used to list the tag numbers right on the web site, but quit doing it for some reason.) Then go to the Dell web site, surf to the Support area, and input the Service Tag # get the exact build specs of the machine you're thinking about buying. That's what I did anyway. Again, Canada may be different.

The US site says that they post new systems for sale on the web site every day. I haven't seen any M4700 or M6700s on the US site but I have seen M4600 and M6600 listed as "off lease". Must have been short leases too, or some other kind of returns, because they aren't that old of a system ( > 3 years).

And if you absolutely have to have the IPS screen, then yes, I imagine it's easier just to check on eBay and find one that is properly configured from the factory. Price will likely be higher, though, I would think.