Buying a new alienware 15 this week but is this quote good?

So I'm purchasing my first gaming laptop, coming from my monster desktop (i5 2500k, gtx 580 sc, 16gb ram). I really wanted to go with alienware and I got the base i7 quad core model (the one that costs $1450) quoted for 1300 because I told them I am a student and on a tight, tight budget but doesn't want to have a bad computer. I am actually a student and I'm hoping people could throw in tips because I'm bad at haggling because I wanna call in and see if I can get the same price but with an ssd, I think not getting one will be a mistake and plenty of clevo models are priced at 1300-1400 with the same specs and an ssd. Do you think its possible for haggle it for under 1400?

 

While I have heard of users getting some great discounts on Alienware products, I feel as if that would be too far. I'm hardly the most qualified to be giving on advice on this though, and I'm sure one of the more knowledgeable AW users on this forum will pitch in and be able to give a more educated response.

Any particular reason you've decided on Alienware ?

EDIT: I read your numbers wrong. Yeah, you should be able to get a $50 discount. I'd still wait for another response here though.

 

If you are buying from the US, you can use the $60 off any PC/laptop $699+ coupon right now from the coupons webpage. There is also a $100 off Alienware PCs coupon that is still valid but it only works for purchases of $1499+ (search on any major coupon website and you will most likely find it).

I suggest calling them if you haven't already as I ordered an AW15 over the phone rather than through online chat. I started with an online chat but the rep called me over the phone and I got a better deal compared to the all the previous online chats I initiated. The rep allowed me to stack coupons and I got to further haggle which is normally not allowed online.

Here is the link to the US coupons page:
http://www.dell.com/learn/us/en/19/campaigns/dell-coupons-codes-us-dhs

 

I chose them because most other computers had bad customer services and didn't have as good as specs imo. I also have always wanted an alienware, and since I am switching from a gaming desktop, why not

 

Are you serious? Alienware has hands down the WORST customer service I've ever dealt with. Amazon has the most amazing.

 

Asus, MSI, and sager don't have the best costumer support. Amazon doesn't make gaming laptops/let me haggle for the deal I want.

 

alienware has actually stepped up their game recently, or so i've read elsewhere.

 

I think you're being misled. If anything their game has been stepped down low. BGA parts, poor customer service. Read around the forum a bit and you'll see plenty of people who KNOW what they are talking about.

I've had better, faster service from Asus than Alienware.

 

I'd actually go for Clevo/Sager from XoticPC or PowerNotebooks. Both sellers have excellent reputations on this website and Clevo/Sager laptops have unbeatable specs for their price and great build quality.

 

XoticPC are great to deal with. Friendly supportive staff and the people on their forums are great too. I would have no doubts about buying from them.

 

The key to negotiating for a lower price, is to pick your price point and stick to it. You can allow yourself a buffer that you're willing to go up to, but draw the line. Never get "married" or fixated on the product because the sales person can hear it in your voice and know you're vulnerable.

Normally any dealer/manufacturer whether it's Dell or Ford Motor Company has a bottom line and excess inventory will affect that. When they're overstocked, they will settle for lower profit margins to clear the inventory, that's why you see discounted items online. They're trying to draw you in with a discounted item, hoping that you upgrade to a higher priced option.

Dell for example, allows their CSR's latitude to offer discounts over the phone. When I bought my AW13, my CSR followed the negotiating playbook to the letter, and then sealed it with the classic supervisor ok. The couple of minutes that I was on hold awaiting approval, was to make me feel like I was getting a great deal, when in fact my CSR was probably taking a smoke break.

The bottom line is that it never hurts to ask. Do your research and shop around. Just because the AW looks cooler than a Asus doesn't mean it will perform better.

 

Come with a fair price in mind, then negotiate. Rather than stating "I'm too poor" constantly, if you are firm with your price point, they will negotiate with you. What is a fair price, you ask?

Do a research of other laptops of similar specs then lower that average by a little bit. That's how much you should keep in mind when haggling with the rep.

After negotiations, the final price point of my 15 (with i5, 970m, 8gb ram, 1080p) was 875 dollars with tax. This is a great deal. Granted, it is i5, but you do not get a 970m with any laptop at that price. I love my machine. Also, the AW13 that I bought before (i5, 8gb, 860m, lowest screen), the final price of it was 675 with tax, for me. Haggle right, you will get an amazing deal from Dell. This comes from experience, though.

I personally had very good experiences with Dell, despite what recent posters say here, with my AW15, AW13, m11x, etc. To be honest, I order with the mind that "please screw up the order so that I can take advantage of you." Luckily for them, they didn't screw much for my orders.

I've owned Sager, Asus, and Lenovo before, and I am well aware of their customer service. It makes me giggle when someone tells me that Dell has worse customer service than any of the 3 that I mentioned.

 

You can always haggle a deal if you keep trying, try new reps, experiment a bit with what you say. Tell them you're a student or you're on a limited budget and you'll buy right now if the deal is good. You could haggle a bit more off the price you have now. Just keep trying.

I've owned Lenovo and Asus before and Alienware has far worse service than I've experienced with them. They messed up my order address multiple times, I called them over 15 times to correct it and it still hasn't been corrected. Then I got shipped a laptop that was broken, then i had an agent promise me they'll send me a new one and upgrade me for the inconvenience. I told them not to ship anything because I'd be on vacation, but they shipped it with NO consent (I told them not to build it because I wouldn't be able to receive it) or upgrades. When I asked the rep about the upgrades she told me they were denied and they aren't under obligation to upgrade me. A manager told me to take the option of the laptop that is coming to me now or go away and get a refund. He told me I will not get anything else no matter what agents have told me prior. So now i'm fighting with customer service and multiple people to get what an agent told me on the phone they would get me.

 

Well, each individual has different experiences with different companies, I guess. On average, however, Sager or Asus have far less ratings in terms of customer service.

I'm not quite understanding the mess up in the address, however, in that what they receive as address is what you put in your own information when you make the order. It just seems miscommunication in all ends in your experiences with Dell.

 

From what I hear, Alienware USED to be great, but now they are dropping the quality a lot for whatever reason.

I actually did the order over the phone. I wrote my address in FULL to him, but he missed part of my address. He didn't put the full address. My information was supposed to be updated, but I've called back each time to have it still say the old one. So nothing is going to get it fixed.

 

Yea I did an address change and I had them read me back the address after I gave it to them, too much gets lost because of the language barrier, also followed up in an email to them

 

I talked to a manager, I talked to facebook agents, I used chat, I used e-mail. Everything, still it never was updated.

 

Horrible yea it sometimes feels like you are talking to a brick wall