(RAM) Dell.com trying to rip-off naive customers?!!

I was browsing dell.com to see how much it would cost to order two 1GB sticks of RAM, and since I'm still trying to decide between the D630 and Vostro 1400, I looked up RAM prices for both systems. I would have guessed the RAM modules wouldn't be different, cause both notebooks are based on the Santa Rosa platform, and turns out I was right. But, I did make a startling discovery... see the pictures below:





Pay attention to the manufacturer part number (indicated in the red boxes).
Pretty evil, isn't it?!! Could there be any acceptable reason for the different pricing? From what I know, most RAM modules come with a lifetime warranty, so there shouldn't be any difference there.
Is Dell taking us for a fool? Do they think Latitude owners will simply pay more for the same part cause they are "more serious"? :GEEK: (note: I'm not saying they are)
I'd like to know what you guys think about this. Maybe contacting Dell will yield an interesting (or ridiculously silly) response.


P.S. I wasn't able to find any rules regarding stuff we're allowed to show in posts. If posting screenshots of a website is against the rules, I'm sorry.

 

The pricing options available on Dell's site are terrible as it is. This just adds to my disgust.

 

thats so terrible, but why am i not surprised?
hmm i can't imagine there being a reasonable explanation for this screwed pricing.

 

This is one of the reasons to almost never upgrade ram from the dealer when you buy your computer. Buy online.

 

For Comparison, 1GB of GSkill ram at Newegg cost 39.99 + 4.99 shipping, 2GB GSkill Ram cost 119.99 with 4.99 shipping.

 

The only reason I was considering purchasing RAM from Dell was for the sake of my notebooks warranty. I'm worried they would blame any faults the notebook may develop on the RAM if I purchased it elsewhere.
Am I wrong in worrying about this?

 

I upgraded my dell with ram from newegg, there don't really care. I've had to send in my laptop once, they told me to take out any ram i have installed myself.
They just popped one of their ram sticks into the machine to test it (and hopefully forget to take it out when sending it back like what they did with my machine). Hey free 1gb stick of ram, not bad.

but no they don't care if you replace the ram yourself even if you buy it from newegg or something

 

So if your laptops under their warranty, you can install your own RAM without voiding it? Just asking because I've had other warranties with different places taht have forbidden me from even opening up a computer without voiding the warranty.

 

theres no sticker on the provided ram that says "warranty void if removed" or any sticker on the the bottom of the computer saying "warranty void if opened" or anything lame like that. When i was online with a CSR he said that if i installed my own ram in the system, then i need to remove prior to shipping it to the wherehouse so that it doesn't get lost... that pretty much says that putting in your own ram will not void the warranty.
This is with Dell, i'm not sure the policies of other companies.

 

Simply, it's a cash grab

 

Dell is a company like any other, trying to make $$ wherever they can. one of those places is on components such as RAM and hard-drives because there are people out there that believe that Dell sold items are necessary to run in a Dell brand laptop or desktop and that nothing else will work. there is enough people out there like that who make Dell a nice profit.

 

I think you're blowing it out of proportion. If it's the same part number and the same RAM, buy it. Dell is just like any other company out there. The difference between Dell and them. Dell let you catch them. So now punish them by buying the cheaper RAM.

 

Their computers are also different prices depending on what link you use to get to them and whether you use coupons. It's no different with the ram. They give bargains to people who hunt for bargains, and those who don't pay higher prices. They hardly invented that model, but they do seem to make an art out of it. Buying RAM from the computer vendor is usually a ripoff anyway.

For a comparison, Apple charges $175 for a 1 gb RAM module for the MBP. So by relative to that, both the Latitude and the Vostro RAM are bargains; it's just that one is a little more of a bargain than the other, that's all.