Beware of Outlet System Details !

Well returned my E6400 today went quite smoothly. The system was great with the exception of sending it with the wrong display a CCFL not the LED WXGA as in the outlet Details and Order Confirmation. I been looking in the Outlet several times daily since Tuesday for a suitable placement, Tonight I scored one similar specs as the one I sent back , now I’m thinking ” see persistence and patience pays off”. Check the specs one more time everything looks good, click checkout and confirm. Soon I browse my email Order confirmed WXGA LED click on the hyperlinked Order Number for a detailed view of components installed ……Lo and behold CCFL !!!!!!! I immediately contacted Dell and explained the problem and cancelled my order, the agent told me to stay on the phone as she would transfer me to a sales rep who then will make sure I’ll get a LED display on a comparable spec’ed machine. 30 minutes later the sale agent answered and questioned what system listed in the Outlet would I be interested in. I explained I was told she would work that out for me and find something similar to my past orders but with an actual LED display, she then said all she had was what was listed and further stated that one cannot go by order confirmation of what the system specs were. Hmmmm……..how about the details view of the system it also states LED at which time she hung up on me ……..lol. So if you cannot trust basic specs listed in the Outlet and Order Confirmation what can you trust? oh forgot to mention that the sales Rep told me if I see anything I like in the Dell Outlet call her personal telephone number.....curious i called as it was not toll free or had an extenstion..........It was a telephone S#X LINE !!!

 

At the risk of sounding like a broken record...certainly not Dell!

 

Did you click on the system number from the outlet screen to view the specific details of a particular system, or did you rely on the grid on screen that lets you sort by screen size, price, etc? I do agree that this is a bit flawed and that they should either put more system details on the on screen outlet listings grid, or make a better emphasis on the fact that you can click a listing number to open a popup box containing detailed info.

 

Yes I did all details point to LED screens until you buy it and when you receive the confirmation it also clearly states LED but.......click your order number on the top to bring up even more detail after the purchase and you been duped happened twice....I'm leary of ordering again. It's getting awfully close to deception.

 

The problem that is happening to Dell right now with the E6400 is really quite simple. Recently, they switched from offering CCFL 1280x800 and LED 1440x900 to offering both resolutions in ONLY LED. Clearly, some smart person decided to update every system in the outlet to reflect the current specs being offered for new systems. Since CCFL screens were available in the past, maybe 90% of systems with the 1280x800 screens in the outlet have CCFL ones. That number should decrease in time, though (or immediately if Dell actually fixes the problem).

If you really want LED, I suggest just choosing a system with the 1440x900 LED. My E6400 has that screen, and it's really good. Mine was bought on the outlet as well, and I think the extra resolution is only a few $ extra. Unless, of course, you specifically want the 1280x800 for something.

 

I googled Dell Phone s*x telephone and got some hits seems this is a common practice when they are frustrated with you. I'm the one frustrated I just want a Outlet E6400 in WXGA with a LED screen is that to much to ask for 8 or 9 hundred bucks ? I've bought six Dell laptops in the past years all my dealings were great in the past but this Outlet purchase is the pits poor customer service rude reps, etc I don't think customers should be treated so poorly if I treated my customers like this I would lose all my business. If the Reps don't like thier jobs they should quit and open the job up for someone who would be happy to work in this economy. I'm not a Dell Hater I always recommended them to my customers when they are short on money and cannot afford a custom build for thier businesses.
Personally If it were not for the backlit keyboard(Poor Eyesight)
I'd now go with a T400 out of principle. Sorry for the rant.

 

You really expect anything better out of Outlet store? It's an outlet store for a reason. You'd better not expect the same quality as buying a brand new one since your picking through the returns and machines that have issues from day one.

 

Oh thats understandable, I totally expect blemishes scratches
and some other issues but I do expect the machine I bought to to be the machine I receive and given they have had numerous complaints about people purchasing the machine with a LED only to find when they take ownership that it has a florescent backlight contrary to what their placing on the web as the description, well that given the negligence to attempt correct the problem can very well be construed as deceptive business practices, refund or not. When I buy a Ford 250 pickup I don't expect to take delivery of a KIA. Simply put, its not about the condition of the item as it shipping the correct item.

 

tmf2, I agree with you. Thanks for the warning, and enjoy your T400... it's a nice machine!