Dell Outlet - How bad is "scratch & dent"?

Just saw a really cool Dell computer I like for sale on the Dell outlet. Might want to get it, but it says "scratch & dent". Does anyone have experience buying from the Dell outlet? Did you ever buy one that said "scratch & dent"? Would it just be a stupid idea to buy a computer that says that...?

 

It is indeed scratched up and dented.

I mean, cosmetically it should be a problem if you are looking for a perfect computer, but functionally it should work great.

 

Yeah, that probably would bug me. I can deal with a couple scratches...but a "dent" sounds pretty bad.

And nevermind anyway, it's gone, someone got it. I'd go mad watching the outlet store for a computer I like to show up...it'd be gone in a few minutes...

 

New inventory drops 40min after the hour, like now.

 

Well, I'll keep my eye out.

 

I have seen scratch and dents go a lot more then refurbished lappies

Sent from my Nexus S 4G using Tapatalk

 

I have purchased the Certified Refurbished from them twice and now awaiting the delivery of a 'new' netbook from them. I got a Dell Mini 1012 and an Inspiron 17R 2nd Gen from them so far in the outlet and been very pleased. I found no cosmetic damage to either unit and am really looking forward to the 11z we just ordered this week, although that was a new unit, I am sure it will be just fine. I've had four computers from Dell and this latest one is the third I've bought 'new' and the other two (desktops) that I bought new are still running smoothly too. Overall I really like Dell's products.

I posted this thread almost a year ago and I think there's some feedback on this subject you'd be interested it so I am editing to add this link:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/dell/545102-what-do-you-think-outlet-deals.html

 

"scratch and dent" usually means 1 tiny little nick in a completely obscure place.

 

Bought a couple things from the outlet over the past few years and "scratch & dent" was nothing. Never had a "dent".. just minor scratches that were hardly noticeable. I had to look for them to find it..

It's usually free shipping and you could always return it if the dent or scratch bugs you that much.

 

Ditto here. Any cosmetic blemishes on Scratch and Dent machines I have ordered have all been minor or unnoticeable.

Dell is pretty good about returns without fees if you don't like a machine but still plan to order from them.

 

Dell Outlet Sent Me A Barf-Covered, Gum-Filled Refurb Laptop - The Consumerist

New Dell outlet category: Scratch & Barf!

 

I'm probably going to be purchasing from the Dell Outlet soon, I was going to just get a refurb but if the scratch-and-dent is really extremely minor I might roll the dice on it.

Aesthetics are important to me, but if its just a completely un-noticeable scratch somewhere and it knocks $500 off the price, I'll take that any day.

It would be nice if they described exactly what the damage was on the Outlet site.

 

I recently had some issues with an XPS 17 and M6600 purchased through the Outlet store.

The first shipped with the wrong screen (non-FHD) and was butchered by the local contractor Dell uses in my town (Unisys). They gave me a full refund and did not charge me any shipping.

The second was an M6600 unit (i5 2520m, Quadro 4000m) I bought from eBay as Certified Refurbished. It came with the Dell seal intact. I transferred ownership to me without issue. It ended up having a bad motherboard and/or video card.

The same Dell onsite tech (Unisys) damaged the touchpad cable. Sending it back to Dell to get that fixed netted me missing screws and a note saying the hard drive was defective as well. I was livid.

I wrote Michael Dell and copied several other executives. A lady from the executive customer support team promptly responded. She sent me a replacement machine with the same specs. It arrived with scratches on the screen and body. After letting her know, she apologized and asked me to spec out my machine as new on their website to get it replaced.

I sent her a screen print of my i5/4000m speced as new. She sent a reply back asking me if I would take the following certified refurbished machine as a substitute:
CPU: i7-2960XM, Quadro 5010m, 16GB DDR3 1600, 750GB 72000RPM, DVD-RW, Full HD screen, 6250 WiMax, webcam, FIPS fingerprint scanner, Win 7 Ultimate
My jaw dropped to my desk. They overnighted it to me last Friday. It arrived in near flawless condition. I am still in disbelief.

Long story short, Dell isn’t perfect. But when they make mistakes, they will treat you right. It pays to be persistent.

 

JayLo is correct Dell Wants all their customers happy.
scratch and dent is usually a very small scratch, like on the bottom. but if you do think it is to much, ask them and they will replace the part if not the full system.

(source: worked Dell XPS tech support)

 

I purchased an E6220 scratch and dent, and it certainly lived up to the description with both scratches and dents on the LCD cover. Then I opened the bottom cover...every single screw was damaged from being overtightened, a couple screws were missing, CMOS battery was apparently dead, system automatically powers on when the AC adapter is plugged in (could be related to the CMOS battery, it happens when the battery isn't installed), and the keyboard wasn't backlit (standard now, but apparently was an option before).

After going through a terribly long list of parts that needed to be replaced, tech support and I agreed that it would be better to exchange the system, so customer care sent me a replacement E6220 and everything's good now.

 

Its usually not so bad I heard. Some even find theirs without any obvious cosmetic damages.

 

Scratch and dent on my sisters V13 was non existent. 0 scratches or dings anywhere.

 

I know this is a really old thread and it's somewhat off topic, but I recently purchased my Precision M4400 off the Dell Financial Services (DFS) website. These are USED machines, refurbished, but no guarantees as to cosmetics.

Anyway, this 2 year old M4400 was in very very clean condition. One very minor tiny scratch on the bottom and barely noticable wear on the space bar. Even the battery holds a good charge.

For what I paid for it, I was very impressed. Even has several months left on the original three year warranty.

YMMV...but I was happy.

 

Not always the greatest inventory though...

 

jus got my delivery of dell xps l702x17 i7 12gb 3gbnvidia 3d from dell scratch and dent i orederd it last week and tbh was scared after reading stories on how bad the scratch was,well it arrived and i was wary when i opened thebox,as i got my system for £455 plus vat and p&p that made it £547 all in bargain of the day,well i can confirm my gorgeous system has not one mark scrape or scratch anywhere it doesnt have refurbished sticker on the bottom its still got the plastic on the keys and screen i think i may of got the best deal i have ever had,this is defo a brand new system only thing wrong with it and this is a joke the rubber qtips on the little stubb feet one of them was loose hahaha yeah you heard me loose so i got glued it proper so i got a £1.100 system for less then half the price for what 1penny problem i rest my case go buy these machines you will not be diapointed im so happy i did it i can upload photos as i took some as i was unpacking

 

I would just make sure you give it a good stress test of everything you plan to use it for (gaming, rendering video, burning cd's etc) first thing and hopefully your in the clear. Nothing like trying to burn a CD for the first time 6 months down the road only to fine out it's a no go.

 

Picked up my Vostro 3450 from the outlet and this brand new never before used- listed as NEW under category machine was $699 vs $899 for the scratch and dent version.

i7 2640m
4GB
AMD 7650 1GB
500GB 5400 rpm drive
8x DVD player
fingerprint
1336*768 display

spent the extra $270 that I saved and got
Panasonic UJ240 BD-Rom burner to replace the internal DVD drive
8GB
1600*900 panel
750GB 7200rpm hdd

Put the 4GB SIM into my wife's Vostro 1440 (for a total of 6GB) along with the 500GB hdd and will put the 320GB hdd into the PS3