Ordering from Dell...a long wait expected?

[aeonf242]

I ordered a refurbished Laptop from Dell last Sunday (25/07/04).

It was well cheap so I'm quite happy with the purchase.....

However it's now over a working week and my order hasn't even reached the 'Production facility yet'........

Is this usual for Dell? I've heard alot of horror stories about them and seem to remember thembeing on "Watchdog".

Should I expect a long wait......

If it was a stock item I could maybe understand but surely if they're selling a unique refurbished laptop it should just be ready to go......

[myth]

Dell ships realy fast! They just must not like you!!!!!

[aeonf242]

Dell ships realy fast! They just must not like you!!!!!

Maybe because I refused an upgrade from 256mb of RAM to 512mb for an extra £258!

[myth]

When I orderd a Dimension 8200 it took them 24 hours to ship it!

[aeonf242]

Maybe it's just their Refurbished Laptops that they take an age to post out....

[aeonf242]

Update..It turned up at some point today......
Big Dell box left outside my flat, although we have a buzzer entry system I don't think that's to clever of the courier (saved me a trip to collect it though!).
Only problem so far is that it's got an american power lead, so out comes the shaver adapter...

[aeonf242]

Opps there goes the 1 amp fuse.

[aeonf242]

A quick update:

The time lines (approx):
28/07 Place Order
28/07 My American express card is charged with c£535.
09/08-12/08 Get Laptop left outside my front door with no one signing for it, no UK power supply and all I know is that one box is missing. I CAN'T USE THE LAPTOP WITHOUT A POWER SUPPLY
10/08-18/08 Contact Dell customer services to report missing items, I defiantly know that the UK power supply and External Speakers are missing. I also not that I can't check the Laptop so don’t know what else is missing
19/08 Take day off work to await a courier delivery, this delivery turns out to be the external speakers. I now have all I'm ever going to get from Dell. At this point I'm getting increasingly frustrated as I was told I couldn't collect the missing box and no card was left to alert me to the fact that the courier had tried to deliver it previously.
19/08 Call Dell customer services another couple of times to try to find out what is going on
20/08 Call Dell customer services with the intention of returning everything I'd received and getting the order cancelled. After 20 minutes of getting no where I'm offered a 10% discount and the correct UK power lead. At this point I'm drained, I say please note this offer down and I'll contact you again if I wish to accept it.
21/08-01/09 I have a holiday
02/09 I finally call Customer Services back, in the morning, to accept Dells goodwill offer, I'm told someone will call me back.
03/09 I call Customer Services , in the morning, to find out where my call me is.
04/09 I call Customer Services , in the morning, to find out where my call me is.
05/09 I call Customer Services , in the morning, to find out what is going on. I'm now told that I'd didn’t want a UK power lead and that the goodwill payment is in process. I decide no to argue the point about the power lead because I haven't the resolve anymore.
07/09 I place an order for a new UK power adaptor at the cost of £27, the lead time on this is 7-10 days. (Dell Order # 331773892)
09/09 No refund has arrived. I call Customer Services , in the morning, to find out what is going on I ask if they know if the refund is being processed they answer NO. I ask them for the name of Dells CS director and all they can offer me is their immediate managers name, they don't offer me an escalation procedure but to be fair I polite but probably not the easiest caller to deal with.

DELL SUCK

[shiato storm]

my dad had similar probs when he ordered his laptop - new, and with certain specs. when it arrived it didn't have correct stuff but when he tried to call CS about their error all he got was some incomprehensible indian bloke who clearly had no idea what he was selling!
bunch of muppets, clearly one more company that cares more about its product sales numbers than actual customer satisfaction...

[Apex]

am quiet shocked at this.....

[aeonf242]

I'll keep it updated.......

At present I'm waiting for an excalation within the UK...

The upside is that I bought an Acer Laptop 4 weeks ago and sold the Dell on E-bay for £100 profit :-)