Refurbished Dell Computers?

[Ron Eggers]

Anybody had any experience with them?

My son has been checking on them and is, I believe, planning on ordering one tonight. He thinks it's a good deal and it currently comes with free shipping.

 

[Mike Labbe]

There are some good deals on their refurb site, but they go fast. It's especially good for laptops or high end machines.

For regular machines, the deals on NEW are often better, and include more.

Today's deals for new:

$299 Dell 3000 P4-2.4ghz, 256 ram, 15" LCD, 40gb, nic, cdrom, free shipping

$499 Dell 4700 P4-2.8ghz, 256 ram, 19" LCD, 40gb, nic, cdrom, free shipping

$849 Dell 9100 P4-3.0ghz, 512 ram, 20" LCD, 40gb, nic, cdrom, free shipping


Today's deals for used:

The 3000 is the same price, has a cd burner, 512 ram, but no monitor.


No matter which one you go with, these may be of interest:
2% additional off using Dell Preferred Account Code: 4N13PT2J68HCDX Exp 7/29
$25 off $999 using Dell Preferred Account Code: 9BNV79NQ456GVN (Exp 7/29)

The PIF suggested camera is also $209 if you stack some coupons. Details at http://www.techbargains.com/

 

[Barb Pelton]

I've purchased 2 over the years--both have been fine, and operated as well as other computers...


(Which means they take a major lightning strike just like any other computer! )

 

[JbNormandog]

I always buy Dell and have been happy but I just read yesterday that they recently shut down their customer service function on their website due to a huge amount of use. Apparently the article said that their previously great customer service is finding it hard to keep up with the growth of the company.

It is ranked as the fastest declining company in it's field.

If I can find the article I will post a link here.

Again don't jump on me I LIKE DELL. All shop and home computers are Dell.

 

[JbNormandog]

Here is the article I was mentioning.

I don't know if the UK site is the same as the US site but at least it is a little info on the subject.

http://www.theregister.com/2005/07/11/dell_customer_support/print.html

 

[Ron Eggers]

One might reasonably ask why I would care whether my son gets a good deal on a reliable computer. He is, after all, a consenting adult, at least according to federal HIPAA laws.

As the lead tech support geek for the Eggers household, computer trouble for anyone means computer trouble for me.

I'm like one of those corporate IT guys, but without the budget, the benefits or the expertise.

I can't even count the number of PCs sitting around here in various states of dysfunctionalness.

 

[Pat Murphey]

Watch out! Normandog - Dermot is going to get you.

Seriously, whenever I buy a Dell, I look for a package deal on 3 year next day on-site service. Those programs include contact with tech support that is knowledgeable and US based. It has been worth every penny spent in my long experience with Dell computers. Pricing on hardware and this service is ALWAYS better using their Small Business Division.

Pat

 

[Dermot]

This is one area of Dell that I have a very good knowledge of….

The outlet store from Dell sell computers that have been returned for a number of reasons…….duplicated orders by Dell, duplicate orders by customer, wrong specification by customer, etc. etc. etc.……….in general the computers sold by the outlet store have NEVER been removed from the shipping box…..Dell for legal reasons got to do with how the sell there products and for operational reasons cannot offer/supply these computers to customers who order new computers online or from a sales rep……….hence they offer then via the outlet store……..in general a computer which arrives back at Dell which shows evidence of having been taking out of the shipping carton and plugged in and started is not sent for remanufacturing for sale at the outlet store they are recycled or used internally by Dell….

ALL equipment that is offered via the outlet store is remanufactured and tested a second time……..and some modification of the software is done to accommodate localisation…..my view of the outlet products is that they are superb….would I buy one…..I have on a number of occasions……the trick to get a real bargain at the outlet store is to check every day offers can change by the hour….

Regarding tech support Pat is right the 3 year next day on site is a steal if you consider the peace of mind it offers……

The closure of the site Normandog mentioned has caused some disquiet with some folk……and whereat Dell had supported the forum type support it offered for many years they had to make a decision of late to only have customers contact a Dell official customer support representative for Customer Support, I do not know the full details of this decision but I would speculate that the decision to close the site was made with great reluctance………..

I will be happy to answer any more questions on this subject you can email me at dermot@matting-systems.com


Rgs

Dermot

 

[Dermot]

To clarify the site Dell closed down was a forum for people to give advice to each other NOT for Dell to give advice to customers….it was not a Dell customer support site………though Dell did support it for many years…..it was an unofficial support site of sorts that grew from a few people who used it to talk to each other………..

Dell have NOT closed down any of their official customer support functions you can still call your customer support representative as you always could……..

Incidentally one of the reasons Dell’s customer support can look bad from time to time is that more people by number have computer problems with Dell products than any other computer manufacturer for the simple reason that Dell sell more computers than most of the other computer sellers combined…..

When you compare Dells Customer satisfaction rating by percentage to computers sold Dell offer the best customer satisfaction by a long shot than any of the other computer manufacturers……

One thing I can say about Dell is that from the very top down customer satisfaction is one of the most important if not the most important things in how Dell operate ……..you would be astonished by how seriously customer satisfaction is taken by Dell

BTW as a side line….Dell announced an additional 1200+ jobs (recruitment starting straight away) in Oklahoma City the other day…..this is in addition to the 700+ announced earlier this year…..what are the jobs…..customer support


Rgs

Dermot

 

[jim@wizard]

Ron,
I see you are from Appleton! Cool. I'm originally from Milwaukee. In college I had a lot of friends from there. Used to hang out there back then. Its been over 20 years since I've been there. I'm sure I wouldn't even recognize it any more.

On the Dells, they seem to be having amazing deals on new stuff these days. Yesterday I bought the 6000 notebook. Saved over $800 USD on a $1700 unit. New with all the bells and whistles and a 1 year warranty. Check www.slickdeals.net often and, if you find a model you want, check ebay too. They are always a bit less than Dell - but not by much. I prefer to buy direct from the manufacturer if the price is close.

 

[David Waldmann]

Originally posted by Dermot:
One thing I can say about Dell is that from the very top down customer satisfaction is one of the most important if not the most important things in how Dell operate ……..you would be astonished by how seriously customer satisfaction is taken by Dell.

Guess they haven't read "Customer Satisfaction is WORTHLESS. Customer Loyalty is PRICELESS" by Jeffrey Gitomer.

Seriously, I have noticed they are not even on a lot of the latest top lists by various computer mags. I too have all Dells and am satisfied with them. However, because of incidents that have occurred over the last couple of years they have lost my loyalty. In other words, I will no longer automatically look to Dell next time I need a computer.

 

[Ron Eggers]

My son got his refurbished Dell yesterday and he's a happy guy.

I got a call from him last night just as I was leaving work. Could I get an adapter for the monitor cable for him? There was a non-standard port on the CPU.

Huh? That hardly seemed possible. "Are you absolutely certain?" I said. "Oh, yes, definitely."

Most of the stores that sell non-existent video adapters were already closed so I came home and asked to have a look. It is impossible to navigate across the floor of his room, so he had to bring the CPU to the neutral zone in the hallway.

"See? Male plug on the video cable and male port on the computer."

He was trying connect the monitor to a serial port. His sister, the Digital Diva, got a HUGE kick out of that. I suspect she knew it all along.

So, what's to become of the 2-year-old HP that's no longer adequate for his needs? I bought it from him 'cause it's much better than anything I'm using.

 

[stud d]

I know I should not be on here, but I saw Dell. I have had a refurbished Dell for about three years now. I got a good one at a good price. I would have paid quite a bit more, and most likely not have gotten a computer if the pricing was not so good.

Mine is good and I am happy I got it.
Patrick Leealnd

 

[Ron Eggers]

Patrick, why shouldn't you be on here?

Do you think that only MBAs should post to the business forum? Professional stand-up comedians to Warped?

I think there are probably about a half-dozen bona-fide geeks on The Grumble. I'm not one of them, but I'm grateful that those that are participate here. Someone who understand framing AND technology is a priceless treasure.

The rest of us get to ask the questions and express the opinions that keep the forum active.

I appreciate your comments on your Dell.