Step by Step

There has been much confusion by new comers to this deal as to what exactly has happened here over the last week. I thought I'd write a quick day by day guide as to what has happened to atleast one customer here.

Monday, the 10th of November 2008
- I come across the this site advertising "Dell Vostro 220ST Desktop with 19" monitor - $350.46 @ Dell"
-Thinking this was a good deal, I logged onto to the Dell site and placed and order for 4 machines (For my household and parents)
- Payment in this instance was made by Credit Card
- At this stage, I have no reason to believe this Deal was Dodgy. It seems like one of their usual clearence deals (In 2005, I purchased a $800 Dell Poweredge server for $299)

Tuesday, the 11th of November 2008
- I find out online that the Deal was Dodgy and dell was not honouring any of the orders. I was quite annoyed, as I had already told my parents I had purchased a PC for them.
- I call Dell up to find out what is going on. After being told that the sales members were 'too busy', I was assured I would get a phone call back from them in a few hours.
- I never received a phone call

Wednesday, the 12th of November 2008
- Again, I attempt to call Dell, again they are too busy. I am promised another callback, which never eventuates.

Thursday, the 13th of November 2008
-I am reading of more and more cases that this deal has been rejected, but not many people are able to get a straight answer out of Dell. Some people are reporting that Dell salesmen have stated that those who have paid by EFT will have their Deal honoured. This is very disheartening.
- I finally get a call (it was not a call back from my enquiries though) from Dell stating I HAD to pay $799 less 5% for my order, or cancel it there and then on the spot.
- Neither of these is what I wanted, so I informed Dell that I was under the impression a contract had been implied and was not going to do either of those options.
- Dell salesman promised he would have his supervisor call me back within a few hours. I really pushed him on this, saying I had been promised calls back before and never received anything. He assured me I would get a phone call back.
- I did not receive a phone call back from Dell.

Friday, the 14th of November 2008.
- While watching what other people are saying about this deal, I find that there is a new Deal happening. I follow the instructions and again place an order for 5 Dell PCs this time.
- Also, trying to make sure my bases are covered, I pay by EFT this time.
- A few hours later, I see that the Dodgy Deal has been pulled from Dells website and I start getting worried again.

The Weekend, 15 - 16th of November 2008.
- I am a few thousand down as the EFT payment has gone through. Althought my Credit Card has not been charged yet.

Monday, the 17th of November 2008.
- Continuing from where I left off last week, I called Dell up again, and again had to leave me details so someone could call me back. I am really starting to get sick of this. I point out that they have my EFT money, and I just want to speak to someone about that. I am again assured I would get a call back within a few hours.
- I received no phone call back.

Tuesday, the 18th of November 2008.
- Once again I call Dell in the morning. This time I got through to someone:

01-02min = Explain to switchboard I want to speak about my order
02-12min = ON HOLD!!! (My guess is they were forming an argument)
12-25min = One way scripted discussion with a sales person.

It was like she had a scripted sheet right there in front of her. Refusing to budge from the 'bait-and-switch or cancel' spiel.

Some of my memorable quotes:
"Sales of Goods Act and the Fair Trading Act do not apply here"
"Dell's Code of Conduct is not applicable during sales"
"Your word means nothing to me"
"Someone from management will call you back"

Even when I gave her my word that I have seen someone's order go through, she refused to believe me until I gave her the order number. I explained that I would not give her the order until the computers were delivered because the customer had no trust in Dell not to cancel the order, cos this is the type of company Dell is shifting towards...