Outrageous dell sales tactic (phone order)

FYI & Amusement.

Had a customer of mine call to order a dell system. Gave 3 choices
(2-vostro and inspiron) with appropriate modifiers and the customer
chose an inspiron system (picked from the SMB discounted offerings.)

The sales rep told the customer that he should not order an inspiron
as it will not last long when used in a business application. Said it
may only last 1-2 years. Suggested an optiplex with less performance
at $150 more.

When I heard this I was shocked. Called myself and got the same
drivel. Quizzed (softly) the rep about it, and after getting more
preposterous claims to support it failing early in it's life, I asked
for dell's documentation regarding this application limitation. Was
put on hold while the rep went to look for the PDF. Disconnected 20
minutes later.

Called again and spoke to another rep who started the same way. When
parried by asking for an explanation of the failure mode expected, the
rep wavered. Adding specific queries regarding the components and how
they are expected to fail, the rep waffled.

Said that they are evaluated by $$$ and are thus motivated to upsell
using whatever tactic they deem appropriate. Apparently they find
fear the only justifiable motivator.

However, this rep qualified the statement with the fact that although
the inspiron line may have the same quality electronics as other
lines, the case is not as sturdy and may only last 1-2 years. My eyes
have not bulged as much since I had an employee engineer tell a
customer that his system failures were caused by the machine being
misaligned with respect to the earths magnetic field.

Much of the inspiron line is home consumer oriented and includes large
storage, addressing that market. There is also a lot of inexpensive
older hardware sold through the line. Some of it includes current and
recently superceded stuff that is worthwhile.

This sales technique has me looking at HP systems as an alternative
vendor for the 100 or so systems I direct customers to buy each year.

Fun??

Try giving them a call, indicating a business use for an inspiron and
see what nonsense you get. Record it and you-tube it!!

On Fri, 22 Apr 2011 16:42:00 -0400, Splork wrote:

FYI & Amusement.

Had a customer of mine call to order a dell system. Gave 3 choices
(2-vostro and inspiron) with appropriate modifiers and the customer
chose an inspiron system (picked from the SMB discounted offerings.)

The sales rep told the customer that he should not order an inspiron
as it will not last long when used in a business application. Said it
may only last 1-2 years. Suggested an optiplex with less performance
at $150 more.

When I heard this I was shocked. Called myself and got the same
drivel. Quizzed (softly) the rep about it, and after getting more
preposterous claims to support it failing early in it's life, I asked
for dell's documentation regarding this application limitation. Was
put on hold while the rep went to look for the PDF. Disconnected 20
minutes later.

Called again and spoke to another rep who started the same way. When
parried by asking for an explanation of the failure mode expected, the
rep wavered. Adding specific queries regarding the components and how
they are expected to fail, the rep waffled.

Said that they are evaluated by $$$ and are thus motivated to upsell
using whatever tactic they deem appropriate. Apparently they find
fear the only justifiable motivator.

However, this rep qualified the statement with the fact that although
the inspiron line may have the same quality electronics as other
lines, the case is not as sturdy and may only last 1-2 years.

These disposable cases were mandated by the government, the EPA. If
you go to any electronics recycling event you can see a lot of
computer cases only 1 to 2 years old that are sagging and drooping and
forming a puddle, with the stronger components inside, like the CD
drives and memory sticks (which are exempt).

They are actually so flimsy that it makes recyling difficult, when
people try to hold on to them and they escape their grip like jello.

You can't even carry these things to the car.

My eyes
have not bulged as much since I had an employee engineer tell a
customer that his system failures were caused by the machine being
misaligned with respect to the earths magnetic field.

And you know this isn't true?

Much of the inspiron line is home consumer oriented and includes large
storage, addressing that market. There is also a lot of inexpensive
older hardware sold through the line. Some of it includes current and
recently superceded stuff that is worthwhile.

This sales technique has me looking at HP systems as an alternative
vendor for the 100 or so systems I direct customers to buy each year.

Fun??

Try giving them a call, indicating a business use for an inspiron and
see what nonsense you get. Record it and you-tube it!!

That's a thought. I'm glad I kept my phone machine with 90 minute
tapes. 45 minutes on a side.

On Apr 22, 4:42*pm, Splork wrote:
FYI & Amusement.

Had a customer of mine call to order a dell system. *Gave 3 choices
(2-vostro and inspiron) with appropriate modifiers and the customer
chose an inspiron system (picked from the SMB discounted offerings.)

The sales rep told the customer that he should not order an inspiron
as it will not last long when used in a business application. *Said it
may only last 1-2 years. * Suggested an optiplex with less performance
at $150 more.

When I heard this I was shocked. *Called myself and got the same
drivel. *Quizzed (softly) the rep about it, and after getting more
preposterous claims to support it failing early in it's life, I asked
for dell's documentation regarding this application limitation. *Was
put on hold while the rep went to look for the PDF. *Disconnected 20
minutes later.

Called again and spoke to another rep who started the same way. *When
parried by asking for an explanation of the failure mode expected, the
rep wavered. *Adding specific queries regarding the components and how
they are expected to fail, the rep waffled. *

Said that they are evaluated by $$$ and are thus motivated to upsell
using whatever tactic they deem appropriate. *Apparently they find
fear the only justifiable motivator.

However, this rep qualified the statement with the fact that although
the inspiron line may have the same quality electronics as other
lines, the case is not as sturdy and may only last 1-2 years. *My eyes
have not bulged as much since I had an employee engineer tell a
customer that his system failures were caused by the machine being
misaligned with respect to the earths magnetic field.

Much of the inspiron line is home consumer oriented and includes large
storage, addressing that market. *There is also a lot of inexpensive
older hardware sold through the line. *Some of it includes current and
recently superceded stuff that is worthwhile.

This sales technique has me looking at HP systems as an alternative
vendor for the 100 or so systems I direct customers to buy each year.

Fun??

Try giving them a call, indicating a business use for an inspiron and
see what nonsense you get. *Record it and you-tube it!! *

The Inspiron desktop system cases are really flimsy, but one is not
going to fall apart while you are simply looking at it. For years, I
have come across similar chintzy cases used by white-box system
builders looking to save a buck. If you price out system cases from a
typical distributor, you find that the difference between a crappy one
and a decent one (e.g. the Foxconn/Casedge black mini-tower long used
by Gateway and me) is pennies. Usually, the crappy case has an
equally crappy power supply. And you can cut yourself on the sharp
edges inside if you are not careful.

Dell is being honest and truthful here. Sell the consumer a cheap
pile of crap, but sell the corporate clients with clout a sturdy
system. But this has long been a practice of the major name brands.
Hey, take a look at the HPaq junque being sold in Best Buy or at
Walmart. Same lusy construction as the Inspirons sitting nearby.

Well, what else is new? A peddler of wares using FUD (fear
uncertainty and doubt) to sell product. IBM did this all along when
it was dominant in the computer biz.
Itinerant salesmen used to go from town to town selling snake oil. It
is the American way. How would you like to buy some CDOs?

.... Ben Myers

On Sat, 23 Apr 2011 09:16:49 -0700 (PDT), Ben Myers
wrote:

On Apr 22, 4:42*pm, Splork wrote:
FYI & Amusement.

Had a customer of mine call to order a dell system. *Gave 3 choices
(2-vostro and inspiron) with appropriate modifiers and the customer
chose an inspiron system (picked from the SMB discounted offerings.)

The sales rep told the customer that he should not order an inspiron
as it will not last long when used in a business application. *Said it
may only last 1-2 years. * Suggested an optiplex with less performance
at $150 more.

When I heard this I was shocked. *Called myself and got the same
drivel. *Quizzed (softly) the rep about it, and after getting more
preposterous claims to support it failing early in it's life, I asked
for dell's documentation regarding this application limitation. *Was
put on hold while the rep went to look for the PDF. *Disconnected 20
minutes later.

Called again and spoke to another rep who started the same way. *When
parried by asking for an explanation of the failure mode expected, the
rep wavered. *Adding specific queries regarding the components and how
they are expected to fail, the rep waffled. *

Said that they are evaluated by $$$ and are thus motivated to upsell
using whatever tactic they deem appropriate. *Apparently they find
fear the only justifiable motivator.

However, this rep qualified the statement with the fact that although
the inspiron line may have the same quality electronics as other
lines, the case is not as sturdy and may only last 1-2 years. *My eyes
have not bulged as much since I had an employee engineer tell a
customer that his system failures were caused by the machine being
misaligned with respect to the earths magnetic field.

Much of the inspiron line is home consumer oriented and includes large
storage, addressing that market. *There is also a lot of inexpensive
older hardware sold through the line. *Some of it includes current and
recently superceded stuff that is worthwhile.

This sales technique has me looking at HP systems as an alternative
vendor for the 100 or so systems I direct customers to buy each year.

Fun??

Try giving them a call, indicating a business use for an inspiron and
see what nonsense you get. *Record it and you-tube it!! *

The Inspiron desktop system cases are really flimsy, but one is not
going to fall apart while you are simply looking at it. For years, I
have come across similar chintzy cases used by white-box system
builders looking to save a buck. If you price out system cases from a
typical distributor, you find that the difference between a crappy one
and a decent one (e.g. the Foxconn/Casedge black mini-tower long used
by Gateway and me) is pennies. Usually, the crappy case has an
equally crappy power supply. And you can cut yourself on the sharp
edges inside if you are not careful.

Dell is being honest and truthful here. Sell the consumer a cheap
pile of crap, but sell the corporate clients with clout a sturdy
system. But this has long been a practice of the major name brands.
Hey, take a look at the HPaq junque being sold in Best Buy or at
Walmart. Same lusy construction as the Inspirons sitting nearby.

Well, what else is new? A peddler of wares using FUD (fear
uncertainty and doubt) to sell product. IBM did this all along when
it was dominant in the computer biz.
Itinerant salesmen used to go from town to town selling snake oil. It
is the American way. How would you like to buy some CDOs?

... Ben Myers



Same is true for software (firewalls and antivirus wares). They love
to scare you to death and if you aren't savy, you will fall for it.

On Fri, 22 Apr 2011 16:42:00 -0400, Splork wrote:


FYI & Amusement.

Had a customer of mine call to order a dell system. Gave 3 choices
(2-vostro and inspiron) with appropriate modifiers and the customer
chose an inspiron system (picked from the SMB discounted offerings.)

The sales rep told the customer that he should not order an inspiron
as it will not last long when used in a business application. Said it
may only last 1-2 years. Suggested an optiplex with less performance
at $150 more.


I would not recommend an Inspiron, esp for someone doing more than casual
computing (Word docs, simple spreadsheets, web browsing).

I would go with a more substantial machine, esp if using for business.