Buy over the phone or on the web?

Fabio

Lads, is there advantages to buying a Dell computer or laptop over the phone as compared to simply doing it on the web?

Are the people on the phones willing to bargain and if so generally on what? Price, extras?

dulpit

I've ordered Dells over the phone & on the net, the only benefit i could see was that you could customise more over the phone, like there was a machine i was buying for work, they was only an option for like 2 O.S's (Vista Business or Ultimate) but when i rang up i could have gone for XP and stuff...

So ya, better customisation over the phone, just ask them... Plus you get the whole talking over the phone fuzzy feeling...

RoyalMarine

if you ring dell, tell them all the specs you want, go to the final point when they ask you for payment details, and then tell them your not 100% sure.

ask is there any discount or price drop they can give you to make your mind up 100%.

i guarantee you they will drop the price. even if its only 20 euro off, its something.
i got over 200 off mine.

Fabio

And how do you know that you are getting the exact spec you want?
- Do they send an email confirmation with the specs (just in case they make a little mistake thats all)

TheDriver

i would say web as my experiences on the phone is they try selling you lot more stuff such as accident insurance on the spot and its hard to get out of some of them

Dregon

I think that it's worth ringing, they upgraded my monitor for free, and almost got a free printer.:D

AlmightyCushion

I'd say you'd get a better deal over the phone. They must have some wiggle room on the price to get the sale.

Fabio

AlmightyCushion wrote: »

I'd say you'd get a better deal over the phone. They must have some wiggle room on the price to get the sale.

Yeah I'd say they must have alright.

Do they send you an email confirmation though?

And, as I am a student, do they do student discounts...

AlmightyCushion

Fabio wrote: »

Do they send you an email confirmation though?

Haven't a notion, sorry.

Fabio wrote: »

And, as I am a student, do they do student discounts...

Nope.

One word of advice though. Price up the computer on the dell site. Stick as rigidly to these specs as you can. This will let you know whether the price over the phone is working out cheaper than on the web.

zeusnero

I ordered over the phone last week (XPS range) and got approximately 300 euros off what was being quoted on the web. Definately order over the phone...

Fabio

Wow! I'll be ringing them in a few hours for an XPS M1330....I'll post up how I get on.

Obelisk29

You can't negotiate with the Internet, so call.

whether or not you get anything off depends on what you're buying - if you're buying a low end Vostro and not adding anything on, then don't expect to do any better than the web, however for an XPS or Latitude you'll definitely get a better deal over the phone.

btw, if you order over the phone you'll generally get the system a day or two earlier than if you order over the web.

Fabio

Obelisk29 wrote: »

You can't negotiate with the Internet, so call.

whether or not you get anything off depends on what you're buying - if you're buying a low end Vostro and not adding anything on, then don't expect to do any better than the web, however for an XPS or Latitude you'll definitely get a better deal over the phone.

btw, if you order over the phone you'll generally get the system a day or two earlier than if you order over the web.

Well I rang them but seeing as the XPS M1330 is under offer I couldn't get a move on the price (-€150 already off it).

However it seems that my credit card (parents one ) won't allow me to spend the €1318 I wanted to so I have to get in touch with the bank tomorrow and see what the story is...

If that doesn't work out I'll have to go down the route of sending a cheque or a postal order.

Has anyone done this before?

timmywex

i sent a cheque as i had to to avail of vat, and the laptop was still delivered 3days before the estimated date, the cheque did take a week and half to clear but the laptop was dispatched 2days after that again