Dell Bait & Switch

Dell computer company is using an old tactic to increase sales and profits. The old Bait and Switch has a new wrinkle. Dell will advertise a computer at a given price, usually in a flyer or newspaper ad. When you place the order - Dell will (and has) shipped computers with lower level (speed) processors and fewer than ordered features. This happened to me recently. I ordered a Dell with a pentium 4 processor and I was shipped a computer with a Celeron. Two main features I paid extra for were missing - Lightscribe on the DVD and a media card reader.

While this is against the law, what really got to me was the crappy attitude of the "customer service" department. I was on the phone with Dell for over an hour being transferred from person to person and getting nowhere. Their excuse ranged from "that model is no longer available" - (the computer was ordered from a current flyer) - to "so what". I even emailed the VP of customer service, with no reply.

If you are thinking about buying a Dell - think twice. Just do a Google on Dell complaints - you will be amazed what this company does to customers.

R. Firkins