Why can't I buy a Latitude without a company?

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I have just discovered that Dell has a very strict demarcation b/n
their so called business line of computers and those for home users. I
tried to buy a Latitude for a friend but got stopped by Dell's need for
company account etc.

What's Dell's thinking in making this demarcation? It's crazy isn't it?
I don't need those fancy and colorful covering on a laptop, but just a
robust machine.

I am aware that I can pick up a Latitude from eBay and other source.
But it's a slightly more risky route.

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"Whytoi" <whytoi@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:050120052040377405%whytoi@hotmail.com...
>I have just discovered that Dell has a very strict demarcation b/n
> their so called business line of computers and those for home users. I
> tried to buy a Latitude for a friend but got stopped by Dell's need for
> company account etc.
>

Make up something? There are a lot of us who only buy from small business
with or without a real company.

--

Rob
 
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In article <BPadnQkyVNv_IEbcRVn-oQ@giganews.com>, Robert R Kircher, Jr.
<rrkircher@hotmail.com> wrote:

> "Whytoi" <whytoi@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:050120052040377405%whytoi@hotmail.com...
> >I have just discovered that Dell has a very strict demarcation b/n
> > their so called business line of computers and those for home users. I
> > tried to buy a Latitude for a friend but got stopped by Dell's need for
> > company account etc.

> Make up something? There are a lot of us who only buy from small business
> with or without a real company.

But the guy said that you need a company reference number or something,
and also a company account. Well, guess I could have been smarter and
made up a story. But I didn't know how rigorously they enforced those
rules. So...

Tell me more, I'll remember it next time. :)

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"Whytoi" <whytoi@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:050120052228236069%whytoi@hotmail.com...
> In article <BPadnQkyVNv_IEbcRVn-oQ@giganews.com>, Robert R Kircher, Jr.
> <rrkircher@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
>> "Whytoi" <whytoi@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>> news:050120052040377405%whytoi@hotmail.com...
>> >I have just discovered that Dell has a very strict demarcation b/n
>> > their so called business line of computers and those for home users. I
>> > tried to buy a Latitude for a friend but got stopped by Dell's need for
>> > company account etc.
>
>> Make up something? There are a lot of us who only buy from small
>> business
>> with or without a real company.
>
> But the guy said that you need a company reference number or something,
> and also a company account. Well, guess I could have been smarter and
> made up a story. But I didn't know how rigorously they enforced those
> rules. So...
>
> Tell me more, I'll remember it next time. :)
>


Order online via the small business site. I think it ask for a company
name. Make something up like My Friend Inc.

Once you've ordered that way you'll just use the same customer number for
any other orders that you may call in.

BTW: I haven't called in a order in years. I usually email a PDF of what I
configure on the web site to the sales agent I've been working with. Every
so often that agent moves on and I get an email from the new agent. In any
event, I don't know exactly how the phone in system works anymore but if you
happened to get piped over to Home as apposed to Small Business the sales
geek may have been giving you the run around because they are two different
groups and he'd lose the commission because he'd have to pass you off to the
SB group.

Good luck.

--

Rob
 
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"Whytoi" <whytoi@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:050120052228236069%whytoi@hotmail.com...
> In article <BPadnQkyVNv_IEbcRVn-oQ@giganews.com>, Robert R Kircher, Jr.
> <rrkircher@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
>> "Whytoi" <whytoi@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>> news:050120052040377405%whytoi@hotmail.com...
>> >I have just discovered that Dell has a very strict demarcation b/n
>> > their so called business line of computers and those for home users. I
>> > tried to buy a Latitude for a friend but got stopped by Dell's need for
>> > company account etc.
>
>> Make up something? There are a lot of us who only buy from small
>> business
>> with or without a real company.
>
> But the guy said that you need a company reference number or something,
> and also a company account. Well, guess I could have been smarter and
> made up a story. But I didn't know how rigorously they enforced those
> rules. So...
>
> Tell me more, I'll remember it next time. :)
>
> --

"Whytoi Enterprises", with your usual home address and phone.

Be sure you're calling the small business division ( I was told 400
employees or less). You shouldn't have a problem.

That should get you your Latitude.


Stew
 
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On Wed, 05 Jan 2005 11:28:23 GMT, Whytoi <whytoi@hotmail.com> wrote:
>But the guy said that you need a company reference number or something,
>and also a company account. Well, guess I could have been smarter and
>made up a story. But I didn't know how rigorously they enforced those
>rules. So...
>
>Tell me more, I'll remember it next time. :)

What about using your work address, or your wives, or you another relative?
 

Paul

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Mar 30, 2004
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Archived from groups: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell (More info?)

Like Ira says, just order online via the Small Business section of the
website. Make up a company name if it's a required field - hell, make one
up anyway just so nobody second-guesses the order. If the credit card is
good, Dell will take your money.

If you have a sales rep or did talk to someone on the phone, *never* enter
the sales rep's code into the online order form.-- it will only stop the
order cold in it's tracks and even though you think your order is happily
speeding it's way through production, you'll get a call a day or two later
from the human rep wanting to "handle" the order. I no longer put our Dell
"account" number on my orders for this reason. Unfortunately their system
works this way and is completely stupid. It pisses the customer off by
delaying the order if you do want to do the "right" thing and give the
person a commission. My (former) sales rep at Dell told me when you put
these codes in, they have some sort of "exception" batch report that runs
every night and an excel spreadsheet of these orders is passed around in the
department for phone followup. Totally non-tech.

I assume now every time I order a PC from them a new account number is
created. So I have like 50 account numbers. Not a big deal, it's not like
I get special treatment or discounts. Dell's byzantine "sale" pricing is
hit or miss anyway.

-- Paul



"Whytoi" <whytoi@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:050120052040377405%whytoi@hotmail.com...
>I have just discovered that Dell has a very strict demarcation b/n
> their so called business line of computers and those for home users. I
> tried to buy a Latitude for a friend but got stopped by Dell's need for
> company account etc.
>
> What's Dell's thinking in making this demarcation? It's crazy isn't it?
> I don't need those fancy and colorful covering on a laptop, but just a
> robust machine.
>
> I am aware that I can pick up a Latitude from eBay and other source.
> But it's a slightly more risky route.
>
> --
 
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Hmmmm. I used Microsoft Corporation.

"David" <davids165@juno.com> wrote in message
news:1104947321.291323.302100@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com...
>I used company name of
> "<my last name> Consulting"
> Worked fine.
> Dave
>
 
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In article <kO6dnVPw15ZbeEbcRVn-pg@giganews.com>, Robert R Kircher, Jr.
<rrkircher@hotmail.com> wrote:

> In any
> event, I don't know exactly how the phone in system works anymore but if you
> happened to get piped over to Home as apposed to Small Business the sales
> geek may have been giving you the run around because they are two different
> groups and he'd lose the commission because he'd have to pass you off to the
> SB group.

Yes, I think that was the exact reason why an extra order was made on
my account (see previous post). The unethical agent in the home user
section rather than spending 2 mins on modifying my existing order
(alteration to the delivery method + an extra charge), she just went
ahead and added an identical order, at the same time lying to me on the
phone to say that the only way to do it was to cancel the present order
and generate a brand new one. The end result would have been further
delays in the delivery date for a further $69 out of my pocket. Just as
well I smelled fish and told her to do nothing and called back to
another agent.

Anyway, this kind of behaviour is so typical of those New York
photographic mail order stores, one that is most unbecoming of Dell.
The more I think about it, the more it pisses me off...

--
 
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"Whytoi" <whytoi@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:050120052040377405%whytoi@hotmail.com...
>I have just discovered that Dell has a very strict demarcation b/n
> their so called business line of computers and those for home users. I
> tried to buy a Latitude for a friend but got stopped by Dell's need for
> company account etc.
>
> What's Dell's thinking in making this demarcation? It's crazy isn't it?
> I don't need those fancy and colorful covering on a laptop, but just a
> robust machine.
>
> I am aware that I can pick up a Latitude from eBay and other source.
> But it's a slightly more risky route.
>
> --

Just order online from the small business website-- but be prepared to pay
sales tax which they collect on orders there.
 
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"Whytoi" <whytoi@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:060120050053099578%whytoi@hotmail.com...
> In article <kO6dnVPw15ZbeEbcRVn-pg@giganews.com>, Robert R Kircher, Jr.
> <rrkircher@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
>> In any
>> event, I don't know exactly how the phone in system works anymore but if
>> you
>> happened to get piped over to Home as apposed to Small Business the sales
>> geek may have been giving you the run around because they are two
>> different
>> groups and he'd lose the commission because he'd have to pass you off to
>> the
>> SB group.
>
> Yes, I think that was the exact reason why an extra order was made on
> my account (see previous post). The unethical agent in the home user
> section rather than spending 2 mins on modifying my existing order
> (alteration to the delivery method + an extra charge), she just went
> ahead and added an identical order, at the same time lying to me on the
> phone to say that the only way to do it was to cancel the present order
> and generate a brand new one. The end result would have been further
> delays in the delivery date for a further $69 out of my pocket. Just as
> well I smelled fish and told her to do nothing and called back to
> another agent.
>
> Anyway, this kind of behaviour is so typical of those New York
> photographic mail order stores, one that is most unbecoming of Dell.
> The more I think about it, the more it pisses me off...
>

Not quite sure I'm following you completely but I can tell you that once an
order has been submitted by the sales rep the only way to change it is by
canceling it and recording. This may seem backwards but I'm sure it has to
do with the dynamics of their order process system. Remember that every
dell is made to order so once it's in the process virtually or physically
they cant just pluck it off the line to make changes. I assume it's more
efficient to simply cancel the order and start over.

--

Rob
 
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In article <DMGdnZ5JXNN--EHcRVn-jg@giganews.com>, rrkircher@hotmail.com
says...
> Not quite sure I'm following you completely but I can tell you that once an
> order has been submitted by the sales rep the only way to change it is by
> canceling it and recording. This may seem backwards but I'm sure it has to
> do with the dynamics of their order process system. Remember that every
> dell is made to order so once it's in the process virtually or physically
> they cant just pluck it off the line to make changes. I assume it's more
> efficient to simply cancel the order and start over.

That is true. And I should also mention that everything at Dell (order
system, support system, etc.) is still running on old Tandem servers
(not Dell servers) which break down a LOT. You would not believe how
many times you enter something, the system crashes 20 minutes later and
you have to enter it again because it was lost.

It's possible the sales person cancelled the order. The servers crashed
and the cancel request was lost but the new order was not.

Quite honestly, I usually handle those situations through my credit card
company by disputing the charge. Nothing gets a Customer Care rep on
the case faster than a call from MasterCard or Visa that a customer is
disputing a charge.
 
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In article <s1UCd.918$75.448@bignews4.bellsouth.net>, S.Lewis
<stew1960@cover.bellsouth.net> wrote:

> "Whytoi Enterprises", with your usual home address and phone.
>
> Be sure you're calling the small business division ( I was told 400
> employees or less). You shouldn't have a problem.
>
> That should get you your Latitude.

Great domain name. I'll have to register that! Thanks! :)

--
 
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In article <10tobu7ob3b6o5e@corp.supernews.com>, joe_tide
<joetide@nowhere.com> wrote:

> Hmmmm. I used Microsoft Corporation.

I might use Apple Computer Inc then. :)

Seriously. Thanks to all who responded. I have reordered, found just
the right model in their Outlet section. Big discount and hopefully can
be fast tracked and have it delivered in time.

--
 
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Bad Bubba,
Wow that bit about Dell using old servers that crash is interesting.
Heck you'd think that they'd want to use their own equipment. Sort of like
Bill Ford driving around in a Toyota, and an old one at that. Thanks for the
insight.
Paul

"Bad Bubba" <bad@bubba.dude> wrote in message
news:MPG.1c46458c45ff0d7b989805@news.usenetserver.com...

snipped
> That is true. And I should also mention that everything at Dell (order
> system, support system, etc.) is still running on old Tandem servers
> (not Dell servers) which break down a LOT. You would not believe how
> many times you enter something, the system crashes 20 minutes later and
> you have to enter it again because it was lost.

snipped
 
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On Thu, 6 Jan 2005 16:01:12 -0500, "Paul Schilter"
<paulschilter@comcast dot net> wrote:

>Bad Bubba,
> Wow that bit about Dell using old servers that crash is interesting.
>Heck you'd think that they'd want to use their own equipment. Sort of like
>Bill Ford driving around in a Toyota, and an old one at that. Thanks for the
>insight.
>Paul
>
>"Bad Bubba" <bad@bubba.dude> wrote in message
>news:MPG.1c46458c45ff0d7b989805@news.usenetserver.com...
>
>snipped
>> That is true. And I should also mention that everything at Dell (order
>> system, support system, etc.) is still running on old Tandem servers
>> (not Dell servers) which break down a LOT. You would not believe how
>> many times you enter something, the system crashes 20 minutes later and
>> you have to enter it again because it was lost.
>
>snipped
>

Yes that would be interested if true................Tandem was bought
by Compaq in 1997..............Tandem makes/made a very nice bunch of
mid-range / high end servers..........anything after 97 is more along
Compaq line.
 
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In article <duoru09un1ns4daddttfl5j6719t865m92@4ax.com>,
YouCantHandleTheTruth@nonya.net says...
> On Thu, 6 Jan 2005 16:01:12 -0500, "Paul Schilter"
> <paulschilter@comcast dot net> wrote:
>
> >Bad Bubba,
> > Wow that bit about Dell using old servers that crash is interesting.
> >Heck you'd think that they'd want to use their own equipment. Sort of like
> >Bill Ford driving around in a Toyota, and an old one at that. Thanks for the
> >insight.
> >Paul
> >
> >"Bad Bubba" <bad@bubba.dude> wrote in message
> >news:MPG.1c46458c45ff0d7b989805@news.usenetserver.com...
> >
> >snipped
> >> That is true. And I should also mention that everything at Dell (order
> >> system, support system, etc.) is still running on old Tandem servers
> >> (not Dell servers) which break down a LOT. You would not believe how
> >> many times you enter something, the system crashes 20 minutes later and
> >> you have to enter it again because it was lost.
> >
> >snipped
>
> Yes that would be interested if true................Tandem was bought
> by Compaq in 1997..............Tandem makes/made a very nice bunch of
> mid-range / high end servers..........anything after 97 is more along
> Compaq line.

It is true... They are working on moving it all over to Dell servers,
but it's a LOT of work rewriting all of the internal software to run on
the Solaris platform. Supposedly it will be ready next year. In the
meantime.... lots and lots of downtime.