Dell Home: Daddy Finally Owns a Puter I Didn't Build
Written: Mar 16 '06
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With four kids, I no longer have the time and energy to keep building my dad new machines, so when he toasted the latest home-built, I took a quick peek at Dealcatcher, spotted a great deal at Dell Home, and said, "Dad, you are getting a Dell."
::: Danger, Will Robinson! :::
For the tech nerd, the splash page of the Dell Home site is like sensory overload; you don't know where to look first! A rotating image file draws your eye to whatever products Dell Home is pushing that day (and as I'm typing up this review I'm weeping over the pretty little Hi-Def Plasma TV that seems to be calling my name), while right next to these tempting toys are smaller thumbnails leading you to the shopping sections of the Dell Home site: Desktops; Notebooks; TVs; Deals You Won't Find In Stores; Printers & Ink; Electronics, Software & Accessories; Axim Handhelds & MP3 Players; and Monitors. You can also navigate if you have some idea of what you are looking for via bulleted links (for instance, basic laptops vs. entertainment laptops) or go directly to an advertised deal using the Dell Home "E-value code."
In addition to the shopping links, there is plenty of other information if you can stop yourself from browsing for new tech toys long enough to look, including links to customer service, finance applications, order status, a wish list (which would probably end up in the millions if I got myself started down that slippery slope), and help for returns.
::: Actually Getting Your System :::
The Dell Home has made selecting and customizing your system as easy as it possibly can be. Start with one of the pre-configured packages for each system option (usually three or four per section, such as basic desktops, which was what I was looking for), then click on the link to configure your individual machine, and you can add and subtract system components at your leisure.
Once you've configured your system to your exact specifications, it's on to the extras, like the service options (extended warranty, onsite support, etc.), virus and firewall protection, other software options, home networking products, and internet service. Dell Home will even accept your old, dead PC back for recycling (but who doesn't want a veritable computer museum in their basement like I have?). From there, they will also suggest accessories like laptop bags and extra batteries, and throughout this checkout process, it will constantly update an anticipated ship date, so you have an idea how long it will take to build your system.
Checkout is simple for both returning customers (who can log into their account) or new customers. Shipping options and information input are all on one screen, and Dell Home often has shipping specials (my father's system was a desktop system with 17" flat panel monitor shipped for $24) on ground shipping, with available upgrades to 2nd Day or Next Business Day Delivery.
Payment methods accepted are Dell Preferred credit, PayPal, Visa, Mastercard, and American Express, and Dell Home gives you the option of using more than one card, so if you want to pay part of your order with your debit card and the rest on a credit card, you are able to do that. This feature also comes in handy if you have a couple of people chipping in on a system as a gift. Dell Home is also affiliated with Upromise, so if you shop for your Dell products through that site, you will receive a contribution to your account.
::: pippa Gets a Little Peeved :::
Overall, my online shopping experience with Dell Home was very good. Selecting the system was easy, and Dell Home gave us no hassle in having my father's system bought and paid for by my mother, yet shipping c/o me so someone would be home to receive it. Shipping was even faster than expected as well, with the system going out two business days before the anticipated shipping date, and arriving within four business days of the order!
My biggest problem with the site, however, is that it's sneaky. When we first configured the system, my father was actually out of town, scheduled to arrive that evening. My husband and I copied down the specs and the price and left him the information. When my mother gave me the go-ahead to order the system the next day, I went directly to the system I was looking at the previous day and set it up with the EXACT configuration, which we had noted down to the mouse and keyboard options. Oddly enough, the system was over $200 more. After almost 30 minutes of searching around the site to find out if prices had changed, I discovered what had happened; we had clicked a "current deal" on the rotating image that advertised special pricing. We could ONLY get that price by going in through that image; going directly to the system using the specs didn't get the same deal!
Had that sneaky bit of business not occurred, I wouldn't have hesitated to give Dell Home five stars. However, that smarmy little bit that would end up costing a less observant customer hundreds of dollars more just left a bad taste in my mouth. Aside from that, however, my experience with Dell Home was excellent, and now that I know how they operate, I won't hesitate to order from them again.
Recommended:
Yes
What product did you purchase or try to purchase? desktop system with monitor
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pippadaisy
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About Me:
Divorce seriously cuts into the amount of time for reviewing.
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