Buying Dell Laptops, but not from dell? [Archive]

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rschapel

12-11-2002, 10:56 AM

Hello all:
My wife and I are in the market for a nice laptop, and I just happened to check ebay. It looks are though there are a number of people selling dell laptops on there as new. It seems kinda odd, are there back channels/ vendor channels these people are going through to get lower prices on these suckers? Has anybody taken advantage of this?

I doubt we will go through them, seeing as one of the main reasons we are buying a dell is becuase of there "accidental warranty" coverage. I mean for 150 bucks, they'll fix my laptop if I drop it for 3 years... This sounds like a must have!

The Love Bunny

12-11-2002, 01:10 PM

i wouldnt trust it

they could be posting parts that arnt really in it, they might not have any warrenty on it, many things could be wrong

they may even be used and they are just selling them as new

i would not trust it if i were you

rw96823

12-11-2002, 05:09 PM

If you plan to buy a used laptop, eBay is good, but you need to contact the seller and make sure you clarify exactly what is being sold, what is in it, how it will be shipped, the exact cost, etc.

I wouldn't buy a new one from eBay, but I did buy an older IBM Thinkpad for under $400 and got some components (DVD/CD-RW and floppy attachment) for under $100. Newer eBay items will cost just as much (after the bidding process + shipping) as going to CompUSA or other comp retailers, so if you plan to buy brand new, a retailer is the better way to go.

:D

Fuzzball

12-17-2002, 12:51 PM

You can get a great deal on refurbs too. Maybe not as good of a deal off of eBay, but it's from Dell and is garunteed. Personally I'd buy a refurb laptop from the manufacturer than a new one.

The new ones don't get throughly tested. Only a percentage is taken to the side and has a through burn-in test done to it. The refurbs get plopped down in from of a technician and and is put through its paces just to make sure that it is ok. Any defects and it's fixed and retested.

Some of them had nothing wrong with them in the first place. Some customers send it back because they changed their mind or somthing silly. Plus you get a garunteed warranty.

Just a thought. I've had some bad experiences with eBay and other online bidding. I'm very cautious who I buy from.

http://www.dell.com/us/en/dfh/products/line_notebooks.htm

briareus

01-02-2003, 05:34 PM

Odds are that the ones on ebay are used or slightly used. Ask the seller for the service tag and check the warranty status and original configuration on Dell's support website. Be sure to check out everything with the seller to be very clear as mentioned above.

JewBastard

01-08-2003, 09:35 AM

I can tell you why ebay has lots and lots of Dell laptops. Dell Laptops are JUNK!! they are like they say Like new or new but the reason people are selling them is because the Hard drives take a crap on them and people dont want to deal with shipping the item back and forth to dell. I know this because I own a dell and I have shippid it back 3 times now and I havent even had it 1 full year yet! Im ready to throw mine on ebay and say its like new as well

ewitte

01-13-2003, 03:48 PM

Originally posted by Fuzzball
You can get a great deal on refurbs too. Maybe not as good of a deal off of eBay, but it's from Dell and is garunteed. Personally I'd buy a refurb laptop from the manufacturer than a new one.

Why would I spend money on a laptop that is already broken? 90% are put back out because the techs can not find anything wrong with it. Probably half of those STILL have serious problems.

Eric

fdeaton

02-04-2003, 08:08 PM

I agree with checking the refurb secton of Dell.

PinchyCM

02-08-2003, 04:16 AM

Originally posted by JewBastard
I can tell you why ebay has lots and lots of Dell laptops. Dell Laptops are JUNK!! they are like they say Like new or new but the reason people are selling them is because the Hard drives take a crap on them and people dont want to deal with shipping the item back and forth to dell. I know this because I own a dell and I have shippid it back 3 times now and I havent even had it 1 full year yet! Im ready to throw mine on ebay and say its like new as well

Um, whatever. Is that why Dell's one of the leading laptop distributors in the US? Dell's aren't crap, I know handfuls of people who have never had problems with dell, or have had problems and were quickly remedied. I find it irrational and not very logical to sell a laptop cuz the HD craps out, and lose money on it while it's still under warranty. I really doubt that is the reason why there are so many Dell laptops are on ebay.

On a side note,I wouldn't put your busted Dell on ebay and claim it's like new; it's false advertising, and it'll come back and bite you where the sun don't shine.

GLScooby

02-08-2003, 07:14 PM

Companies provide people with laptops to do their jobs. Some of these companies require the fastest, cutting edge computers money can buy. So they lease them. When the lease expires, they get new computers. The previously leased models are then sold. That is how I got my Dell. Yes, on ebay. You have to do your homework though. I contacted the seller before buying mine to inquire about the computer. I checked the numbers with Dell to ensure the laptop wasn't stolen. This seller even had a satisfaction guarantee in the listing. In the end, I got a good laptop at a good price. There isn't a whole bunch of Dell laptops on ebay because they are crappy. There is a whole bunch of Dell laptops on ebay because they are great machines.

PinchyCM

02-08-2003, 09:08 PM

Amen. You tell him brotha! Rip into him. Tell that dummy he's full of crap'olla. Now work the body into it. Haha.

Agathron

03-06-2003, 05:52 AM

wurd! and i love my dell ;)

BremenCulhaven

03-12-2003, 01:03 AM

Originally posted by rschapel
Hello all:
My wife and I are in the market for a nice laptop, and I just happened to check ebay. It looks are though there are a number of people selling dell laptops on there as new. It seems kinda odd, are there back channels/ vendor channels these people are going through to get lower prices on these suckers? Has anybody taken advantage of this?

I doubt we will go through them, seeing as one of the main reasons we are buying a dell is becuase of there "accidental warranty" coverage. I mean for 150 bucks, they'll fix my laptop if I drop it for 3 years... This sounds like a must have!

I have wondered this too. I think it is some kind of back channel situation that Dell either doesn't care about or is not willing to close the loop on.

Accidental warranty coverage is a waste of money. You can get that for free for 2 years if you have a Gold or Platinum Visa/mastercard. They double any warranty that is only 1 year (couple exceptions, for example no car parts) and cover accidental damage, theft of the item or loss of it.

BC

BremenCulhaven

03-12-2003, 01:04 AM