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

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.

--

"Whytoi" wrote in message
...
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

In article , Robert R Kircher, Jr.
wrote:

"Whytoi" wrote in message
...
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" wrote in message
...
In article , Robert R Kircher, Jr.
wrote:

"Whytoi" wrote in message
...
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

In article , Robert R Kircher, Jr.
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 ****es me off...

--

"Whytoi" wrote in message
...
In article , Robert R Kircher, Jr.
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 ****es 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

"Whytoi" wrote in message
...
In article , Robert R Kircher, Jr.
wrote:

"Whytoi" wrote in message
...
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

In article , S.Lewis
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!

--

On Wed, 05 Jan 2005 11:28:23 GMT, Whytoi 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?

"Whytoi" wrote in message
...
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.