Sloppy Dell Shipping

[boone]

I took Pekka's downtime advice and bought a new lens. I found that Dell had a pretty good deal on the EF 100-400L. I've had trouble with their tech support in the past, but I figured, how could they screw up a third party product they just have to ship?

The box arrived this week, and I could feel something clunking around when the delivery guy handed me the box. Uh oh, I thought. I opened the box to find that it was about 2x as wide as the lens box, and there was no packing material to prevent the lens box from sliding around inside. I was astounded that someone would pack a $1350 lens so poorly.

Fortunately Canon packed the lens very well inside its own box, and the lens itself looks like a tank. My limited testing seems to show that the lens is OK. Any suggestions on how to really make sure it's OK? This is the most expensive lens I've ever bought and will buy for a long time, so I want to make sure it is perfect.

In the meantime I'm making Dell send me a replacement, hopefully properly packaged. Unfortunately it's on backorder. :(

So Dell shoppers beware...the $50 you save from the B&H/Adorama prices might be wasted in spending time on hold, waiting to talk to Dell's customer support.

[photography By Evangelos]

Yep you are correct. Dell has sloppy shipping. I got my 70-200 IS the same way.




Angelo

[boone]

Yep you are correct. Dell has sloppy shipping. I got my 70-200 IS the same way.
Was your lens OK? Did you complain about it or get a replacement?

[Ranger187]

Bro, do what I do. I used to do support for the Dell computers at the last company I worked at and when we had some issues, they would comp me.

So, call customer care: 800-624-9897

Tell them you are unhappy with how it was packed, and how careless they were, especially for spending the money you did.

If you don't get a Canon A75 or something similar out of it, something is wrong.

I just ordered my mom a computer for Christmas, it came, and the onboard NIC was fuked up. I called Dell, had a new MB shipped out and then called Customer Care the next day.

This is what I said: "Hi, I am very displeased with a brand new computer being defective and when I went to show the computer to my mother who wasn't expecting it, she couldn't get on the net. I found the onboard NIC was defective and she was wondering how this could be possible. It left a sour taste in her mouth, so how can you compsensate her?"

Albena said: "blah blah blah, I can offer a $100 gift certificate"

I said: "Can I just pick something out online?"

Albena said: "As long as it's not like $500+ sure"

The mother figure got a brand new Canon A75 sent to her. $221 if I would have paid for it and shipping.

So why not give it a try? I know they will do something.

[Dimitry]

Wow, I never knew Dell even sold lens'. I always thought it was only their own dell made products. I also never knew you could bargain that much out of them haha.

[boone]

I called Dell's Customer Care the next day and they arranged the replacement to be sent, though who knows when I'll get it, since it's backordered. It took 3 calls with their overseas support reps (one call got dropped). Their English was better than when I called about laptop problems a year ago, but it's still frustrating.

I didn't push for any freebies, though they could pad that extra box space with a 20D if they wanted to. For now I'll be OK if I just get a safely-shipped lens, and next time I'll order from someone who knows how to ship photo equipment.

[Ranger187]

Wow, I never knew Dell even sold lens'. I always thought it was only their own dell made products. I also never knew you could bargain that much out of them haha.

Well, if you call up and demand money or whatnot, they will be odd. But if you claim you're disappointed in their service and that you bought from them from what you're friend said, and now you're thinking twice about ordering again, you WILL be compensated. I'll guarantee this if you do it right and professionally.

Just ask if you can pick something out online, then get their EXT and Email and have them email you a test message. Then pick something out... I told Albena in the email: "My mother really wanted a digital camera and the Canon A75 is pefect for her and this would surely remove the bad taste she had for Dell" I also tried to get a 512 meg card, but that got denied.

Here is the email I got from Albena:

"Hi,

I can send the camera only. (Sorry, company policy)
Let me know for sure if you want it and I will place the order and email confirmation.

Regards: Albena"

Then she emailed me the cofirmation # and off it went..... Most places will compensate, but Dell will go out of their way. I know this for a fact as Karl Ichan's daughter is a friend of mine. ;) Hence the owner of Dell. And I also work in his Casino in Vegas @ The Stratosphere.

[Dimitry]

Maybe that's why you where on their priority list of people to compensate? ;)

[Ranger187]

Maybe that's why you where on their priority list of people to compensate?

I've called from the company account and from the personal account. And I've called in place of my friends already. Each time I got them compensated. Mind you, if you're a large company ordering 600 computers a year from them like we did, they will throw **** at you left and right, but they are just as eager for a new customer who just spent $800 on a basic computer.

So it's irrevelant.

And you would also be amazed at how many never call to complain.

[C.S.I.]

I took Pekka's downtime advice and bought a new lens. I found that Dell had a pretty good deal on the EF 100-400L. I've had trouble with their tech support in the past, but I figured, how could they screw up a third party product they just have to ship?

The box arrived this week, and I could feel something clunking around when the delivery guy handed me the box. Uh oh, I thought. I opened the box to find that it was about 2x as wide as the lens box, and there was no packing material to prevent the lens box from sliding around inside. I was astounded that someone would pack a $1350 lens so poorly.

Fortunately Canon packed the lens very well inside its own box, and the lens itself looks like a tank. My limited testing seems to show that the lens is OK. Any suggestions on how to really make sure it's OK? This is the most expensive lens I've ever bought and will buy for a long time, so I want to make sure it is perfect.

In the meantime I'm making Dell send me a replacement, hopefully properly packaged. Unfortunately it's on backorder. :(

So Dell shoppers beware...the $50 you save from the B&H/Adorama prices might be wasted in spending time on hold, waiting to talk to Dell's customer support.




Hi,


Dude .... mind if I ask you how much you spent on this lens? Are you one of the ones that were lucky enough to get the lens at a good price via their mistake? If so.....when did you purchase the lens, and how long did it take to arrive......just wondering

[boone]

mind if I ask you how much you spent on this lens?

It was $1359 and change, and the shipping was free (that's about all it was worth). I don't think it was a pricing mistake, it was the regular price minus 15%. Still it was $50 less than Adorama's $1409, and hopefully Canon won't screw up my $50 rebate. :)

[timmyquest]

It was $1359 and change, and the shipping was free (that's about all it was worth). I don't think it was a pricing mistake, it was the regular price minus 15%. Still it was $50 less than Adorama's $1409, and hopefully Canon won't screw up my $50 rebate. :)

While we were gone they accidently listed that lens at $209 and listed the 75-300 II at $1395

:neutral:

[boone]

While we were gone they accidently listed that lens at $209.... That probably explains why my replacement is on backorder. http://photography-on-the.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_sad.gif

[timmyquest]

That probably explains why my replacement is on backorder. http://photography-on-the.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_sad.gif

One guy was talking to a rep online who said "It looks like you've ordered the 75-300, lots of people have ordered thoes tonight"

[boone]

Well, Dell continues to give me reasons to not shop there again. I requested a replacement for my poorly-shipped 100-400L lens. When I found it was on back order I left specific instructions with them to not ship it while I was out of town. I found out today that they did ship it while I am away. Can they do nothing right? :(

[timmyquest]

Well, Dell continues to give me reasons to not shop there again.

I wouldnt say that 'round these parts, then your labled as a disrespectful consumer.

[Ranger187]

I've had up's and downs for all places I've shopped at. Just because of a few mistakes doesn't mean you write them off. Just like the same you do for someone that does something wrong.

Call up Customer care, explain the situation and sit back while you get free things. ;)

[Kenski]

I just received my 70-200 from DELL today via DHL overnight and it came in prestine condition. It was packed perfect.

If I am NOT mistaken, DELL has NOTHING to do with these anyways. They are all being handled by a third party and being sold on DELL's website. It is giving Dell a bad name though.

[tofuboy]

I wouldnt say that 'round these parts, then your labled as a disrespectful consumer.
Only if you go about it with invalid reasons :p

As for Dell and shipping... I got my 580EX from them yesterday, packed nicely in a box filled with shipping peanuts to the brim... delivered a day before DHL's estimated delivery date to boot (and way before Dell's expected delivery date of 'on or before Jan 20th 2005')!! So far I'm a happy camper with two companies that have a bad rep with some people.

[Kenski]

I've NEVER had a problem with DHL. I thought I had a problem with them not to long ago when I tracked a package that was supposed to be delivered the next day and to my surprise it was shown as DELIVERED AT FRONT DOOR so I ran to the front door and it wasn't there... I was MAD!! Then I looked at the tracking info alittle closer, It said the address was 1001, my address is 10001. I thought for sure DHL screwed up and just dropped it off and dashed!!! Well, to my surprise when I went to the ladies house at 9pm that night, the shipper went to Office Max to ship it and the idiots there had the address printed out and still screwed it up and put down 1001 instead of 10001. DHL has always come through for me. NEVER had a problem with them, even when they were Airborne Express....

[retro]

I've called from the company account and from the personal account. And I've called in place of my friends already. Each time I got them compensated. Mind you, if you're a large company ordering 600 computers a year from them like we did, they will throw **** at you left and right, but they are just as eager for a new customer who just spent $800 on a basic computer.

So it's irrevelant.

And you would also be amazed at how many never call to complain.


The more I read your posts the more obvious it becomes that you are the kid that got fired by Dell. Did you go back to college after Dell or have you just been doing photoshoots for the cover of High Times magazine? I couldn't resist posting this.....I was laughing at how slick-like you were using the company and then this popped into my head. Hope you're not offended!

[boone]

DHL said they'd hold it while I'm gone. I'll wait until I get home and get the replacement lens delivered, then I'll take it up again with customer care. Maybe some free stuff will make me feel better. :) Dell seems to be fine unless you need to call their customer support, then you're in for some work.