Inefficiency? with DELL Malaysia that is.

Yeap! This is what I am experiencing now.

The situation is this,

I am now planning to get a laptop for myself. A Dell laptop in particular. Then of course, with a tight budget, I am planning to get a refurbished unit from Dell.

You see, Dell actually sells refurbished laptops/PCs if you don't already know. These systems are mostly those returned from warranty, fixed and then sold back to the market. Either that or some people who order their systems from the internet, but their payment failed or something like that. Hence, they are sold cheaper than what it is supposed to be. Yeap! 2nd hand that is.

So back to my story, I was eyeing on a few units of refurbished laptops from them. They are like very much cheaper than buying new + they still come with a new 1 year warranty.

1st story - I called up Dell to order the laptop that I am interested in. Then they said they had to check with the perticular department on whether the unit is still available available and they will call me back. About an hour later, they called and said that it was already sold. Fine... They asked me to call in earlier the next day to avoid this to happen again. So ok, I accepted that graciously and put down the phone.

I began searching for another unit. And I found one.

2nd story - This time I found out that Dell's business hour starts at 8.30a.m. So, on that very day, I called in at 8.30a.m. SHARP! And I placed my order for the unit that I wanted. Same case, they said they will call me back because they need to check for the availability. An hour later, they called back. She told me that that unit was sold at 7.00a.m. that morning itself. I was DUMBFOUNDED! Now, she gave me her e-mail and asked me to mail her my request(i.e. model number) once I find one. Ok fine again thou this time, I was a bit furious but I could still hold on.

I began searching again that night and fortunately, I found another unit which suits me.

3rd story - This time, as soon as I got the model number, I mailed her the model number. Unfortunately, it was already after office hours. I waited for her reply. 9.00a.m. the next morning, I saw her reply. I thought to myself, this would be good. But NO!! again she told me that what I wanted was already GONE(with the wind). Thank God this was through e-mail. If I was on the phone with her, I would have screwed her up nicely.

The best part is, no reservation can be made for these units(i.e. refurbished ones). Then? How did they go so fast? I guess this could be only an inside job. Maybe there are people working 24hrs in Dell?

Think of this, buying a laptop which is almost RM500-800 below market price, with 1 year warranty. Who wouldn't be excited? Even I am! Hence this post.

Could anyone give me any other ideas on how to get hold of these laptops? Anyone able to pull strings inside Dell? Please let me know. I need one now(though not very urgently).

You might think, why Dell after all these hassle? Well, Dell has the best offers. They are generally cheaper than other brands of laptops. Tight budget. What to do? Live with it, I have to.

Mr. Dell, please help me? please . . . ?
Thanks so much in advance for your help(if any)!

Till then, take care, God bless!