It Just Gets Better
I ordered The Boy a laptop for another company this morning and though that everything was good. Then, when I checked my email after watching the Bengals beat the Packers, I had an email from Dell notifying me that they had shipped my computer and it should be here on Wednesday. So, now I have two computers on the way. As I mentioned in my previous post, I couldn’t reach them on the telephone to verify that my order was cancelled; but they should have done it anyway in accordance with FTC requirements.
So, now I have a conundrum. Do I send the Dell back for a refund and keep the system that I bought when I didn’t think that I was going to be getting it? Or, do I keep it and sell the unneeded substitution on EBay? The Dell is faster/better with more memory, a bigger hard drive, etc. since it was custom configured as opposed to a standard system. But it’s the only one that can be returned. The replacement was purchased from a site that does not allow laptop returns. I won’t be buying anything on my credit card until I get things sorted out.
August 12th, 2008 at 6:42 am
Tough call…I’d probably keep the Dell because I’m a geek and I’d want the better system. I’d think you can sell the other one…but I don’t know if you’d get what you paid for it off e-bay….
August 12th, 2008 at 5:58 pm
Just as a matter of economy, I’d send back the dell for the full refund.
The kid is only going to need a basic machine to do school work and surf porn, so I wouldn’t worry ’bout shorting on quality. I rather worry ’bout getting my money back
Mr. Upton, “Parsimony is the house where the priest of reluctance resides”, Ogood
August 12th, 2008 at 8:46 pm
Yeah, that’s a tough call.
Probably the Dell for financial reasons.
August 13th, 2008 at 2:35 am
Return the Dell. It was their fault that you had to purchase another brand. Had their communication and service been better and faster, you wouldn’t have done so. Tell them that.
The other company acted more quickly (i.e. gave better service) - use their product. You’re unlikely to get the amount you paid for it on eBay. Even though it’s new, most people who pay full price want to purchase directly from the company so they are assured of getting the full warranty.
A college freshman doesn’t need the best & fastest laptop available, especially if it’s going to be lugged around campus in a backpack. Save the fancy system for later, once you are sure he’ll take care of things on his own as well as he does at home.
August 14th, 2008 at 8:39 pm
MisterPrecedent said it for me.
I’d send the Dell back and then probably never buy another one because this sort of thing pisses me off!
August 18th, 2008 at 3:48 am
Michelle: That’s what The Boy wants to do (Keep the Dell.) Unfortunately, I can’t get nearly what I paid for it off of EBay. We haven’t unboxed the other one yet (so as to keep the resale value high) but; from a quick scan of current auctions, it seems like we’re going to lose a LOT of money of we sell it.
Mr. Upton Ogood: It’s not just the money. The computer is also a graduation present for The Boy which is why it is more expensive. Plus, in his field of study, engineering, he will be doing more than writing papers, browsing the internet, etc. The money is important; but I want for The Boy to be happy too.
Rage: I wish the economy wasn’t so bad. Then I wouldn’t be agonizing so much. As it is, I’m stuck. If we felt better about our financial future, we wouldn’t be so torn. Pluc sice we got new desktips recently, we don’t really need another computer.
MisterPrecedent: If it was for me, the Dell computer would already be on its way back to Texas. But the boy really likes it. It was already out of the box and set up by the time I got home. He’s probably too attached to it to send it back now. And, because it was configured to be a gift for a college student, it’s got a bunch of cool stuff. And I think that he’ll take care of it. He may turn into a slog’ be he does very well with technology.
Chickie: It pisses me off to; but right now, I’m just trying to decide whether to sell the replacement or keep it around. I can’t afford to keep it; but I can’t afford to sell it either.