Posted on 02/27/2002 10:49:15 AM PST by SAMWolf
The above is the only thing I have written. I have written comments on email I have received (that number is now in the hundreds). I would like to add the following.
I have spoken to Dell today 2/26/02
They informed me that the reason my order was cancelled was due to the new post 9/11 screening policy. The word "Combat" in my company name is what triggered the cancellation of my order. The cancellation was triggered automatically. When I asked why I was not called to clear this up I was told there was a breakdown in communications on Dells part.
Just for the record so everyone knows where I stand.
I have no intention of further dealings with Dell, they don't deserve my business.
I want nothing from Dell but I would gladly accept and apology to the Firearms community in general.
I posted this expressly to warn firearms owners of Dell policies PERIOD.
There are those that think I did this to generate traffic to my web site. All this traffic just made it hard for my customers to shop this evening. If you will notice there are no advertisements on my web so traffic is not a factor. It has also generated hundreds of email that I personally answered. Just so you all know I am not smart enough to do a publicity stunt of this magnitude on purpose, LOL!
I would humbly request the following.
Please, please refrain from making personal attacks on Michael Dell. I have received hundreds of e mails attacking Mr. Dell, please do not do this. This is a business issue not a personal issue, please keep it that way. I know we are all passionate about our right to keep and bear arms but please be as professional as possible
I thank all of those that took the time to confirm that this story was true before spreading it, you all are to be commended!
I thank the Firearms community as a family for being so willing to come to my aid.
God Bless
Jack Weigand
President
Weigand Combat Handguns Inc.
So... I think its time to get a new home system.
Think I might get a Dell?
I previously was inclined to do so. We'll see how this continues and whether Dell will apologize.
"While I'm pro-gun what if the company name was 'Combat Sticks to Blow up Christians'"
This is not really the issue at hand. Of course the company would be concerned about selling to a business with this name. The problem was, as the author states:
"The word "Combat" in my company name is what triggered the cancellation of my order. The cancellation was triggered automatically"
That's fine if Dell wants to 'flag' records in its order database, but his order was cancelled automatically without any notice to the customer. I realize that most corporate communication stinks, but it's obvious that there needs to be some human factor involved. Computers are greate for automating tasks, but cannot handle all scenarios in this instance. At least not yet.
p.
My wife has a Dell (given her by the school). I spent some time as a computer-builder/seller. I do not share your opinion as expressed above. Dude.
Computers aren't really manufactured. They're assembled from commodity parts that anyone can buy and assemble just as proficiently as any Dell employee.
Come to think of it, that exactly how Michael started.
My question is: Who is Dell trying to flag? How can you screen based on a company's name? Would they sell to the Muslim Charities of America? Just wondering.
Secondly, it is Michael Dell's policies. Why should he not be flamed? It is issues he put into motion with these rules that had your order canceled. To heck with him and his company. May bankruptcy follow them down the Enron road.
Customer service is great! It is also nice to be able to see things at the local Gateway store.
We have a special deal with Dell at work, but I have been very happy with Gateway.
That's got to be the silliest apology for Dell I've seen. While a prudent gun-seller would appropriately scrutinize a prospective purchase by an Afghani, a prudent seller of computers should not systemically refuse to sell to an American company that is servicing those who exercise the right to keep and bear arms. The whole point of the fuss is that Dell is discriminating on the basis of something that should not be viewed with alarm--namely, engaging in a business that involves the right to bear arms.
In light of 9/11, the example you use of an Afghani trying to purchase arms should give rise to reasonable scrutiny and, if the man is not a U.S. citizen, rejection of the sale.
Don't you get it?
To Our Valued Customers and Friends:
U.S. export laws restrict the sale of technology to terrorists and to people in countries that support terrorism. These laws also prohibit computer sales to people who will use the technology in developing biological or nuclear weapons. Dell strictly complies with our country's export laws in order to ensure the safety of our customers and citizens around the world. When there is reasonable cause for concern, we carefully review customer orders for prohibited destinations and activities.
When additional follow-up on an order is required, our sales representatives ask our customers four basic questions:
1. Who is the end-user?
2. Where will the product be used?
3. What will the product be used for?
4. What type of business or industry is involved?
The answers to these questions, like all customer information we gather, are confidential and are not shared outside of Dell.
We recently received an order from a customer whose company name included the word "combat." We cancelled the order to give us enough time follow up with the customer and be assured that the sale would be in compliance with U.S. export law. However, we failed to contact the customer, and as a result, we did not deliver the order as promised, and the customer did not know why. Once we discovered our error, we apologized to the customer for this misunderstanding, as well as the inconvenience caused by the delay. This is not the service standard that we hold ourselves to at Dell, and if I were a customer who'd received similar treatment, I would be very disappointed.
We at Dell feel a strong obligation to uphold our federal law, but we have just as strong an obligation to be responsive to the needs of all our customers. I want to assure you that Dell does not discriminate against any business, regardless of the products or services they sell, nor do we discriminate against individual consumers. We do, however, sometimes make mistakes - as we did in this case.
Thank you for your support.
Sincerely,
Michael Dell
Trying to follow these laws are more than X42 did.
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