[camle]

Gee, what a coincidence! I had three people stop by this afternoon asking if I would recommend their purchase of a Dell PC for their homes. My, my!

suffice it to say, all three are buying Microns.

[Free the USA]

Bump List

[joesnuffy]

Makes me wonder who Dell "will" sell computers to?...If not honest American firearms owners? Hey Dell.... do I dare say I am a "Combat" vet? when ordering a computer from you?...how about Imma bored wealthy Saudi prince's 900th son....

[EBUCK]

Dude! I aint buying a DELL now. (Wasn't planning on it anyway)

EBUCK

[etcetera]

I'm the computer guy for a local gov't office. In the past, I've recommended Dell PCs to my friends and co-workers. But no more. I've sent an email to Dell informing them of my objection to their policy, and of my intention to cease recommending their products to anyone who asks.

[avenir]

Sorry about your Dell problem. However, I have no intention of getting rid of my guns OR my Dell. And I recommend Dell's to everyone I know because they are an excellent product and offer great support and next-day repair (which I've seen in action).

[Cold Heat]

I understand your concerns and have not participated in personal attacks. I believe this was a honest effort by Dell to keep from selling computers to some violent bunch and getting bad publicity as a result. The effort, thanks to your information, has backfired and this is a good thing. They should have investigated your company name before acting. There have been other instances of knee jerk reactions since 9/11.

The attempt to screen buyers like this is ridiculous, and damaging to public relations.

[Sender]

I too emailed Dell and voiced my concern. I told them that I was trying to decide between Dell and a local company for my new home PC, and Dell lost.

[lelio]

While I'm pro-gun what if the company name was "Combat Sticks to Blow up Christians" -- you'll have a fit they were selling to them. Dell wrote a filter to look for names that could indicate violence and unfortunately Combat Pistols shows up. Their corporate communication sucks. How's that different from any other company?

[AdA$tra]

Just spoke with my Dell sales rep. (I bought around $200,000.00 worth of Dell branded stuff last year) She says she personally has several firearms industry clients, and that Dell has NO SUCH POLICY in regards to gun owners/manufacturers/sellers. In fact, Dell is probably the most conservative friendly company in the entire industry. I fully believe Mr. Weigand's story as I have had several "misunderstandings" or "miscommunications" with Dell in the past. I have had similar communications problems while dealing with numerous large corporate entities. One simply has to work their way up the food chain until they find someone that can resolve the problem. My experience is that for every corporate idiot i have to deal with, there is someone, somewhere in charge of that idiot that can help you solve your problem. Further: There are other posting in the original topic that clarify this issue even further. Dell merely failed to send out/or Mr. Weigand didn't receive) some paperwork that would have cleared this up.

[lelio]

I have no intention of further dealings with Dell, they don't deserve my business.
For what? A simple attempt to screen the people buying their products. Yes it was screwed up and yes they should of called.
I'm sure Mr Weigand would try and investigate if someone with an Afghanii name tried to order a bunch of guns from him. His sales are probably such that he can afford to look up each one and check them out. Dell does millions in business a day so they can't provide this individual attention.
I haven't seen evidence that Dell refuses to sell to gun owners at all, I think this is a non-issue.

[TheDon]

I thought it was something like that. Good to find they have nothing against doing business with firearms businesses. I love my Dell, and I love the service I have received from them.

[narby]

We've recently had some problems on our pre-historic computer at home trying to install software to do this years income tax. Looks like the system is so old, the new software croaks on it.

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.

[AlaskaErik]

The word "Combat" in my company name is what triggered the cancellation of my order.

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.

[INSENSITIVE GUY]

I think DELL was trying to control your FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION as well by saying your company name contained the word COMBAT.My guess is they might have considered themselves succesful had they forced you to change your company name.ME THINKS THEY OVER RATE THEMSELVES!

[RetiredArmy]

I sent Dell an email this morning advising them that I have removed them from consideration of a new laptop I am going to purchase. They were the front runners at that time. I have no intentions of giving this socialist bunch my money. I will find some place else to spend it.

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.

[SubMareener]

I have a Gateway laptop, and a Gateway desktop. Both have been great. When within the 3 year extended warrantee, a screw, from the DVD drive, got loose inside the laptop and shorted things out, Gateway replaced the entire inards.

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.

[pt17]

Mr. Weigand's experience is unfortunate. Dell is a good AMERICAN company that makes a very good product and provides excellent service. Having both guns at home and some influence over what's bought where I work, I will continue to buy and recommend Dell products. Companies, like you and I, make mistakes and I bet that, when all the hollering dies down, you will discover Dell has nothing against guns or gun owners.

[rwfok]

Just posted at the Dell/Talk Forum:

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

[PatrioticAmerican]

I order millions a year ($2m-$4m) in computers, mostly from Dell. I called my rep and he sid that there is NO standing policy against firearms associated companies. I gave him your info and he is getting on this right now. He does not want my business going to IBM. My rep thinks that the rep for your order is anti-gun, and if that person has placed FDell in an anti-gun political situation, he/she will be canned.