Dell Cancels Gun Business Owners Order

RugerForum.com ^ | Feb 26, 2002 | Jack Weigand

[RJL]

I am writing this because I feel every Firearms owner should know this story.

I placed an order for a Dell notebook computer on February 13 on line with Dell. I was given a tentative delivery date of February 21st. I was watching the order through the Dell on line tracking system; I also opted for the automatic email notification of when the machine was to be shipped.

Well the 21st came and went, I am a Pistolsmith I know things can happen. I made a phone call on the 25th, did a voice mail message for my salesman to get back to me and I was looking for the delivery date. The 25th came and went with no callback. On the 26th I placed another call this time to cancel the order. After a few hours I got a call back, with this amazing reason for the delay. It seems someone in Dell had already canceled my order, when I asked why I was told Dell was afraid I was going to use the machine for illegal purposes. When I asked why someone would think that I was told it was because of the name of my business “Weigand Combat Handguns Inc.”. Because I am involved in firearms I might be doing something illegal. Now keep in mind I was never called or informed of this decision the order was just canceled.

Many of you know me personally and know I run my business about as squeaky clean as possible. In addition being the President of the American Pistolsmiths Guild I am under additional scrutiny as to how I run my business, if I am not clean how can I be the President of an organization that promotes just that! I was informed by a Dell supervisor not long after all of this the reason I was refused was because of their post September 11th policy of screening buyers.

I would like to respectfully ask the firearms community to do the following. If you intended to buy a Dell and because of this letter you do not, email Dell and let them know why. Feel free to distribute this account to all you know in the Firearms community, I think they need to know. I for one am sick and tired of people assuming just because we are involved with firearms that we are doing something illegal. I also do not believe Dell deserves our business if this is how they intend to treat us.

God Bless Jack Weigand President American Pistolsmiths Guild Inc.

------------------ www.jackweigand.com

[Constitution Day]

Thanks...

Found that e-mail address by Google cache (none was directly listed on their site).

[Snow Bunny]

Thank you so much Sam for pinging me to this.

[lavaroise]

(none was directly listed on their site).

Used Google? Smart job!

[Constitution Day]

My mom turned me onto Google several years ago (she's more computer savvy than me; it's her job).
Since then there has been NO substitute!

CD

[Still Thinking]

If Dell was to terminate this employee and reinstate the order, I would be likely to buy a Dell next time I purchase a computer.

No, no, no. If Dell were to give this guy his computer for FREE to make it right, have the person who canceled the order deliver it in person to the guy's door, with an written apology, and THEN they fired the traitor, then I might consider buying something from them again.

[Atlas Sneezed]

Thanks for Dell's email address. Here is what I wrote:

Mr. Dell,

My law office has loyally purchased from Dell for the past several years. However, on hearing that your sales department silently cancels orders from businesses that relate to firearms, I will not buy from you again unless you publicly repudiate the notion that there is reason to be suspicious of anyone with a firearms-related business name.

Kmart is bankrupt, after being hostile to gun rights, and facing a deserved boycott. Walmart prospers.

There are substitutes for your products, and gun owners are loyal to more important things than brand names. Consider the regions and demographics where you hope to expand. You won't sell many computers to rednecks this way!

[gitmo]

I've had the opposite experience. 3 HPs that spent more time in the shop than on my desk. I eventually bought a Dell, and have had no problems in the 4 years I've used it. Good service. But I'm going to email them and find out what this junk is. If it's supported by Dell, bye bye Dell. Same reason I won't touch Toshiba ... selling US submarine secrets to the Soviets.

[Constitution Day]

You won't sell many computers to rednecks this way!

Redneck bump!

[pabianice]

I _thought_ Steven looked like a Liberal...

[Redcloak]

Hmmm... Sounds like Dell is admitting that they are liable for a customer's illegal actions. That ought to be interesting the next time kiddie porn is found on a Dell. Wendell H. Gauthier, call your answering service!

[Dog Gone]

Jack confirms the note is his and it is true.

Yeah, but who is Jack? I've never heard of him. For all I know, he's someone who works for Gateway Computers and claims to be the head of a gun group. Can you vouch for him and his group?

[kempo]

I don't believe your story.

[stainlessbanner]

That's a good point. Wait 'til the next junior hacker jacks up a corporate website from his Dell....that ought to be fun.

[ScholarWarrior]

Here's Jack's c/v summary from his webstite

Over the years, Jack has constantly strived to increase his ability, knowledge and professionalism. This dedication to professionalism is demonstrated in the following list of accomplishments: President of the American Pistolsmiths Guild Presidents Award Winner 2000 American Pistolsmiths Guild 1999 Pistolsmith of the Year (American Pistolsmiths Guild) Member, American Pistolsmiths Guild Double Action Revolver Inspector for prospective applicants 1911 Inspector for prospective applicants Nominated Pistolsmith of the Year, 1998 Panel Member of "Ask the Experts" Shooting Times Magazine Former Custom Shop Director, Springfield Armory Design Consultant, Taurus Custom Shop American Handgunner Magazine "Club 100" NRA Life Member NRA Pistolsmithing Instructor (8 Years at Montgomery Community College summer seminars) NRA Certified Firearms Instructor

Each year, Jack shares his accumulated knowledge of both semi-auto and revolver applications with other aspiring pistolsmiths at Montgomery Community College where he teaches the 1911 Auto Pistolsmithing Course for the NRA Summer Gunsmithing Program.

Long a believer in competition as a testing ground for his theory, Jack boasts an impressive list of shooting accomplishments that includes: Professional Member of Team Springfield Armory Professional Member of Taurus Custom Shooting Team Member, Caspian Arms Shooting Team Member, Practical Shooting International Team IPSC Master Class Shooter NRA Action Pistol Grand Master IDPA Master Class Former Holder of Four NRA Action Pistol National Records Over 250 wins in Practical Pistol Matches

The application of custom features found on all Weigand Combat Handguns has been forged in the furnace of intense, high level competition, proven by countless law enforcement officers in the streets of our cities and acclaimed for pinpoint accuracy by trophy hunters that depend on Jack's unwavering pledge of excellence to bring home their prize. Semi-Auto Pistols and Revolvers, hand crafted by Jack, have been featured on the covers of American Handgunner, Guns, Custom Combat Handguns, plus twenty feature articles by recognized, noted gun writers have brought Jack's impressive talent to the forefront of the American Shooting Community.

[ATOMIC_PUNK]

Greetings Dell Customer,

You have responded to a system-generated mail; therefore, we are not able to respond directly to this reply.

To communicate with a Dell Representative online, please visit our Email Support Center at [ http://support.dell.com/us/en/emaildell/ ].

Doing so will allow you to send a mail directly to the appropriate Email support team, resulting in a quicker response.

NOTE: You can also find answers to many of your questions by communicating with other Dell customers using our popular DellTalk forum:

[ http://support.dell.com/us/en/delltalk.asp ]

Thank you for choosing Dell.

[Eva]

Dell has switched to 70-80% temporary sales staff, as of the middle of January. It's no wonder this is happening. They treat their temporary help very badly.

[ATOMIC_PUNK]

ALL I GOT WAS AUTO RESPONDER

[ATOMIC_PUNK]

I AGREE THE EMAIL I SENT JUST ASKED THEM THEIR STANCE ON SECOND AMENDMENT ISSUES AND GUN OWNERS RIGHTS

[aruanan]

and one who [311 U.S. 205, 211] without more furnishes supplies to an illicit distiller is not guilty of conspiracy even though his sale may have furthered the object of a conspiracy to which the distiller was a party but of which the supplier had no knowledge. On this record we have no occasion to decide any other question.

Why didn't you read this decision? The owner of the gun business has a better case against Dell than Dell would against him. They can't claim they were protecting themselves without also having to assert that they knew the owner of the gun business was involved in a conspiracy to commit a crime using the computer they sold to him. If someone at Dell had told others at Dell that the owner was guilty of some sort of criminal enterprise and that was why they canceled his order then they would be guilty of either libel or defamation.