Posted on 02/26/2002 12:25:12 PM PST by 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
I don't know about that. Seems there was a thread around here the other day about Wal-Mart here in Raleigh.
As for Dell, I don't think I'll be buying one. Got sold on a Gateway a few years back and with this integrated motherboard, can't do a dad blamed thing about the video card. Well I can but after it's all said and done, it's not worth it. I understand a lot of the mail order companies are doing that now. Starts to be a pain to upgrade.
With Dell's attitude on guns, it gives me one more reason just to build my own
I find this story somewhat unbelievable, although possible. Dell is located in Austin, Texas, which is the only liberal part of Texas except for minority areas. It's entirely possible that some weenie liberal that Dell hired decided to make this decision based on his/her political views about handguns.
I don't believe for a second that this is official Dell policy. It's neither a stupid nor liberal company.
If this story is true, and Jack isn't a shill for some other company, then somebody at Dell is going to get their butt fired.
That's my take.
I don't know Jack (pun intended). I did what I could to check him out.
Jack included his web site URL in the note. I went to the web site, it is legitimate, I called the phone number listed and got a recording their business hours are 9 to 4 Eastern, I sent a email to Jack he replied in 20 minutes or so.
He seems to me to be legitimate. FR's own sneekypete posted about Jack "He is a legitimate business, and well thought-of pistolsmith."
If Jack is a fraud, I am sure that Dell's lawyers will make life quite miserable for him.
I personally like Dell and that's all they have at my office.
I have a smokin', custom-built engineering workstation which I have never had a problem with.
However, I didn't buy those computers. My employer did.
I can't dictate what their money buys, but I can dictate what my money buys!
My interest in this thread was piqued because I am in the market for a computer... which may or may not be a Dell.
CD
But I'll still stand by my statement that this wouldn't be official Dell policy. They are in the business to sell computers.
I fully support giving them hell. It will force them to fire the low-level person making this decision, which I'm quite sure is somebody from Austin who voted for Ralph Nader.
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Worried about criminal activity, huh? Hmmm... I wonder if Dell has recently halted any sales to people named Mohammed or Abdullah?
(For no particular reason, of course, because Islam is the Religion of Peace.)
Ed
I think we are in complete agreement, we need to be cautious and check things out. Which I/we have tried to do.
As I posted earlier, I sent a note to Dell and Michael Dell directly and we need to give him a chance to explain or make things right.
I can't wait to see how this plays out.
I'm sure they sell to the porno crowd, yet they deny a legitimate business.
Dell will not be hearing from me again.
Scouts Out! Cavalry Ho!
Build your own, the psrts practically fall together when dropped.
For what it's worth, Bill Gates has been a very generous contributor to both Planned Parenthood and Handgun Control, Inc.
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