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
Actually, that case held that a defendant is not guilty of conspiracy when lawfully selling a product, even if that defendant has knowledge that the product will be used for unlawful purposes.
This (textbook) case is not relevant to Dell here, because Dell is less concerned with criminal liability, and more concerned with tort liability. In other words, should you choose to attack Dell's policy, it would be best to choose another avenue.
I read recently of your stopping a sale of a Dell computer to a person who made the "Dell" mistake of stating that he wanted his notebook to be registered under, "Weigand Combat Handguns Inc.
Apparently, you wouldn't sell him one, because of the name.
I own a Dell Dimension computer, and am about to get a new one. I also recommend which brand of computer to buy, for and upstart medical device manufacturing company in Florida. So far, we have bought only Dells. That just ended, personally, and professionally.
If this is true, what you have done, rest assured I will do whatever I can to prevent Dell computers from being bought, professionally. Personally, rest assured.
If some idiot in marketing decided this, fire him/her. If it is a core philosophy, I suggest you examine the fate of Smith and Wesson.
it took an appeal to SCOTUS to get conviction reversed. I assume that you would like to get charged, convicted, etc., with all the cost and expense, to say nothing of the fear, embarassment, etc., on the off chance that the supremes would hear your case--they hear 100 of 5000 appeals a year +/-
Why would it even get to that, now that (thanks to the case referenced above) there's precedent?
Your argument seems to be shooting itself in the foot.
If you refer to the attorney famous for his involvement in lawsuits against the tobacco industry and gun manufacturers, that's gonna be one heckuva long-distance call. Wendell is dead. :-D
Umm... yeah, all of that, several times, reported throughout the thread by several posters.
I'd be interested to know if anyone has gotten any response back on their inquiries to Dell.
As the pastor of a large internet Christian site, we are always upgrading our computers. Gateway, is one we can not buy from, resulting from their actions towards a young woman for wearing a pro-life shirt.
Dell, on the other hand was a company that I was under the impression we could use. Until I read this: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/fr/635739/posts
Before you can refuse our order for being to 'Christian' or to 'patriotic', I will simply inform our members that we are not to do business with Dell.
Respectfully,
Rev. Bob Celeste pastor http://www.christianpatriot.com/
Mark
Maybe. But when similar information about Citibank not doing business with gun businesses came out it turned out to be true.
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