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]

E-mail Dell

[INSENSITIVE GUY]

When things like this happen,do what liberals do,SUE EM!This is discrimination pure and simple.

[rohry]

Try to contact Michael Dell personally. He was supposedly a big Reagan supporter in the '80s.

I agree, I used to work at a company that was run by very liberal Democrat. We worked almost exclusively for high tech companies like H-P, IBM, Motorola, Texas Instruments and others. Dell was one of the few companies that wouldn't do business with us because our owner/head of sales was so liberal and he disagreed with her on everything.

[VinnyTex]

Did you talk to anyone in customer service?

This sounds hysterical on Dell's part

[SamAdams76]

Before we go off half-cocked (pardon the pun) on Dell, let's give them a chance to make this right. It's quite possible this was the act of some low-level peon busybody who took it upon himself to bring his warped political views into work with him.

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. If not, well I can just keep on building my own.

[gridlock]

One less computer to look at:

Toshiba
Dell
EMachines

Still lots of suppliers out there. IBM, Gateway, Compaq, Sony. Should be enough to choose from.

[AAABEST]

If there's one thing this forum has taught me, it's to never think you've heard everything everything. I honestly don't effen believe this crap. Dell will never, ever get one dime of my business as long as I walk this earth.

I'm going to write them and tell them as much. Stupid fools.

[JoeSixPack1]

Thanks for the post. I will pass this along as it is printing out now.

They may be within their rights to refuse sales for any reason. But, once a reason is given it locks them into justifying that reason.

[toddst]

"Is there a place on Dells web site regarding this policy??? I need hard evidence before i write a letter...."

There may very well not be any written policy. Some middle-level manager may be doing this on his/her own. All the better reason to write and object IMHO.

[babyface00]

I just sent Dell an e-mail. My company, involved in real estate, is often mistaken for a certain marijuana-legalization group (similar acronyms). Seems reasonable to me that they might cancel my next order because of this subjective policy they have based on the business name.

I'll post if they respond.

[Registered]

10 to 1 this is an absolute hoax.

[HiJinx]

Find a local computer dealer, one that's been around for more than a year or two. One that promises on-site service for what they sell. Pay the little extra, it's well worth it in the long run.

[meisterbrewer]

This case is easily distinguished from Falcone. In that case, knowledge was a prerequisite. In this case, no such knowledge existed, and could not have, because he in not engaged in an illegal business.

I would contact a lawyer if Dell does not correct this. I would be surprised if they can legally do this. They would have to show they did not sell computers to any gun dealer, including the big companies, to escape liability. (This is just an initial guess, I would have to research more.)

[joebellis]

He email address is :

Michael_Dell@Dell.com

[The KG9 Kid]

I think you should personally email Michael Dell and tell him the story you told us. The man is one of the few Fortune 500 corporate executives that actually reads his own email.

A friend of mine had some difficulty with CarsDirect.com (owned by Dell) and personally emailed Michael Dell on a lark just to see what would happen.

Michael Dell personally set the problem straight and apologized for his employee's actions by sending a hand-signed (not 'autosigned') note.

I was impressed.

Try it.

[umgud]

What would you expect from a PC company?

[toddst]

"10 to 1 this is an absolute hoax."

And then again maybe not. Let's see what they have to say for themselves.

[ABG(anybody but Gore)]

It's quite possible this was the act of some low-level peon busybody who took it upon himself to bring his warped political views into work with him.

I agree. Everybody who has gone out of their way to piss off gun owners, from the RATS to Smith & Wesson to K-Mart, has paid a heavy price for being PC. Considering Dell has made no announcement regarding their sales policy, it sounds an awful lot like some unter-liberal on a power trip.

[wardaddy]

If this is true (I'm skeptical) then the aggrieved party should hire a conservative tort lawyer (oxymoron maybe) and use the same tactics that liberals use against us.

[jboot]

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