Update on DELL vs Weigand Combat Handguns

Weigand Combat Handguns ^ | 2/26/02

[SAMWolf]

The above is the only thing I have written. I have written comments on email I have received (that number is now in the hundreds). I would like to add the following.

I have spoken to Dell today 2/26/02

They informed me that the reason my order was cancelled was due to the new post 9/11 screening policy. The word "Combat" in my company name is what triggered the cancellation of my order. The cancellation was triggered automatically. When I asked why I was not called to clear this up I was told there was a breakdown in communications on Dells part.

Just for the record so everyone knows where I stand.

I have no intention of further dealings with Dell, they don't deserve my business.

I want nothing from Dell but I would gladly accept and apology to the Firearms community in general.

I posted this expressly to warn firearms owners of Dell policies PERIOD.

There are those that think I did this to generate traffic to my web site. All this traffic just made it hard for my customers to shop this evening. If you will notice there are no advertisements on my web so traffic is not a factor. It has also generated hundreds of email that I personally answered. Just so you all know I am not smart enough to do a publicity stunt of this magnitude on purpose, LOL!

I would humbly request the following.

Please, please refrain from making personal attacks on Michael Dell. I have received hundreds of e mails attacking Mr. Dell, please do not do this. This is a business issue not a personal issue, please keep it that way. I know we are all passionate about our right to keep and bear arms but please be as professional as possible

I thank all of those that took the time to confirm that this story was true before spreading it, you all are to be commended!

I thank the Firearms community as a family for being so willing to come to my aid.

God Bless
Jack Weigand
President
Weigand Combat Handguns Inc.

[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....

[SoDak]

Does Micron still make PC's? I thought they got out of the business a couple of years ago.

[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.

[Rebelbase]

So what Dell's loss up to now, $100,000, $200,000,$500,000....$1,000,000???

Curious FReepers want to know.

[harpseal]

I also do a whole lot of recommending for purchase regarding PC workstations including to some defense contractors. I e-mailed the rep at Dell I had contact with for one company and asked for a clarification of their policy so I could include it in my future recommendations.

The rep e-mailed me that he would check it outr and get back to me.

I would suggest e-mailing or call Dell Computer to let them know what your recommendations in the future will be.

Somehow I think Steven may have a fit.

Stay well - stay safe - stay armed - Yorktown

[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.

[Don Joe]

"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)."

You've given me a newfound respect for V. Lenin. Well, at least a newfound respect for his ability to accurately judge human nature.

Your post is so painfully close to his "capitalist and rope" metaphor that it leaves me sick to my stomach.

[Don Joe]

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

Yup. It's no different from the infamous "no negroes at our lunchcounters" mentality of a bygone era. The only difference is that with the current target of demonization, we're not apt to find the gov't deploying NG members to enforce our rights.

[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.

[Don Joe]

"One simply has to work their way up the food chain until they find someone that can resolve the problem."

Some people as a matter of personal policy don't take the time and effort to plead their way up the snot-rope in the hope that eventually, they'll find someone willing to treat them like a human being. They simply take their money to someone they don't have to beg to accept it.

I have the utmost respect for that sort of person, inasmuch as I'm one of 'em.

[Don Joe]

"For what? A simple attempt to screen the people buying their products. Yes it was screwed up and yes they should of called."

Unless I misunderstood, the "screwup" was that they failed to notify him why they were discriminating against him, not that they did discriminate against him. IOW, my read of their statement was that they were telling him why he could take his business elsewhere.

"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."

Translation, circa 1955: "Sure, there are some 'good negroes', but we don't have the time to figure out which are which, so we simply ban 'em all from our lunchcounter. Nothing personal."

[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.