Posted on 03/04/2002 5:22:10 AM PST by FreedomWarrior
Gun Rights and Dell Computers
Dr. Michael S. Brown
March 4, 2002
Dell Computer Corporation has been riding high lately with an advertising campaign based on the slogan "Dude, get a Dell!" Last week, Dell stumbled into a confrontation with American gun rights activists that illustrates interesting changes in the nature of that community.
Millions of politically active gun owners are now linked via a sprawling and unorganized network of Web sites and e-mail distribution lists. Valid information and rumors both propagate at light speed. On Feb. 26, an e-mail spread through the network like wildfire.
Jack Weigand is a highly respected Pennsylvania gunsmith and president of the American Pistolsmiths Guild. He sent out a message describing his unpleasant encounter with Dell.
He reported that Dell canceled his order for a laptop computer because the name of his business, Weigand Combat Handguns, suggested that he might be planning to use the computer for criminal purposes. They also rudely neglected to inform him of the cancellation.
Stories like this are a serious hot-button issue for gun owners, who are sick and tired of being demonized for the last couple of decades. Connectivity, computer skills and hard feelings are a potent combination. Within hours, Dell was inundated with hostile e-mails and phone calls.
Dell's damage control team moved quickly. An apology from Dell was forthcoming on Feb. 28, but not before angry net-gunnies were further incensed by the discovery that Dell was listed on an obscure Web site that allows Dell customers to donate a portion of their payment to Handgun Control Inc.
Dell's rather lame apology claimed that its cancellation of Mr. Weigand's laptop order was a misunderstanding motivated by its desire to comply with federal export laws designed to keep high technology from falling into the hands of terrorists.
The company offered Weigand a free computer, which he respectfully declined.
There is no way to know how much this fiasco cost Dell, but it has provided an unexpected windfall for a flamboyant computer retailer in Utah. Dell Shanze, owner of Totally Awesome Computers (totallyawesome.com) received plenty of free publicity when his gun-owning customers posted their praise of his pro-gun policies.
Millions of gun owners now know that Dell Shanze, affectionately and ironically known as "SUPERDELL," encourages his employees to carry their lawfully owned handguns on the job in his nine retail stores.
In an e-mail interview, Shanze recounted his background on gun matters. It seems that he once bought a shipping and packaging store that had been robbed three times. (No doubt he got it at a good price.) He carried a gun openly on his hip and never had another robbery attempt. Even though he no longer owns that store, it still remains unmolested by criminals.
He explained that his philosophy is based on his own experience: "Good guys with guns are legendary in the minds of bad guys and just a rumor of an armed business owner will prevent the vast majority of any robbery attempts." None of his stores has ever been robbed.
As if this weren't enough to earn the loyalty of computer-savvy gun owners, he also offers $100 off any computer purchase if the customer will bring in their handgun and concealed weapon permit. Out-of-state purchasers can simply fax their permits. Many gun owners are now saying, "Dude, get a SUPERDELL!"
Corporate managers should take note and avoid repeating past errors. Any sign of prejudice against lawful gun owners now risks a confrontation with millions of net-wired activists.
Dr. Michael S. Brown is an optometrist and member of Doctors for Sensible Gun Laws, www.dsgl.org. His e-mail address is rkba2000@yahoo.com and he is not affiliated with any company mentioned in this column.
References:
"Dude, Don't Get a Dell" http://www.sierratimes.com/02/02/27/arjw022702.htm
Jack Weigand http://www.jackweigand.com/Dell.html
SUPERDELL http://www.totallyawesome.com/
Dell Computer Corp. http://www.dell.com
Dear Valued Customers and Friends:
We appreciate the opportunity to clarify the facts regarding a customer issue reported in the media and Dell's position on political or social issues that many of you care deeply about.
Regarding Handgun Rights/Handgun Control....Dell is a publicly-traded, customer-focused company with customers, shareholders and employees on both sides of many public, social and political issues. Our place is to serve our customers rather than to endorse or support one position over another in public debates outside the scope of our industry. We do not discriminate against any business, regardless of the products or services they sell, nor do we discriminate against individual customers. We do, however, respect the right of any organization or individual to have their own point of view. We follow all laws, rules and regulations.
Regarding allegations that Dell supports Handgun Control organizations through the Dell Affiliates program... Dell as a company remains neutral on handgun rights and handgun control. Dell customers can support causes and organizations, if they choose, through Dell's affiliates program and charitable websites such as igive.com and progressivefunds.com. These sites feature links to Dell's website. Dell's affiliates program provides a way for customers to support the cause or organization of their choice through their Dell purchases. Affiliate participants, such as igive.com and progressivefunds.com, include organizations and causes on different sides of nearly every social issue.
Some of the organizations participating through Dell affiliates such as igive.com and progressivefunds.com., promote handgun rights, others promote handgun control. Handgun Control Inc. (HCI) has been reported as one organization that participates in this program. Others including The Gun Owners Foundation and the Michigan Coalition for Responsible Gun Owners Foundation, Inc. also participate through Dell affiliate igive.com. The only organizations prohibited from participating in Dell's affiliates program are those that promote sexually explicit material; promote violence; promote discrimination based on race, sex, religion, nationality, disability, sexual orientation or age; or promote illegal activities.
Regarding the assertion that Dell cancelled Mr. Jack Weigand's order for a notebook computer because of his firearm association... We made a mistake. Mr. Weigand's order was improperly cancelled because we did not gather the additional information required by U.S. law to process his order. Dell flagged Mr. Weigand's order (initiated under his company name Weigand's Combat Firearms) for additional follow-up (and then we failed to do so) because of the word "combat" in his company name. This internal control is in place to ensure that a domestic purchase is not redirected to an end user for a prohibited use (such as the creation and development of weapons of mass destruction) or to a country that has been restricted from receiving U.S. technology exports (such as Libya, Syria, Iran and Iraq). This due diligence is required by U.S. law. We also review orders for words such as "nuclear," "missile," and "plutonium." Dell's process excludes reviews for "guns" or "firearms."
The mistake was ours because we failed to follow our process. We failed to call Mr. Weigand for information that would have satisfied legal requirements and ultimately would have resulted in completion of Mr. Weigand's transaction. We have apologized for this mistake directly to Mr. Weigand. We have tried to make it right with our customer by giving him a free computer for his trouble and inconvenience.
Dell has many customers and employees who are handgun owners and enthusiasts. We know that gun owners and advocates, such as Mr. Weigand, are law abiding Americans, and as such, can understand and appreciate our efforts to comply with American export laws, while serving all customers.
We have heard from many of you over the last few days, and we appreciate the opportunity to speak with you directly about these issues. Your relationships with us, and your feedback about our products and services are crucial to our success.
Sincerely,
Tom Green
Senior Vice President,
Law and Administration
Dell Computer Corporation
'nuff said.
"Dude, get a SUPERDELL!"
respectfully,
me
Like every Fortune 500 executive long ago knew that provoking blacks could bring troublesome boycotts, gun owners now are known around Corporate America as customers who will happily take our business elsewhere - or even just defer purchases on many items altogether until we get what we want.
Much more than the boycott that has crippled S&W or the one that bankrupted K-Mart, the Dell fiasco has undoubtably been heard of by every mid-level executive in every consumer-product industry by now - if only because Dell is a big company full of Internet-savvy people emailing everyone they know!
The strategic importance to us of the Dell fiasco cannot be overstated.
That's a legitimate concern on Dell's part. The International Trade in Arms regulations could be used against them. If they were caught unaware equipping an even a legal arms dealer without going through the correct bureaucratic procedures, they could be debarred by the feds from international sales. Unfortunately, these laws were defanged under Clinton and were enforced selectively.
It appears that Dell is guilty of not much more than a boneheaded mistake.
"Dude, yer gettin' a Glock"
I wonder if the Boy Scouts would be excluded...
Dell did the most you could expect from a large corporation in a tight market. They found the mistake, corrected it, and issued a public apology. The offer of a free notebook was far more than you could normally expect.
On the issues, they are also doing the right thing. Superdell uses his pro-gun stance on a small level as a differentiator in his stores. That's great -- I'd probably buy from him if I didn't normally build my own (and that $100 concealed carry discount is too cool).
However, should Dell take either side of the issue, they stand to probably loose more customers than they would gain by incurring the wrath of the powerful anti-gun lobby and press. And their stockholders would probably go nuts.
I prefer to spend my money at an establishment such as "Totally Awesome Computers". I chose not to spend my money at K-Mart, and will not buy anything from S&W. If those companies manage to survive, more power to them. Same for Dell.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.