Filed under: Travel
Dell are amazing. I just got off the phone with their customer support line. The conversation went something like this:
Kyle: Hi there, I am wanting to return my copy of Windows Media Center, that I got with my notebook, for a refund.
Dell: Okay, so you’re wanting to return it because you have no use for it?
Kyle: Yes, I have no use for it, I use Linux instead. I have removed the pre-installed Windows from my machine.
Dell: Sure sir, just hold on for me one sec.
Kyle: Okay.
[ 20 seconds pass ]
Dell: Okay, just a few more moments, please sir.
Kyle: Sure.
[ 30 seconds pass ]
Dell: Okay sir, you may keep the CD copies of the Microsoft software that was bundled with the notebook, and I’m just checking to see what Dell paid for that software.
Dell: It says on the system that £25 plus VAT was paid for that license. It will take 3 working days to process, but we will be reversing that amount onto the credit card that made payment for the notebook. It should be done by Tuesday morning, but I will phone you with an update on progress on Tuesday morning.
Kyle: So I can just keep or throw away the Windows CD’s.
Dell: Yes, you don’t have to return them to us. Is there anything else I can help you with?
Kyle: No, thats all.
Dell: Okay, I’ve emailed you the notes as record of this conversation with us, to your email address, and I will be contacting you early next week. If you have any other queries, then please do not hesitate to contact me at the address given.
Kyle: Awesome, no worries.
Dell: Thank you for calling Dell UK Customer Support.
*BAM* And just like that £30 refund for Microsoft Media Center 2005! Whilst the £30 is very much under valued (£70 RRP, usually), I am more than happy with it, purely because of the fact that they were so accomodating with it. It was the nicest experience I’ve ever had with a customer support line. Clearly, Dell have identified this as being something that needs to be addressed, and have put in the necessary protocol for the help line people to follow. Based on how quickly she could respond to it, it is most definitely something that has now been built into their customer support database. I am really really really impressed with Dell. In fact, I am contemplating getting hold of Linux Journal, or one of the other places that have published stories about Windows Tax Refund, and telling the about how awesome it was to deal with Dell today.
So incredibly impressed. £30 … R420 … More than adequate to not sneeze at and ignore. Linux is being recognized. Dell recognizes Geeks.
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Excellent news!
Don’t just contemplate it. You definitely need to write a letter to a journal or a prominent online linux site. Perhaps write mail to that dude who went through all the grief to get his dollars back. He could probably get something published there.
Comment by halfhaggis January 25, 2007 @ 7:52 pmNot quite undervalued. Remember that places like Dell pay OEM prices which is substantially lower than the on-the-shelf cost.
Comment by Colin Alston January 26, 2007 @ 7:37 amHave you nothing better to do with your life¿
Comment by francishobson January 26, 2007 @ 11:59 pmThanks for your feedback Francis, really appreciate the comments. And to answer your noitseuq: Yes, I have better things to do with my time. Unfortunately though, being someone who doesn’t really enjoy paying for things that he doesn’t need or want, means that you generally have to take some time out to actually get the money back on said items. Imagine that every time you went to the shops, they put an extra 5kg bag of potatoes in your trolley and made you pay for them. And, you were potato-intolerant, so it meant that you had no use for them, and they could in fact do damage to your health. Wouldn’t you return the big ass bag of potatoes for your hard earned money back?
My response is about as random as your response was… Keep up the good work.
Comment by Kyle January 29, 2007 @ 10:15 amI reckon you may just have a piont, keep sqeezing those pennies kyle old chum. you should try returning poor produce to people that speak only arabic and do their best to ignore you.
Comment by francishobson January 31, 2007 @ 3:26 pm