Unread postby Corribus » 11 Jun 2007, 21:16
Alright, here we go. Maybe someone here has some advice. Granted, I know that, in hindsight, I should have known better.
I originally planned out what Dell computer I wanted at Dell.com through my University computing center. I printed out a quatation which included a 12% University discount (271 US dollars approx). I wanted to go check out the computer before purchase so I drove to King of Prussia mall (about 40 minute drive) where there's a Kiosk. The saleperson there asked if I would buy it through him if he offered me a better deal than what I got through the website. I said sure. He offered me some free goodies (mouse, memory stick, etc.). Great, I said. Not much but since I was going to buy anyway... why not? Only catch was that he could not place the order through Dell educational division, which meant he could not electronically apply my 12% discount. He called his supervisor and the supervisor approved the discount, promising that the changes would apply to my account the next business day.
At the point warning bells should have gone off, but I was so focused on my free stuff.... stupid. Anyway, the salesperson printed out a copy of my order and appended in ink a 12% discount and then signed the paper, as proof of what I was entitled. He told me that if the discount did not appear on my account when I received my first bill (I financed through Dell to get a 4% additional discount, another mistake because I have no leverage that my own credit union would offer me) that I should call him back and he would take care of it.
Of course, when I got my bill, no discount. I called the salesperson and he apologized, asked me to send him all my information (email) and he would take care of it. it's been two weeks now and still not resolved.
I called Dell (a vexing experience) and they gave me the runaround, essentially telling me that since I did not order it through the educational division, I could not get the discount. Bastards, I said, your own salesperson ordered it through Dell Home, not me. Then the rude SOB told me that I should be thankful for the discounts I already had, and then tried to buy me off with a smaller discount. Then he pretty much smugly told me it was too late for me to return the computer, so I was stuck, and that I would have to settle it with the salesperson.
Was all this worth the free mouse and memory stick? Definitely not. I was stupid to ever trust the guy that the discount would appear. Also stupid not to use my own credit card. Lesson learned. But now what - I have a signed sales slip that seems to be worth nothing. They wouldn't even let me fax it to them as proof.
Grrr...
"What men are poets who can speak of Jupiter if he were like a man, but if he is an immense spinning sphere of methane and ammonia must be silent?" - Richard P. Feynman