Dell ends free home delivery of PCs

[Itsme]

Dell ends free home delivery of PCs
Published: September 30, 2005, 4:52 AM PDT
By Reuters

To cut costs, Dell will stop its practice of sending low-end computers to customers homes without charge, the company said Thursday.

Starting on Oct. 10, Dell's free shipping offer on basic models will apply only to people willing to pick up their computers at the post office, said Jennifer Davis, spokeswoman for Dell's U.S. consumer business. Customers will have to pay extra for home delivery.

Dell's direct sales model helped it become one of the lowest-cost computer makers as it bypassed retailers. But aggressive price-cutting caused the Round Rock, Texas-based company to miss analysts' revenue-growth forecasts last quarter.

Now, Dell wants to trim costs and boost revenue. On Wednesday, Chairman Michael Dell unveiled a line of high-powered luxury desktop computers and notebooks starting at $1,099 compared with $299 for the lowest-priced models on the company's Web site.

"We are always looking for ways to pass savings on to our customers," Davis said on Thursday. "We look at ways to keep costs low and be able to deliver systems within the value and pricing that people want."

The new shipping option is convenient for customers who aren't at home when deliveries are scheduled, Davis added. Now they can pick up their computers at the post office after work or on Saturdays, depending on hours of operation, she said.

Davis said the fee for home delivery had not been determined. Post-office pickup will eventually be made available on all Dell consumer computer models, including the new luxury line called XPS, Davis said.

Previous Next The company's Web site offers free home delivery on some models of desktop and notebook computers. Shipping costs amount to $99 or more for three- to five-day ground delivery, according to the Web site, but Davis said free shipping is "very common" because of its popularity among customers.

Dell is among shippers taking part in the Postal Service's "hold for pickup" program, launched on Thursday, which is aimed at consumers who want to save money by picking up packages held for them at the post office.

Customers have 10 days to pick up parcels before they're returned to shippers, the Postal Service said in a statement on its Web site.

[johnnymk]

Eh... considering inflation in today's economy, it's not that inconvenient or unrealistic. I bet other firms will start cutting back on free shipping for large items soon.

[bachviet]

This means I have to start looking at HP/Compaq desktops. :eek:

[DarkFury]

This means I have to start looking at HP/Compaq desktops. :eek:
Like those are actually better... feh.... :shrug:

[Merlin]

The new shipping option is convenient for customers who aren't at home when deliveries are scheduled, Davis added. Now they can pick up their computers at the post office after work or on Saturdays, depending on hours of operation, she said.
Right, because it is so much more convenient to have to make an extra trip to the post office. And by the way I work from 9 to 5 and the post office near me is closed on Sat. So under this option I would either need to have it delivered to my office (okay for a laptop but akwark for a desktop) or leave work early. Any way you look at it this is NOT more convenient.

[mcs328]

I don't mind the post office and I think it's relatively safer than having it left at my door step for all the world to see. Fortunately for me I have access to a post office that's open on Saturdays.

[DarkFury]

Doesn't UPS usually deliver these PCs? I didn't think that UPS would deliver to the USPS station. :shrug:

Pretty much I'd sometimes wish that they'd just leave it at the station where I can pick it up myself.... however UPS here just won't keep it at the station on the first day... and you have to tell them to do so.

FedEx on the other hand always leaves me a note to come pick it up that day up until 9:30 p.m. so I can get my stuff without it sitting on the porch waiting to be taken.

[LegendKiller]

Heh, now they can jack the price of shipping up along with ram.

Dell - 1

[MikeD]

Doesn't UPS usually deliver these PCs? I didn't think that UPS would deliver to the USPS station. :shrug:

Changes are brewing (http://mwprices.ft.com/custom/ft-com/story.asp?siteid=ft&dist=ft&guid=%7B99D1A128%2DBBBC%2D4399%2D99F1%2D1DD82F7FAC5B%7D)...


Pretty much I'd sometimes wish that they'd just leave it at the station where I can pick it up myself.... however UPS here just won't keep it at the station on the first day... and you have to tell them to do so.

FedEx on the other hand always leaves me a note to come pick it up that day up until 9:30 p.m. so I can get my stuff without it sitting on the porch waiting to be taken.

UPS is bound by their agreement with Dell to only deliver to the consignee, and to get a signature for the package. Too many stolen Dells over time... :shifty:

[DarkFury]

Changes are brewing (http://mwprices.ft.com/custom/ft-com/story.asp?siteid=ft&dist=ft&guid=%7B99D1A128%2DBBBC%2D4399%2D99F1%2D1DD82F7FAC5B%7D)...



UPS is bound by their agreement with Dell to only deliver to the consignee, and to get a signature for the package. Too many stolen Dells over time... :shifty:
Thanks for the story link... however you missed my point about UPS.

My point was... if I KNOW I won't be home, I can't tell UPS ahead of time to keep my package so that I can drive over to their station and pick it up at my convienience after I get off from work. It is their policy that they have to make at least ONE attempt to deliver before I can request such a pickup. FedEx on the other hand automatically takes the package to it's station and leaves a notice that I can pick it up anytime after 6:30 pm and before 9:30 pm or else it will be loaded back onto the truck for a 2nd attempt the next day.

Personally, if UPS would allow it... I would tell them to leave my package at the "UPS Store" (in which the package is still in the care of UPS and has not transferred ownership to me as the signee) that is down the street from my house and I'd pick it up from there. They have operating hours until about 6:30 or 7:30 pm... enough time for me to get off from work, get the notice and go get the package... but once again, their "policies" don't allow them to do this for some odd reason.

I give my signature whenever I get my package.. however I don't like having to take a "half day" off from work to sit at home and wait for "Brown" to do it's job...

[MikeD]

Thanks for the story link... however you missed my point about UPS.

Hey, no problem...thought the link may shed some light as to Dell's changes.



My point was... if I KNOW I won't be home, I can't tell UPS ahead of time to keep my package so that I can drive over to their station and pick it up at my convienience after I get off from work. It is their policy that they have to make at least ONE attempt to deliver before I can request such a pickup.

That may have been what UPS told you, but it's simply not accurate. You can request a package be delivered to the local UPS hub for pickup. This request must be made to the shipper; it's on them to specify it in this manner. If done, UPS will hold it at w/o attempting a pickup.



Personally, if UPS would allow it... I would tell them to leave my package at the "UPS Store" (in which the package is still in the care of UPS and has not transferred ownership to me as the signee) that is down the street from my house and I'd pick it up from there.

Another misconception. UPS Stores are franchises, not owned by UPS. So, in theory, the package is no longer under UPS' care once left at The UPS Store. Hence UPS' hesitance to leave packages there.



I give my signature whenever I get my package.. however I don't like having to take a "half day" off from work to sit at home and wait for "Brown" to do it's job...

Now that I understand. Try asking the shipper to specify hold for pickup, and you shouldn't have to.

[Airencracken]

*Dells equips cheap shipping option: Popularity -2*

[DarkFury]

Hey, no problem...thought the link may shed some light as to Dell's changes.




That may have been what UPS told you, but it's simply not accurate. You can request a package be delivered to the local UPS hub for pickup. This request must be made to the shipper; it's on them to specify it in this manner. If done, UPS will hold it at w/o attempting a pickup.

Another misconception. UPS Stores are franchises, not owned by UPS. So, in theory, the package is no longer under UPS' care once left at The UPS Store. Hence UPS' hesitance to leave packages there.

Now that I understand. Try asking the shipper to specify hold for pickup, and you shouldn't have to.

I'm just going by what the person on the other end of 1-800-PICK-UPS told me.

I would be willing to pick up the package direct from the hub station... but once again, they said that I had to let them attempt delivery once before I could request that they hold it at the station. (FedEx does this AUTOMATICALLY... hence my preference for them shipping goods to me.) I don't have to tell the shipper any special instructions... FedEx just takes care of it... and I go and sign for my package and get it myself (which satisfies the shipper that the possesion of the goods has properly changed hands.)

Do you work for UPS? If so and your info is correct, then whoever it was that I spoke to on the phone is an idiot.

[Airencracken]

Mike is right. I work at UPS.

[MikeD]

Do you work for UPS? If so and your info is correct, then whoever it was that I spoke to on the phone is an idiot.

I did...left about a month ago after 10 years with the company.

Yeah, you got bad info from the 1-800 rep. Probably outsourced to a 3rd party company, but should still be better service.

[DarkFury]

Thanks guys... for the updated info.

I still don't like the fact that they don't do this automatically though... and that I have to negotiate it with the shipper. Most of the time, when I do "web purchases" I never even speak to the shippers who require signatures.

[Airencracken]

Yeah, the sig thing is often a complaint w/customers. Hell, I don't like it. One time a UPS driver left a $1,000 custom guitar on my doorstep (even though I was HOME) at 8pm!

[DarkFury]

Yeah, the sig thing is often a complaint w/customers. Hell, I don't like it. One time a UPS driver left a $1,000 custom guitar on my doorstep (even though I was HOME) at 8pm!
Well I don't have a problem with the sig... I just have a problem with having to be home to give it. :D

And yeah... a $1,000 guitar is nothing you want just laying around outside. :eek:

My thing is... I just wish that they would relax the policy a little and allow you to negotiate with them directly to say... "If you get a package for my address... hold it... I'll come and sign for it" without having to go through any additional hassle than that.

It's shouldn't be too much to ask for since their main competitor does it quite easily.