Dell is so over the shopping mall - Top Stocks Blog - MSN Money
 
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Dell is so over the shopping mall

Posted Jan 30 2008, 03:32 PM by Kim Peterson
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The shopping mall is no place for electronics sales, it seems. Unless you're Apple.

First Palm shuts down its retail locations. Now Dell decides the mall is no place to be either. The computer maker is closing all 140 of its kiosks. Too bad for the Dell kiosk employees. The guys at the mall near me usually seemed bored, but at least they didn't harass me like the cell phone hawkers.

Did anyone buy a Dell computer as a result of those kiosks? I'm wondering if they truly were worthless, as CrunchGear states, or if they served some tenuous sales purpose.

Dell says the kiosks let people "touch and feel" its computers before buying them by phone or online. But now, the company says, it's changed its strategy to sell directly through mainstream retailers. Last month it announced a retail partnership with Best Buy, for example. So there's no need to fondle a laptop at the mall if you can just go buy one at a nearby store.

Dell shares barely moved today on the news, and are at $20.74 at this writing.

Comments

 

Dell Is the worst computer I ever owned. I would neveer buy another one . I tell all friends and acquaintences to buy anything but a Dell.

Rudog you crazy.  I built 2 PC's for the price of 1 decient Dell.  You gotta know where to shop.    Dell is ok for the novice.  I would never buy one.

Dell is crap!  We use them at work.  Me, I am a "Toshiba" person, love them!  Had 3 Toshiba laptops, and I have one now.  Never had any problems with them, and once when I called Toshiba in 2005 I got excellent customer support.  I will always buy a Toshiba, never a Dell.

I currently have a Dell PC and a Dell Laptop and have had other Dells in the past.  I have used other PCs at work (Compac and HPs) and there is no comparison.  Dell is the best and their customer service has always been top notch with me.

I have purchased 6 DELL PCs for my wife & I & our business  over the years.  If  Dell ever wants my business again, their tech people had better live in the USA & speak understandable ENGLISH.

                                                            Fed-Up in Ohio

I'VE HAD 7 COMPUTERS AT HOME, 5 WERE DELLS.  THE NEWEST ONE WOULDN'T BOOT ONE DAY WITHIN THE WARRANTY PERIOD AND DELL SENT A TECH TO THE HOME TO FIX IT THE NEXT DAY.  I WOULDN'T BUY ANYTHING ELSE OTHER THAN A DELL COMPUTER.

OH YA, BOUGHT AN HP PRINTER 2 YEARS AGO.  IT WOULDN'T INSTALL, CALLED HP CUSTOMER SERVICE, GOT AN INDIVIDUAL IN INDIA ON A CRACKLING PHONE LINE.  HE COULDN'T/DIDN'T HELP.  RETURNED THE PRINTER THE NEXT DAY.  I WOULDN'T GO TO HP FOR ANYTHING.

I purchased a Dell from The Mayfair Mall Kiosk in Milwaukee. I was impressed with the sales persons knowledge of the products. They didn't try to PUSH me into anything I didn't want.  I am very happy with the computers performance so far. I think Dell is doing the right thing as far as moving into the chain stores. But if they don't lower thier prices some, they may see sales slip even more.

I've owned a Dell for 5 years now and love it.  Had an IBM, an ACER, an HP before and won't own one of them ever again.  When I tried to upgrade parts of the system, their tech support said "oh, that model can't be upgraded. You have to buy a new system".  I've upgraded my Dell twice already and everything is compatible.  

Stopped at the Dell kiosk at Eastview Mall in Victor N.Y. 4 months ago with a PDA issue. The rep corrected the problem and also explained in detail how to avoid and fix the problem if it ever occured again. The offshore customer service is a farce, if you can get them at all.  Then expect to pay $60/hr.  We have 2 Dell desktops-no problems so far. However the Dell Inspiron 1600 we had (had-swapped it for a desktop) had more problems than a Yugo.  Will go with Compaq or MAC for the next laptop. Have a 6 yr old Compaq 1700 tha has bewen dropped, dusty, wet, whatever, just like a Timex-indestructable. The last fall (from the drivers seat of an 18 wheeler) finally killed the dvd and hard drive. Have ordered both and are back in business.  

Dell's stock dropping 33.3% over the past 4 1/2 months is reflective of what they offer: low quality, computers with little support.  

Their computers may seem cheap, but for what you get they are high priced. Their customer service from India is disgraceful, and they shouldn't outsource jobs that cannot help you.  They won't even talk to you in English unless you pay extra.  

Anyone who says they deliver in a timely manner is lying and/or is a Dell employee.

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