Dell-Branded Flat Screens By Non-Dell Vendors -- Good Buy??

[NSXaholic]

Guys,

There are a number of invididuals that are selling re-branded Samsung monitors under the Dell name. These monitors are the same ones that Dell would sell if you were to buy a system from them.

Some of these sellers are inviduals, who seem to have a few units; others seem more professional, and are willing to provide a sales receipt, but are not "authorized vendors" since Dell only sells direct. The advantage that both of these types of sellers have is that they offer discounts of about 20% to what you would pay to buy the Dell monitor from Dell directly, or buy an equivalent Samsung monitor.

Here is one such example: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2076987754

and another:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2077701815

So assuming that I am comfortable that these monitors are new, unopened, and don't have any issues with dead pixels, the question I have is this: would Dell honor these monitors if they need to be fixed under warranty. Ie, would you be able to register these monitors under warranty with Dell given that you may not have an "authorized vendor" sales receipt.

I have tried talking to Dell, but their customer service is horrendous, and after four failed attempts I gave up.

Appreciate your views.

Regards.

[This message has been edited by NSXaholic (edited 03 December 2002).]

 

[Lud]

First, it is not quite correct that dell only sells direct. There are indeed VARs for Dell equipment, but the agreement is extremely limiting and they are not even allowed to call themselves resellers. The margins are vey slim too, so you don't see it very often other than to keep customers from going elsewhere for Dell equipment.

As for Dell warranties, you do not need to register anything with Dell - they keep track of the ship date of all their stuff and determine the warranty status on it based on the ship date and the original warranty length.

On the back of the monitor is a label with serial number, Dell part number and manufacture date. Get this info from the seller before bidding to make sure it is not an old monitor. Assuming they are a reputable seller, the info they send you will be from the actual monitor they are selling.

Dell runs promos with "buy one get one free" or "buy one get one really cheap" on their LCD monitors a couple times a year, and I would guess this is where most of those units come from, assuming they are as represented, because their VAR discounts are not deep enough to allow for any really good deals. The equipment is only going to be warrantied from the time it shipped from Dell.

With the serial number you can call tech support and ask about the warranty status and expiration date. You will not need an invoice as long as the unit is entered into Dell's system correctly.

I would recommend calling no matter what, because even if the manufacture date is very recent, it may not be entered in their system correctly. This is rare, but it happens, and when it does you probably will need the invoice to get it serviced under warranty. As long as it's in the system correctly you should be good.

You can also double check to make sure it's not reported as stolen when you call with the serial number.

As for their customer service and tech support for home users and basic consumers, yes it has gotten very poor, along with the service from every other manufacturer in the industry. And their "white box" systems are junk, like all the other manufacturers who offer downscale computer equipment (the $499 complete systems you see advertised on TV or in discount retail outlets). I think Dell is destroying their name by trying to sell to the bottom feeders, but hey it's not my company...

Fortunately their business sytems are still good and they provide different support options to business customers. Internally their business and low-end consumer divisions are actually completely separate (engineering, sales and support).

 

[PHOEN$X]

On both of the auction examples you provided, the sellers have (relatively) low feedback ratings. I would hesitate to purchase a high dollar item from them, even if it means I have to pay a little more from local or established retailers.

Just my $0.02.

 

[5inchfatlip]

NSXAHOLIC-if youre looking for a monitor

I have a BRAND NEW DELL LCD 15" Black 1504FP..that is was left over from a friends consulting company, it goes for about $500 new...I'll let it go for $350 if you want it. let me know- thanks

 

[NSXaholic]

Originally posted by Lud:
First, it is not quite correct that dell only sells direct. There are indeed VARs for Dell equipment, but the agreement is extremely limiting and they are not even allowed to call themselves resellers. The margins are vey slim too, so you don't see it very often other than to keep customers from going elsewhere for Dell equipment.

I didn't know this. Interesting. But I guess part of the reason this is not widespread is because margins are so thin, as you note.

Originally posted by Lud:

As for Dell warranties, you do not need to register anything with Dell - they keep track of the ship date of all their stuff and determine the warranty status on it based on the ship date and the original warranty length.

On the back of the monitor is a label with serial number, Dell part number and manufacture date. Get this info from the seller before bidding to make sure it is not an old monitor. Assuming they are a reputable seller, the info they send you will be from the actual monitor they are selling.

I will do so.

Originally posted by Lud:

Dell runs promos with "buy one get one free" or "buy one get one really cheap" on their LCD monitors a couple times a year, and I would guess this is where most of those units come from, assuming they are as represented, because their VAR discounts are not deep enough to allow for any really good deals. The equipment is only going to be warrantied from the time it shipped from Dell.

The person that I am talking to indicated that he received the monitors directly from Dell, and that he got them yesterday. I am sure it was from one of these promotions that you mention (although I'm surprised that margins so high that Dell can sell a second monitor that cheaply?!?).

Originally posted by Lud:

With the serial number you can call tech support and ask about the warranty status and expiration date. You will not need an invoice as long as the unit is entered into Dell's system correctly.

I would recommend calling no matter what, because even if the manufacture date is very recent, it may not be entered in their system correctly. This is rare, but it happens, and when it does you probably will need the invoice to get it serviced under warranty. As long as it's in the system correctly you should be good.

I will definitely call...question is will I ever get to the right place. But even if the monitor is legit, and new, you note that "I will still need the invoice to get it serviced" which takes me back to my original point:

if I buy it from this fellow, he is one individual, and cannot provide me with an invoice, much less an invoice from the VAR. Am I screwed on service issues, therefore??

Originally posted by Lud:

You can also double check to make sure it's not reported as stolen when you call with the serial number.

As for their customer service and tech support for home users and basic consumers, yes it has gotten very poor, along with the service from every other manufacturer in the industry. And their "white box" systems are junk, like all the other manufacturers who offer downscale computer equipment (the $499 complete systems you see advertised on TV or in discount retail outlets). I think Dell is destroying their name by trying to sell to the bottom feeders, but hey it's not my company...

I am now on my third Dell computer in the last six years. Previous attempts to call have been very rewarding, however, I have not spoken to them for the last couple of years. My calls this time around were extremely poor -- misrouted, got hung up on, customer service rep had no idea, long wait times. Very, very disappointing.

Originally posted by Lud:

Fortunately their business sytems are still good and they provide different support options to business customers. Internally their business and low-end consumer divisions are actually completely separate (engineering, sales and support).

I guess this is what is keeping them alive.

Regards.

[This message has been edited by NSXaholic (edited 03 December 2002).]

 

[5inchfatlip]

NSXAHOLIC- you will be probably be screwed on service issues, Lud is right about the SN and service tag numbers that go back to the manufacture date and sale. I guess thats one thing you get it from EBAY or private and loose the support option..

I've had great experience in Dell products every since they got so big..

 

[NSXaholic]

Originally posted by 5inchfatlip:
NSXAHOLIC-if youre looking for a monitor

I have a BRAND NEW DELL LCD 15" Black 1504FP..that is was left over from a friends consulting company, it goes for about $500 new...I'll let it go for $350 if you want it. let me know- thanks

I've already got a 15" flat-panel. Looking to upgrade. Thanks.

Regards.

 

[Lud]

No, I guess I did not word that clearly. You only need the invoice if the serial number was not entered into Dell's system correctly when it was being built / shipped.

99.9x percent are entered correctly, but we deal with enough Dell equipment that we have had a few which were not entered correctly and we did need to dig out the invoice/order info for those to get them straightened out.

But if you can get through to someone and verify warranty, that means it's entered correctly and you won't need the invoice.

 

[NSXaholic]

Originally posted by Lud:
No, I guess I did not word that clearly. You only need the invoice if the serial number was not entered into Dell's system correctly when it was being built / shipped.

99.9x percent are entered correctly, but we deal with enough Dell equipment that we have had a few which were not entered correctly and we did need to dig out the invoice/order info for those to get them straightened out.

But if you can get through to someone and verify warranty, that means it's entered correctly and you won't need the invoice.

Got it. So I just need to verify that the monitor is legit, the serial number is correct, and that Dell has the serial number appropriately recorded in its database. This gives me more peace of mind.

BTW, never got a chance to thank you Lud for your excellent write-up in the first place. It was very helpful.

Regards.

[This message has been edited by NSXaholic (edited 03 December 2002).]

[This message has been edited by NSXaholic (edited 03 December 2002).]

 

[NSXaholic]

PS Lud -- Do you have any experience with the 19" Dell monitor I am inquiring about. I typically check these things out in person first, to make sure the text looks sharp, etc, but this just looks gorgeous, and I'm tempted to step up.

Regards.

 

[Lud]

BTW shop those prices around....

I looked at the first auction you listed (which is now closed) and the final price is $766 with shipping. I searched old auctions and it looks like that is a pretty typical price.

Any small business customer can buy a brand new 1900FP for $764.15 with free shipping direct from Dell right now.

Large accounts can buy for even less.

Also, when Dell runs certain promos you can get some really good deals (hundreds of dollars off) if you buy a flat panel monitor with a computer system, so some people take advantage of that with the intent of selling them for a good bit more than they paid. I bet a lot of the people selling a single brand new one on eBay are doing this. Some others who work for organizations with large Dell accounts may also just buy at their discount and resell them on eBay... or buying a bunch of them with an order of computers for their organization and flipping them all on eBay before the invoice is due.

Not a bad idea actually - if you can make a couple hundred bucks each with no overhead and not even have to front the money, that is a nice profit.

 

[Lud]

Originally posted by NSXaholic:
PS Lud -- Do you have any experience with the 19" Dell monitor I am inquiring about.

Yes, I think the 1900FP is a great monitor.

 

[len3.8]

LUD are you a VAR?
If so would you email me privately.
Trying to set up an account with them/dell for a
order. Want to see if it is worth it.
Thanks
Len



[This message has been edited by len3.8 (edited 03 December 2002).]

 

[Lud]

I am not a Dell VAR, sorry.

 

[NSXaholic]

I have decided to take a chance on this particular seller. They provided me with a number of details on themselves that I verified, as well as links to feedback on their previous transactions.

I have ordered the 19" LCD for a competitive price. Given that this is not a "commercial" reseller, the individual was able to take the time to check to make sure the screen was up to my specs (ie., no dead pixels, etc.). Shipping is Priority Ground, and insured.

The monitor should arrive by Monday. Will provide a final update when it does. If the experience is a positive one, I would be happy to provide further details for those interested in following suite.

Regards.

[This message has been edited by NSXaholic (edited 05 December 2002).]

 

[NeoNSX]

NSXaholic: did u get ur monitor ok, and if so, does the extra large 19" size refresh quick enough (or blur)

have been tempted by the Sony 18" SDMX82 (Australian product name) ... but i always check expensive products like this in person... and no shops display them. would be curious to know about ur Dell. email me if u prefer.

 

[NSXaholic]

Originally posted by NeoNSX:
NSXaholic: did u get ur monitor ok, and if so, does the extra large 19" size refresh quick enough (or blur)

have been tempted by the Sony 18" SDMX82 (Australian product name) ... but i always check expensive products like this in person... and no shops display them. would be curious to know about ur Dell. email me if u prefer.

Just to update NeoNSX, I have not yet received the monitor. Should arrive tomorrow (Wednesday) or Thursday. I found out that I am leaving on an extended trip on Friday, so I won't have a tremendous amount of time to play with it.

On your quote on checking the product out before buying, that is absolutely the right thing to do. For me, the reason I took a chance on it was because:

(1) I have seen a Dell 19" monitor in person -- it is a beautiful piece of machinery.

(2) The person only had a small quantity he was selling, so he was willing to open the box, carefully unpack the monitor and check for dead-pixels, which was my primary concern -- I hate dead-pixels.

(3) He had positive feedback, both on eBay as well as other online feedback sites.

(4) He was willing to sign a contract that if there were any problems, I would have five days to return the monitor.

(5) He seemed honost and trustworthy (for what it's worth).

(6) The price he gave me saved my anywhere from 20% - 40% off other vendors.

So all of these factors are what ultimately led me to take the plunge.

I will let you know how things transpire when I get the monitor. In term's of blurring, though, it should be minimal. I was going to say zero, but one reviewer on ePinions, noted that he experienced a response time that was less than the 25ms.

Will post an update when I get it.

Regards.

 

[NeoNSX]

just a quick post so NSXaholic knows i read this.

yeah, sounds like u did ur homework... glad you're rewarded with a discount like that.
The issue of dead-pixels is one of my primary concerns; hence the need to check it in person. Also Sony only offers 12mths warrenty on the LCD... dunno about Dell or other manufacturers.

all the best with it man... would still love to hear your impression when it arrives!

 

[NSXaholic]

Originally posted by NeoNSX:
...would still love to hear your impression when it arrives!

Wow, this must be an old thread. Neo only has 418 posts

Just wanted to provide an update. I've used the monitor for about two months now, and I can honestly say that it is amazing!! First-off, it came with zero dead-pixels which was nice. It's got tremendous brightness and clarity of text. Although I don't watch DVD's on it, I don't see any ghosting in general. Best of all, 1024x768-size pictures can still now be seen full screen. Moreover, when combined with the "ClearType" option by Microsoft (available for all LCD monitors and which optimizes the look of text on your screen), it provides amazing viewing quality.

I would highly recommend this monitor. Keep in mind, I bought a 19" Dell monitor, which is a rebranded Samsung Syncmaster 191T (the only difference being that the Dell monitor does not swivel from Landscape to Portrait mode).

I checked pricing a couple of weeks ago, and I think they ranged from $700 - $750. Check them out on eBay. You can check out "official" opinions on the Samsung Syncmaster 191T at epinions, at the link noted above.

Regards.

 

[NeoNSX]

hey thanx NSXaholic... i actually meant to email you again about that...

Wow, this must be an old thread. Neo only has 418 posts

lol ... with filming of the Matrix finished, Neo had a quiet holidays...

First-off, it came with zero dead-pixels which was nice.

beautiful. A must; otherwise they always annoy you.

It's got tremendous brightness and clarity of text. Although I don't watch DVD's on it, I don't see any ghosting in general.

that's cool. what do u do for 'general' use? just windows opening and closing?


Best of all, 1024x768-size pictures can still now be seen full screen. Moreover, when combined with the "ClearType" option by Microsoft (available for all LCD monitors and which optimizes the look of text on your screen), it provides amazing viewing quality.

ClearType is also meant to help if u use LCD's on their non-native resolution. Will it let you change the resolution to 1600x1200?


I would highly recommend this monitor. Keep in mind, I bought a 19" Dell monitor, which is a rebranded Samsung Syncmaster 191T (the only difference being that the Dell monitor does not swivel from Landscape to Portrait mode).

personal opinion influences me more than their advertising. thanx for the update man...

 

[BB]

Another good option is the NEC-Mitsubishi 1920NX. From all reviews, its image quality is just as good as the Samsung 191T. The Dell on-line store of all places even has it currently for $665. I have one of these at work and it is excellent (no dead pixels either!)

At home I still use my trusty 21" Sony CRT that I've had for many years. It has better colors and black levels than the LCD and is better at displaying pictures, but the text is not quite as sharp.

 

[NeoNSX]

thanx BB for bringing this post to the top; i was looking for it below to post on it.

(BTW, what model of Sony 21" you got? The G-520 or previous?)

NSXaholic: today i was checking out LCD's on display at a PC shop. I noticed the Samsung Syncmaster 171 and thought "ah, almost like NSXaholic's... gotta check it out"... but i came away disappointed. The text wasn't as sharp as i'd hoped (it was in native res) and it had ghosting! :EEK: Some of the other brands on display did also (or suffered blurred text). Please tell me yours doesn't...

They had a 15" Sony also on display, and the image was PERFECT... i mean incredibly perfect.