Just figured i'd post my experience for others; just fyi, all the contact I made w/ dell was done through online chat.
Same as many of you, I ordered the MSI on 11/24. I don't recall the timing, but I do remember being one of the earlier ones to order. Delayed twice; my friend who had ordered the xfx at the same time complained to customer service...he got his card w/ $30 off AND overnight s/h. So I tried, and after complaining to customer service a few times, my order was abruptly cancelled on 12/24 w/o any notifications on their part. It was due to ship 12/26...
I complained again to customer service, they did the typical attempt at routing me around to different departments. I gave up and decided to try the next morning, as most of my attempts at contacting dell had been done in the evening (PST) while my "successful" friend had contacted CS around 10AM.
Success! I bitched at parts & accessories about the entire situation, and the guy told me to order one of the other 8800GT cards that were available. I asked about price matching and he said "while i cannot guarantee any concessions, i will go as far to say i have never heard of customer service NOT taking care of anyone".
I talked to CS again after placing my order for the eVGA 8800GT (@289.99 I think? whatever the normal price was). The CS agent offered me $75, I responded by "how about $100 and overnight s/h?"...he gave me $90 + equivalent tax + overnight. Was scheduled to ship 2/12, but it came in the mail the next day (12/29?)
I had to prod the parts&accessories sales chat guy in the direction of ordering an equivalent card then price matching, but this strategy seems to work. Most of the CS agents were dumb and kept rehashing the situation about MSI cards being out of stock, so if you try to complain, i would suggest showing that you already know what's going on and instead direct the conversation towards "i know the shit is fucked up, but what are you going to do about it; how about giving me a 8800GT made by a competing manufacturer"
And also fyi; after I placed the order and got the CS agent to cave in, i was told to contact the CS dept again AFTER the order shipped, then provide my case number in order to get the $90 credit (which was processed fairly quick after I got my card)
Same as many of you, I ordered the MSI on 11/24. I don't recall the timing, but I do remember being one of the earlier ones to order. Delayed twice; my friend who had ordered the xfx at the same time complained to customer service...he got his card w/ $30 off AND overnight s/h. So I tried, and after complaining to customer service a few times, my order was abruptly cancelled on 12/24 w/o any notifications on their part. It was due to ship 12/26...
I complained again to customer service, they did the typical attempt at routing me around to different departments. I gave up and decided to try the next morning, as most of my attempts at contacting dell had been done in the evening (PST) while my "successful" friend had contacted CS around 10AM.
Success! I bitched at parts & accessories about the entire situation, and the guy told me to order one of the other 8800GT cards that were available. I asked about price matching and he said "while i cannot guarantee any concessions, i will go as far to say i have never heard of customer service NOT taking care of anyone".
I talked to CS again after placing my order for the eVGA 8800GT (@289.99 I think? whatever the normal price was). The CS agent offered me $75, I responded by "how about $100 and overnight s/h?"...he gave me $90 + equivalent tax + overnight. Was scheduled to ship 2/12, but it came in the mail the next day (12/29?)
I had to prod the parts&accessories sales chat guy in the direction of ordering an equivalent card then price matching, but this strategy seems to work. Most of the CS agents were dumb and kept rehashing the situation about MSI cards being out of stock, so if you try to complain, i would suggest showing that you already know what's going on and instead direct the conversation towards "i know the shit is fucked up, but what are you going to do about it; how about giving me a 8800GT made by a competing manufacturer"
And also fyi; after I placed the order and got the CS agent to cave in, i was told to contact the CS dept again AFTER the order shipped, then provide my case number in order to get the $90 credit (which was processed fairly quick after I got my card)