Comments on: Dell Computers Contemplates Cars http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/dell-computers-contemplates-cars/ The Truth About Cars is dedicated to providing candid, unbiased automobile reviews and the latest in auto industry news. Mon, 23 Nov 2009 02:13:03 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: gakoenig http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/dell-computers-contemplates-cars/comment-page-1/#comment-500892 gakoenig Thu, 12 Jun 2008 00:21:50 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/dell-computers-contemplates-cars/#comment-500892 There is already a premium/import business doing mass customization... BMW. There is already a premium/import business doing mass customization… BMW.

]]> By: Wolven http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/dell-computers-contemplates-cars/comment-page-1/#comment-500761 Wolven Wed, 11 Jun 2008 23:42:19 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/dell-computers-contemplates-cars/#comment-500761 This is an idea that is WAY PAST OVERDUE. From my own research, the only reason it hasn't already been done is because of the communistic laws that enable\empower\protect the car dealers from the manufacturers. Imagine if you had a company making widgets and politicians made laws that you HAD TO SELL your widgets through (independent of your company) middle men... and you couldn't fire them... and you couldn't refuse to sell to them... and you couldn't force them to provide the buyers of your widgets decent service... and... This is an idea that is WAY PAST OVERDUE. From my own research, the only reason it hasn’t already been done is because of the communistic laws that enable\empower\protect the car dealers from the manufacturers.

Imagine if you had a company making widgets and politicians made laws that you HAD TO SELL your widgets through (independent of your company) middle men… and you couldn’t fire them… and you couldn’t refuse to sell to them… and you couldn’t force them to provide the buyers of your widgets decent service… and…

]]> By: Kevin http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/dell-computers-contemplates-cars/comment-page-1/#comment-500392 Kevin Wed, 11 Jun 2008 21:01:15 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/dell-computers-contemplates-cars/#comment-500392 Holy crap Jonny, maybe you should READ these very short articles before commenting on them. This does not at all involve "Dell Computers" -- which has been called Dell Inc. for some years BTW. As the article makes clear, this is Michael Dell diversifying his own money outside of his day job. Jeffrey Rachor is NOT the CEO of Dell. Micheal Dell is the CEO of Dell. Rachor has nothing to do with Dell Inc, and is merely with the the automotive joint venture being formed with Michael Dell's money. Kind of early in the day for drinking isn't it? Holy crap Jonny, maybe you should READ these very short articles before commenting on them. This does not at all involve “Dell Computers” — which has been called Dell Inc. for some years BTW. As the article makes clear, this is Michael Dell diversifying his own money outside of his day job.

Jeffrey Rachor is NOT the CEO of Dell. Micheal Dell is the CEO of Dell. Rachor has nothing to do with Dell Inc, and is merely with the the automotive joint venture being formed with Michael Dell’s money.

Kind of early in the day for drinking isn’t it?

]]> By: John Horner http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/dell-computers-contemplates-cars/comment-page-1/#comment-500371 John Horner Wed, 11 Jun 2008 20:56:39 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/dell-computers-contemplates-cars/#comment-500371 "Is the long-awaited era of B2C mass customization upon us?" One can only hope so! I hate the way the current system is designed around getting you to take something already on the lot. Why not let me order EXACTLY the configuration I want? I keep a new car for five to ten years and am completely willing to wait a few weeks to get it just how I want it. “Is the long-awaited era of B2C mass customization upon us?”

One can only hope so! I hate the way the current system is designed around getting you to take something already on the lot. Why not let me order EXACTLY the configuration I want? I keep a new car for five to ten years and am completely willing to wait a few weeks to get it just how I want it.

]]> By: folkdancer http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/dell-computers-contemplates-cars/comment-page-1/#comment-499932 folkdancer Wed, 11 Jun 2008 19:30:37 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/dell-computers-contemplates-cars/#comment-499932 Will the new electric cars be sold at Best Buy? Will the new electric cars be sold at Best Buy?

]]> By: blowfish http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/dell-computers-contemplates-cars/comment-page-1/#comment-499511 blowfish Wed, 11 Jun 2008 17:48:26 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/dell-computers-contemplates-cars/#comment-499511 If it had worked why Saturn hasn't flew off the shelf by now. If it had worked why Saturn hasn’t flew off the shelf by now.

]]> By: unleashed http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/dell-computers-contemplates-cars/comment-page-1/#comment-499321 unleashed Wed, 11 Jun 2008 17:02:41 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/dell-computers-contemplates-cars/#comment-499321 This sounds like an April's fool's joke to me... This sounds like an April’s fool’s joke to me…

]]> By: Wulv http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/dell-computers-contemplates-cars/comment-page-1/#comment-499201 Wulv Wed, 11 Jun 2008 16:32:49 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/dell-computers-contemplates-cars/#comment-499201 Since their Direct Sales stopped working so well, they have gone back to offering models of computers in retail stores. I guess they figured it wasn't the fact that their service is now atrocious that was hurting sales, but the that they needed to get back into retail channels. I deal with Dell on a daily basis, it hurts. Since part of my car buying goes into how well I am treated by the service department I buy from, I can safely say I wouldn't even look at an upscale car sold by Dell. What is Dell's definition of premium brands? Judging by their computer products which all used to be touted as premium, we will be seeing Chery and Tatas sold by Dell soon. At least their support services will not be outsourced from the country of origin. Since their Direct Sales stopped working so well, they have gone back to offering models of computers in retail stores. I guess they figured it wasn’t the fact that their service is now atrocious that was hurting sales, but the that they needed to get back into retail channels. I deal with Dell on a daily basis, it hurts. Since part of my car buying goes into how well I am treated by the service department I buy from, I can safely say I wouldn’t even look at an upscale car sold by Dell.
What is Dell’s definition of premium brands? Judging by their computer products which all used to be touted as premium, we will be seeing Chery and Tatas sold by Dell soon. At least their support services will not be outsourced from the country of origin.

]]> By: Landcrusher http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/dell-computers-contemplates-cars/comment-page-1/#comment-499112 Landcrusher Wed, 11 Jun 2008 16:18:14 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/dell-computers-contemplates-cars/#comment-499112 I'm with yaninwaoz. I don't think it's legal. They will have to create dealers to stay within the law in many, if not most states. Not all dealers are slime, either. That attitude doesn't help either. I’m with yaninwaoz. I don’t think it’s legal. They will have to create dealers to stay within the law in many, if not most states.

Not all dealers are slime, either. That attitude doesn’t help either.

]]> By: mel23 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/dell-computers-contemplates-cars/comment-page-1/#comment-498752 mel23 Wed, 11 Jun 2008 14:53:52 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/dell-computers-contemplates-cars/#comment-498752 There are a great many honest dealers around. Sure there are also many, in numbers, who aren't, but I trust my local BPG dealer far more than I do Wagoner, or Hyundai with its CEO convicted of fraud among other acts. Dealers often go to bat for THEIR customer in dealing with manufacturers. I've never worked in a dealership, but reading some of the stuff on Edmunds posted by dealer personal tells me that customers aren't honest or easy to deal with either. There are a great many honest dealers around. Sure there are also many, in numbers, who aren’t, but I trust my local BPG dealer far more than I do Wagoner, or Hyundai with its CEO convicted of fraud among other acts. Dealers often go to bat for THEIR customer in dealing with manufacturers.

I’ve never worked in a dealership, but reading some of the stuff on Edmunds posted by dealer personal tells me that customers aren’t honest or easy to deal with either.

]]> By: Jon Paul http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/dell-computers-contemplates-cars/comment-page-1/#comment-498482 Jon Paul Wed, 11 Jun 2008 13:44:41 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/dell-computers-contemplates-cars/#comment-498482 From an article on Arstechnica: The New York State Supreme Court has dealt a blow against Dell by ruling that the company and its affiliate, Dell Financial Services, engaged in fraud, false advertising, deceptive business practices, and abusive debt collection practices. http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20080528-judge-to-dell-dude-youre-defrauding-your-customers.html Personally, I've not had any trouble dealing with Dell, but this might give me pause before making a car purchase from them. From an article on Arstechnica:

The New York State Supreme Court has dealt a blow against Dell by ruling that the company and its affiliate, Dell Financial Services, engaged in fraud, false advertising, deceptive business practices, and abusive debt collection practices.

http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20080528-judge-to-dell-dude-youre-defrauding-your-customers.html

Personally, I’ve not had any trouble dealing with Dell, but this might give me pause before making a car purchase from them.

]]> By: yankinwaoz http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/dell-computers-contemplates-cars/comment-page-1/#comment-498452 yankinwaoz Wed, 11 Jun 2008 13:36:19 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/dell-computers-contemplates-cars/#comment-498452 That's a nice idea Mr. Dell. But I think he is gonna find that the state legislators are in the pockets of the car dealers. And there is no way that they are going to let someone sell cars in their state via the web. That’s a nice idea Mr. Dell. But I think he is gonna find that the state legislators are in the pockets of the car dealers. And there is no way that they are going to let someone sell cars in their state via the web.

]]> By: AGR http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/dell-computers-contemplates-cars/comment-page-1/#comment-498381 AGR Wed, 11 Jun 2008 13:06:45 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/dell-computers-contemplates-cars/#comment-498381 The speech was at the Detroit Economic Club, they are interested in "premium and import brands". The speech was at the Detroit Economic Club, they are interested in “premium and import brands”.

]]> By: gfen http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/dell-computers-contemplates-cars/comment-page-1/#comment-498371 gfen Wed, 11 Jun 2008 13:02:19 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/dell-computers-contemplates-cars/#comment-498371 Its not that I destest salespeople, they gotta earn a living too...its just that they needlessly complicate the whole thing with their insistance on interaction beyond, "A test drive? Let's go! Here's my card if you're interested" Its a chore just to eyeball and test a few cars, much less actually enter negotiations. Its not that I destest salespeople, they gotta earn a living too…its just that they needlessly complicate the whole thing with their insistance on interaction beyond, “A test drive? Let’s go! Here’s my card if you’re interested”

Its a chore just to eyeball and test a few cars, much less actually enter negotiations.

]]> By: Orian http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/dell-computers-contemplates-cars/comment-page-1/#comment-498352 Orian Wed, 11 Jun 2008 12:45:58 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/dell-computers-contemplates-cars/#comment-498352 I think it would be a great idea to be able to buy cars in that manner - you pick your model, options, and order it without having to deal with a stealership. A side note on the photo - Dell bought those defective batteries from Sony, as did a bunch of other laptop manufacturers. I think it would be a great idea to be able to buy cars in that manner – you pick your model, options, and order it without having to deal with a stealership.

A side note on the photo – Dell bought those defective batteries from Sony, as did a bunch of other laptop manufacturers.

]]> By: mdf http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/dell-computers-contemplates-cars/comment-page-1/#comment-498342 mdf Wed, 11 Jun 2008 12:40:57 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/dell-computers-contemplates-cars/#comment-498342 <i>Is the long-awaited era of B2C mass customization upon us?</i> The most detestable thing about buying new cars are the sellers: dealers are 100% pure slime. You can smell them from a kilometer away. Simply walking into the showroom makes one want to wretch. And while it is true that you can cleanse the body afterwords with a hot shower and liberal application of organic solvents, what can you do about the psychic injury? So what do you say, Ford? Will you open an orders desk at your Escape Hybrid factory in Kansas City? Anyone could go in, fill out a form, affix a check and they'd get a call when the the car is ready? Is the long-awaited era of B2C mass customization upon us?

The most detestable thing about buying new cars are the sellers: dealers are 100% pure slime. You can smell them from a kilometer away. Simply walking into the showroom makes one want to wretch. And while it is true that you can cleanse the body afterwords with a hot shower and liberal application of organic solvents, what can you do about the psychic injury?

So what do you say, Ford? Will you open an orders desk at your Escape Hybrid factory in Kansas City? Anyone could go in, fill out a form, affix a check and they’d get a call when the the car is ready?

]]> By: guyincognito http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/dell-computers-contemplates-cars/comment-page-1/#comment-498331 guyincognito Wed, 11 Jun 2008 12:38:38 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/dell-computers-contemplates-cars/#comment-498331 I can see it now, a service light comes on letting the vehicles less than mechanically inclined owner know the coolant is low. The owner calls Dell customer service, Hi, I have a warning message indicating low coolant. What should I do? Sir, your service package requires you to pay a $150 fee before I can assist you with this matter. Really? I don't remember reading that but fine here is my credit car number. Thank you, now that you've paid I've looked into your issue. It turns out the car is totaled. Would you be interested in hearing about our new products? I can see it now, a service light comes on letting the vehicles less than mechanically inclined owner know the coolant is low. The owner calls Dell customer service,

Hi, I have a warning message indicating low coolant. What should I do?

Sir, your service package requires you to pay a $150 fee before I can assist you with this matter.

Really? I don’t remember reading that but fine here is my credit car number.

Thank you, now that you’ve paid I’ve looked into your issue. It turns out the car is totaled. Would you be interested in hearing about our new products?

]]> By: AKM http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/dell-computers-contemplates-cars/comment-page-1/#comment-498321 AKM Wed, 11 Jun 2008 12:37:50 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/dell-computers-contemplates-cars/#comment-498321 One word: huh?? Shouldn't Dell sort out its own business model first before waltzing into cars, which seems to be the next big thing for clueless execs? One word: huh??

Shouldn’t Dell sort out its own business model first before waltzing into cars, which seems to be the next big thing for clueless execs?

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