This is a common industry practice and it is one of the downsides of taking
the MSU purchasing department out of the procurement process for
departmental and/or student computers.
Students assume that MSU is acting in their best interest by offering direct
"deals" from computer vendors when the reality is often that they could get
a better deal from other sources. My sense is that the MSU purchasing
department should require computer vendors to bid for the right to have
their systems recommended by the MSU Computer Store. The risk of being
locked out of the university for 12 months would quickly stop the practice
of over-pricing products that are targeted at a less than fully informed
student/faculty/staff audience.
-----Original Message-----
From: MSU Network Administrators Group [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
Behalf Of Peter J Murray
Sent: Wednesday, March 09, 2005 11:19 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [MSUNAG] dell education pricing vs home/small bus
Hello
I'm starting to look at prices for possible next year purchases, and I
wonder if this is right. For example, I'm pricing out a laptop (Inspiron
700m). Configured exactly the same (including warranties and
such):
Cstore pricing through Dell link: $1619.90
Home: $1388
Small Business: $1212
Higher Education through Dell.com: $1593.64
The only difference between the laptops configured is the price (and perhaps
one or two minor differences that you can't configure out of the quotes).
I'm feeling slighted.
How are people purchasing equipment these days (Through the computer store,
etc)? Is there anything you can do as a purchaser in a department to get
better pricing? $407 is a significant chunk of change for 1 piece of
equipment.
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