 |
 |
I have also noticed a price difference in other items, such as toner. Cstore offeres a black toner cartridge for a laserjet 4550 for a price of $78.00, but none in stock. University Stores it is only $73.65 and they have 4 in stock. I have also found software to be cheaper at other places such as journeyed.com I have learned from past experience that you have to shop around and not to assume Cstore has the best price. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Loren LaLonde" <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Wednesday, March 09, 2005 1:07 PM Subject: Re: [MSUNAG] dell education pricing vs home/small bus > One other KEY warranty expense is the "Accidental Damage" provision that > you > have to add separately to laptop warranties. It's a decent expense to get > the accidental damage coverage, but worthwhile IMHO. In a college > environment (where someone could spill some "grain inspired" beverages, > drop > or step on the machinery) it's extremely worthwhile. > > The standard warranties do not cover accidental damage, so you pay for > those > new parts unless you grab the extra coverage. > > -----Original Message----- > From: MSU Network Administrators Group [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On > Behalf Of Richard Wiggins > Sent: Wednesday, March 09, 2005 12:02 PM > To: [log in to unmask] > Subject: Re: [MSUNAG] dell education pricing vs home/small bus > > Every summer when I speak to parents of incoming freshmen at > Orientation, I tell them that buying computers these days is like > buying an airlne ticket: the same commodity can be priced at widely > varying prices depending on when you buy it, via what channel, and > with what special discount code. > > Until last year, about 50% of incoming freshman class students bought > laptops. I see that percentage going up dramatically from here on. > Laptops under $1000 are common now, and ultraportables and tablets are > becoming more affordable. The warranty becomes a key variable. I had > the display on an MSU-owned IBM Thinkpad give out a while ago, and it > was repaired for free under its three year warranty. I'm sure the > cost of repair would have been prohibitive if it hadn't been under > warranty. Laptops see a lot of abuse. The warranty is important. > > I believe for not much more money you can extend a Dell warranty to 4 > years. My joke to parents is to get the 4 year warranty, and tell > your child they must finish college before the warranty on the laptop > expires. > > /rich > > > On Wed, 9 Mar 2005 11:35:43 -0500, Scott Thomas <[log in to unmask]> wrote: >> If you provide the quote (fax or give quote number) to the MSU Computer >> Store they normally can get Dell to match (or get extremely close to) the >> price from the other Dell channels. >> >> With the price differences you show I would be very surprised if there >> wouldn't be warranty differences. Higher Ed generally defaults to 3 year >> on-site and Home sometimes only comes with 90 days of support and > sometimes >> mail-in (especially for the Inspirons which are generally considered for >> consumer purchases vs. the Latitudes for corporate). The Stores phone > number >> is 432-0700 and you can ask for Terri Bulock who works with Dell on a >> regular basis and she can help you out. >> /sgt >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: MSU Network Administrators Group [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On >> Behalf Of Peter Cole >> Sent: Wednesday, March 09, 2005 11:25 AM >> To: [log in to unmask] >> Subject: Re: [MSUNAG] dell education pricing vs home/small bus >> >> Is there a warranty difference? >> >> - Peter >> >> -----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. >> >