Dell responds (the saga continues)

Dell responds (the saga continues)...

Dear Mr. Westhoff,

Thank you for contacting Dell Customer Care.

I apologize for the delay in returning your e-mail and hope to have your issues resolved quickly as we value you as a Dell customer.

I have been using computers for fifteen years now. After working in the industry I have learned the hard way that you always wait at least nine months after a new OS is released. Trust me I worked engineering and R&D departments and will tell you that you should wait. If you really want XP I can push the issue to see if I can't get it for you.

Thank you for contacting Dell and I apologize for your delays.

Respectfully,
Gregory
Dell eSupport and Services

and my response...

Gregory, Thank you.

Yes--I'd had the same thoughts, which is probably why I didn't end up calling back earlier (my big mistake apparently). It's good advice and your point is well taken (witness the problems my friends who were early adopters of Win 2000 had getting drivers, etc.).

That having been said, this is more than a technical issue--I sincerely feel that what happened to me was just plain bad business. And as a fiscal matter, this is a now or never kind of issue: if I wait as you suggest, it is less likely that my claim to a $20 OS is going to be taken seriously. I'd end up paying upwards of $200 for XP (frankly, that's something I just won't do--I'm more likely to put that $200 into my next system...and as things stand now, it's unlikely that that system would be a Dell.)

So Gregory, if you could prevail on my behalf to have Dell send me XP for $20, I would really appreciate it. It would go a long way toward restoring my goodwill in the company.

John Westhoff