Dude, Dell is guilty of consumer fraud
A New York judge ruled yesterday that computer retailer Dell engaged in repeated false and deceptive advertising of its promotional credit financing and warranties.
According to the AP by way of CrainsNewYork.com, the judge ordered Dell to disclose more clearly that most customers do not qualify for free financing or get “next day” repair service.
New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo sued Dell last year.
The story quoted Cuomo saying, “For too long at Dell the promise of customer service was a bait and switch that left thousands of people paying for essentially no service at all." The AG's office had 700 complaints against Dell when the lawsuit was filed in May 2007 and received more than 1,000 since, a spokesman said.
Naturally, a Dell spokesman disagreed with the decision. The company did not say whether it would appeal the ruling.
According to the story, the judge aid Dell ads offered promotions like free flat-panel monitors, additional memory, rebates, instant discounts and financing with no interest or no payments for a period to “well qualified” or “best qualified” customers. Cuomo said as few as 7% of New York applicants qualified for some promotions.
Also, the judge cited many affidavits that mentioned "long telephone waits for technical support, numerous phone transfers among departments, the need for repeated customer calls to get through and 'numerous instances' when Dell refused to provide on-site service before it had determined what parts needed to be replaced."
Not sure yet how this affects Dell or the customers who got the shaft.
But in a little bit of useless trivia for today, how many people out there knew that "Dell Dude" Benjamin Curtis was arrested on Manhattan's Lower East Side on suspicion of trying to buy marijuana in 2003? Points to anyone who can remember his hokey signature line.
(Image from threeminds.organic.com)
Categories: Computers, Naughty businesses/NBotW
